- Holds a BA and BA(Hons) degree in social anthropology from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Served as an academic for four years at both the University of Witwatersrand and the then University of Natal before taking up music full time.
- He is a household name in France.
- He is of English descent on his father's side and Jewish descent on his mother's side.
- He and his wife Jenny held two separate wedding ceremonies namely the Jewish ceremony and the Zulu ceremony.
- In the French city of Lyon, his concerts outsold that of bigger names such as Michael Jackson to the extent that the latter was forced to cancel.
- Despite identifying himself as Jewish, he was non-religious.
- Has two sons of whom one is Jesse Clegg, an alternative rock musician.
- Noted for being the lead singer for two multi-racial bands, Juluka and Savuka.
- During the height of the apartheid regime, he and his band would face constant harassment and arrests from the police.
- Detested being called a political activist. Instead he preferred being called a cultural activist.
- Was perhaps the only white person in South Africa to write Zulu at matriculation level during the height of the apartheid regime.
- Announced his retirement from performing two years after he was diagnosed with cancer. His last concert took place in Zimbabwe on 3 November 2018.
- In 1991, he was awarded the Knight of Arts and Letters by the French Government.
- In 2015, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
- In 2012, he received the Order of Ikhamanga. This is the highest honor bestowed upon any citizen in South Africa.
- His stepfather was a crime reporter.
- His biological father divorced his mother whilst he was an infant. He did not meet his father again until he was 21.
- As a child, he lived in Israel, Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) and Zambia before finally settling in South Africa.
- In preparation for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he hosted the television program "A Country Imagined".
- Is a fan of the music of Pete Seeger and Jethro Tull.
- Despite having recorded the song 'Asimbonanga' in 1987 in tribute to Nelson Mandela, Clegg would only come to meet Mandela personally for the first time in Frankfurt, Germany 12 years after the release of the single.
- Regards the song 'Scatterlings of Africa' as being the highlight of his musical career.
- As a result of the popularity of his song 'Scatterlings of Africa' worldwide, he was forced to give up his teaching position at the University of Witwatersrand.
- Can speak Zulu fluently.
- His song "Asimbonanga" is Zulu meaning "We have not seen him".
- He was buried at Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg, South Africa a day after his death as per Jewish custom.
- The song 'Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World was written for his son, Jesse whilst he was an infant.
- Was first arrested at the age of 15 for violating the then Group Areas Act which existed in apartheid South Africa.
- The song 'The Crossing' was written as a tribute to his percussionist and dance partner, Dudu Zulu who was murdered in 1992.
- The song 'Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World was written as a dedication to his son Jesse who was born a year earlier .
- An anthropologist by training.
- Was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015.
- His song, One (Hu)man One Vote was written in memory of his mentor, Dr. David Webster who was assassinated on 1 May 1989 outside his Johannesburg home.
- His book "Scatterling of Africa: My Early Years" was posthumously released in October 2021.
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