South African artists reimagine Johnny Clegg’s legacy on new album “Scatterlings” – Texx and the City

Johnny Clegg’s extraordinary catalogue has been given new life with the release of Scatterlings: Johnny Clegg Reimagined, a collaborative album that sees some of South Africa’s most celebrated contemporary artists reinterpret the late musician’s songs for a new generation.

The project features contributions from Sjava, Sun-El Musician, Msaki, Zakes Bantwini, Tresor, Beatenberg, Simmy, MUZI, J’Something, Big Zulu, Thakzin, Zolani Mahola and Jesse Clegg, among others. Rather than recreating the original recordings, each artist approaches the material through their own musical lens, resulting in a collection that spans Afro-house, soul, pop, electronic music and folk while remaining rooted in Clegg’s enduring songwriting.

The album was conceived as both a celebration of Johnny Clegg’s musical legacy and a continuation of the values that defined his career. At the heart of the project is a creative partnership between Jesse Clegg and singer-songwriter Msaki, who envisioned the record as “less like a tribute and more like a conversation between generations of South African musicians.” Jesse Clegg echoes that sentiment, reflecting on his father’s belief that music could unite people across cultures and generations. “These songs were never meant to stand still,” he says. “Hearing this incredible group of artists reinterpret them with such honesty, creativity and respect has been deeply moving.”

Across its 14 tracks, Scatterlings: Johnny Clegg Reimagined revisits classics including Asimbonanga, Scatterlings, Dela, Cruel Crazy Beautiful World, Impi and Third World Child, pairing Johnny Clegg’s original recordings with contemporary collaborators to create something that honours the past while looking confidently towards the future. The album is now available on all major streaming platforms.