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The Protest Against Apartheid: Amandla

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The Protest Against Apartheid: Amandla
Music is a big part of my daily life. I listen to songs both in my leisure or when I am doing something. Some of the songs touched me with their words and some with their melody. Music always gives me pleasure. However, today I learned that music is just not about feeling good or bad but it’s about expressing whatever one’s soul says. Music can take place in the deepest sorrow and in the brightest joy.

Racism has ruled over humanity for hundreds of years. It exists in almost every nation. But South Africa presented racism in a new way. Racism was established in South African constitution. It was called Apartheid. And it is quiet strange that the protest against Apartheid was almost music based. The white government tried to take control over the movement. They hanged Vuyisile Mini the father of the protest songs, they jailed the front-line leader Nelson Mandela but when victory was the only option there was no chance of stopping. Their music reflected the sadness of a mother when she had to answer her child why they couldn’t get onto a empty bus, why the blacks didn’t get their salary after working night and day in the mines. They sang when they lost a friend, they sang while they sat in the road together. And after years of struggling the sun rose for the protesters Nelson Mandela got free. And the blacks could vote for the first time for Mandela not just from themselves but also from their forefathers who couldn’t even think of that day. Mandela won and they celebrated the victory dancing and singing. Throughout the journey there were also some whites who stood with the protesters. They fought for the black men. Even some of them got arrested. There were many emotions and many sufferings in this journey but most importantly there were their music, which was their Amandla.

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