Musician and journalist Roger Lucey’s music was banned during apartheid in South Africa. In this interview he speaks about his personal experiences with music censorship: it's impact on the artist, about the long term effects of censorship in a society such as South Africa, and how to deal with the past.
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Roger Lucey took part in presenting the session 'On tour with the enemy' at the third Freemuse World Conference which was held in Istanbul, Turkey, in November 2006.
Roger Lucey was born in South Africa in 1954. Started writing songs and singing in Durban in the 1970’s. Moved to Johannesburg in late 1970’s and recorded his first album there which was banned for possession and distribution. Second album was also restricted. During this time security police engaged in covert activity to silence him. After several years of crisis he started working for an international tv news agency. Lucey is a main character in the Freemuse film ‘Stopping the Music’. After several years of silence, he has now started recording and performing again.
Roger Lucey: “In many ways Freemuse came into my life at a time when I was about to give up on music completely. The trauma of having my voice silenced, especially in the covert way that it was done made it very difficult for me to come back and do the thing that I loved more than any other. (Freemuse director) Marie Korpe and (Freemuse programme officer) Ole Reitov initiated a process that enabled me to understand the pain and anger that came from that experience and to meet my nemesis, Paul Erasmus. I am now able to write and play with a new freedom where the past is in its place and future is an open road.”
In 2007 Roger Lucey was invited to be an 'ambassador' for Freemuse.
“This was the kind of recognition that ten years ago I could only have dreamed of. But it is not only me that Freemuse have helped in the crisis that so often befalls musicians who speak their minds; Look at the support and strength they have given to Ferhat Tunc, Marcel Khalife and so many others whose voices the authorities were so eager to silence. Music censorship is an evil that must me relegated to the dark past,” stated Roger Lucey.
The video interview was recorded by Ole Reitov in Harare in Zimbabwe in April 2005. His performance was recorded by Mik Aidt at Babylon in Istanbul on 27 November 2006.
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