One of them - 10 famous Britons you've probably never heard of

10 famous Britons you've probably never heard of

By Tom Geoghegan
BBC News Magazine
It's 200 years since Lord Byron quit the UK to make his name abroad - becoming a national hero in Greece. The poet also achieved fame in his homeland, but there is a select band of Britons whose talents today are most warmly appreciated outside their home country.
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SOUTH AFRICA - JOHNNY CLEGG

The Rochdale-born musician has a career spanning more than 30 years and his political activism combined with his commercial success has made him a very significant figure in African music.

He says his band of black and white musicians, Juluka, broke the law by performing during the apartheid era, and annoyed the authorities with its mixture of Zulu and English influences.

The man nicknamed the "White Zulu" wrote election anthems for the ANC and performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration in 1994.

He has enjoyed international success, with a Grammy nomination for his band Savuka, and a million-selling album in France.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8172542.stm

see also

Johnny Clegg, the famous British singer

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/davidjsmith/2009/08/04/johnny-clegg-the-famous-british-singer/

Hold the phone! That’s not true. Or is it? I read today the Brits are trying to claim Johnny Clegg from us. The BBC had an article titled: “Ten famous Britons you’ve probably never heard of”. And there he was, number ten on the list.

Ok, granted, he was born in the UK. But does that make him British? Not in my book. He’s a true blue South African. The real deal. Mr Clegg has a very unique South African story. Musician, anthropologist and Zulu dancer. In 2004, South Africa voted him number 23 on SABC’s Great South Africans. They also voted in Verwoerd at number 19 but let’s not go there. Johnny Clegg is South African. Finish and klaar.........