Sun City and Artists United Against Apartheid

What a Creep

What a Creep
Season 26, Episode 5
Sun City and Apartheid in South Africa

Sun City is a luxury resort and casino complex in South Africa. During the apartheid era (1948-1990s), it became infamous for hosting international artists despite the global cultural boycott of South Africa. The South African government promoted Sun City as a major entertainment destination, but for many, it symbolized the oppression and exploitation of apartheid. Artists United Against Apartheid was a collective of musicians who came together in 1985 to raise awareness and protest apartheid, mainly targeting the Sun City resort. Steven Van Zandt, a musician and member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, and record producer Arthur Baker spearheaded the group. They were outraged by the continued performances of international artists at Sun City despite the call for a cultural boycott of South Africa.
Trigger Warning: Racism
Sources for this episode

• Zinn Education Project: https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/sun-city-artists-against-apartheid/ and
• https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/strangers-in-their-own-country and https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/steve-biko/
• Black Past.org: https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/south-african-students-organization-saso/
• The African Activist Archive: https://africanactivist.msu.edu/ and https://africanactivist.msu.edu/organization/210-813-12/
• African Access Review: https://africaaccessreview.org/
• Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/steven-van-zandt-sun-city-reissue-951087/, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/apartheid-rock-108260/, and https://www.ronstadt-linda.com/artrs83.htm
• Rolling Stone Podcast Interview with Steven Van Zandt: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0U8duHoJCDxM0qLLdhzjOl
• Teach Rock: https://teachrock.org/lesson/sun-city-a-musical-force-against-apartheid-part-1/
• Cool Cape Travel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyJQwCI7-oY
• Artists United Against Apartheid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fR2r8Qlyyk
• 60 Minutes interview with Steven Van Zandt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOp-rLSRXUo
• Africa’s a Country.com: https://africasacountry.com/2020/01/linda-ronstadt-is-still-playing-sun-city#:~:text=Although%20Ronstadt%20was%20conflicted%20about,percent%20pure%2Dwhite.%E2%80%9D
• U Music.com: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/little-steven-sun-city-protest-song/
• Little Steven Interview (2019) https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/summer-of-sorcery-little-steven-interview/
• Rosa Mannon (YouTube)/The Making of Sun City (1985) https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=3a6b220f597eeedb&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIIxP_ymW_r7DZB-jNqvr6ccWlgxZw:1724106272458&q=Sun+city+apartheid+documentary&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim3LKvjIKIAxVfhIkEHf5BH6oQ1QJ6BAhaEAE&biw=1366&bih=599&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:784ac663,vid:CmJC6GcVDn0,st:0
• Asbury Park Press: https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/12/little-steven-van-zandt-sun-city-hip-hop-rap-rappers-south-africa/8113803002/
• ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/steven-van-zandt-sun-city-helped-break-apartheid/story?id=21180715
• Variety: https://variety.com/2020/music/news/little-steven-interview-sun-city-apartheid-political-1203528043/
• Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

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