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Article: The cultural explosion. (South African arts) (Special Issue: Nelson Mandela and the New South Africa)
- Article from:
- Ebony
- Article date:
- August 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Johnson Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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One cannot underestimate the tremendous political and cultural impact that South African entertainers and writers have had both in their native land and in the international community of artists and activists. For decades, as White South Africans thumbed their noses at diplomatic efforts to end apartheid, it was the country's performers, playwrights and novelists - most of them banished to platforms in exile - who helped galvanize world support against the oppressive Afrikaner regime.
Following the example of African-American artist/activists like Harry Belafonte, South African artists such as jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela, singer Miriam Makeba, pianist Abdullah ...