The South African Gwijo "Thina Siyazalana" ("Mtaka Mama") With Lyrics & English Translations (2025 Reprint)

laughter.mr, Jun 1, 2018

South African Soldiers Singing in Camp

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases several YouTube videos of the South African song  "Thina Siyazalana" ("Mtaka Mama").

YouTube features a video of South African soldiers singing this song in a camp. Several other YouTube videos showcase the South African gwijo* "Thina Siyazalana" being by South African students.

*From https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/fan-park/update/ten-words-from-mzansi-s-football-dictionary/304884 "Ten Words From Mzansi's Football Dictionary", by Captain Alzheimers, Jun 2, 2016

"Igwijo” or “Amagwijo”

The words simply means ‘song.’ Those are the songs sung in stadiums by fans and by players in dressing rooms just before games.. "
-snip-
"Amagwijo" is the plural form of the isiXhosa word "igwijo" ("gwijo").

Comments about the lyrics for this song are included in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
This is a complete reprint of a 2019 pancocojams post.

That post has five comments as of June 30, 2025
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/information-about-videos-about-south.html "Information About & Videos About South Africans' Gwijo Songs (Songs Sung During Rugby Games & Cricket Games)" for Part I of a pancocojams series on gwijo songs. Part II of that series features the video that is given as Example #1 and another copy of the same video that is given as Example #2 in this post.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS

Example #1: That video is embedded at the top of this post.
-snip-
Here's a few comments from that video's discussion thread:
1. DECEMBER IV, 2018
"Ndikhumbula abazali,ndikhumbula abazali bam
Umama ulele
Khanibize noba ngu mama
Thina siyazalana nobu ngandzonda nzok niku thando
Ngiba ngak cabanga
-snip-
Here's the Google translate translation from Xhosa to English: (additions and corrections are very welcome)
"I miss parents, I miss my parents
The mother is asleep
Call her mom
We are related to this and hate to love
I think"

**
2. Bevan Nel, 2019
"What are the words to this chant? Absolutely brilliant!"

**
REPLY
5. Mivuyo Marawuu, 2019
"(Loose Translation)
Guy Leading The Song:
Ndikhumbula Abazali
'I Miss My Parents'
Hayi Bambulele
'They Killed Him.'
Kanibize Noba Ngumama
'Please Atleast Call My Mother.'
Ndisemzini weGxagxa
' I'm In Prison'

Siyazalana
'We Are Related.'
Noba ungandizonda Ndizokunika uThando
' Even If You Hate Me ,I Will Show/Give You Love.'

Mama Kanomzizi
'Nomzizi's Mother.'😅
NdingenaMama NdingenaTata
'I Didn't Have A Mother Nor A Father.'
Siyazalana Mama
' We Are Related.'
Mntakamama
'My Sibling.'

The Guys Following:
Zumpee, Mntakamama , Zumpee Hay, Zumpe Hayi, Mntakamama.

Doesn't Make Fluid Sense Without Understand The Background Of The Story."

****
Example #2: Queens college -Mtaka Mama 🔥🔥



Amagwijo Collection, Feb 13, 2019

Amagwijo Collection is a channel that is dedicated to embracing "amagwijo" songs
-snip-
Here's some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. macdonald sebotlhelo, 2019
"I love this song can someone help with the lyrics all i can pick up is siyazalana that's it"

**
REPLY
2. Mahle Mpungose, 2019
"Thina siyazalana mama
Zumpeee mtaka mama
Zumpeya ofikizolo mtaka mama
Helelelele
Zumpeee
Mtaka mama
Zumpeya
Ofikizolo mtaka mama"

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Example #3: Mntaka Mama (Thina Siyazalana)



Tumi Tucha, May 4, 2019

Group of school boys singing this awesome gwijo.
-snip-
I'm not sure which South African school this is. One commenter wrote "St stithians college" and another commenter wrote "St. Albans college in Pretoria". 

Update: Anonymous June 23, 2020 at 7:09 AM wrote in this pancocojams post that this was St. Albans college. Anonymous also wrote that in South Africa "college  is a high school for 13-18 year olds."Thanks Anonymous! 

In the United States that age range would generally conform to the age range for students in the last year of middle school to the last year of high school (from 8th grade through 12th grade), or the age range for all four years of high school (9th grade through 12th grade). After graduating high school in the USA, some students would then go to college/university. (In the USA, a college is a post-graduate educational institution that is smaller than a university.) 

Here's some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Devon Kirby, 2019
"Someone please post the words to this, I'm English and want to learn. It's my favorite gwijo song"

**
REPLY
2. ZAMANI MTHEMBUm 2019
"Thina siyazalana mama
zupeeeeee
mntakamama
zupeee yaaah
ufik izolo umntakamama"

****
Example #4: St Stithians Boys College Gwijo - Thina Siyazalana🔥



DJ Wax SA , Premiered Jun 23, 2021 -snip-
November 18, 2022- This video replaces a video of the same South African college singing this song. This video has no comments (as of June 30, 2025)

-snip-
Here are some comments from the discussion thread of the YouTube video that was originally embedded in this pancocojams post but is no longer available.

St Stithians Boys College - "Thina Siyazalana" ("Mtaka Mama") 
published by Mr Robot, June 2, 2019. 

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only

1. Gera Nini, 2019
"Sigcwele ngabelungu kaloku esaskolo , so this version of the gwijo doesn't have the vibe and beauty as  it would've had if it was mostly abantu abamnyama pha ."
-snip-
Google translate from Zulu to English:
"Sigcwele ngabelungu kaloku esaskoloI= "full of white people at school"
"abantu abamnyama pha" ="black people here"

**
2. Simnikiwe Belu, 2019

"Queens kill it!!!! this version is overrated!!!! just wish Queens can clapback!!!"
-snip-
Queens is another South African college. View Video #2 above.

**
3. macdonald sebotlhelo, 2019
"Please help with the lyrics all i can pick up is siyazalana"

**
REPLY
4. Thapelo Tlhale, 2019
"Thina siyazalana Ma

 Zooooompeeeeee, mnta ka mama

Zooooompeeeeeeha, ufikezolo, mnta ka mama"

**
REPLY
5. Gryder Zl, 2020
"Thina siyazalana ma : we are siblings

Zumeka mtana kama: fall asleep child of my mom

Ufike izolo umtana ka ma: he/she arrived yesterday, the child of my mom.

There is no perfect translation, that's the best way grammatically i can translate it to u without losing the melody.

It probably won't make sense in English due to culture."

It's more of a simple brethren song of viewing others as brothers or family.

**
6. lwazi juta, 2019
"They forgot what I gwijo is... Busy here is composing and ish.. QUEENS COLLEGE... any day... You don't practice igwijo... Ii lapha kuwe"

-snip-
Google translate from Zulu to English
"Ii lapha kuwe" ="It's here for you"

**
7. Pakamani Ndwandwa, 2020
"What in the mamamia is this... This is utter disrespect to igwijo... This is flippen choral music not igwijo. An absolute wast of data, watching these boys reduce the spirit of igwijo."

**
8. Nkosi Zulu, 2020
"Gwijo shouldn't be rehearsed and preformed.  Even the clapping was rehearsed 😴boring"

**
9.  Zikhona Nkabi, 2020
"Also for such songs, imigwijo there are no lyrics. The beauty of these songs they were sang from the heart & free hand. It’s never planned. It’s really just a repetition of one line."

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This concludes Part IV of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

"Acappella Soul (Doo Wop Group) Singing "What A Wonderul World" In Front Of A Store in 2014

PersonalTinu, Aug 6, 2014

Music is a universal language we can all bond over. Share and be merry everyone!

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a four part pancocojams series on comparisons between United States' Doo-Wop music and South Africa's Gwijo music.

This post showcases one YouTube video of United States Doo Wop music and presents a few selected comments from that video's discussion thread.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/information-about-united-states-doo-wop.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Doo-Wop music and information about Gwijo music.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-similarities-and-differences.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about the similarities and differences between these two music genres.
 
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-south-african-gwijo-thina.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post showcases one YouTube videos of United States Doo Wop music, presents a partial Xhosa transcription with English translations, and presents a few selected comments from those videos' discussion threads.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Acappella Soul (the name of this Doo Wop group) for their music and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
A number of commenters in this video's discussion thread wrote that the lead singer sounded like Soul singer and songwriter Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931[6]  – December 11, 1964.

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Cooke for information about Sam Cook and click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYQFTbLKNcg for a YouTube audio example of Sam Cook singing "What A Wonderful World".

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INFORMATION ABOUT DOO WOP MUSIC 
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doo-wop
"Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s,[2] mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.[3][4] It features vocal group harmony that carries an engaging melodic line to a simple beat with little or no instrumentation. Lyrics are simple, usually about love, sung by a lead vocal over background vocals, and often featuring, in the bridge, a melodramatically heartfelt recitative addressed to the beloved. Harmonic singing of nonsense syllables (such as "doo-wop") is a common characteristic of these songs.[5] Gaining popularity in the 1950s, doo-wop was commercially viable until the early 1960s and continued to influence performers in other genres."...

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW025ccPx5M

2014

1. @Whateverhelpsyou777
"Thank You for posting this Video,  Keep up the good work and for the brothers, keep those old school songs coming."

**
2. @ekbugado879
"whats name  and music ?"

**
Reply
3. @herthaschmitt7823, 2016
"Acapella Soul - Wonderful world"

**
4. @joannfranklin4137
"Back in the days doo wop on every corner"

**
5. @boballen9835
"Don't know who these folks are but they do Mr. Cooke proud!! Excellent! Love the lead singers voice, especially when he stretches a note. Wow."

**
6. @Whateverhelpsyou777
"These Guys are  AWESOME.  I see them on them singing on the trains and subway stations in New York City.  They have Great Harmony and Voice skills."

**
Reply
7. @Whateverhelpsyou777, 2021
"I think they are still around in NYC. They have a bunch of videos on YTube singing in NYC In the streets and Subway system in NY."

**
8. @TheSnakeyes82
"Aawww man! Come with more. We really need more doo wop groups like this."

**
9. @CentelhaPunk
"Black is Beautiful!!!"

**
Reply
10. @DonVal86, 2018
"There’s no denying the black aesthetic."

**
Reply
11. @samuelharang5742, 2021
"Well yeah, plus, they invented almost all music styles such as this one"

**
12. @darlenesanders1168
"Hello that's whats up!!!!   I'm all in!!!!!"

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2015

13. @lizettewanzer8650
"Gorgeous pipes, guys. Truly."

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2016

14. @aminus3765
"This certain note (in their voice) I've only heard when black male singers sing like 0:16 and 1:00 is just great. Anyone know a singer who does this a lot? It gives me the chills"

**
Reply
15. @praxiccameron2035
"Search up What a Wonderful world"

**
Reply
16. @bootnazz1786, 2023
"Singer called kc Halley does this."

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2017

17. @Madminute1968
"Damn, these guys are not good there OUTSTANDING******"

**
18. @DavidMendoza-yt7qe
"Yeah! Thats what im talking about!"

*****
2018

19. @7thdrxn
"HOW WAS NOBODY IN THE CROWD DANCING JOYOUSLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY?!"

**
20. @bigmoe5417
"The brother in the red sounds just like Sam Cooke"

 **
21. @stevewooly6168
"This is not acappella there's a double bass there"

**
22. @dc9291
"Old school - love it - thank you :) Location???"

**
23. @DonVal86
"Dude’s got soul."

**
24. @neeuqamilam1170
"That's right fellas bring it back! Haven't heard no voices like this singing acappella in a long time. Nice!"

**
25. @duedrica
"Sensacional!!! Aplaudindo de pé aqui no Brasil!"
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English:
"Sensational!!! Standing ovation here in Brazil!"

**
26. @sang366
"Sign them up."

**
27. @atg1694u
"they sound awesome"

**
28. @weotalks2810
"They Put FIRE to THIS SONG...THE GREAT SAM COOKE would be so HAPPY TO SEE THAT 55 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, THE WORLD STILL CELEBRATES HIS LEGACY..WELL DONE."

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2019

29. @lailak482
"I love watching these vids high it’s beautiful makes me wanna time travel ✨😊"

**
30. @normalname8768
"For anyone wondering the name of this group is acappella soul"

**
31. @Sharon.garvey
"Harmony!!!!  Now these are real singing"

****
2020

32. @pbroiles3445
"Yes guys. A forgotten art"

**
33. @godsuniqorn1043
"The culture."

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2021

34. @GloFav
"Great harmony - yes, Sam would be proud!"

**
35. @rebeccagibbons6414
"Can't get enough of these guys. Love Sam Cook..❤"

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2022

36. @Nahulanham
"These dudes can blow."

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2023

37. @marciayoungs695
"Wonderful  voices"

**
38. @David-q1k4k
"Great lead singer , great harmonies , big time talent !!! 🤩"

****

2024

****
2025

39. @joerivera7719
"L to R: Rome "Brooklyn" Cohen, Leonard "Scout" Ford, unknown, Gerard Giddiens and  William Chavis, Jr on lead vocals"

****
This concludes Part III of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

The Similarities And Differences Between United States' Doo-Wop Music And South Africa's Gwijo Music

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a four part pancocojams series on comparisons between United States' Doo-Wop music and South Africa's Gwijo music.

This post presents information about the similarities and differences between these two music genres.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/information-about-united-states-doo-wop.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Doo-Wop music and information about Gwijo music.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/acappella-soul-doo-wop-group-singing.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases two YouTube videos of United States Doo Wop music and presents a few selected comments from those videos' discussion threads.
 
Click  https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-south-african-gwijo-thina.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post showcases one YouTube videos of United States Doo Wop music, presents a partial Xhosa transcription with English translations, and presents a few selected comments from those videos' discussion threads.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DOO-WOP MUSIC AND GWIJO MUSIC
From AI result for my June 28, 2025 question "What are the similarities and differences between United States' Doo Wop music and South Africa's Gwijo music?

"AI result

AI Overview

UThat post showcases another video of St Stithians Boys College singing that gwijo. At the time that pancocojams post was published, that video had no comments. S Doo-wop and South African Gwijo share some key characteristics as vocal-based musical styles, but they also have distinct cultural origins, contexts, and musical elements. Here's a comparison:

Shared Aspects:

-snip-Vocal Group Harmony: Both Doo-wop and Gwijo heavily emphasize vocal group harmonies. Doo-wop, as its name suggests, is built around layered vocal arrangements often featuring a lead singer supported by background harmonies and rhythmic sounds. Gwijo is a practice of collective singing, deeply embedded in South African Xhosa culture, where groups sing together in a call-and-response format.

Emphasis on Vocalizations: Both genres often use the human voice for rhythm and instrumentation. Doo-wop features nonsense syllables as background "instrumentation," as MasterClass explains. Gwijo also relies on voices to create rhythmic and emotional depth, particularly in its traditional a cappella form.

Call-and-Response Structure: Both genres can employ call-and-response techniques, where a leader or solo voice is answered by a group. This form promotes participation and community engagement.

Emotional Expression: Both styles can express a wide range of emotions. Doo-wop often focuses on themes of love, dating, and heartbreak. Gwijo can express joy, determination, and victory, but also devastation.

Key Differences:

Feature  US Doo-Wop

Origin  Rhythm and blues subgenre developed in African-American communities in US cities during the 1940s-1950s.  

Instrumentation - Originally a cappella, later incorporated simple instrumentation like piano, guitar, drums, and saxophone.          

Primary Function -Primarily entertainment and expressing personal emotions, particularly romance.

Cultural Context - Strongly influenced by African-American musical traditions like gospel and blues. 

Evolution - Evolved to include more instrumentation and influenced genres like R&B, soul, and rock. 

Feature: South African Gwijo

Origin - Traditional practice of collective singing within South African Xhosa culture, adapted for various contexts like sports events.

Instrumentation -Primarily a cappella (voice only), especially in its traditional and most potent forms.

Primary Function - Social, cultural, and spiritual expression. Can be used for celebrations, protests, community building, and sports events.

Cultural Context- Deeply rooted in South African Xhosa culture and traditions.

Evolution- Adapted for new contexts, notably finding popularity in South African sports, but still retaining its core features.

In essence, while both share a focus on vocal harmony and emotional expression, Doo-wop is a commercially-oriented music genre while Gwijo is a culturally significant practice of communal singing with broad social and spiritual applications."

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MY ADDITIONS TO THAT SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES LIST

Additions and corrections are welcome. 

Similarities:
Both Doo Wop and Gwijo are forms of group singing that originated with Black teenage boys and young Black men. It appears from YouTube and Tik Tok videos that gwijo groups are almost entirely composed on Black teenage males and Black young adult men. 

**
Both Doo Wop and Gwijo have been mostly associated with street singing by non-professional groups of Black teenage males and/or by young Black men.

**
Doo-Wop groups, their lead singers, and their record label Doo-Wop songs evoked highly competitive feelings among their fans who promoted/supported their singer/s and their songs over other singer/s and their songs.

Gwijo groups and their songs (popularized on YouTube, Tik Tok, and other social media) appear to evoke the same highly competitive level of "stan" promotion and support as was the case with Doo-Wop music.

For instance, most of the comments in a lot of YouTube gwijo discussion threads focus on a particular lead singer winning (being the best, taking the cup) compared with lead singers in   
other gwijo groups, or other singers in that particular video. At the same time, there are hardly any comments about the lyrics of that gwijo, or about the song itself except for general comments about how good that song is.

****
Differences

The Doo-wop music genre largely died out in the United States in the 1960s, except for re-enactments (covers) of those songs by singing groups of older men. Groups singing Doo-Wop (or any other type of music) are rarely if ever seen on streets in the United States. 

In contrast, singing amagwijo is very much currently alive in South Africa. In 2017, mostly Black rugby fans formed the Gwijo Squad initially to support the Black team members by singing amagwijo at rugby games. Since that year, fans singing amagwijo has become an integral part of other South African sport events such as football (soccer) games and cricket games.

Some members of South African sports teams also sing amagwijo in their locker rooms, on buses to and from sports stadiums, and at other times with the exception of on the sport's field itself.

Furthermore, an increased number of Black South Africans who are (mostly) teenage males and young men have formed groups to sing amagwijo and posted those videos on YouTube, Tik Tok, and other social media, for the pleasure of singing and perhaps also with the hope of getting a record deal. Amagwijo groups also a contracted to sing at private social events such as weddings, funerals, and birthday parties. 

**
Doo-Woo music was never (is never) sung at sports events or at funerals. 

**
According to what I've read online, many South Africa Gwijo songs are based on traditional Xhosa songs and/or South African struggle (Apartheid protest) songs, However, if I correctly understand what I've read in comments in various YouTube discussion threads, amagwijo aren't supposed to have completely fixed lyrics, but are supposed to be somewhat extemporaneous.  

Here are some comments from the discussion thread of a YouTube video of the gwijo "Mntaka Mama (Thina Siyazalana)" by South Africa's St Stithians Boys College  (published by Mr Robot, June 2, 2019. That video is no longer available. However, before that video became inactive, I embedded it in a 2019 pancocojams post about that gwijo and included some comments from its discussion thread in that post:  https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-south-african-song-mtaka-mama-thina.html. 

Numbers added for referencing purposes only. (The numbers are different in that post.)

1.   lwazi juta, 2019
"They forgot what I gwijo is... Busy here is composing and ish.. QUEENS COLLEGE... any day... You don't practice igwijo... Ii lapha kuwe"
-snip-
Google translate from Zulu to English
"Ii lapha kuwe" ="It's here for you"

**
2. Pakamani Ndwandwa, 2020
"What in the mamamia is this... This is utter disrespect to igwijo... This is flippen choral music not igwijo. An absolute wast of data, watching these boys reduce the spirit of igwijo."

**
3. Nkosi Zulu, 2020
"Gwijo shouldn't be rehearsed and preformed.  Even the clapping was rehearsed 😴boring".
-snip-
I replaced that video which was no longer available with another video of St. Stithians Boys College singing that same gwijo. However, that video didn't have any comments at the time that I added it to that pancocojams post. 

**
In contrast to those descriptions of amagwijo, United States' doo-wop songs were newly composed romantic songs that had standard lyrics. Those lyrics didn't or rarely included lyrics from United States folk music or protest songs.(Note that doo-wop basically died out before the Civil Rights protest movement).  Also, doo-wop performances were usually rehearsed. 

****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Information About United States' Doo-Wop Music & South Africa's Gwijo Music

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a four part pancocojams series on comparisons between United States' Doo-Wop music and South Africa's Gwijo music.

This post presents information about Doo-Wop music and information about Gwijo music.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-similarities-and-differences.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about the similarities and differences between these two music genres.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/acappella-soul-doo-wop-group-singing.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video of United States Doo Wop music and presents a few selected comments from that video's  videos' discussion thread.

 
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-south-african-gwijo-thina.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post showcases one YouTube videos of United States Doo Wop music, presents a partial Xhosa transcription with English translations, and presents a few selected comments from those videos' discussion threads.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT DOO-WOP MUSIC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doo-wop
"Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s,[2] mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.[3][4] It features vocal group harmony that carries an engaging melodic line to a simple beat with little or no instrumentation. Lyrics are simple, usually about love, sung by a lead vocal over background vocals, and often featuring, in the bridge, a melodramatically heartfelt recitative addressed to the beloved. Harmonic singing of nonsense syllables (such as "doo-wop") is a common characteristic of these songs.[5] Gaining popularity in the 1950s, doo-wop was commercially viable until the early 1960s and continued to influence performers in other genres.

[...]

Doo-wop street singers generally performed without instrumentation, but made their musical style distinctive, whether using fast or slow tempos, by keeping time with a swing-like off-beat,[12] while using the "doo-wop" syllables as a substitute for drums and a bass vocalist as a substitute for a bass instrument.[6]

[...]

Elements of doo-wop vocal style

In The Complete Book of Doo-Wop, co-authors Gribin and Schiff (who also wrote Doo-Wop, the Forgotten Third of Rock 'n' Roll), identify five features of doo-wop music:

 -it is vocal music made by groups;

-it features a wide range of vocal parts, "usually from bass to falsetto";

-it includes nonsense syllables;

-there is a simple beat and low key instrumentals; and

-it has simple words and music.[16]

While these features provide a helpful guide, they need not all be present in a given song for aficionados to consider it doo-wop, and the list does not include the aforementioned typical doo-wop chord progressions. Bill Kenny, lead singer of the Ink Spots, is often credited with introducing the "top and bottom" vocal arrangement featuring a high tenor singing the intro and a bass spoken chorus.[17] The Mills Brothers, who were famous in part because in their vocals they sometimes mimicked instruments,[18] were an additional influence on street vocal harmony groups, who, singing a cappella arrangements, used wordless onomatopoeia to mimic musical instruments.[19][20] For instance, "Count Every Star" by the Ravens (1950) includes vocalizations imitating the "doomph, doomph" plucking of a double bass. The Orioles helped develop the doo-wop sound with their hits "It's Too Soon to Know" (1948) and "Crying in the Chapel" (1953).

 Origin of the name

Although the musical style originated in the late 1940s and was very popular in the 1950s, the term "doo-wop" itself did not appear in print until 1961, when it was used in reference to the Marcels' song, "Blue Moon", in The Chicago Defender,[21][22] just as the style's vogue was nearing its end. Though the name was attributed to radio disc jockey Gus Gossert, he did not accept credit, stating that "doo-wop" was already in use in California to categorize the music.[23][24]

"Doo-wop" is itself a nonsense expression. In the Delta Rhythm Boys' 1945 recording, "Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin", it is heard in the backing vocal. It is heard later in the Clovers' 1953 release "Good Lovin'" (Atlantic Records 1000), and in the chorus of Carlyle Dundee & the Dundees' 1954 song "Never" (Space Records 201). The first hit record with "doo-wop" being harmonized in the refrain was the Turbans' 1955 hit, "When You Dance" (Herald Records H-458).[23][25] The Rainbows embellished the phrase as "do wop de wadda" in their 1955 "Mary Lee" (on Red Robin Records; also a Washington, D.C. regional hit on Pilgrim 703); and in their 1956 national hit, "In the Still of the Night", the Five Satins[26] sang across the bridge with a plaintive "doo-wop, doo-wah".[27]."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT GWIJO MUSIC
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only:
Excerpt  #1

From https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/fan-park/update/ten-words-from-mzansi-s-football-dictionary/304884 Ten Words From Mzansi's Football Dictionary, By Captain Alzheimers June 2, 2015
..."”Igwijo” or “Amagwijo”

The words simply means ‘song.’ These songs are sung in stadiums by fans and by players in dressing rooms just before games."...
-snip-
"Football" in that title means what people in the United States refer to as "soccer".

"Igwijo" (gwijo) is the Xhosa singular term for "song" and "amagwijo" is the Xhosa plural term for "songs". 

I've come across and sometimes use the English word "gwijos" in pancocojams posts on this subject, even though I'm aware that "gwijos" is an incorrect term 

**
Singing amagwijo ("gwijos") at South African sport events.

**
Many South African sports teams sing amagwijo in their locker room, during bus rides to and from their games, and elsewhere apart from their playing fields. This is a new phenomenon (2017and on). Black South African school students sung amagwijo long before this form of music was sung at sports events.

Amagwijo ("Gwijos") are sung to demonstrate and reinforce unity and to raise the spirits of the team and others singing these songs.
**
Many amagwijo have the same lyrics or are adapted forms of traditional Xhosa songs and/or Xhosa struggle (protest) songs. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/information-about-videos-about-south.html for Part I of the 2019 pancocojams series "Information About & Videos About South Africans' Amagwijo". The link for Part II of that series is included in that post.

 

****
Excerpt #2
From https://www.instagram.com › theafricacenter › reel Nov 26, 2023
"Gwijo (igwijo) is a practice of call and response style collective singing deeply embedded in South African Xhosa culture. It uses no instruments besides the voice. Though gwijo is traditionally of the Xhosa people, today, it is part of South African culture as a whole, with a larger growing presence in sports."...
-snip-
The sentence that gwijo "uses no instruments besides the voice" is incorrect if hand clapping (and to a much more limited extent body [chest] slapping) is included in the definition of "musical instruments". Furthermore, I have come across a few YouTube videos (from 2024 & 2025) of gwijo groups singing while one person plays a traditional African drum or singing while one person plays a "Mpampampa (a hand held pillow-looking percussive instrument that is also known as "I-Beat" or other names).

****
Excerpt #3
From https://www.jeremydetolly.com/blog/ep39 E039 - iGwijo: healing anthems for South Africa
published by vocal liberation, Nov 23, 2020
"iGwijo

Gwijo is a practice of collective singing deeply embedded in South African Xhosa culture that takes the form of call and response (“I say something//You say something; I hear you//You hear me; We’re in dialogue together”). Because Gwijo uses no instruments (other than human voices), it could be described as a cappella. Gwijo songs have traditionally been sung by the amaXhosa people of South Africa to accompany weddings, funerals, initiations, and other sacred moments and rites of passage.

Part of these songs’ potency resides in their being so cathartic across a range of human emotions: they can express joy, determination, and victory, but also devastation. A Gwijo ‘performance’ can celebrate, protest, resist, or reclaim. Ultimately, though, it draws on the power of the collective to attain a kind of fierce grace, a coming together in intensity."...

****
Excerpt #4
From https://www.newframe.com/gwijo-squad-the-new-sound-of-south-african-sport/ Gwijo Squad, the new sound of South African sport 20 ; By: Sibusiso Mjikeliso , Photographer: Ihsaan Haffejee,  Jun 2019

This article was first published by New Frame. [under Creative Commons Attribution]

"It is said that freedom wasn’t free. And that, when democracy was negotiated, the last vestiges ceded into the hands of white minority control were the land and rugby.

Rugby was at the heart of the former rulers’ chests – almost literally so, when you consider the constant wrangling over the existence of the Springbok badge and its position on the World Cup jersey. The sport gave meaning to so many, within the segregated confines and among those marginalised.

However, time has brought a new generation and a breath of fresh air into the sport. They call themselves the Gwijo Squad and as far as disruptions go, they are the noisy new neighbours chanting in the west stand.

You might have seen them on some obtrusive viral video, perhaps sent unsolicited to your neighbourhood watch WhatsApp group. They sing songs of jubilation, elation and devastation. To the uninitiated ear, they sound like “struggle songs” but they are, in fact, the chants that reverberate through Xhosa initiation ceremonies, weddings and, of course, rugby matches in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces.

You might have even asked yourself, “Who are these people, really?” Perhaps you might question what they want at old rugby coliseums such as Loftus Versfeld, Ellis Park and Newlands.

More than a concert of predominantly black African, Xhosa-speaking rugby fanatics, the Gwijo Squad is made up of individuals determined to create a movement that could end in the true unification of a sport that was used as a powerful tool to suppress black people.

[...]

[photo caption] "1 June 2019: The Gwijo Squad started as a group of rugby fans from the Eastern Cape who took the spirit of igwijo with them to Gauteng, initially to support first black Springbok captain Siya Kolisi in his inaugural assignment against England at Ellis Park in June 2018."

[...]

Igwijo and the trouble it caused
In many ways, [Xhanti] Madolo has always been the guy at the forefront of a wave of change. In high school, he was the rugby cheerleader and courted trouble at post-1994 Dale College in King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape for his penchant for igwijo.

“We sang the school songs with pride and vigour, but we mixed things up with igwijo the year I took over as cheerleader [in 2000],” he recalls.

“We needed to take the cheering to another level, because our team was on another level and the culture was changing. We started bringing in the more popular traditional songs: “Ntombi emnhlotshazana … Yinton’ le uyenzayo, ayilunganga (Fair-skinned girl, what you’re doing is not right)”. And we readapted struggle songs, replacing names like Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela with the first team captain.

“The boys took to it, but the teachers on the other hand had other opinions. They banned igwijo. I don’t know how many times I have been called into the headmaster’s [James Haupt] office because of igwijo.

“Then Grey High School [from Port Elizabeth] threatened not to play against Dale if amagwijo would be sung at rugby matches. They said they were ‘savage songs’ or something like that. But it was too big a thing, too big to contain. They couldn’t fight it and it grew into something that is now the norm in the passages at the school.”...
-snip-
The Gwijo squad also sings during cricket matches. View the video given as #2 below.

Update: October 28, 2018
There are also YouTube videos of South African soccer team members singing in the locker room before games: Here's one link to a compilation of some of those videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCr5X0awS8 South African Soccer Songs Compilation laughter.mr, May 27, 2018

****
Excerpt #5
From - AI result for my June 28, 2025 Google request for information about The Gwijo Squad 
"The Gwijo Squad is a South African fan movement known for its energetic support of the Springboks (the national rugby team) and other sports teams, using traditional Xhosa call-and-response singing known as igwijo. Born from a desire to create a more inclusive and vibrant atmosphere at sporting events, the group started with a small group of friends and has grown to become a staple at Springbok matches and other sporting events.

Here's a more detailed look at their history:

Origins:

The Gwijo Squad emerged in 2017 when a group of friends, concerned about the lack of support at a Springboks 'A' match against the French Barbarians, decided to bring their energy to the stadium.

Early Days:

They started with 35 members attending the match in Soweto and have since grown, with members contributing financially to attend games.

Inclusivity and Unity:

The group aims to foster unity and inclusivity in South African sport, a space historically marked by segregation and racial tension.

Gwijo:

The term "Gwijo" refers to a traditional Xhosa singing style that is a form of call and response, and the group uses this style to energize and unite fans.

Beyond Rugby:

While initially focused on rugby, the Gwijo Squad has expanded their support to other sports and even cultural events, becoming a recognized force in South African sports and culture.

Impact:

The Gwijo Squad's presence is credited with creating a more positive and inclusive atmosphere at games, contributing to a sense of communal joy and belonging."
-snip-
The popularization of The Gwijo Squad has led to the formation in South Africa of numerous qwijo  music groups that don't have any recording contracts particularly among Black teenage boys and Black young men.

****
Excerpt #5 
From AI result for my June 28, 2025 Google question "Do any Gwijo groups have recording contracts?"
"AI Overview

Yes, some South African gwijo groups have record contracts, including one notable example:

The Joy, an acclaimed acapella/gwijo music group, has released their self-titled debut album on Transgressive Records.

Onset Music Group, an acapella group that has gained significant popularity with their gwijo songs, signed a major deal with Virgin Music Group SA.

Additionally, there are initiatives like the "Gwijo & Acapella music competition" which offer the potential for record deals to emerging artists, including a potential deal with Onset Music Group's label, ONEGroup.

While it seems that some gwijo groups have achieved success in the music industry through record deals, the specific details and number of such groups may vary."
-snip-
Here's some information about the South African music group The Joy from https://blackmajor.co.za/artist-link/the-joy/
"The Joy share a powerful live performance video, recorded at Durban’s iconic Playhouse Theatre during Sjava The 2018 Tour. Blending stirring harmonies with traditional gwijo songs, the set captures the group’s signature sound which is rooted in culture, unity, and vocal excellence. 

[...]

Duzie and Guduza, prominent voices from the acclaimed South African group The Joy, have officially released their second single, Sekwanele. Following the release of their debut track, Imizwa, this latest offering solidifies their place as artists to watch. Released under Transgressive Records, Sekwanele explores profound personal emotions through soulful melodies and intricate vocal harmonies....  

Jennifer Hudson Features The Joy on Her Holiday Album The Gift of Love.”…

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.  

A Possible Source For The Xhosa Word "Zampampam" That Is Used As A Title And/Or Refrain In Certain Amagwijo (Call & Response Songs)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post information about the South African invented musical instrument that is called "uMpampampa", among other terms. 

This post also presents my speculation that Mpampampa may have been the source for the Xhosa word "zampampam"

The Addendum showcases two YouTube videos of "Mpampampa" being played during a worship service and during a Gospel concert. by , and one video of a gwijo with the title "Zampampam".

The second showcased video showcases a 2012 video of audience members at a Joyous Celebration (Gospel) concert in South African playing small yellow versions of that instrument.

These aren't the only groups or occassions when the  uMampampa.

The third also showcases a YouTube video a gwijo with the title "Zampampam".. 


The content of this post is presented for etymological and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are associated with the videos that are showcased in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
DISCLAIMER:
I am an African American who doesn't read or speak any language but English.

I don't have any direct knowledge of South African culture and the only information that I have about that culture and the Xhosa language is from my reading on and off the internet.

I'm aware that my conclusion about the source for the Xhosa word "zampampam" is speculation.  

I'm interested in reading comments about this speculation.

****
WHY I THINK THAT THE WORD "MPAMPAMPA" MAY HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE FOR THE WORD "ZAMPAMPAM"
-The word "mpampampa" and the word "zampampam" are both from the isixhosa language.

-The word "mpampampa" and the word "zampampam" have similar spellings. 

-The word "mpampampa" appears to predate the Xhosa word "zampampam".

-Both the word "mpampampa" and the word "zampampam" are both used in musical context and are both of onomatopoeia* words.

*onomatopoeia words" - words that are formed from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle )...

****
INFORMATION ABOUT UMPAMPAMPA (MPAMPAMPA)
"Mpampampa" is one Xhosa language name for a hand held percussive instrument that resembles a small pillow. Read the comments in this post's discussion thread for additional names that have been used or are still being used in South Africa for this instrument.

Here are some quotes about mpampampa". These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. 

Quote #1
From https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/44f5/464c1570df0258d80affad087a77371f5782.pdf "Echoes of orality in Christian Xhosa songs" by M.M. Somniso

School of Language, Media and Communication

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (PORT ELIZABETH)
"Umpampampa: An umpampampa is a Bible-sized cushion covered with leather. It is held in one hand and beaten with the other. This is done to produce more sound and to regulate the rhythm."...

****
Quote #2
From https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/5102/Malembe_Sipho_S_2005.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y "South African popular Gospel Music In the Post-Apartheid Era: Genre, Production, Mediation and Consumption" [by] Sipho S. Malembe

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree Masters in Music (MMus),

At the School of Music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

Howard College

..."A number of early artists/groups stood out remarkably, in clearly demarcating and defining the genre of local 'Gospel'. Without going into depth with their music, I want to highlight a few such artists/groups. One of the very early 'Gospel' groups is Amodadana aseWesile. This group began in the mid 70's. Their music is hymnal, which is a direct influence of the missionaries' music. Their music is also characterised by translating well-known missionaries' hymns into local indigenous languages, as pointed to by Muwowo, in Table 2.1.

As he suggested, this translation alters the rhythm into a more African-oriented one. The music also has a forward-driving, danceable rhythm. The very use of the percussive sounds, like 'tshiiif called 'isifutho', and 'isqamelo', a small hand-held pillow like instrument; to emphasise certain beats of the bar in a phrase, emphasises and strengthens the rhythm of the music."
-snip-
I've added italics to highlight that sentence and that portion of a sentence..

****
Quote #3
From https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/29287/thesis_law_2018_perkins_grainne.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y "Danger and Death: Organisational and Occupational Responses to the Murder of Police in South Africa – a Case Study." [by] Gráinne Perkins
..."Glossary

 [...] “uMpampampa Handmade drum, onomatopoeia word owing to the sound it makes when struck, i.e. mpa-mpa-mpa”
-snip-
[more from that google search entry
“…. the handle allowed it to be held in one hand and beaten by the other free hand.. In the isiXhosa language the pillow is called the 'uMpampampa'.

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Quote #4
From the discussion thread for Joyous Celebration - Hi Hanya Mahala (Live at Carnival City, 2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsUa2rENH4Y

1. debo adediran, 2018
"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
@Mr R, 2018, 2018
2. "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 th e popular Methodist feel is brought into the Joyous Celebration concerts."

****
INFORMATION ABOUT ZAMPAMPAM
This content is quoted in https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/general-information-about-south-african.html "General Information About (South African) Gwijo & Information About Amagwijo ("Gwijos") That Have The Title "Zampampam" "

Pancocojams Editor's Note:
"Zampampam" is a word that is found in a number of amagwijo (the plural form of the Xhosa word "gwijo" since at least July 6, 2024 when a video with that title that was lead by General Gee was published on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnU0oc0dhX0 [video given in the Addendum of this post]

That gwijo and other amagwijo with the title "Zampampam" and/or with the word "zampampam" used as a refrain have become quite popular in South Africa and in some other African nations.

**
"Zampampam" appears to less frequently spelled "zampampa" or "zampapa".

**
Based on the Zampampam videos that I have watched and their discussion threads, it appears to me that most amagwijo with the title "Zampampam" have the same or similar rhythm, tune, and tempo, but have different lyrics except for the refrain "Zampampam". 

[...]

AI Notes About Zampampam

Pancocojams Editor's Note:
The following AI notes are the result of a question that I posted about "Zampampam" on June 21, 2025 and the result of a question that I posted on June 23, 2025

My question #1 - What is the English meaning of the South African gwijo Zampampam"?

AI Overview-
"Gwijo zampampam" is not a standard English phrase or a universally recognized South African expression. "Gwijo" refers to a style of collective singing, particularly within Xhosa culture, often done in a call-and-response format. "Zampampam" appears to be a nonsensical or onomatopoeic sound, possibly added to the gwijo for rhythmic or playful effect. It doesn't have a direct English translation.

Here's a breakdown:

Gwijo:

A form of communal singing, primarily associated with Xhosa culture in South Africa, characterized by call-and-response patterns.

Zampampam:

This is not a standard Xhosa or South African word. It seems to be a playful, rhythmic sound, possibly used to add emphasis or a specific rhythm to the singing."

****
My question #2- What is the Xhosa meaning for Zampampam?
"AI Overview

There's no direct Xhosa word "Zampampam" with a widely accepted, defined meaning.

Based on the search results, it seems "Zampampam" is used in the context of Xhosa culture, particularly within the genre of "Gwijo". Gwijo is a type of South African music often characterized by call-and-response and energetic vocals.

While it might not have a formal definition, the context of its use suggests it could function as:

An exclamation or chant within Gwijo music, adding emphasis or energy.

Part of a specific song or phrase within the Gwijo style that has a particular meaning within that musical tradition.

Think of it like an "oh yeah!" or a catchy phrase in a song that doesn't have a literal translation but carries a lot of feeling and energy in its context.

In summary, "Zampampam" doesn't have a typical dictionary definition in Xhosa, but it's used within the context of Gwijo music and likely serves as an expressive or energetic element within that genre.."

**** 
ADDENDUM: SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Showcase Video #1 - URCSA Khayelitsha Ndikhangele Ngobubele 334*

Sivuyisiwe Lutango, Mar 14, 2018
-snip-
*Commenters corrected this title indicating that the hymn is actually #86 in that standard church hymnal. 

This video shows some members of Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), a South African Christian denomination. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_Reformed_Church_in_Southern_Africa for information about this Christiain denomination. Note that a quote given above mentioned that members of a South African Methodist denomination use/d these same or very similar clapping devices. However, URCSA isn't a Methodist denomination. 

**
Some comments from this video's discussion thread that are given in this pancocojams post's discussion thread below includes some other names for this musical instrument.

****
Showcase video #2 - Joyous Celebration - Hi Hanya Mahala (Live at Carnival City, 2012)



My JOYOUS Celebration, August 9, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsUa2rENH4Y
-snip-
This video doesn't mean to imply that all past Joyous Celebration audiences or any current Joyous Celebration audiences play this hand clapping instrument during their concerts. 

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Showcase Video #3 - Zampampam (Gwijo) | Lyrics

Pistole Gwijo,  Jul 6, 2024  #gwijokings #gwijo #pistolegwijo

By General Gee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnU0oc0dhX0

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

General Gee & Group - "Zampampam" (Gwijo) video with partial lyrics with English translation

Pistole Gwijo,  Jul 6, 2024  #gwijokings #gwijo #pistolegwijo

By General Gee
-snip-
Statistics for this YouTube video as of June 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM EDT
total # of views - 3,780,736 views
total # of comments -1,273  as of June 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM EDT  

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- June 24, 2025

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on (South African) gwijos (songs) that have the title "Zampampam" or include the word "zampampam" as a refrain..

This post showcases a YouTube video of  General Gee's version of "Zampampam".

This is the first online video of any YouTube or Tik Tok amagwijo ("gwijos") * with the title "Zampampam" or which have the word "zampampam" as a refrain.

This post also presents the partial lyrics for this July 6, 2024 gwijo from the screen captions of that video. English translations of those Xhosa words are given in this pancocojams post along with some explanations about those English translations.  

* "Gwijo" is a South African Xhosa word for a certain type of call & response song. The plural form of the word "gwijo" is "amagwijo". However, in this pancocojams blog I include the incorrect plural form "gwijos" in parenthesis along with the word "amagwijo" to clarify the meaning of that Xhosa word. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/general-information-about-south-african.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information and notes about "gwijo" in general and "Zampampam" amagwijo ("gwijos) in particular.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to General Gee and all the members of this group for this gwijo. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
Disclaimer:
I am an African American who doesn't speak any language but English and has no direct knowledge of South African culture.

Therefore, the only information that I have about amagwijo ("gwijos") in general and examples of these songs that are titled "Zampampam" or include the word "zampampam" as a refrain has been gleaned from searching the internet.

I'm aware that some of this information may be incomplete and/or inaccurate.  

Additions and corrections are very welcome.

****
XHOSA LYRICS FROM THIS VIDEO'S CAPTIONS WITH GOOGLE TRANSLATION RESULTS FROM XHOSA TO ENGLISH

[Pancocojams Editor's note:
A number of amagwijo ("gwijos") have the title "Zampampam" or include the word "zampampam" as a refrain. The tune and tempo for many of these songs are the same or similar, but the lyrics appear to differ except for the "zampampam" refrain.

These captions given below appear on the video screen [in Xhosa] to .59 although the group continues singing until 2:49.

I’m assuming that the words are in Xhosa since that is usually the language for gwijos. The English translations are given in parenthesis.]

Zampampam
(no translation found)

Zampampam

Foya shaya inae nae
(Come on, hit him with it)

Iyoh haa
(oh yeah)

weh foja
(Wow, soldier)

Foya shaya inae nae
(Come on, hit him with it)

Zampampam

Shaya itswala bami
(Hit my cousin)

iyoh haa
(oh yeah)

weh foja
Wow, soldier [Xhosa]

Zampampam

Tobetsa Labantu
(Press people)

Zampampam

Point ubabuze kwenza kalani
(Point, ask them what they did

Iyoh haa
(oh yeah)

Zampampam

ahh ahchu mahn
(Google translate doesn't give any results for "ahh achu". However, I found this meaning elsewhere online:  “ah achu” [ah achoo] means “oh well” in Xhosa"

"mahn" is probably the contemporary African American spelling for “man”.)

Zampampam

Iyoh haa
(oh yeah)

weh foja
(Wow, soldier)

Zampampam

Phuza ama apetito
(Drink your appetite) 

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
My guess is that the lyrics of this gwijo is challenging others to try to best (perform better than) the lead singer and his group. This comment in this video's discussion thread indicates that General Gee made up the words to this gwijo on the spot:

@St4rs.4_Musa, 024, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnU0oc0dhX0
"I love how this is a freestyle ✨💗"
-snip-
Addition and corrections are welcome regarding my guess about the overall meaning of the lyrics for this version of "Zampampam".

Read my comment in this pancocojams post's discussion thread that quotes some commenters about how lyrics for amagwijos aren't supposed to be fixed.

****
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXPLANATION FOR "ZAMPAMPAM" 
from AI results [June 22, 2025] - "Zampampam" appears to be a nonsensical or onomatopoeic sound, possibly added to the gwijo for rhythmic or playful effect. It doesn't have a direct English translation."

**
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXPLANATION FOR ' PHUZA AMA APETITO"

[AI result]

In Xhosa, "Phuza" means "to drink". The word "apetito" comes from Spanish and means "appetite".

So, "Phuza ama apetito" literally translates to "drink the appetizers" or "drink the appetites". However, in a South African context, particularly in the realm of slang and online trends (like on TikTok), this phrase is often used in a figurative way to refer to taking something that increases one's appetite.

Based on the usage on platforms like TikTok, "Phuza ama apetito" is associated with the idea of taking something to make one hungry or to boost one's desire to eat. It's used in the context of viral videos and challenges, suggesting it's related to some kind of food or appetite stimulant.

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Here are two related Tik Tok 2024 videos with "Phuza Ama Apetito" in their title:   

Protea amaapetito gwijo

Phuza Ama Apetito Dance Challenge Highlights

TikTok · Abutiiiqualityyy2.0, 2024

 
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TikTok · JEVANEO💕, 2024

ma APETITO Pills Usage and Effects Explained

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Here's information from Facebook about the South African somewhat related term "Phuza Thursday":
https://www.facebook.com/SaffaDeli/posts/phuza-thursday-is-a-lively-tradition-in-south-africa-the-term-phuza-comes-from-t/594824423592528/

Protea Delights

noseodtSrp, March26, 2025

Phuza Thursday is a lively tradition in South Africa. The term "phuza" comes from the Zulu and Xhosa languages, meaning "drink." This day has become a popular pre-weekend celebration, where people gather to enjoy drinks and socialize, marking an early start to the weekend 🍻

It’s like a warm-up party for Friday nights—South African style"

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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

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