The human spirit is stronger than any government or institution.
The African mind has a lot to contribute, not only to world understanding of the arts, but to an understanding of spiritualism. That is the contribution Africa will make to the world of the future - an injection of sanity into the environment of the universe itself.
A police uniform is just a piece of clothing sewn by the same tailors who sew your clothes.
In America we talk about South Africa, but I tell people that apartheid is nothing compared to what is happening in my country where black oppresses black.
When you start to think of revenge, you start to think of hate. I don't believe in hating people. It's a retrogressive thing.
Music must awaken people to do their duty as citizens and act.
Spiritually speaking, every human being has a destiny and a duty to perform.
When I was young we weren't even allowed to speak our own languages in school. They called it 'vernacular,' as if only English was the real tongue.
I believe in pan-Africanism. This means that in many things - the judiciary, sports, economics and trade - we want Africanism to be involved, which is basically more freedom for the people.
American record companies seem to feel I am antiwestern, anticapitalism, anti the kind of society they like. They think I'm a troublemaker.
The rhythm, the sounds, the tonality, the chord sequences, the individual effect of each instrument and each section of the band - I'm talking about a whole continent in my music.
My ideas are threatening to the government.
Even death doesn't worry me, man. When my mother died it was because she finished her time on earth. I know that when I die I'll see her again, so how can I fear death?
I realized that you cannot think European and want to write or create something African. You have to think African in everything.
I would never run away from my country. Even at the point of death, I doubt I would move out, because what is the point of leaving your own country?
Marriage is a terrible institution, it creates such a regression of the mind.
If I became president now I would immediately pass a law that makes every citizen a policeman or a soldier.
My music has never been a failure.
I'm not your average politician. I believe in higher forces.
It is a false belief to think you can own somebody, I'm out of that now. The man should understand he does not own the woman, and the woman should understand she does not own the man.
