Rian Malan
Rian Malan | |
---|---|
Born | Johannesburg, South Africa |
Occupation | Author, journalist, documentarist, musician, songwriter |
Genre | Memoirs, investigative journalism |
Notable works | My Traitor's Heart, In the Jungle |
Rian Malan is a South African author, journalist, documentarist and songwriter of
Personal background
Malan grew up in a middle-class and pro-
As a memoirist: My Traitor's Heart
Returning to South Africa in the 1980s, he wrote
Journalism
Malan began his journalistic career in 1975, as a reporter for
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
In 2000, he wrote a widely disseminated piece in Rolling Stone about the origin of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", tracing its history from its first recording by Solomon Linda, a penniless Zulu singer, through its adoption by The Weavers, The Tokens and many of the folksingers of the 1960s, and its appropriation by The Walt Disney Company in the movie The Lion King.[5] Malan reveals that Linda never received any royalties for the song; however, an ensuing court case established that 25 percent of the song's past and future royalties should go to Linda's three daughters.[6]
AIDS controversy
Malan has generated controversy by repeatedly questioning the seriousness and scope of AIDS in Africa. In articles in Rolling Stone, The Spectator and Noseweek, a controversial South African monthly, he proposed that AIDS statistics are greatly exaggerated by researchers and health professionals who are trying to obtain more funding.[7][8][9] His hypothesis was roundly criticised by national and international AIDS organisations, and Malan was accused of endangering lives in Africa. In an interview in the Afrikaans magazine, Insig, Malan said, 'I get a kick out of it when the Treatment Action Campaign attacks me; it's like sport.'[10] In 2007, he said, 'In truth, I never claimed that Aids was not a problem – on the contrary, I described it as a terrible affliction that was claiming countless lives. At the same time however, it was clear that Aids numbers were being exaggerated and good news suppressed. I stand by that story.'[11]
As a television documentarist
In 1990, Malan appeared as the presenter of an episode of BBC Television's
In 1994, he appeared as the presenter of BBC Television's travel documentary, Great Railway Journeys (series 2, episode 2). The episode was titled Cape Town to the Lost City. [13]
In 2004, he appeared in an episode of Channel 4's Without Walls, titled The Last Afrikaner. A Search with Rian Malan, written by Malan and directed by Don Boyd.[14]
In 2005, his struggle for justice for the heirs of Solomon Linda (see above) was documented in A Lion's Trail, directed by François Verster.[15]
In 2009, Malan, together with Lloyd Ross, produced the documentary The Splintering Rainbow for
Musical career
Alien Inboorling | |
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Studio album by Rian Malan | |
Released | 2005-10-28 |
Genre | Afrikaans, folk, world, country |
Length | 58:05 |
Language | Afrikaans |
Label | Shifty Music/Sony BMG |
Producer | Lloyd Ross |
He has released a CD of his own songs, titled Alien Inboorling.[17] The title translates as "Alien native"; the songs were described by one journalist as "parables of contemporary South Africa told in the voices of Afrikaners who have stayed and those who have left. The songs are dusty, weary, a stream of consciousness for the Afrikaans 'tribe'."[4]
The CD was listed as number 23 on Afrikaans newspaper Beeld's list of 'Albums van die dekade'.[18]
He also performs with Hot Club d'Afrique, a gypsy jazz band.[19]
Malan contributed lyrics to Stoomradio and Opgestook, the first two albums by Afrikaans roots music/boeremusiek band Radio Kalahari Orkes and appears on guitar on their second CD, Die Nagloper[20] He also contributed lyrics to Say Africa by Vusi Mahlasela.[21]
References
- ^ a b c
de Vries, Fred (2008), The Fred de Vries Interviews – From Abdullah to Zille, Wits University Press, p. 325, ISBN 978-1-86814-469-3
- ^ Hubbard, Kim (26 March 1990), "Rian Malan Follows His Troubled Heart Home to South Africa", People, retrieved 6 September 2009
- ^ ISBN 0-8021-3684-2
- ^ a b Adams, Tim (25 March 2007), "The dark heart of the new South Africa", The Observer, retrieved 5 September 2009
- ^ Malan, Rian (25 May 2000), "In the jungle" (PDF), Rolling Stone, retrieved 5 September 2009
- ^ Contreras, Felix (24 April 2006), "Family of 'Lion Sleeps Tonight' writer to get millions", National Public Radio, retrieved 5 September 2009
- ^ Malan, Rian (22 November 2001), "Aids in Africa – in search of the truth", Rolling Stone, retrieved 5 September 2009
- ^ Malan, Rian (14 December 2004), "Africa isn't dying of Aids" (PDF), The Spectator, retrieved 5 September 2009
- ^ Malan, Rian (December 2003), "Apocalypse when?", Noseweek, retrieved 5 September 2009
- ^ Barnett, Tony (25 September 2004), "Aids denial costs lives", The Spectator, retrieved 10 September 2018
- ^ Malan, Rian (February 2007), "Rian Malan's last ever Aids piece (Or so he says)", Noseweek, retrieved 5 September 2009
- ^ "British Film Institute. Film & TV Database. Omnibus: Tales of Ordinary Murder: Rian Malan in South Africa". Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "British Film Institute. Film & TV Database. Great Railway Journeys: Cape Town to the Lost City". Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "British Film Institute. Film & TV Database. Without walls: the last Afrikaner. A search with Rian Malan". Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "British Film Institute. Film & TV Database. A Lion's Trail". Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- The Times, retrieved 6 September 2009[permanent dead link]
- ^ Alien Inboorling Shifty Music/Sony BMG, 2005
- ^ "Albums van die dekade". Beeld. 13 January 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ Gert Vlok Nel and Rian Malan tour to Netherlands and UK, Media Update, 13 Jan 2009
- ^ Die Nagloper, Radio Kalahari Orkes Terraplane Entertainment/Sony BMG, 2007
- ^ Gedye, Lloyd (7 November 2010). "Return of The Voice". Mail & Guardian.