Traditional African Languages, Arabic Languages, & Other Sources For Names In The 2018 Black Panther Movie

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: August 21, 2021

Previous title: "Possible Origins & Meanings Of Names From The 2018 Black Panther Movie"

This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series on the 2018 Black Panther American movie.

Part I presents information about the 2018 American movie Black Panther and suggest possible origins and meanings for the names of various characters from that Marvel comic book series and that movie.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/various-african-cultural-elements-that.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases the official trailer for the 2018 Black PantherAmerican movie video and quotes excerpts from five online articles that highlight various African cultural elements that are found in that movie.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/reactions-to-2018-black-panther-movie.html for Part III of this series provides selected comments from a YouTube discussion thread about reactions to the 2018 Black Panther movie from Africans and from people from the African diaspora.

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The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who have created, developed, written, and drawn the comic book series Black Panther character. Thanks also to all those who are associated with the 2018 Black Panther movie. Thanks also to all others who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2018 BLACK PANTHER MOVIE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_(film)
"Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the eighteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Ryan Coogler from a screenplay by him and Joe Robert Cole, and stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serkis. In Black Panther, T'Challa returns home as king of Wakanda but finds his sovereignty challenged by a long-time adversary in a conflict that has global consequences.:...

[...]

Premise
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to Wakanda. But when two enemies conspire to bring down the kingdom, T’Challa must team up, as the Black Panther, with CIA agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje—Wakanda's special forces—to prevent a world war.[3]....

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE ETYMOLOGY OF AFRICAN OR AFRICAN SOUNDING NAMES FROM THE BLACK PANTHER MOVIE
This pancocojams post provides possible origins & meanings for the African names or African sounding names of the main characters in the 2018 Black Panther movie.

This selected list of character names is from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1825683/fullcredits.

For information about these characters, read the Wikipedia article about the Black Panther movie whose link is given above.

I've numbered these names for referencing purposes only.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

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POSSIBLE ORIGINS & MEANINGS OF VARIOUS NAMES FROM THE 2018 BLACK PANTHER COMIC BOOK SERIES AND MOVIE
The name of the actor playing this role is given first followed by the name in that comic series/movie.

1. Chadwick Boseman - "T'Challa" / Black Panther

UPDATE: Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-name-tchalla-in-africa-united.html for an August  2021 pancocojams post entitled "The Name T'Challa In Africa & The United States Prior To The Black Panther Comic Book" for my latest compilation of information/comments about the name "T'Challa". 

I'll leave this older version here for those who want to continue reading this section. 
-snip-
I'm not sure what the name "T'Challa" means. However, I've found the following examples of "Challa" in Africa:

a) The name "T'Challa" may have been based on the actual name of a late 19th century "lesser king" in Angola as documented in the book Six Years of a Traveller's Life in Western Africa by Francisco Travassos Valdez, which was published in 1861.

https://books.google.com/books?id=jewMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA172&lpg=PA172&dq=challa+tribe+africa&source=bl&ots=K7Z6KjzPc6&sig=6A793jD4tmnsfZWClT9Q_bRMqyU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt9pGFxYDZAhVC7FMKHaiDBO04ChDoAQg6MAY#v=onepage&q=challa%20tribe%20africa&f=false

Francisco Travassos Valdez, the Portuguese author of Six Years of a Traveller's Life in Western Africa, writes that his journey in Africa "commenced in 1852". Discussion of King Challa (termed the great king Challa at one point in this book) is found in chapter VI.. Challa's name is given earlier in that chapter, but the main portion that refers to him and his people is found on pages 192-211.

King Challa is also mentioned in the more widely known book The Golden Bough:
Google Books Result
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=162558251X
James Frazer - 2013 - ‎History
"The Matiamvo is a great king or emperor in the interior of Angola. One of the inferior kings of the country, by name Challa, gave to a Portuguese expedition the following account of the manner in which the Matiamvo comes by his end”...
[WARNING: That 1861 book and the passage from that book which is quoted in The Golden Bough contains graphic descriptions of slaughter.]
-snip-
"In the context of this quote "inferior kings " means "lesser kings" who owed submission to the great king" (in that region). That great king and all of his people-including his lesser kings-were formally under the control of the Portuguese, in large part because the Portuguese's guns "vomited death".

b) "Lake Chala, also known as Dschalla,[1] is a crater lake in a caldera[2] on the borders of Kenya and Tanzania on the eastern edge of Mount Kilimanjaro"...
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Chala
-snip-
"Lake Chala" is also given as "Lake Challa"

c) name of an ethnic group in Nigeria's Plateau State
From http://allafrica.com/stories/201306210697.html 21 JUNE 2013
Daily Trust (Abuja)
"Nigeria: Plateau - Fulani, Challa to Form Vigilante Group
Jos — Fulani, Challa and other tribes in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State have resolved to form a joint vigilante group to help restore peace to the area.

This was contained in a communique presented at the end of a stakeholders meeting between the joint security committee and relevant stakeholders from Bokkos Local Government Area in Jos yesterday. The meeting which was chaired by the commander of the Special Task Force (STF), Major General Henry Ayoola, resolved that measures must be put in place to regulate the influx of illegal immigrants into the state for peace to be sustained."..
-snip-
UPDATE March 7, 2018
Here's another African name that is quite similar to the name "TChalla":
From https://www.last.fm/music/Tshala+Muana
"Tshala Muana is a [female] singer from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She began her career as a dancer for the great Zairian singer Abeti Massikini, practising "mutwashi" dances from the Kasai region. In the 80's she began performing as a singer. She has enjoyed success in several West African countries, more so than in her own country."...
-end of quote-
Also, "tshala" is Zulu word that means "sow"/"plant" and is the title of a contemporary South African Gospel song. https://africangospellyrics.com/2013/01/15/tshala-sowplant-by-sphumelele-and-joyous-celebration-16/

I don't know whether any of the information given here had any influence on the selection of the name TChalla as the name for the 1966 Black Panther comic book character (and later the name for the movie character).
-snip-
ADDED: March 13, 2018: The traditional African word "tshala" and name "Tshala" appears to be pronounced with a silent "t", but the "t" is pronounced in the name of the fictional character "T'Challa".
-snip-
ADDED:
"T'Challa" is a Togolese (West African) surname.
T'Challa is listed as the 26th most common surname in Togo, West Africa in this forebear.com list of  most common Togolese surnames names: https://forebears.io/togo/surnames

Here's more information about that last name from https://forebears.io/surnames/tchalla;
"The meaning of this surname is not listed.

[T'Challa is the] 30,791^st Most Common surname in the World

Approximately 17,344 people bear this surname

MOST PREVALENT IN:

Togo

HIGHEST DENSITY IN:

Togo”
-snip-
Here's an except about the name Tchalla that predates the Black Panther  comic bookmovie character's name:
From https://www.names.org/n/tchalla/about

…"Fun Facts about the name Tchalla

How Popular is the name Tchalla?

Tchalla is the 79,216th most popular name of all time.

How many people with the first name Tchalla have been born in the United States?

From 1880 to 2019, the Social Security Administration has recorded 8 babies born with the first name Tchalla in the United States.

What year were 5 or more babies first named Tchalla?

The name was first given to 5 or more babies in the year 1975 when it was given as a first name to 8 new born babies.

When was Tchalla first recorded in the United States?

The oldest recorded birth by the Social Security Administration for the first name Tchalla is Monday, November 6th, 1961.

What year had the most people named Tchalla born?

The highest recorded use of the first name Tchalla was in 1975 with a total of 8 babies.

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Here's information about a contemporary soccer player (footballer) whose last name is T'Challa:

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Tchalla
"Vincent Orode Tchalla (born 7 October 1987) is a Nigerian-Togolese football striker, who plays for Akanda FC.

Career

Tchalla began his career by ASKO Kara and joined in summer 2008 to Tunisia who signed for Club Africain, he scored in his first season in the CLP-1 five goals,[1] on 21 November 2008 turned back after visa problems.[2] Tchalla signed for the 2009 season for Club Athlétique Bizertin a loan contract and will turned back in January 2010 to Club Africain.[3]

International career

Tchalla was called up on 20 November 2008 for a friendly game for the Togo national game against Rwanda national football team.[4]

Full name            Vincent Orode Tchalla

Date of birth       7 October 1987 (age 33)

Place of birth      Kaduna, Nigeria

Height   1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Position(s)          Striker”…
-end of August 21, 2021 Update-

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2. Lupita Nyong'o - "Nakia"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakia_(name)
"Nakia is a unisex given name of Arabic origin, meaning "pure" and "faithful."[1]"

From http://www.muslimnames.info/name/nakia
"Nakia

The meaning of the name Nakia is Pure, faithful"
-snip-
Note that a lot of contemporary African American female names are from Arabic, or Swahili, or from other language sources, including newly coined African American names end with "a" (pronounced "ah").

**
3. Danai Gurira - "Okoye"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okoye
"Okoye is a family name (surname) originating in Nigeria. It is an Anambra dialect derived from the central Igbo name Okorie (meaning someone born on orie market day).
Okoye
Pronunciation uh-KOY-ay
Origin
Region of origin: Nigeria
Language(s) Igbo"...

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4. Daniel Kaluuya - W'Kabi
It's possible that the name "Kabi" is a clip of the Arabic male name "Kabir" (prefaced by a "W" + an apostrophe.
Here's information about the name "Kabir" from http://quranicnames.com/kabir/
"Meaning of Kabir
Kabir is an Arabic name for boys that means “great”, “powerful”, “leader”. It is used 40 times in the Quran."
-snip-
The Arabic male name "Kabir" is also spelled "Kabeer".

**
5. Angela Bassett - "Ramonda"
Ramonda is a variant form of the female name "Ramona". Inserting a "d" in the name "Ramona" gives this name a contemporary African American feel (as adding a "d" or a "da" [pronounced "dah"] suffix to a name is one way that African Americans coin names; example "Towanda" [instead of "Towana"] and "Shalonda".

Here's information about the name "Ramona" from https://nameberry.com/babyname/Ramona
"Gender: F Meaning of Ramona: "wise protector" Origin of Ramona: Spanish, feminine variation of Ramon"
-snip-
Also, it occurs to me that the name "Ramonda" is similar to the currently popular Igbo female name
Chimamanda", meaning "God knows" (nickname "Amanda"). A famous Nigerian with this name is novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Read my comments below about the close similarity between the name "Wakanda" for the fictional African nation and the name "Uganda" and "Rwanda" for real African nations.
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6. Forest Whitaker - "Zuri"
a) From http://www.ohbabynames.com/meaning/name/zuri/2350#.WnDziqinHcs
"Zuri - Baby Girl Name Meaning and Origin | Oh Baby! Names
Zuri is a name used among African-Americans as a way of celebrating their heritage; Zuri is the Swahili name for “beautiful”. After consulting a Swahili dictionary, we also came upon other following definitions: good, nice, pretty, lovely, cute and attractive."
-snip-
Although the name "Zuri" is usually used among African American as a female name, it also has been given to African American males.

b) From https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/zuri-el/
"Zuri-el
Zuri-el [N] [E] [H]
(my rock is God ) son of Abihail, and chief of the Merarite Levites at the time of the exodus. ( Numbers 3:35 )"

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7. Letitia Wright - "Shuri"
a) This name may have been coined by rhyming the Swahili name "Zuri". The etymology of the name "Shuri"

b) https://www.behindthename.com/name/shuri/submitted
Given Name SHURI
GENDER: Feminine & Masculine
USAGE: Japanese

[..]

Meaning & History
From Japanese 秋 (shu) meaning "autumn" combined with 里 (ri) meaning "village". Other kanji combinations are possible."

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8. Winston Duke - "M'Baku"
Here are some possible sources for the name "M'Baku" (minus that name's beginning consonant and apostrophe)
a) http://babynames.merschat.com/name-meaning.cgi?bn_key=32606
"Baku is a Japanese name for boys meaning “A good spirit known as the eater of dreams”

b) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannesburg
"Johannesburg … also known as Jozi, Joburg and Egoli) is the largest city in South Africa and is one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world.[8] It is the provincial capital and largest city in Gauteng, which is the wealthiest province in South Africa.[9] While Johannesburg is not one of South Africa's three capital cities, it is the seat of the Constitutional Court. The city is located in the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills and is the centre of large-scale gold and diamond trade."...

b) From https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/11/theres-a-company-exclusively-selling-licensed-jobu-figurines-from-major-league
"Jobu is of course the voodoo doll of big-hitting Cuban refugee Pedro Cerrano in the 1989 film, [Major League](played by Dennis Haysber"...

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10. John Kani - "King T'Chaka"
a) From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka
"Shaka kaSenzangakhona (c. 1787 – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka[a] Zulu..., was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom.

[...]

The figure of Shaka still sparks interest among not only the contemporary Zulu but many worldwide who have encountered the tribe and its history. The current tendency appears to be to lionise him; popular film and other media have certainly contributed to his appeal. Certain aspects of traditional Zulu culture still revere the dead monarch, as the typical praise song below attests. The praise song is one of the most widely used poetic forms in Africa, applying not only to spirits but to men, animals, plants and even towns.[42]

Other Zulu sources are sometimes critical of Shaka, and numerous negative images abound in Zulu oral history. When Shaka's mother Nandi died for example, the monarch ordered a massive outpouring of grief including mass executions, forbidding the planting of crops or the use of milk, and the killing of all pregnant women and their husbands. Oral sources record that in this period of devastation, a singular Zulu, a man named Gala, eventually stood up to Shaka and objected to these measures, pointing out that Nandi was not the first person to die in Zululand. Taken aback by such candid talk, the Zulu king is supposed to have called off the destructive edicts, rewarding the blunt teller-of-truths with a gift of cattle.[10]

The figure of Shaka thus remains an ambiguous one in African oral tradition, defying simplistic depictions of the Zulu king as a heroic, protean nation builder on one hand, or a depraved monster on the other. This ambiguity continues to lend the image of Shaka its continued power and influence, almost two centuries after his death.[25]

He is Shaka the unshakeable,
Thunderer-while-sitting, son of Menzi
He is the bird that preys on other birds,
The battle-axe that excels over other battle-axes in sharpness,
He is the long-strided pursuer, son of Ndaba,
Who pursued the sun and the moon.
He is the great hubbub like the rocks of Nkandla
Where elephants take shelter
When the heavens frown...

Traditional Zulu praise song, English translation by Ezekiel Mphahlele"...

b) From https://www.behindthename.com/name/shaka/submitted
"Given Name SHAKA
GENDER: Masculine
USAGE: History
PRONOUNCED: SHAH-kah
OTHER FORMS: Tshaka, Tchaka, Chaka

[...]

Meaning & History
Allegedly derived from Zulu iShaka or uShaka, the name of an intestinal beetle that causes abdominal bloating and menstrual irregularities. Shaka is the name of the most influential Zulu warrior king, supposedly given because his unmarried mother blamed her pregnancy symptoms on the iShaka beetle. (Zulu names often refer to the situation of the bearer's family when he or she was born.)"
-snip-
"TShaka" is also spelled "T'Shaka".

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11. Florence Kasumba - "Ayo"
"Ayo" is a Yoruba (Nigeria) unisex name element meaning “joy”
Here are some examples of this name element from http://www.allthingsnigeria.com/2011/male-yoruba-baby-names-beginning-with-a/
"Ayo-Joy
Ayoade - The Blessed Crown
Ayobami - Wealth Meet Me
Ayobamidele - My Joy Follow Me Home
Ayobamiji -Joy Wakes Up With Me
Ayodeji - Twice The Joy / My Joy Is Doubled
Ayodele - Joy Arrives Home

**
12. Sydelle Noel - "Dora Milajes" #1 / "Xoliswa"
"Xoliswa" is a female name from the nation of South Africa and the nation of Zimbabwe (and perhaps other nations in the Southern Africa region).
Here's some information about that name or examples of that name
a) From http://www.thisismybabyname.com/listings/xoliswa-ndebele-zimbabwe-baby-girl-name/
"Name-xoliswa
Origin-Ndebele
Country-Zimbabwe
Meaning-forgiveness
Gender-Girl
xoliswa is a Baby Girl name of Ndebele origin meaning forgiveness."

b) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OciLYkisNW4
"Xoliswa Ndoyiya - Nelson Mandelas Personal Chef since 1992"
Steve Kokor, Published on Mar 9, 2013

C) From https://www.names.org/n/xoliswa/about
“A user from South Africa says the name Xoliswa is of Xhosa-African origin and means "Peace".”
-snip-
"Dora #1" refers to the fictional "Dora Milajes"
From http://www.slashfilm.com/who-are-the-dora-milaje/
Who Are the Dora Milaje? What You Need to Know About the Badass Women of ‘Black Panther’
Posted on Thursday, February 15th, 2018 by Jazmine Joyner

"Supermodels to Soldiers
Christopher Priest, the comic book writer touted as “The Man Who Made Black Panther Cool,” says he based the Dora Milaje on supermodels Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell: “The first time we see [Black Panther] is not in the costume, but in Armani silk with a shaved head, flanked by Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell – famous models the Dora Milaje were based upon.”

When they first appeared in the comics, the Dora Milaje looked very much like their model inspirations, with long flowing hair, fabulous flowing dresses, and high heels. They were a far cry from how they’re now seen in the new Marvel film and recent comic book iterations. Clad in full armor, wearing face paint, and rocking shaved heads, these women are presented as true soldiers.

Comic Book Origins
The first appearance of the Dora Milaje was in Marvel Comics’ Black Panther #1, written by Christopher Priest with art by Mark Texeira. Prior to that, there were warrior women present in Black Panther comics, but they weren’t officially Dora Milaje until Priest took over.

On his blog, Priest talks about how the idea of the Dora Milaje evolved out of the need to show the discord in Wakanda: “The concept of the Dora Milaje (Wakandan for ‘Adored Ones’) evolved out of the brilliant work of Panther scribe Don McGregor, who theorized Wakanda was actually made up of a great many indigenous tribes, and that not all tribes liked each other.”

The hero and king, constantly trying to keep the peace, decides to have girls from each of his nation’s tribes sent to the Golden City to unite as an army and protect Wakanda and the Royal Family. The Dora Milaje exist in the comics as visual representations of the peace and strife within T’Challa’s home."...
-snip-
Click http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Dora_Milaje_(Earth-616) for more information about the Dora Milajes.

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13. "Jabari" (fictional tribe/ethnic group)
From http://www.ohbabynames.com/meaning/name/jabari/2062#.Worb9Kjwbcs
"Jabari is a masculine name popularized by African-Americans. It comes from the Swahili language and means “the brave one” (i.e., fearless). Swahili is an East African language spoken primarily in the counties of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. African naming customs (like many cultures around the world) reflect the hopes and the dreams of the parents for their children. With a name like Jabari, parents are wishing bravery upon their sons.

Popularity of the Name Jabari
Jabari first appeared on the American male naming charts in 1974 which coincides with a time when African-Americans began to look toward African names (particularly Swahili) in keeping with their own ancestral heritage. Since Jabari is almost exclusively used within the African-American community (roughly 14% of the U.S. population), the name hasn’t climbed too far up the charts. His peak popularity was actually in 2006 at position #608 on the charts (pretty respectable considering the name gets a smaller audience). Today Jabari is back down at the bottom of the Top 1000 boy’s naming list, but we think high school basketball phenom Jabari Parker might change all that in the coming years. We expect Parker to bring some national media attention to his unusual yet powerful name."...
-snip-
The Swahili name "Jabari" (pronounced jah-BAH- re) comes from the Arabic male name "Jabbar" meaning "mighty; brave" https://imuslim.name/2014-meaning-Jabbar-muslim-arabic-names.html.
-snip-
UPDATE: I haven't found a traditional African language origin/meaning for the "N'Jadaka", the given name of Erik Killmonger portrayed by Michael B. Jordan. My guess is that this is a contemporary made up name which fits the science fiction custom of using an apostrophe for African and other "exotic" names, and also fits the American preference for names beginning with"J".

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ADDENDUM #1: MORE COMMENTS ABOUT SOME OF THESE NAMES
Some of these names are actual names from certain traditional African languages (and Arabic*) or are clips (a portion), or other forms of those names.

Given in no particular order, those languages and names are:

1. "Zuri" - Swahili

2. "T'Shaka" Zulu

3. "Okoye" - Igbo ("Okoye")

4. "Ayo"- Yoruba

5. "Xoliswa" - Xhosa/Ndebele

6. "Nakia" - Arabic

7. "Kabi" is a clip of the Arabic name "Kabir"
-snip-
*Note that Arabic has been spoken in North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa for centuries before European colonization of those regions. As such, Arabic could be considered a "traditional" African language.

**
Some names in the Black Panther movie follow -the longstanding custom by science fiction and fantasy writers of giving "apostrophe names" to signal exoticism ("T'Challa", "T'Shaka", "M'Baku", "and "W'Kabi")

**
The African American's long standing preference for the sound "sh" or "ch" may have influenced the selection of the names "T'Challa", "T' Shaka", and "Shuri"

**
The name T'Challa may be a variant form of a East African geographical name; the name of a Nigeria ethnic group, and/or the name of a historical king in Angola (also given as "Western Africa), and/or name of a lake in Tanzania/Kenya - ("Challa" as in the name "T'Challa)

**
The name "Shuri" may be a variant name "Zuri" or may have been created by rhyming an a "real" (already existing) name ("Shuri" rhymes with "Zuri")

Alternatively, the name "Shuri" may be a clip of a Hebrew (Biblical) name ("Zuri-el" for the name "Zuri")

**
The name for the fictional nation "Wakanda" also rhymes with the names of the real African nations of Uganda and Rwanda. The made up name "Wakanda" also rhymes with Kinyarwanda", the official language of Rwanda.

"Wakanda" also sounds a lot like "Luanda", the name of the capital and largest city in Angola. Among the other real African names that end with "anda" or "da" is the currently popular Igbo female name "Chimamanda" and its nickname "Amanda". ("Chimamanda" is the first name of the highly acclaimed Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.)

The name "Wakanda" is also similar to the name "Zamunda", the fictional African nation in the 1988 American movie Coming To America, starring Eddie Murphy.

**
The name "Ramonda" "sounds like" an African American variant form of a Spanish female name or is actually an African American variant name ("Ramonda"); also consider the name that was given to this fictional African nation - "Wakanda".

**
The name "N'Jobu" may have its source in "Joburg". "Joburg" is the nickname of "Johannesburg".

Alternatively, the name "N'Jobu" may be a variant form of the name of a Voodoo doll figurine from the 1989 movie Major League.

**
The name "M'Baku" may be a form of the Japanese name "Baku".

Alternatively, the name "Baku" may be a form of the name of an Azerbaijan city ("M'Baku")

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ADDENDUM #2: EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE ABOUT APOSTROPHES IN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY BOOKS
From https://www.tor.com/2013/08/27/apostrophes-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy-names/ Apostrophes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Names" by Mignon Fogarty, Tue Aug 27, 2013
...."Who Started Using Apostrophes in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Names?

Apostrophes in science fiction and fantasy names are often attributed to Anne McCaffrey, whose popular Dragonriders of Pern series included character names such as F’lar. Dragonflight, the first book in the series was published in 1968, but appeared in short story form in Analog science fiction magazine in late 1967. Although McCaffrey may have been extraordinarily influential in popularizing this use of the apostrophe, I did find a few earlier examples:

1955—J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter), character introduced in Detective Comics #225

[...]

1965—Muad’Dib, creature and constellation in Frank Herbert’s Dune
1967—T’Pau and T’Pring, characters in Star Trek episode “Amok Time” by Theodore Sturgeon

[...]

Even though McCaffrey wasn’t the first author to use apostrophes to give her characters an exotic feel, the popularity of her books did seem to boost the idea. A few years later, in 1969, Roger Zelazny (another popular author who probably helped solidify the trend) wrote about a race of people called the Pei’ans and a place called D’donori.

Note: Commenters have pointed out and I have confirmed that H.P. Lovecraft used apostrophes in names much earlier. The earliest character name I found with an apostrophe was Pth’thya-l’ya in his 1936 novella The Shadow over Innsmouth. The earliest general name I found with an apostrophe was the city R’yleh in his short story “The Call of Cthullhu.”

[...]

In fact, although my search wasn’t exhaustive, the earliest example I could find of a character in science fiction or fantasy whose name had an apostrophe was the Frenchman Paul D’Arnot in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ book Tarzan of the Apes, which was first published in a magazine in 1912.3

Maybe American authors such as McCaffrey and Zelazny thought European or Arabic names were a little more exotic and drew on that for their characters’ names, and it’s also worth noting that McCaffrey was of Irish descent and had such strong ties that she actually moved to Ireland later in life, so perhaps she was influenced by all those O’Sullivans and O’Connors.”...
-snip-
This author also speculates that the new American state of Hawaii in 1959 with locations that included apostrophe spellings ("including the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, O‘ahy, Kaho‘olawe, Lana‘i, Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, and Ni‘ihau") also influenced the use of apostrophe in names for science fiction and fantasy writings to denote exotic characters.

As Mignon Fogarty mentioned in this article, a number of Arabic given names include apostrophes. And, from my admittedly limited research, it seems to me that Irish, French, and Arabic names include more apostrophes than traditional African language names.

With regard to this pancocojams post about the "African names" from the 2018 Black Panther movie, except for the name T'Shaka, I've disregarded the consonent + apostrophe beginning of those names, and focused on "sussing" out the remaining part of those names.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Excerpt From A 1997 Article About Isicathamiya Music (The Music Style Popularized By Ladysmith Black Mambazo)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents an excerpt from the online page entitled "Articles from the 1997 Festival of American Folklife Program Book. That article is entitled "Songs of the Night: Isicathamiya Choral Music from KwaZulu Natal" by Angela Impey.

The Addendum to this article showcases a YouTube video of an isicathamiya competition.

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

I present excerpts of online articles on this blog to raise awareness of those articles. Pancocojams visitors are encouraged to read the entire article and those article's source material.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all members of isicathamiya choirs. Thanks also to Angela Impey, and all others who are quoted in this post. Also, thanks to the choirs that are featured in this embedded YouTube video and thanks to the publisher of that video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click the isicathamiya tag below to find more pancocojams post about this South African music genre.

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EXCERPT: SONGS OF THE NIGHT: ISICATHAMIYA CHORAL MUSIC FROM KWAZULU NATAL
by Angela Impey

https://folklife.si.edu/resources/Festival1997/songsof.htm
..."STYLISTIC HISTORY OF ISICATHAMIYA

The origins of isicathamiya are rooted in American minstrelsy and ragtime. U.S. vaudeville troupes such as Orpheus McAdoo and his Virginia Jubilee Singers toured South Africa extensively from 1890, inspiring the formation of numerous Black South African groups whose imitation of crude black-face troupes, song repertoire, and musical instruments signaled notions of cultural progress and self-improvement.

Even earlier, the educated, landed Black elite, or amakholwa (believers), whose Christian missionary education instilled in them the desire to imitate all things British, performed choral singing (imusic) - one of the main symbols of identification with Victorian values. Sankey and Moody urban revival hymns learned from the hymnal of the American Board Missions were central to the repertoire.

The Native Lands Act (1913) prohibited Black property ownership and forced thousands of indigenous peoples from their ancestral land. This devastating piece of legislation led to increasing political repression of all Black South Africans, regardless of educational, religious, and class status. In response, religious hymns were replaced with minstrelsy and other forms of African-American music and dance, as these performance models were considered better suited to emerging discourses of Black social and political dissent. The combination of four-part hymnody (imusic) and minstrelsy (and, later, "traditional" Zulu music) thus became the basis of much subsequent Black popular music in South Africa.

One individual who made a significant contribution toward exploring expressive forms able to satisfy an emerging nationalist, Black identity was Reuben Caluza. A choral composer who emerged from a Presbyterian mission background in KwaZulu Natal, his musical education spanned the whole spectrum of Black performance (Erlmann 1991:118). Although not an overtly political man, Caluza lived with strong commitment to Christian values and was sensitive to social injustice. His convictions became the main inspirational source for his songs. His first composition, "Silusapho Lwase Africa" (We Are the Children of Africa), was adopted in 1913 as the first theme of the South African Native National Congress, the precursor of today's African National Congress. Caluza's use of four-part harmonies and melodies taken from European and American hymn tunes, coupled with Zulu lyrics, did not simply imitate White choral music but "expressed the new relationships and values of urban groups, who expected fuller participation in the social and political life of the community into which they had been drawn economically" (Blacking 1980:198 in Erlmann 1991:121).

Caluza directed the Ohlange Institute Choir, which he toured extensively and which people of all classes and identities came to hear. His concerts, considered one of the earliest forms of variety shows for Black performers, combined imusic, brass bands, film shows, ballroom dancing, traditional drum-and-reed ensembles, and back-to-back dances (Erlmann 1991:122). Significantly, Caluza introduced ragtime into his repertoire. Although black-face minstrelsy groups had existed for a number of years and had come to be known as coons (isikhunsi), Caluza's ragtime renditions, which combined slick dance action with Zulu topical lyrics, more vigorously represented nationalist sentiments through their positive images of the ideal Black urbanite (Erlmann 1991:159).

RURAL-URBAN COMMUNITIES

By the 1920s, minstrel shows had gained widespread popularity throughout South Africa, extending deep into remote parts of the countryside, where traditional performance practices remained relatively unaltered. These shows particularly impressed Zulu migrant workers from the KwaZulu Natal regions, who combined stylistic elements of minstrelsy performance with ingoma (dance characterized by forward-stretching hands and high-kicking footwork) and izingoma zomtshado (Zulu wedding songs closely related in structure to ingoma songs) to form the prototype of present-day isicathamiya song and dance.

The vast number of Zulu men who entered the migrant labor system were made to occupy the marginal spaces of the cities: squalid, single-sex hostels, compounds, and impoverished locations. City dwelling demanded creative responses to the dislocation from home and family and to the new experiences of everyday life. With urban development in South Africa, Blacks formed trade unions, sports organizations, and entertainment clubs. Zulu isicathamiya groups developed a complex network of weekly competitions; they were prescribed and stately occasions, organized around set pieces, as had been the convention of school and mission competitions. Choral groups comprised men who shared regional and kinship ties. While isicathamiya competitions may have originated in Durban and KwaZulu Natal, they soon emerged among Zulu migrants in Johannesburg, where performances took on subtle stylistic differences.

The organization of choirs and the repertoire of actions, dance, and songs which characterized isicathamiya performance did not merely represent creative adaption and straddling of rural and urban, traditional and Western worlds. Rather, choirs and the web of competitions which held them in place became an important survival strategy for migrants in an increasingly fragmented and alienated existence.

"We're here and suffering," sing the Nthuthuko Brothers, "just as we come from difficulties in Zululand.... we're going up and down, between town and homeland.... We're going here and there, riding the train, see you later my sweetheart" (Meintjes 1993:4).

THE SACRED DIMENSIONS OF ISICATHAMIYA

Isicathamiya song repertoire spans a wide range of styles and orientations, ranging from Zulu wedding songs to renditions of Beach Boys hits. However, basic to the performance genre is an underlying Christian commitment - expressed not only in frequent references to biblical texts and Christian hymn texture but also in the ritual action which patterns the competition. Choir members will customarily congregate in tight circles prior to a competition and pray for spiritual direction during their upcoming performance. (The gathering of men into tight circles with the leader in their midst also recalls isihaya, the cattle enclosure in a traditional village. Being the most sacred space in the homestead, it is considered a powerful, male domain where men likewise request guidance and spiritual strength from ancestors prior to going to war [Erlmann 1996:190]).

[...]

Angela Impey is a South African ethnomusicologist presently lecturing at the University of Natal, Durban. She received her doctorate from Indiana University in 1992, worked as music coordinator of the Johannesburg International Arts Alive Festival, and has worked with numerous outreach programs in southern Africa to facilitate research, documentation, and performance of indigenous music.

Works Cited

Erlmann, Veit. 1996. Nightsong: Performance, Power, and Practice in South Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

_______. 1991. African Stars: Studies in Black South African Performance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Meintjes, Louise. 1993. "The Hobo Judge Wears No Coat Tails; Zulu Choristers Do." Unpublished paper."

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ADDENDUM: YOUTUBE VIDEO ABOUT ISICATHIMIYA

Amazing Zulu ISICATHAMIYA choirs




VIVIDPRO, Published on Feb 27, 2009

Zulu Isicathamiya choirs
-snip-
Here are a few comments exchange from this video's discussion thread:

Mabonga Khumalo, 2010
"i'm so glad this sacred music have been protected to survive the attack of modern day vultures. as a proud Zulu, it is a privilege & honour to finally see this old traditional music being airwaved on the internet for the whole world to enjoy. i use to go YMCA, during my time in Johannesburg to watch real men competing on a saturday night. well dressed, caring a lot of respect with them. may this legacy be protected for the next generation. thanks for posting.

**
Peter Gibbs, 2013
"I had a chance to see one of these competitions in Durban... it lasted all night and included a fashion show. I think I sitll have some of it filmed, but I had the sense during my time in Durban that the culture (especially the musical culture) was on the verge of being swalled up by modernity... I heard some of the older kids sing in one of the schools there as well. You just can't not smile. :)"

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REPLY

VIVIDPRO, 2013
"Hey Peter, Thanks for the comment. Yeah! thats why I did this video, unfortunately this cappella style of singing is quietly dis-intergrating with all the Kwaito, Afro beat and House taking over in the dance halls but at least at this stage, there is still a national competition held once a year where these back room basement choirs gather for competition to prove who the best choir is.....going to try to film that this year." 

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Comments From Around The World About The Performance Of "Hi Hanya Mahala" By South Africa's Joyous Celebration Choir

MYJoyousCelebration, August 9, 2019

Music video by Joyous Celebration performing Hi Hanya Mahala (Live at Carnival City, 2012). (C) 2012 Sony Music Entertainment Africa (Pty) Ltd/Joyous Celebration

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on South Africa's Joyous Celebration choir and the Xitsonga (Shangaan) song "Hi Hanya Mahala".

This post showcases a video of Joyous Celebration singing "Hi Hanya Mahala". This post also features examples of comments from this YouTube video's discussion thread which document the global reach of this song and highlight the appreciation that people around the world feel for this song and for other Joyous Celebration songs.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/south-africas-joyous-celebration-choir_28.html for Part I of this series showcases a video of a Joyous Celebration choir (South Africa) featuring soloist Mercy Ndlovu singing her composition "Hi Hanya Mahala".

Part I also provides information about Joyous Celebration and information about Shangaan (Xitsonga) language.

Part I also includes selected comments from this video's discussion thread about the Joyous Celebration choir, that song and soloist, and/or that performance. The lyrics to that song in Xitsonga (Shangaan) is also included in these comments along with these lyrics'English translation.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Joyous Celebration and soloist Mercy Ndlovu for their music.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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Click the "Joyous Celebration" tag below for more pancocojams posts about this South African choir.

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE
Update- August 20, 2024
Part I and Part II of this pancocojams series showcases a no longer available YouTube video of this same performance. I replaced that video with the one that is found in this post and In Part II.

The selected comments that are included in these posts (from 2012 through 2018) are from the first YouTube video that I embedded.

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These comments about this song are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

Usually only one comment per nation is featured in this compilation, but I included more than one comment from commenters in a few countries.

2012
1. Tonganpianist
"can someone translate the chorus into english?
bcos i want to rewrite the song into english..... the pacific islanders love this african groove! bless"

**
2. Imah Otejiri
"@noZA67 what is your definition of Godly fearing women covering....nothing wrong with what they are wearing you need deliverance from ur own seduction....joyous celebration you have been an inspiration to me and my choir over here in ukraine don't let those who criticize u bring u down cos if they can do what you are doing now we should have been watching them right now on youtube"
-snip-
This comment was written in response to commenters who criticized the way that some of the female choir members dressed.

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2013
3. Charity Dell
"AMEN, ma soeur de Ayiti! I am African-american and I LOVE the South African choral sound in praise music. All African people--including their New World cousins--praise God with ALL our might! PRAISE GOD for pouring out His Spirit upon ALL nations! HALLELUJAH!"
-snip-
"Ma soeur de Ayiti" means "my sister from Haiti. The commenter may have mistakenly believed that the soloist is from Haiti, but she is from South Africa.

**
REPLY
4. TheLoxionKasie
"Hey Charity. The language is Xitsonga (Shee-Tso-nga). South Africa."

**
5. Wynnefern Thenor
"I am Haitian- American and really have no idea of the meaning of the words however being part of the Body of Christ ,i.e being a Christian, I can feel the power of this song. The gospel knows no boundaries (which is why we might not understand the words but still be moved by these wonderful expression of praise and worship)...the Holy Spirit ministers to ALL and reveal itself throughout all nations"

**
6. jolly chick
"I'm from Trinidad and Tobago so I def am not understanding a word!!! Buttt I'm always blessed by this song, to the point I'm singing it in my own way~~~lool~~ I prefer a free Jesus over one I have to pay for~~~ Hallelujahhhhhhh......"

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2014

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2015
7. Michelle Clayton
"I'm Jamaican. Don't know a word of the song but loving it!!!"

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REPLY
8. IsaiahRaymondShares
"+Michelle Clayton HAHAHA My Mum is Jamaican and i feel the same! I LOVE IT and play it suh till LOL!"

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REPLY
9. Michelle Clayton
"Thumbs up! We know a good thing when we hear it!"

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REPLY
10. IsaiahRaymondShares
"+Michelle Clayton 100% Tru ting!! :D"

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2016
11. Bongisa Mzilikazi
"I am south African and am loving this song super"

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12. dora miracle17
"love it so much from Uganda"

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13. Irene Ezine
"this song is beatifful I love but I don't enderstend because I am french glory of god and god bless you"

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14. peace Agbonba
"Am a Nigerian but I hear did song like 20 Times a day"

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15. shanique williams
"am from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and i love this song even though it is not english"

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16. DAVID GACHANJA
"David from Kenya Nairobi and i love the song ,though words not known"

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17. Alexandre Jose
"Listening DIrectily From Mozambique.....All i can find from Joyous celebration"

Living for free in JESUS... Glory

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18. Valerie mashoko
"I love this song so much , much love from Zimbabwe"

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19. donnafatbaby
"enjoying this music all the way in Grenada in the Caribbean. i cant get enough of it!!!! i cannot understand the song but i love it"

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20. blessing inyang
"Am also a praise and worship leader here in South Korea but a Nigerian. My heart is filled with so much joy and my spirit is so much elevated by this ministration and I believe that the Heavens are happy too"

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21. Baby Love [written in response to one of the commenters who added the lyrics to this song in that YouTube discussion thread]
"+Mahlatse Mashala Amen to these lyrics of truth! May God Bless his servants in Africa!! Much Love from New Zealand!! #NeedToDoAnEnglishVersionItWouldSoundBomb!!!"

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22. Kiva Karmen
"I am American and I don't understand the words but I just want to cry when I hear this song! They sound like my family when we use to work in the fields in South."

**
23. Bishaar Ali
"am from Sudan l don't know this word but I like that song and God bless them"

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24. Donald Gyimah
"I am a Ghanaian and have never been to Zimbabwe but i know Joyous Celebration and love their songs. God bless you and keep the fire burning"

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REPLY
25. CHESTER MUDZIMUWAONA
"joyous celebration is South African based"

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2017
26. Wanyenze
"This sounds so much like Runyakole (west Uganda) especially "na kuhanyisa" and "alokose" "

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27. Elizabeth Severino
"am from Tanzania I don't know this word but I like that song for the first time and I love these Song"

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28. kefas John
"Though I don't understand the lyrics but what a swt song for sure! Love from Nigeria"

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29. Mutoni Dorothy
"Bless you . From Rwanda ."

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30. Magano Eendunge Ingo
"Loving the song from the very first I heard it even when I had not seen the English translation of it. God bless...from Namibia"

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31. Anna Bree
"I am from Mauritius and i dont understand à single words but still dansing and praising God"

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32. Theresia Joku
"I'm west papuan and I love the way Africans praise.. I even find music from that area lifts me up off my feet.. the way they praise reminds me of my people back home in Papua, Indonesia.. 👍☺😊"

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33. Yaoutiomene Dieudonne
"My soul is uplifted with the inspiring songs of praise and worship from South Africa, to God be the glory. Dieudonne from Cameroon"

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34. Yerevan Naypyidaw
"God bless from Canada"

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35. WENISCH EJ CINEMATOGRAPHER
"Am from Sierra Leone , Though i don't understand the words but i love the song so much, how i wish understand the language, but i don't mind still in the spirit"

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36. Jz Jamin
"I am a Barbadian And Africans are our descendants but I can’t under a word but I love the song and the beat"

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37. REPLY
Mwafrika Mkenya
"Jz Jamin We are your ancestors not descendants, you descend from us, not the other way round"

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REPLY
38. Jz Jamin, 2018
"I know."

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39. Karen Alapati
"Wow this is so uplifting and makes me wanna join in praising with them super inspired and so refreshing. Love how God calls everyone to worship him! A am a Samoa and we love being inspired by other people's worship and learning their genre and tempo 😍 God bless you all and keep on lifting the name of Jesus in your worship!! ❤"

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2018
40. Oula Lauria
"Am from ivory coast ,am so happy when i hear this song .GOD blessé you"

**
41. Colince Hapra
"I am a cameroonian but i love all the songs they are singing i like to become sud african"

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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

South Africa's Joyous Celebration Choir (16) - "Hi Hanya Mahala" (video & lyrics)

MYJoyous Celebration, August 9, 2019

Music video by Joyous Celebration performing Hi Hanya Mahala (Live at Carnival City, 2012). (C) 2012 Sony Music Entertainment Africa (Pty) Ltd/Joyous Celebration
-snip-
"Hi Hanya Mahala" features on the new Joyous Celebration 16 DVD - Live at Carnival City.

****

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post is Part I of a two part series on South Africa's Joyous Celebration choir and the Xitsonga (Shangaan) song "Hi Hanya Mahala".

Part I of this series showcases a video of a Joyous Celebration choir (South Africa) featuring soloist Mercy Ndlovu singing her composition "Hi Hanya Mahala".

Part I also provides information about Joyous Celebration and information about Shangaan (Xitsonga ) language.

This post also includes selected comments from this video's discussion thread about the Joyous Celebration choir, about the song "Hi Hanya Mahala", and/or about that performance.

The lyrics to "Hi Hanya Mahala" in Shangaan) also included in these comments along with an English translation, and a French translation.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/comments-from-around-world-about.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases a video of Joyous Celebration singing "Hi Hanya Mahala". Part II also features examples of comments from that YouTube video's discussion thread which document the global reach of this Joyous Celebration's song and highlight the appreciation that people around the world feel for this song.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Joyous Celebration and Mercy Ndlovu for their music.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click the Joyous Celebration tag below to find other pancocojams posts that showcase this South African Gospel choir.

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INFORMATION ABOUT JOYOUS CELEBRATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyous_Celebration
"Joyous Celebration is a South African Gospel choir which was formed in 1994 following the success of South Africa's first democratic elections. What was merely meant to be a one-time studio project by South African musicians turned into a massive platform for upcoming South African artists. The choir has enjoyed success in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, having released 22 albums as of 2018. It is one of South Africa's most successful gospel choirs, following acts like The Soweto Gospel Choir.[1] ...
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Click the "Joyous Celebration" tag below for more pancocojams posts about this South African choir.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SHANGAAN (XITSONGA)
From https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/shangaan
"Shangaan
Noun;  plural shangaans
1. A member of the Tsonga people of southern Africa.

2. noun The Bantu language of the Shangaan.

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From http://www.changana.info/factsfigures/
"Changana - Local Language of Southern Africa
FACTS & FIGURES
4 million speakers
According to www.ethnologue.com over 4 million people speak Changana as their first language. It is mainly spoken in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Dialect or language?
Changana, Ronga, Xitswa and Tsonga are considered dialects of the same language. Tsonga is an official language spoken in SoutHern Africa.

Changana vs. Ronga
In Mozambique, Ronga is the dialect which is mainly spoken around the capital Maputo. Changana is spoken in the southern provinces of Gaza and Inhambane.

Forbidden language
Under Portuguese Colonisation Changana was a forbidden and despised language. Even today in many local schools, the students are not allowed to speak Changana.

Swiss missionaries who came to Mozambique in the early 20th century started to teach the local Mozambicans in their Changana language."
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread about the word "mahala":
gzus4eva, 2013
"My daughter's middle name is Mahala.... Anybody know what it means in South African tho?? Thanks! :) Great song btw!"

**
REPLY
imbabazane, 2013
"In Nguni Languages (Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi and Ndebele) it means : "Getting something for free" , in this context it used to imply that Jesus' Mercy is obtained for free"
-snip-
-snip-
Other responses in this comment exchange point out the fact that words that are spelled the same or similarly in different languages don't always have the same meaning.

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE

Update- August 20, 2024
Part I and Part II of this pancocojams series showcases a no longer available YouTube video of this same performance. I replaced that video with the one that is found in this post and In Part II.

The selected comments that are included in these posts (from 2012 through 2018) are from the first YouTube video that I embedded.

end of update

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These comments about this song are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

2012
1. Trevor Machimana
"this is injustice to a classic shangaan song, the pronunciation is off even the interpretation of the lead guitar scales is wrong... please consult before recording! if we are doing this to a local language what more abt nigerian gospel??????"

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REPLY
2. Itumeleng Mohlala
"great song, bt i agree, de singers could hv tried to say de correct words here, bt above all, a great song by JC...s always....luv it"

**
REPLY
3. Trevor Machimana
"The leader is shangaan its her duty to make sure the pronunciation and chord progressions including melodies are spot on, if Donnie McCklurkin could sing in zulu then we dont have excuses as south africans not to sing in another official language - if they want to hide behind mother tongues, then they must stop singing english songs and JC members who are sotho must only sing sotho songs and same must apply to zulu and xhosa"

**
REPLY
4. Applepieudz
"@TMachimana you forget that most of these singers shangaan is not their mother tounge so please bear with them and enjoy the music...."

**
5. RaymondandCo
"I'm not South African so I don't know about them not pronouncing words correctly, HOWEVER I DO know they 'delivered' this in SUCH a real and deep way that it's brought TEARS to my eyes and that's not something I experience often from hearing a youtube.... The LEAD singer, the drums, the music, THE CHOIR, the dancing, the liberty, the freedom, the fluidity, I could go on - I am SOOOOO touched right now! This project deserves a WORLD MUSIC AWARD in some BIG WORLD known Award! LORD LET IT BE AMEN!"

**
6. Hlongwa Gugu
"Im a Proud young woman Zulu.....Nd im soooooooooo inluv wit da song,although i dnt knw wat it means.Ryt nw I envy da ppl who r critising da style Joyous choose,I feel they did a gud job cause they Rhythm accomdatz othr ppl like my self who dont understand Shangaan..Great Work nd God Blss as you continue producing best music."

**
7. noZA67
"Great voices but dress is of great concern because the outside reflects what is in the heart. Its impossible to be something outside and be something different inside. I love joyous and the leader is great but lets have more of 'Godly fearing women covering' so the message delivered can find place in the hearts of those who are trully seeking God. I'm not condenming you children of God but I want us to preach the true message to people. Neither am I perfect but its good we admonish each other."

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REPLY
8. Zanele Skosana
"It's interesting that you come here not to listen to music & be blessed but rather to pass judgement on others. What scripture are you quoting that states "its impossible to be something outside and be different inside"? Hypocrites such as yourself keep people out of church because of pressure to wear expensive suits & pantihose so that we can conform to your standards & fit in with your ideology of what a "Godly Fearing woman" should dress like meanwhile your inside is filthy with sin & hate."

**
9. tebza20
"nothing wrong with what they are wearing, they are singing in shangaan my mother tongue. the song simply says in God we live a free life, we conquer freely by just kneeling down and praying."

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2013
10. Albert Macharia [Lyrics in Shagaan]
"Here are the lyrics to the song: This song is a blessing to the body of christ

Hi Hanya Mahala (We are Living For Free) by Mercy Ndlovu (Joyous Celebration 16)

1:(Solo:) Ka Jeso wamahala na waku xava ulava wini?
(Between a Jesus you can buy and one that’s free which do you want?)
(All:) Ndzi lava mahala (I want the free one)
(Solo:) Ai angana yini? (What does He have?)
(All:) Angana vutomi, bya kuhanya na kuhanyisa, alokose
(He has life, life to live and to heal)
(repeat)
2: Jeso wa mafohloza, Iyo Aaah (Jesus cannot be defeated)
Hayi i Jeso wa mafohloza Iyo Aaah (Yes, Jesus cannot be defeated)
(repeat)
3: Hina hi hanya mahala ka Jesu (we are living for free through Jesus)
Hi hanya mahala, Hi hanya mahala
(We are living for free, We are living for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi (Inside this evangelism)
(repeat)
4:Loko sathani a ku karata (when Satan troubles you)
Hita khinsama hansi hi khongela (kneel and pray and you will conquer)
Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)
(repeat)
5:Loko miringo yiku karhata (When trials are overwhelming)
Unga heli matimba (Do not be weary)
Khisama hansi u khongela (Get down on your knees and pray)
Hikuva yena utaku hlulela (Because He will come through for you)
Hambi switika swivava (No matter how difficult your situation)
Unga heli matimba (He can save you)
Hikuva yena yena ntsena utaku hlulela (Because he alone can save)
Abyi xaviwi vutomi ka Jeso (We do not buy life in Christ)
Hi hanya mahala endzeni ka ivangeli leyi (We live for free inside this evangelism)
Chorus:
Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)
Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)"

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11. pewa nakale
"I dont understand any word in ths song,but i so like it,every morning bfre i start wth my dairly work i hv to listen to it first."

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12. gzus4eva
"My daughter's middle name is Mahala.... Anybody know what it means in South African tho?? Thanks! :) Great song btw!"

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REPLY
13. imbabazane
"In Nguni Languages (Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi and Ndebele) it means : "Getting something for free" , in this context it used to imply that Jesus' Mercy is obtained for free"

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2014
14. Oretha Nimley
"I love all the songs on this "Joyous Celebration". I don't understand most of the songs, but you can tell from the performers and the artists that they are happily worshiping and praising God . Thanks for posting. It is wonderful to see how other people worship God. When it comes to worship we are one. "

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2015
15. MARIASHOW
"What is its language"

**
REPLY
16. imbabazane
"+maria botuli Xitsonga, spoken in East of South Africa and Southern Mozambique"

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17. Meechy Met
"My favourite Xitsonga song of all times!!!!!"

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2016
18. Nyiko
"Its Xitsonga song, which is talking about Jesus who is free, and by living for free with Jesus(YESO). Hanya mahala (live for free) in the temple of God."

**
19. christopher kgobokoe
"You are a light shining bright where God has placed you and a true salt giving flavour wherever you go, keep the good work, you will be rewarded both now and in heaven."

**
20. Gloria Malatsi-Chisenga
"Wow Mercy killed it."
-snip-
"killed it" = an African American Vernacular English term meaning "was great"

**
21. Ken Obat
"I'm totally in love with everything Joyous. What a powerful way to worship our God. This must touch every soul irrespective of whether you understand Zulu or not. Amazing!"

**
REPLY
22. zuzuke nene
"Actually this song is Xitsonga/Shangaan, but I agree with you you..."

**
23. H. George Teekpeh
"KEEP THE FLAG OF AFRICA WAVING"

**
REPLY
24. Jaguar 636
"Africa is a continent and each country owns a flag , so I dont know what u mean by flag of Africa."

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2017
25. Benard Oguta
"what is the meaning of Hi hianya mahala?

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REPLY
26.Emma Mukami
"That drummer is simply amazing!!!!passion at its best, Go Sabu!!!!"

**
27. Mmapela Tolamo
"dt guitar wa betsa n tate awesome"

**
28. Hardeman oniniaina [French translation of these lyrics]
"J'adore cette chanson !!!!!! voici la traduction en Français , j'ai essayé de la traduire sur google traduction phrase par phrase pour les gens qui ne comprennent pas trop l'anglais comme moi."


Verse 1:
(Solo:) Ka Jeso wamahala na waku xava ulava wini?
(Between a Jesus you can buy and one that’s free which do you want?)
Entre Jesus vous pouvez acheter et celui qui est libre, lequel voulez-vous

(All:) Ndzi lava mahala (I want the free one)
Je veux le libre(gratuit)
(Solo:) Ai angana yini? (What does He have?)
Qu'a-t-il ?

(All:) Angana vutomi, bya kuhanya na kuhanyisa, alokose
(He has life, life to live and to heal)
Il est la vie, la vie pourvivre et guerir
(repeat)
Verse 2:

Jeso wa mafohloza, Iyo Aaah (Jesus cannot be defeated)
Jesus ne peut pas être battu

Hayi i Jeso wa mafohloza Iyo Aaah (Yes, Jesus cannot be defeated)
Oui, Jésus ne peut pas être battu.
(repeat)
Verse 3:
Hina hi hanya mahala ka Jesu (we are living for free through Jesus)
Nous vivons gratuitement par Jésus

Hi hanya mahala, Hi hanya mahala(We are living for free, We are living
for free)
Nous vivons gratuitement, Nous vivons gratuitement

Endzeni ka evangeli leyi (Inside this evangelism)
À l'intérieur de cet évangélisme

Verse 4:
Loko sathani a ku karata (when Satan troubles you)
Quand Satan vous dérange

Hita khinsama hansi hi khongela (kneel and pray and you will conquer)
Mettez-vous à genoux et priez et vous conquerrez

Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Nous gagnerons gratuitement

Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)
À l'intérieur de cet évangélisme
(repeat)

Verse 5: (solo)
Loko miringo yiku karhata (When trials are overwhelming)
Quand les procès(essais) sont écrasants(accablants)

Unga heli matimba (Do not be weary)
Ne soyez pas las)

Khisama hansi u khongela (Get down on your knees and pray)
Descendez sur vos genoux et priez)

Hikuva yena utaku hlulela (Because He will come through for you)
Il peut vous sauver Parce qu'Il passera pour vous

Hambi switika swivava (No matter how difficult your situation)
Peu importe comment difficile votre situation

Unga heli matimba (He can save you)
Il peut vous sauver

Hikuva yena yena ntsena utaku hlulela (Because he alone can save)
Parce qu'il seul peut sauver(économiser

Abyi xaviwi vutomi ka Jeso (We do not buy life in Christ)
Nous n'achetons pas de vie dans Christ

Hi hanya mahala endzeni ka ivangeli leyi (We live for free
inside this evangelism)
Nous vivons pour libre(gratuit) à l'intérieur de cet évangélisme)

Chorus:
Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Nous gagnerons gratuitement

Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)
À l'intérieur de cet évangélisme

Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
nous gagnerons gratuitement

Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)
À l'intérieur de cet évangélisme"

**
29. Grace Ackah
"dope performance"
-snip-
"dope" = an African American Vernacular English word meaning "great"

**
30. Mmateboho Agnes
"This song never gets old for me, always blesses my soul! !♡♥♡"

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2018
31. debo adediran
"i have been listening to this songs for years. its hasnt gone dry in my ears. GOD was truly in the concert. pls whats the yellow thing they used to clap called and any suggestions where i can get it pls? thank you"

**
REPLY
32. Mr R
"debo adediran
Traditionally, the Methodist Church which has influenced the gospel music and dancing in the RSA has been using cushions to bring out a beat when singing. Such beats were sometimes done without musical instruments. It is therefore upon such background that the popular Methodist feel is brought into the Joyous Celebration concerts."

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

South Africa's Joyous Celebration Choir Featuring Nobathembu Mabeka - "Ngiphete' Ungqo" (information, video, & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of a Joyous Celebration choir (South Africa) featuring soloist Nobathembu Mabeka singing her composition "Ngiphete' Ungqo".

Information about Joyous Celebration is given in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread. Lyrics to this song in Xhosa and their English translation are included in those comments.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Joyous Celebration and Nobathembu Mabeka for their music.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT JOYOUS CELEBRATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyous_Celebration
"Joyous Celebration is a South African Gospel choir which was formed in 1994 following the success of South Africa's first democratic elections. What was merely meant to be a one-time studio project by South African musicians turned into a massive platform for upcoming South African artists. The choir has enjoyed success in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, having released 22 albums as of 2018. It is one of South Africa's most successful gospel choirs, following acts like The Soweto Gospel Choir.[1] ...

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From http://musicmag.co.za/joyous-celebration-profile/
..."The [Joyous Celebration] choir was formed by the well-known gospel producers in the country; Lindelani Mkhize, Jabu Hlongwane and Mthunzi Namba. The choir has been sponsored by Giant telecommunications Network MTN, hence the name ‘MTN Joyous Celebration’. Previous sponsors include ‘Old Mutual’ and other South African media partners. The choir usually comprises 30 to 35 singers and a 6 to 8 piece band. There are usually 8 to 10 soprano singers, 8 to 10 contralto singers and 10 to 13 tenor singers. The founders try to change singers often in order to give others the same platform and exposure, this by holding auditions often. Most singers stay with the choir for a period of 1 to 5 years; however, others do go over that period, with previous singers such as Ntokozo Mbambo, the previous musical director Nqubeko Mbatha, and the current lead guitarist Msizi Mashiane having stayed with the choir for 11 years each. The founders often refer to Joyous Celebration as a gospel project as the singers are not only trained in music but how one carries themselves as a gospel musician and how to basically stand on their own in the tough music and ministry industry."...

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE Joyous Celebration - Ngiphete' Ungqo



joyousVEVO, Published on Oct 19, 2015
-snip-
This song is included in the album Joyous Celebration 16: Royal Priesthood - Live in Johannesburg at Carnival City's Big Top Arena (2012)"...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread, including lyrics in Xhosa and their English translations.

These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

1. piecha23, 2015
"Can someone translate this song for me. Love it."

**
REPLY [Pancocojams Editor: This is the English translation of the Xhosa lyrics for this song.]
2. Moriti Molapo, 2015

"I'm untouchable
I'm unaffected
I'm not wandering
I'm not hurting
(Yes I'm unshakable, I've got the best of gospel)

I'm untouchable
I'm a holy girl/lady
No I'm untouchable
I'm a lady/girl of gospel

Even if you can give me money
A car, cellphone and all of that
I'm untouchable
I'm a lady/girl of gospel
Where my girl's at?

I'm not wandering
I'm a holy woman/mother
I'm not wandering
I'm a woman/mother of gospel

When times are hard
I look upon Christ
I'm not wandering, no
I'm not wandering
I'm not wandering
Where my mothers at?

The man says I'm unaffected
I'm a holy man
I'm unaffected
I'm a man of gospel

Even if you show me your cleavage
Mini-skirt, hairpieces and all that
I'm not affected
I'm a man of the gospel
Where the man at?

I'm unshakable
I'm a holy father
I'm unshakable
I'm a father of gospel

I sleep at home, I eat at home
I get everything at home
I'm a father, I'm a father of gospel
Where my fathers at?

We have the best, we have the best
We have the best, we have the best
We have the best, we have the best
Of gospel

I'm not hurting
I've got the best of gospel
No I'm not hurting
I've got the best of gospel"

**
REPLY
3. Marielyn Tonui, 2015
"+Moriti Molapo thanks..why am I not zulu again..this songs are awesome"

**
REPLY
4. Made in South Africa, 2016
"+Marielyn Tonui This is actually Xhosa, not Zulu. No worries you can thank me later :)"

**
5. REPLY
3. Timothy Mckenzie, 2016
"+Moriti Molapo hey can u write the lyrics in that language she is singing on...kindly thanks

**
REPLY
6. Moriti Molapo, 2016
"+Timothy Mckenzie pls go on Facebook and like Joyous celebration lyrics. You will all their song lyrics there including this one. Enjoy."

**
7. Timothy Mckenzie, 2016 [Pancocojams Editor: These are the Xhosa lyrics for this song.]

"And'phatha phathwa,
And'thinta thintwa
And'khathazeki

And' bheka bheki
(Yebo and'shukunyiswa
ndipheth' ungqo wevangeli)

And'phatha phathwa,
And'thinta thintwa
And' bheka bheki,
And khathazeki
(Yebo and'shukunyiswa
ndipheth' ungqo wevangeli)

And'phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi engcwele
And' phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi mina yevangeli

Nob'ungandinikeza imali
Imoto, icellphone nditsho konke
And'phathwa mina
Ndiyintombi mina
Yevangeli
Zithin' izintombi?

And'phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi engcwele
Luth' and' phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi yevangeli
[Repeat]

And'bheka bheki
Ndingumama mina ongcwele
And' bhekabheki
Ndingumama mina wevangeli

Se kufik' ubunzima
Ubuhlungu, and'bheki
Ndijong' uKristu
And'bheki
And'bheki, and'bheki
And'bheki, and'bheki
Hay'bo, bathin' oomama

And'bheka bheki
Ndingumama ongcwele
Hay' and' bhekabheki
Ndingumama wevangeli
[Repeat]

Imali, imoto, cellphone
Konke

Ziph' iinsizwa
Ith' insizwa and'thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa mina engcwele
And'thinta thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa mina yevangeli

Nob'ungandivezel' icleavage, Isigcebhezane, amahairpiece
Nditsho konke, ndiyinsizwa mina
Ndiyinsizwa mina yevangeli.
Zithin' izinsizwa

And'thinta thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa engcwele
Luth' and'thinta thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa yevangeli
[Repeat]

And'shukunyiswa
Ndingubaba ongcwele
And'shukunyiswa
Ndingubaba mina wevangeli

Ndilal' ekhaya, ngidl'ekhaya
Konk'ekhaya ndiyak'thola
Ngingubaba mina,
Ngingubaba mina
Wevangeli
Bathin' oobaba

And'shukunyiswa
Ngingubaba ongcwele
Hay' and'shukunyiswa
Ngingubaba wevangeli
[Repeat]

Icleavage, is'gcebhi, hairpiece
Konke
Dance

Sipheth' unqo, sipheth' ungqo
Sipheth' unqo, sipheth' ungqo
Sipheth' unqo, sipheth' ungqo
Wevangeli

As'khathazeki
Sipheth' uNgqo wevangeli
Luth' as'khathazeki
Sipheth' ungqo wevangeli

Andiphatha phathwa
And'bheka bheki
Thinti konke
Ndipheth' unqo
Ndipheth' unqo wevangeli

As'khathazeki
Sipheth' uNgqo wevangeli
Luth' as'khathazeki
Sipheth' ungqo wevangeli"

**
8. Hepsibah Effange, 2016
"+Moriti Molapo please what's the meaning oh "ivo" she keeps saying?"

**
REPLY
9. Moriti Molapo, 2016
Moriti Molapo
"+Hepsibah Effange its Evangeli meaning I stand for the Gospel... A mother, a brother, a girl, a father standing for the Gospel."

**
REPLY
10. Ntomboxolo Nkwali, 2017
"Hepsibah Effange you asked the meaning of "ivo" according to your understanding of the song, it's "iyhooh" meaning "oh yes" I think I tried to make it understandable hey....

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Examples Of & Comments About The Children's Rhyme "I Like Coffee, I Like Tea, I Like Sitting On A Black Man's Knee"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: April 29, 2025

This pancocojams provides examples of and commentary about the children's rhyme "I like coffee, I like tea, I like sitting on a black man's knee". That rhyme is also given as "Do you like coffee? Do you like tea? Do you like sitting on a black man's knee?"

The content of this post is presented for folkloric and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT
My internet searches for the children's rhyme "I like coffee, I like tea, I like sitting on a black man's knee" suggest that it is (or was) a relatively widely known rhyme in England. Most online examples of "I like coffee...I like sitting on a black man's knee" indicate that it was (or is) chanted while jumping rope. Although the author of "I like coffee...I like sitting on a black man's knee" rhymes is unknown, for the reasons I've articulated below, it seems obvious to me that the author of this particular version of "I Love Coffee I Love Tea" was White.

Iona Archibald Opie's and Peter Opie's 1959 book The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren appears to be the earliest publication that includes the "sitting on a black man's knee" versions of "I Love Coffee & I Tea" rhyme. However, the Opie's version of that rhyme is a question: "Do you like coffee? Do you like tea? Do you like sitting on a blackman's knee"? The passage from that book which contains this rhyme is presented as Excerpt #1 below. 

I believe that this version is a "trick question" was supposed to result in an automatic and "obvious response from children who weren't [aren't] Black (the intended audience for that and other rhymes) that "Yes. I like coffee and yes I like tea" but NO. I don't like sitting on a Black man's knee." (Having said yes both times, the "trick" is that the person answering the question would be lulled into responding "yes" to a question that about an action that is extremely unacceptable (for children who aren't Black).

Few analysis of children's recreational rhymes that I've read consider that this rhyme and some other children's recreational rhymes might have different meanings for Black children than they do for White children. Although we [Black people] teach our children that they shouldn't sit on any strange man's lap-unless he's the Santa Claus at a cultural event during the Christmas season- for the most part, sitting on the knee of a Black man who is known to a Black child doesn’t have the same risque, sexualized, and scary connotations that it had in the past and probably still have in the 2000s for White children and other non-Black children.

It's significant that "Black men" are the only racial/ethnic population that are featured in these rhymes- There are no comparable examples of "I like coffee...I like sitting on a White man's knee" or "I like sitting on an Asian man's knee" or "I like sitting on a Latino man's knee."

I don't remember "I like coffee...I like sitting on a black man's knee" from my childhood (in Atlantic City, New Jersey, early 1950s). I wonder if anyone outside of England remembers this rhyme. If so, for the folkloric record, please share that information in the comment section below. Please include demographics (especially your race/ethnicity, geographical location, and decade that you remember this rhyme). Thanks!
-snip-
My custom is to capitalize the racial referents "Black" and "White". However, I've used the lower case "b" for "black man" as that is how that referent is found in the examples I am quoting.

In contrast, the contemporary rhymes "I like coffee, I like tea, I like a Black boy and he likes me" were probably first composed by Black people. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/racialized-versions-of-i-like-coffee-i.html Racialized Versions Of "I Like Coffee I Like Tea" for a pancocojams post about those rhymes.

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/selected-examples-of-referents-for.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Selected Examples Of Referents For Black People In Children's Rhymes"

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EXCERPTS ABOUT THE RHYME "I LIKE COFFEE....I LIKE SITTING ON A BLACK MAN'S KNEE"
These excerpts are given in relatively random order, and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From https://books.google.com/books?id=sdWwHbOf4oAC&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=i+like+coffee+i+like+tea+i+like+sitting+on+a+black+man%27s+knee&source=bl&ots=HpDAN7l85O&sig=8S_C-5wB9bySayW9t_Gzz3WdoOU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4y73_ifbYAhXD61MKHY06CzE4ChDoAQgoMAA#
The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren
Iona Archibald Opie, ‎Peter Opie
[First published in 1959]

[page 65] -Given in section entitled “Guile”
..."’Can you say tea-pot backwards?’ (The person says “pot tea” and you say you know he is)’
“Do you feel like a cup of tea??” ‘Yes’. ‘You look like one”.

'Are you soft?’ ‘No’. ‘Are you daft? ‘ ‘No’. Are you far off of it?’ ‘No.’ (You say, ‘I thought not”.)

This last is almost one of those triple-question tricks in which the person is led to expect that the answer given to the first two questions will also do for the third:
Do you like apples?
Do you like pears?
Do you like tumbling
down the stairs?

Or,
Do you like white
Do you like pink?
Do you like falling
down the sink?

Possibly the rhyming aids the delusion, for these formulas are highly popular, particularly with very young children who have just started school. Our daughter, for example, was five years old when she came home with:
Do you like coffee ?
Do you like tea ?
Do you like sitting on a blackman's knee ?
-snip-
The "Are you soft" example doesn’t translate well into American English. While, I realize that “daft” means “crazy”, I’m not sure what “far off of it” means. But I "get" that these "triple questions" are meant to "trick" the child into saying "yes", when the third answer would definitely be "no".

As I indicated in my comments above, given the negative stereotypes that were held about Black people in general, and Black men in particular, for White children in the late 1950s and (likely) for many non-Black children now,

I suspect that the answer to the question "Do you like sitting on a blackman's knee" wouldn't have been (wouldn't be) "Yes", but a loud "NO!". For those children (and not for Black children) "sitting on a Black man's knee" would have been (and may still be) something that would not only be socially unacceptable, but also be considered disgusting.

The writer quoted in Excerpt #3 gives another possible interpretation of this rhyme in which "sitting on a black man's knee" was eroticized. If that is the case, the declarative statement "I like sitting on a black man's knee" may be an example of children being risque by challenging societal taboos of sitting on a Black man's lap for sexualized, if not romantic, reasons.

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EXCERPT #2
From http://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history/Opie-collection-of-children-s-games-and-songs-/021M-C0898X0059XX-0100V0
"Type: sound

Duration: 00:47:41

[...]

Subjects: Children's games; Children's songs

Recording date: 1982-06

Is part of (Collection): Opie collection of children's games and songs

[...]

"There is a short pause in the recording at [00:15:00] and Iona explains that she is now in Flitwick, Bedford. There is much background noise from traffic. Iona begins by talking to some schoolgirls, one of whom is thirteen.

They sing the skipping song 'I Like Coffee, I Like Tea'. The girl sings: 'I like coffee, I like tea, I like sitting on a black man's knee' [00:15:27 - 00:15:34]"

****
EXCERPT #3
From https://books.google.com/books?id=OkyBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA126&lpg=PA126&dq=i+like+coffee+i+like+tea+i+like+sitting+on+a+black+man%27s+knee&source=bl&ots=oZAdnb3j9l&sig=G_Nw_cUozzmmYB_Jdjdqmuc7jzo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrz_Gu_fXYAhWEq1MKHY5UBh8Q6AEIRjAF#v=onepage&q=i%20like%20coffee%20i%20like%20tea%20i%20like%20sitting%20on%20a%20black%20man's%20knee&f=false Richard Hoggart and Cultural Studies
S. Owen
[Springer, Oct 14, 2008]

[summary of this book]

"In this new collection of essays, a range of established and emerging cultural critics re-evaluate Richard Hoggart's contribution to the history of ideas and to the discipline of Cultural Studies. They examine Hoggart's legacy, identifying his widespread influence, tracing continuities and complexities, and affirming his importance."

[page 126]
‘Them’ And ‘Us’ - Robert J C Young
..."Perhaps Leeds was different, but in many English cities, from London to Newcastle, local English and immigrant communities of Jews, Irish, and later Caribbean, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani did meet, and 1957 was the time when this was first becoming a political issue on a national level- it was the year before the first Nottingham riots. In the world of The Uses, there seems to be as little explicit consciousness of black people as of the colonies.

The charlady secures her old felt hat with a large pin with a piccaninny’s head carved on the blunt end-a relic of a day at sea, I suppose’ (118), everyone knows that a local woman had a black child after the annual visit of the circus a few years ago. This illicit attraction is staged more spectacularly in one of the jumping rope rhymes which Hoggart quotes without comment:

I like coffee, I like tea
I like sitting on a black man’s knee (58)

The regular version of this rhyme is

I like coffee, I like tea
I want [the person’s name] to jump with me.

Or more suggestively,

I like the boys and the boys like me

Even Salman Rushdie, in The Satanic Verses, cites a comparatively anodyne version compared to Hoggart’s, when Saladin Chamcha is making threatening erotic anonymous phone calls to Gibreel:

I like coffee, I like tea,
I like the things you do to me.
Tell her that, the voice swooned, and rang off.
(Rushdie, 1988, 444)

The spectral appearance of the eroticised black man’s knee in The Uses suggests another dimension to the rather puritanical sex life that is evoked in the everyday lives of the working class. It also suggests the phantom presence of different communities who register no presence in the book.”

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EXCERPT #4
From http://the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2015/05/bluebells-cockleshells-catherine-johnson.html Bluebells, Cockleshells
Catherine Johnson, Thursday, 14 May 2015
“That's what started me off a walk in those woods last week, I couldn't get this skipping rhyme out of my head;

Bluebells, cockleshells,
Evey, Ivy, O-ver,

Did you play this one? You'd need a big group, and a big rope with two enders, or one ender (nobody wanted to be an ender) and then you'd tie the other end to a drainpipe. Anyway on 'Bluebells, cockle shells' the rope would be swayed, not turned all the way over until the word 'over' in the rhyme. At this the next girl, it was always a girl (and there was only Barry Morgan in our school who could skip I may be wrong here) would run into the rope. She'd sing;

I like coffee I like tea
I like Sheila in with me

And then Sheila would jump in and you'd both skip together and spell out her name as you jumped. But sometimes, and this would be around 1970 in London, I can remember singing;

I like coffee I like tea,
I like sitting on a black man's knee

Which seems completely shocking today - although we didn't think about it then - and did I think I was skipping about my Dad? Not at all, this was the same mythical black man who famously got caught by his toe, best mates, no doubt with the man from China who was forever doing up his flies. Skipping rhymes were always odd and sometimes rude and sometimes completely scatological. Can I just say I am glad those days are gone? I never felt these rhymes were a sign of any kind of innocence.”...

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EXCERPT #5
From http://www.odps.org/glossword/index.php?a=term&d=3&t=381 Seedy Songs and Rotten Rhymes - the poetry of the playground
"I like coffee
I like coffee I like tea I like sitting on a black mans knee With a one and a two and a three (on three lift your skirt, turn tround quickly, bend over and show your bum)"

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EXCERPT #6
From http://britishexpats.com/forum/barbie-92/playground-songs-448434/page3/
May 9th 2007, 12:03 am #39
"sasbear [Female]
This may be classed as un PC now but.this is what we sang ...

I like coffee
I like tea
I like sitting on a black man's knee"

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May 9th 2007, 12:10 am
asher Female
Quote:
Originally Posted by sasbear
This may be classed as un PC now but.this is what we sang ...

I like coffee
I like tea
I like sitting on a black man's knee
we sang it as a skipping song [end of quote]

"as above then I want so and so in with me."
-snip-
“I want so and so in with me” [means] I want [person’s name] to join me jumping rope.

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EXCERPT #7
From https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=36600.120 Topic: When did you first encounter racism?
Re: When did you first encounter racism?
Sexton Brackets, Reply #125 on: June 13, 2013, 10:10:01 AM »
"Another playground one round my way was

"Do you like coffee?
Do you like tea?
Do you like sitting on a black man's knee?"

There was one black kid in my class when I was eight (1974) and our teacher would regularly mock-glower at him and say "Don't you give me those black looks, boy" in a weird Windsor Davies-type voice, to the poor kid's obvious embarrassment. It was very funny for the rest of us at the time, though."

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