   "Weeping" - Background to Music & Art In the mid 1980s Dan Heymann was an unwilling soldier, drafted into the South African Defence Force to fight for the apartheid regime. As a result of his pain and torment, in 1987 Heymann wrote the lyrics to "Weeping," an extraordinarily powerful anti-apartheid anthem capturing the turbulent emotions of the time. Soon after its release – and in open defiance of apartheid censorship – "Weeping" rose to number 1 in the South African music charts, as it resonated across the country at the crossroads of the nation’s terrible conflict. Since then "Weeping" has become an icon in anti-apartheid music, and has been performed by many of South Africa’s most beloved artists. The edited version used on our web site is performed by one of South Africa's favorite vocalists, Vusi "The Voice" Mahlasela. Josh Groban helped introduce and popularize “Weeping” in the United States with his own wonderful rendition - which he also performed with Vusi at the 46664 Concert in London’s Hyde Park in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday on June 27, 2008. "Weeping" was chosen as a song for this web site because of its deep and profound emotional tone. The song captures a deep, soul-level resistance to control, coercion, violence and repression. It has a transcendent feeling to it, reminding us that even in the most tense and polarized conflicts, there is a common underlying humanity that seeks love, connection and understanding. The song expresses a human lament that behind all anger, rage, violence and cruelty there is pain, conflict or despair needing to be released and healed. The Releasing work of Isa and Yolanda Lindwall helps individuals touch this pure and vulnerable inner self, a powerful emotional and spiritual experience vital to healing and experiencing ourselves as more authentic and fully human. In this way we feel the song "Weeping" captures much of the energy of Releasing, as well as the beauty of the work and enduring partnerships we have developed in South Africa. For more information about Dan Heymann and "Weeping" click here. To visit Vusi Mahlasela's web site, click here. |