Various YouTube Videos Of The Xhosa Gospel Song "Bawo" (with a focus on body movements/stances)

Phila Mpofu, Sept. 16, 2023
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Phila Mpofu is the lead singer for this South African high school's rendition of the traditional isiXhosa hymn "Ndikhokhele Bawo". The school is Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School in Motherwell township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

The lyrics for that rendition of that song are given in this pancocojams post.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases eight YouTube videos of the traditional* South African (IsiXhosa) Gospel song Ndikhokhele Bawo" with a focus whether these singers perform this song using "traditional" European chorale body stances or any South African (isiXhosa) body stances and movements.

Lyrics for "Ndikhokhele Bawo"  are also included in this pancocojams post. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer/s and arrangers of this song and thanks to all those who are featured in these showcase videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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*Online articles refer to "Ndikhokhele Bawo" as a "traditional Xhosa hymn" and as a "Xhosa folk song" that has been sung by amaXhosa for generations. I haven't found any online reference to this song being formally sung by choirs or chorale groups before the May 13, 2015 YouTube video of South Africa's Tuks Camerata choir performing that a "brand new version of the song, as arranged by Michael Barrett". [Addendum Showcase video #1 ).

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntsikana, the earliest  isiXhosa Gospel songs have been attributed to  Prophet Ntsikana (1780-1821) although "some of these songs have been proved to have been sung by the Xhosas king way before he was born.)"
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Given this information and the information that is given in the journal article by Jonathan Knight*, it's likely that early on the currently popular isiXhosa Christian hymn "Ndikhoklele Bawo" and some other isiXhosa Christian hymns were sung in praise of Xhosa kings before being adopted as Christian hymns.

*Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/2010-journal-excerpt-sing-on-ntsikana.html for the pancocojams post entitled "2010 Journal Excerpt: "Sing on, Ntsikana: The Story of Christian Music Among the Xhosa people of South Africa" By Jonathan Knight". 

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/ndiyabonga-bawo-lead-me-father-south.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled " "Ndikhokhele Bawo"- Traditional Xhosa Gospel Song Performed During High School Morning Assembly"

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LYRICS - NDIKHOKHELE BAWO (IsiXhosa words with English translation) *

Ndikhokhele Bawo, zundi kokhele (Lead me oh Father [Lead me])
Ndikhokhele mmeli wami (Lead me my savior)
Ezintsizini,  Zalomhlaba Bawo (in all the sorrows of this world Father)
(Bawo, Bawo, Bawo) ( Father, Father, Father)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect/keep me) (Repeat)

Thaluthele thuze kwami  (You calm all my fears) x2
(Bawo, bawo, bawo) ( Father, Father, Father)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect me)

Mmeli wami bawo uthaluthele thuze kwami (Father, Savior, you calm my fears)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect me) (Repeat)
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*These lyrics are from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVt8VNHIOrg ZundiKhokhele, Bawo Ngiyabonga, Usandigcinile (Female Leading Voice, Amazing)#worshipsong #school, published by Luthando Makanda, March 17, 2023

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"Ndikhoklele Bawo" is a traditional IsiXhosa Gospel song. I believe that the way the singers in these showcase videos (and some other YouTube videos of this song) hold their hands and move while singing "Ndikhoklele" is the same as or very similar to some traditional isiXhosa dance movements.

These hand positions and other body movements also remind me of the movements of members of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (Christian denomination) If I'm not mistaken, I believe that denomination's praise and worship customs are heavily influenced by some IsiXhosa dance traditions. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/singing-musical-instruments.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of UPCSA's (Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa) Fellowship Of Youth (FOY) Songs (videos, information, & performance analysis).

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DISCLAIMER:
I'm African American who knows very little about African cultures beyond what I watch and read.

Like many people who have heard the South African Gospel song "Ndikhoklele Bawo". I'm very impressed with that song's lyrics and music. I'm also very impressed with the way that many groups (including those showcased in this pancocojams post) have sung it. 

Perhaps because "Ndikhoklele Bawo"is so beautiful and perhaps because of the high quality of many of the choirs and student assemblies whose videos of this song are on YouTube and other social media, few people appear to have focused on those singers' body stances, meaning the ways that the singers incorporate African (and I think specifically Xhosa) hand positions and rhythmic movements in their performances of that song.

I'm interested in reading other observations/opinions on this subject. Thanks!

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Please share your opinions about my observations/opinions about this subject in the comment section below. Thanks! 

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ADDITIONAL VIDEO EXAMPLES
These examples are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 -



Ndikhokhele Bawo 🇿🇦🔥 #amagwijo #choir,2023
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The tempo for the "Bawo" chorus is faster than the one given in Video #2 and the movements are different. The soloist is the same.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3-  Ndikhokhele Bawo, Yawa LeMbewu, Mandingasali Medley (Lyrical Video Subtitles English/Xhosa) 😇

 

Luthando Makanda, Sep 9, 2023
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This video of "Ndikhokhele Bawo" has the same lead soloist as the video given as #1 above.
The visuals begin at .25 in this video.

Here's a comment exchange about that same high school assembly's rendition of another South African Gospel song "Ndizolibonga Elakho Igama" .The information about the performance style of that high school students assembly also refers to their renditions of "Ndikhokhele Bawo".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j2lLj2jo5Y, published by Luthando Makanda, August 14, 2023

(Numbers are added for referencing purposes only)
1. @sibongilemncube5374,2023

"Do they rehearse ❤ they sound exceptional. Reminds me of assembly days yhuuuu. The coordination, love the concept of taking assembly time serious and having order which is what the God we serve is about"

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Reply

2. @luthandomakanda9180, 2023

"No they don't rehearse, but a synergy exist because when we have assembly they repeat certain songs allowing many to catch the catch the flow of how a song should be, but often times we get surprised by the spontaneity"
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Thses c
Read another comment and my note about this high school assembly's rendition of "Ndikokhele Bawo" in this pancocojams post's comment section below.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4- UMG Live Exclusive Session: Mzansi Youth Choir - Ndikhokhele Bawo

 

UMG Live Africa, Oct 12, 2020  UNIVERSAL MUSIC SOUTH AFRICA

Part 2 of Mzansi Youth Choir's Exclusive Session. This one is called "Ndikhokhele Bawo"

We hope you enjoy it!

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Ndikhokhele Bawo - Wits Choir 2020 Welcome Concert

 

Wits Choir, Jun 14, 2021

Wits Choir and Young Wits Choir performs "Ndikhokhele Bawo" (Bongani Magatyana, arranged by the Wits Choir)
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The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa.

Nokuthula Grace Magubane, the soloist for Wits' rendition of "Ndikhokhele Bawo", is the woman wearing a white top in the front row who is standing in between the man wearing a green top and the women wearing a blue top.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - EHS Senior Choir singing NDIKHOKHELE BAWO at ATKV choir competition

Empangeni High School, Sep 22, 2021

EHS Senior Choir singing  NDIKHOKHELE BAWO at ATKV choir competition.

Conductor - Mr. S D Zwane

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 --Ndikhokhele by The Unveiled

 

The Unveiled, Sep 10, 2022  #ndikhokhele #hymns #zimbabwean

#ndikhokhele #theunveiled #gospel  #hymns  #zimbabwean
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"Unveiled" is a Zimbabwean Gospel group. There's a large Xhosa population in Zimbabwe. I believe that this group's performance style for this song is influenced by Xhosa culture.

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ADDENDUM - TWO VIDEOS OF "BAWO" SUNG BY AFRICAN CHOIRS WITH  "TRADITIONAL EUROPEAN CHORALE BODY STANCES

These examples of given in no particular order.

YouTube Video #1 -Tuks Camerata - Ndikhokhele Bawo (Traditional IsiXhosa arr. M Barrett)

University of Pretoria Camerata, May 13, 2015

The University of Pretoria Camerata, conducted by Michael Barrett, singing the traditional IsiXhosa song, Ndikhokhele Bawo.

This brand new version of the song, as arranged by Michael Barrett for the Camerata, forms part of the choir's repertoire for 2015.

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YouTube Video #2 - NDIKHOKHELE BAWO/NIONGOZE BABA (Lead me Father - sung in isiXhosa & Swahili). Umoja African Choir

Umoja African Choir., Umoja African Choir, Sep 18, 2023

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