Dela (song)

"Dela"
Song by Savuka
from the album Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World
LanguageZulu, English.
Released1989
Length4:15
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Johnny Clegg[1]

"Dela" is the fourth song from the 1989 album Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World by South African band Savuka.[2] It is a "straightforward love song", featuring Johnny Clegg singing of waiting for his love, and of being content in her presence.[3] An uptempo song with lyrics in both English and Zulu, it was played commonly at wedding receptions.[4] Discussing the song in an interview with National Public Radio, Clegg stated: "It's about wholeness. Dela in Zulu means - to dela means to be complete and satisfied."[5] Clegg often ended concerts with Dela. It was used in the 1997 movie George of the Jungle, and has been described as Clegg's best-known song among western audiences.[6][7]

  1. ^ "Dela". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  3. ^ Smokler, Kevin (7 July 2017). "10 Essential Johnny Clegg Songs". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ Samanga, Rufaro. "Listen to 10 Great Songs From Johnny Clegg". Okay Africa. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ "South African Musician Johnny Clegg On Touring The American South". National Public Radio. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ^ Lewis, Randy (16 August 2017). "South Africa's Johnny Clegg, with cancer in remission, to embark the Final Journey U.S. tour". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  7. ^ Lewis, Randy (13 October 2017). "South Africa's Johnny Clegg returns to U.S. for 'The Final Journey' tour". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.