“One evening, late, I found myself in my studio sat down at the keyboard. I played a C chord, put my head back, and immediately, without thinking, I sang the first two lines of the song”: Labi Siffre on the origins of (Something Inside) So Strong

Labi Siffre, The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 5 June 1987 Wembley Arena . (Photo by Solomon N’Jie/Getty Images).

Written in 1984, Labi Siffre’s (Something Inside) So Strong occupies a unique place in musical history. Said to have been Nelson Mandela’s favourite song, it became synonymous with South Africa’s ani-apartheid movement and has served as a source of inspiration to millions during times of struggle.

Now, in a rare interview, Siffre has been discussing how the song came to be. Speaking to The Guardian, he says: “I had just seen this documentary of white soldiers [in South Africa] shooting at black people in the street indiscriminately. I knew I wanted to write a song about apartheid.