Biko (song)
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| "Biko" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Peter Gabriel | ||
| from the album Peter Gabriel | ||
| Released | 1980 | |
| Format | 7-inch | |
| Genre | World music | |
| Length | ?? | |
| Label | Mercury Records | |
| Writer(s) | Peter Gabriel | |
| Producer(s) | Steve Lillywhite | |
| Chart positions | ||
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"Biko" is a protest song by British singer Peter Gabriel, about Steve Biko, a South African anti-apartheid campaigner who died in police custody in 1977. The song was included on his 1980 third album.
"Biko" was first released as a single in 1980, when it reached #38 in the British charts. A live version, recorded in July 1987 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and from the soundtrack of the movie Cry Freedom, was released in 1987, reaching #49.
Simple Minds released a cover version on their 1989 album Street Fighting Years. It was also covered by Joan Baez on her 1987 album Recently and by Manu Dibango on his 1994 album Wakafrika.
Steve Van Zandt stated that he was inspired by this song to write his 1985 anti-apartheid protest song "Sun City", performed by Artists United Against Apartheid.
"Biko" was also featured prominently in the last episode of the first season of Miami Vice titled "Evan".
One line of the lyrics reads "Yihla Moja" which in Xhosa means "Come Spirit".
