YouTube Video "Pitori's Amapiano vs Durban Gqom Dance" (with selected comments from this video's discussion thread)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the 2018 video entitled "Pitori's Amapiano vs Durban Gqom Dance

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and/or who are featured in this videos. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/05/information-about-south-africas-gqom.html for this closely related pancocojams post entitled "Information About South Africa's Gqom Music & Amapiano Music."

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
In addition to watching these dances, I'm interested in documenting selected comments from the discussion thread of certain YouTube videos for historical and cultural reasons.

I'm also interested in observing the use of colloquialisms, slang, and idioms that are found in these comments. For instance, the use of South African interjections such as "Eish" and "Iyah!" and the use of South African abbreviations such as "PTA" for Pretoria (Pitori) and "Jozi", "Joburg" for Johannesburg are other examples from that broad category of colloquialisms and idioms that I'm interested in noting.

I'm also interested in noting Africans and other non-Americans' use of African American Vernacular English terms such as "fam", "killed it", "fire", "lit", and "in the house" as well as the use of the Jamaican term "big up" by Africans and other non-Jamaicans.

In addition, I'm interested in documenting who is commenting in a particular discussion thread. For example, I read the entire discussion thread as of the publishing date for this pancocojams post and of the comments that identified commenters by their country, the only comments that were posted by people outside of South Africa were from the United States, Namibia, one person from Ghana, and one person from one comment from China.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO- Pitori's Amapiano vs Durban Gqom Dance




Alles Mzansi, Mar 21, 2018

1st Song: Dadaman - Skorokoro
2nd Song: Dj Cubic - Gqom Emotions
-snip-
Statistics as of May 20, 2020 at 1:38 PM EDT
Total # of views- 1,312,340
Total # of likes-6.1K
Total # of dislikes-538
Total # of comments-619

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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for references purposes only

2018
1. ostip
"Hahah ah this vid was made by someone from Durban"

**
2. Khani Hlahla
"Pretoria makes a simple thing fun,meanwhile Durban dances you sweat n its fast moves.... I'll give it to pitori...mind you I'm from Soweto"

**
3. Simphiwe Sibusiso
"not every dance in Durban makes pple sweat, it differ with music personal style, people can do one same dance in different pace."

**
4. Thapelo Mokoto
"The best one is whoever YOU think is the best."

**
5. Kaleah Collins
"GO BABY GURL GET EM"

**
6. Brandon Mphela
"I’m from Pta but I route with Durban on this one"

**
7. Chwepheshe
"ill give the music to Capcity and Dance moves to Dubane"

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8. Nale Montoedi
"um from Northern Cape but i'll go with petori mahlanyeng big up Pretoria"

**
9. David Mehnert
"Forget about the regional rivalry and answer me this: why haven’t these moves taken over the world yet? Am I just an American “early adopter”, emulating this style and trying to do it on my own? Or am I seeing the beginning of (yet another) great South African cultural export?

Om tellin yah these kidzis omna summin"

**
10. Lethu
"Im from Jozi but Durban takes the crown in terms of music and dance. Pitori u too guys are dope but never compare ur selfs to Durban house n dance"

**
11. Kagiso
"Stop dreaming. Sepantsula is Pretorian. It all started this side"

**
12. SA HipHop Lyrics
"Wait a min....pitori rocks fam✌️✌️✌️"

**
13. MOS TEE, 2018
"I think we can all agree that Cqom is loud and aggressive just like the Zulus who invented it. We tshwanas just like our music are chilled and very gentle

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14. Nosipho Ndlovu
"It’s a well known SOUTH AFRICAN fact that DURBAN PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH DANCE 💃🏽even ibimbi can dance 🤣🤣🤣"

**
15. Kate Mncwabe
"AWEEEEEE! @Dbn 💃💚"

**
16. nkululeko shandu
"Leave the Dance to Durban and Music to PTA. that's all i can say."

**
17. KP QHIBI
"I'm from Mpumalanga and I tell you now, PTA will kill you when it comes to music. amapaino one way."

**
18. Willy Songs
"When it comes to music I like Pretoria baba , Durban music is too loud and Durban dance is like they training karati , so Pretoria is the best"

**
19. Bonga Radebe
"First time hearing the PTAs sound honestly sounds similar to kwaito so I understand why you would dance slow. Gqom will always win baf2 don’t build excuses on you have to sweat when you dance like come on who cares when you at a party and you drunk cause sweating is the last thing you think about plus they are slower dance moves you can use kwiQgom that’s if you know how to dance 😂😂 but Durban baf2 is the king of Anything in a sub category of House ex deep house, deep base house to qgom, Jozi holds it down in Hip hop while Capetown holds it down in Events"

**
20. develop sentiment
"lol people can't dance like Durban peeps do... That's the thing, Pitori you can do the moves even if you're not a good dancer, but with Durban, if you can't you can't."

**
21. Thembelani Ndaba
"Lol why are "Pitori" dancers doing the vosho? Its a Durban move mos...Also why is this even a contest? Durban, any day bakwethu"

**
22. agiso
"The aim is not to sweat 😍"

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23. Tsepo Ndlovu
"as Pretoria we not properly represented"

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24. Lungelo Seboya
"About 60% of those u claimed r from durban, are not really, durbanites r not wild dancers theyr ppl of rythm,they move wit the beat"

**
25. Mpumelelo M
"I guess Cape Town is more similar to Pitori cause we're very chilled here."

**
25. Bradwell Timba
"that little girl yooh"

**
26. Dj Laza _SA
"Lol, Durban likes lots of noise and confusion, us in petori, we're chilled, it makes sense now"

**
27. Kagiso Matlala
"Pitori just took Durban straight to the cleaners"

**
28. Lwazi Nzimande
"When it comes to dance, none can touch Durban. That's a given. But when it comes to house, deep house? AH man, Pitori takes it."

**
29. lady liwinski chantele
"that little girl dancing to Pusha Skorokoro made my day💃💃"

**
30. Jeremia Mueze
"Durban is full of copy cats der is no creativity der. Pitori is top class wen cuming to dancing. People 4rm durban dey stil dance moves wen ever dey ar here nd mix da dance,name them in their lingo. Even da gwaragwara dance dey stole it 4rm Ghanaian dancers. Durban dancers dey research for dance moves lol is like doing a copy nd paste."

**
REPLY
31. digger g rocky
"And don't forget the Soweto pantsula moves also"

**
REPLY
32. Africa Mpanza
"but petoli stole the gwara gwara bruv"

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REPLY
33. Fah Ngwane
"ummm.. there is something called dance school. Universities have it as well. You learn how to dance from observing other people dance. From there some dance-moves- variations come to you naturally hence making how you dance as an individual unique.

How Jeremia Mueze used the term creativity is an insult to human intelligence.
One can use an existing idea to create something new, and that is creativity."

**
34. Sbu Mo'
"Durban takes the cake!!"

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35. Dede Padi
"sorry, but as a pretorian, and a guy that grew up ko Sosha, i must say PTA wasn’t well represented in this video. that’s crap, by PTA standards. they even do the gwara-gwara (durban dance) in a PTA vs Durban vid. really misrepresented. get bafana ba ko kasi straight, not this choreography and up-and-down jumping nonsense; we don’t dance that nonsense in PTA. check the ‘Survivor pila’ videos if wanna get just an idea of PTA, and look at DJ Buckz as well. that’s PTA. no city in this country can challenge PTA.

la re embarrassa man"

**
36. Forgive Mathebula
"Durban dance moves are nice and jolly , Durban gqom music makes one sweat and their moves are fast so ..."

**
37. Kaleah Collins
"But lets not forget they takin from AMERICAN( Black ) Dances too."

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REPLY
38. ntlakanipho ngwane
"Kaleah Collins Americans take it from here not the other way

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REPLY
39. Princess Dafiyah
"Kaleah Collins no it goes both ways...nobody is better than the other

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REPLY
40. Kaleah Collins
"Camilla Brown exactly never said we was better but. I noticed them fusing some American dances with the traditional ones."

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REPLY
41. ntlakanipho ngwane
"Kaleah Collins you have just exposed the typical dumb American mindset y'all are known for."

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REPLY
42. Kaleah Collins
"ntlakanipho ngwane of course you would say that to negate that we both influence eachother though removed completely for centuries"

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REPLY
43. Eezzy John
"ntlakanipho ngwane .....Kaleah never disrespected you nor insulted you.....American blacks are not that exposed to African culture....Africans are far more influenced by American blacks then we are of them.....the way young Africans dress and in even in some of their speech they pick up on American culture...if you so no, then either you're blind or a liar....alot of African dances are now mixed with some of American culture dances."

**
REPLY
44. Kaleah Collins
"Eezzy John thnk you my brother. I love my diaspora"

**
45. ERNEST MOFOKENG
"im glad you only said pitori le Durban.... cos Tembisa and Limpopo are the best dancers... handz down"

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46. MONICCA MAMASHELA
"Pretori wins chilled vibes not durban dancing as if ur at war."

**
47. Derrick Siyanda
"To the girls dancing vosho to amapiano, don't 4get where that dance came from #ethekwini dlala Durban"

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48. Thato Selokela
"Durban music is too fast and too much for the ear in PTA their music is good chilled music"

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49. Kgaogelo Sibeko
"Durban music is for dancing competitions, takes a lot of energy. Pretoria music is just for good times so everyone can dance to it, that's why it takes the cup for me. In Pitori we say the aim is not to sweat."

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50. digger g rocky
"this Qhom thing is just an irritating off beat and i don't know if i should call it music"

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51. Dede Padi
"sorry, but as a pretorian, and a guy that grew up ko Sosha, i must say PTA wasn’t well represented in this video. that’s crap, by PTA standards. they even do the gwara-gwara (durban dance) in a PTA vs Durban vid. really misrepresented. get bafana ba ko kasi straight, not this choreography and up-and-down jumping nonsense; we don’t dance that nonsense in PTA. check the ‘Survivor pila’ videos if wanna get just an idea of PTA, and look at DJ Buckz as well. that’s PTA. no city in this country can challenge PTA."

**
52. Bonga Radebe
"First time hearing the PTAs sound honestly sounds similar to kwaito so I understand why you would dance slow. Gqom will always win baf2 don’t build excuses on you have to sweat when you dance like come on who cares when you at a party and you drunk cause sweating is the last thing you think about plus they are slower dance moves you can use kwiQgom that’s if you know how to dance 😂😂 but Durban baf2 is the king of Anything in a sub category of House ex deep house, deep base house to qgom, Jozi holds it down in Hip hop while Capetown holds"

**
53. Boniface Mwangi
"who hates or dislike this needs to wash off dem heart"

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54. gerrald
"Gqom is the future. Great time to be alive"

**
REPLY
55. KP QHIBI, 2020
"And then Kabza happened."

**
REPLY
56. lil kasa, 2020
" Then DJ Maphorisa started making amapiano with Kabza
#Scorpion Kings"

****
2019
57. Noni Nonny
"Mhhh I'm in love with pitori peeps😍😍this amapiano thing really work for yr prvnc"

**
58. Andrew
"Different songs different tempo so you can't compare the two fairly..each dance moves match the respective song .."

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59. Lungelo Ntully
"Durban yes yes yes we're burning flames🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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60. Reginald Swartz
"I am a Namibian but I would like to say that pitori rules and gqom just sounds random and the same."

**
61. Sibonelo Mmelokuhle
"Pitoli is coming but it will take some time to reach dbn, you cant catch igqomu now its already international. Shoutout to pitoli boyz are really making good music and they vibe is chilled n lit"

**
62. Kgotlello Makhura
"Hey guys Pretoria takes this one. Bana le swenka as for me Durban reminds me of soweto kwasa kwasa days. The metavo days."

**
63. sergio mapossa
"SOUTH ÁFRICA WIN"

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64. Precious N
"@ 6:20 Isipansula...Classic South African Dance mives♥♥♥"

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65. Danielle Leverock
"When beat is that good you HAVE to put your plate down !"

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66. RO Tail
"dancing all the way to land reparations ayi."

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67. dwinosam
"Theres no vs in styles, just moods qnd expressions"

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68. Palesa Bhengu
"Its funny how you guys say PTA killed it but using dances and songs that originated from Durban artists😴 Just saying...."

**
69. Flakka Goat
"amapiano originated from durban?? since when????????lol not to mention the old durban sgubhu from which gqom came from was inspired by sgubhu sa pitori back in the early 2000's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de3L8W5B32g

**
70. Spantoes Wa lekhosi
"This is cheatin guys how come they play few of pitori dance with a selection of a slow track n more of Durban dance? N beside i know we pitorian we good tooooo much

**
71. Setjhaba Lawrance
"Guys amapiano does it all, imagine listening to Gqom on a chill Sunday picnic, aah people let's be honest Amapiano is the best. Coming to dancing skills Amapiano accommodate all in terms of not good and good at dancing but with Amapiano u can dance. People who mostly dance to gqom music are people who a good in dancing it doesn't accommodate robots like us."

**
72. Philemon Dibobo
"From North West - Residing in Durban. The music in Durban is hyper and good for going all sorts of crazy, which doesn't match its chilled weather, The pitori music is chilled, which doesn't match its weather either. The two should swap music, gqom and umgunyo(ecstacy-excuse my spelling) must go to pitori mahlaneng and amapiano must come to durban - from there you can read in-between the lines which one I prefer."

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73. sk lizer
"Ohk now pitori are people who LOVE to dance and have fun and durban are people who KNOW how to dance and will show you flames"

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74. Hlanzeka Qwabe
"Lol in drbn they dance to impress others byanong Rona we dance to impress ourselves - hearing yourself say "tjuu"🙆 while dancing is the best or byang mahlanya?!!! #pushdaideng"

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75. Thabsile chamane
"So all Joburg people voted for Pitoli🤔🤔 we all know the truth though Durban rocks"

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76. Darryl Van Rensburg
"Can never Compare Gqom to amapiano. Its like comparing Champagne with Vodka😂 it depends on occasion"

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77. Bongeka Nyamazana
"where are my people from Durban at?"

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78. Iamtrust
"All said and done, and after reviewing, I think I like both styles. So they both in their respective categories win."

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79. Iamtrust
"On second note, I understand both arguments.. Gqom is noisy, and fast, it needs boundless creativity, That what Durban has... That's why it's call South Africas playground. Pretoria though I must admit I love some of the music, the dance part of it bores me"

**



Sthembiso Mthembu
"I guess its still early days for us. But soon the world is getting to know about us."

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77. Oo Jay
"From Ghana 🇬🇭 but loveeee Tsa Pitori"

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78. Rudy Gertse
"Not meant to swear but love there vibe qgom creative ma patori takes the cake"

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79. tangeni neshila
"Durban music is almost like angolan music kuduru. I give it to pretoria. And i am from windhoek lol"

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80. Mizz Lee from SA
"Pitori stand up!!!!"

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81. Virginia Motsomane
"Lol amapiano is taking over, gqom is dying now."

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82. red bull media
"Lool if they can here this in durban they will lough straight up .durban when it comes to bhenga kill it fam z like comparing benz en a honda lool ppl aybo loool"

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83. Oageng Msiza
"Pitori -- It's all about 'the aim is not to sweat' --Their moves are effortless ---Even the music

Durban ---Energy Energy Energy"

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84. Chef kubza mueze
"Lol guys don't forget al dance moves start from capital city of south africa.da dance called gwaragwara derives from bula masepao, durbanist are not creative. Dey stil moves nd mix dam. They are lot of student's who ar from kzn nd durban who schools here in Pta. They take videos of people dancing nd distribute them to their friends. They change everything by adding something.Artist always stills dance moves of Pretorians we ar used to dat,even arthur changed a dance song called Tobetsa to qopetsa. Pretoria is a king of dance music nd a capital city of house music. Creativity nd Originality is from Pretoria tlohelang ho te kapesa mapanta ka ho utswa."

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85. Russel Mtlokwa
"Durban dance is not child's play baba all in all Durban music is good when you want to move a crowd, Pitori amapiano when you chilling at home , you cant just listen to Gqom chilling at home and you cant listen to amapiano in the club"

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86. Khai Blacco
"As far as dancing is concerned, PTA got nothing on DBN... Music? It depends if you like amaPiano or Gqom."

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87. Sweet Science
"This comparison isn't fair! They didn't compile from the best dances in Pitoli as they did with those in Dbn. It gives of the impression that Gqom is better than Amapiano from the visual. However comparing the two music genres without any visual effects - Gqom ngomtshana to Amapiano."

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88. Willy Songs
"That Durban music called qoum I honestly don't feel it I just hear a loud sound that makes no sense at all"

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89. Chris O'Reilly
"Imagine a Piano instrumental over a Gqom beat??? The person who is able to strike the balance there... Pure gold."

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90. Oddblood01
"South Africans have the best footwork in Africa."

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91. INNOCENTIA MPHO SHIKWAMBANA
"hai baba Durban will humble you....#Gqom babe❤❤"

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92. ATM TM
"I'll say this for people in the Western world Durban seems more appealing bc its close to afro american dance moves whereas Pit seems more african to me it remind me e.g. more of congolese dance moves etc.
But both are dope keep doin yo ding my brothers and sister one love"

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2020
93. Moipone Maredi
"We dance like PTA till old age buy Durban dance is only for teens"

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Information About South Africa's Gqom Music & Amapiano Music

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about South Africa's Gqom music and Amapiano music genres.

The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/05/youtube-video-pitoris-amapiano-vs_20.html for this closely related pancocojams post entitled "YouTube Video "Pitori's Amapiano vs Durban Gqom Dance" (with selected comments from this video's discussion thread)".

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GQOM MUSIC
Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gqom
"Gqom ... is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2010s from Durban, South Africa,[1] pioneered largely by producer DJ Lag[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10], duo Rudeboyz[2][11][12][13], Emo Kid and Dominowe[14] developed out of South African house music, kwaito and techno.[15] Unlike other South African electronic music, gqom is typified by minimal, raw and repetitive sound with heavy bass beats but without the four-on-the-floor rhythm pattern.[1]

[...]

Name and characteristics
The word gqom derives from an onomatopoeic combination of click consonants in the isiZulu and isiXhosa meaning a hitting drum. It is also expressed as qgom, igqom, gqomu or variants thereof.[18][19]

Gqom is known for its beats which have a minimal, raw and repetitive sound with heavy bass. It is mainly described as having a dark and hypnotic club sound. The style of beats does not use the four-on-the-flour rhythm pattern which is often heard in other house music.[1] … It often uses one phrase or a few lines which are repeated numerous times in the song. …

Dance moves
Gqom music is associated with a number of distinctive dance moves, including gwara gwara, vosho and bhenga.[22]

Gwara gwara
Gwara gwara is performed by rolling and swinging the arm and the elbow in terms of making a circle, and one of the leg moves in connection with the arm's rhythm. It has some similarities to the Stanky Leg.[23] The dance move created by disc jockey and producer DJ Bongz, was heavily imitated by South Africans and other African people mainly during 2016.[24][25] It also received widespread globally as the choreography was adopted by notable musicians: Rihanna performed the dance move while performing Wild Thoughts at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018. Childish Gambino performed the dance in the video of his song "This Is America".[26][27]

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Excerpt #2
From http://www.factmag.com/2016/01/05/gqom-feature/ "Gqom: A deeper look at South Africa’s new generation of house" BY BEN MURPHY, JAN 5 2016
...“In Africa, electronic music is bubbling. Across the vast continent, fresh machine-generated sounds are popping off, sometimes drawing on outside influences, sometimes made within their own creative bubble. In Egypt, electro chaabi, the computerized update of urban folk music, recently caught the ear of Kode9 and other forward-thinking UK DJs. Afrobeats, with its hip-hop leaning, accessible 4/4 vibe, has travelled beyond its origins in Nigeria and Ghana to grow in the UK and beyond, whilst in South Africa, house and its many regional variants like kwaito have been popular for a long time. Its most visible house artist, Black Coffee, is a superstar at home and popular worldwide.

Of all these exciting, recently unfolding forms, gqom could be the most outlandish. Emerging mostly from the townships of Durban, South Africa’s second most populous city, gqom is a raw dance music blueprint with a polyrhythmic bustle – part broken beat, part chrome-plated synth menace. Skeletal, robotic, unsettling and irresistible, it sounds somewhat influenced by UK sounds like grime and funky, but has nothing to do with them, says gqom producer Citizen Boy, part of the Mafia Boyz collective.

"I think the style was invented when some unknown guy from elokishini, the ghetto, got hold of production software and began experimenting and making something he could dance to, and gqom was born,” says (brilliantly named) producer Emo Kid, but some reckon that it mutated from other previously existing styles. Gqom shares some similarities with the local house sound, despite its non-4/4 pattern, and it’s often blended at house parties by DJs playing a mix of gqom, sgubhu and hip-hop.

“I think I heard about gqom music in 2012,” says Citizen Boy, who believes the style comes from “an old genre called Sgxumseni, which means ‘make us jump’.” He adds: “DJ Clock and DJ Gukwa used to produce it, then after a while Naked Boyz arose and they took the spot like it’s the genre gqom. It’s almost the same as gqom, but the difference is that Sgxumseni is a four-step and gqom is a broken beat — it can be a three-step or two-step beat.”

“Gqom music relates a lot to house music but it is also slightly different from house music, it is very tribal and the kick drum has an unfamiliar pattern,” adds Emo Kid. “It is very easy to identify a gqom sound because it is unique.”...

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Excerpt #3
Note: This quote is included in https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/05/south-african-rappersinger-sho-madjozi.html [with italics added to highlight that sentence]

From https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/arts/music/sho-madjozi.html Sho Madjozi’s Mixed Up, Pan-African Rap
..."[Sho Madjozi's] lyrics mix it up, too. She mostly raps in a combination of Xitsonga, the language of the Tsonga people, and English. Her bubblegum-bright party track “Huku” is in Swahili, a language Madjozi learned to speak fluently in Tanzania.

Madjozi’s music features multilingual rap flows — in Xitsonga, Swahili and English — over beats from a style of house music called gqom.[photo caption]

These multilingual flows unfold over a style of music known as gqom, a shadowy strain of house that began bubbling out of townships in Durban, South Africa, in the early 2010s.

To untutored ears, gqom can sound gritty, with its apocalyptic sirens and ribcage-rattling bass. In Europe and the United States, Madjozi said, the style is often “perceived as being alternative or experimental.” But in South Africa, she added, “Gqom is the biggest sound. Gqom is the pop of South Africa.”

Recently, American hip-hop heavyweights seem to have recognized gqom’s combination of rough-hewed authenticity and commercial potential. Kendrick Lamar’s soundtrack for the superhero movie “Black Panther” features gqom beats, and Beyoncé’s new “Lion King” album brings in South African gqom musicians on the track “My Power.”

Madjozi hasn’t had her Hollywood moment yet, but her songs are among gqom’s most accessible examples. On her debut album “Limpopo Champions League,” released in December 2018, she put the genre’s beats into a typical “verse, chorus, verse,” pop song structure, she said."...
-snip-
Sho Madjozi's 2019 viral song "John Cena", rapped/sung in Kiswahili and English (with a few South African words) also features gqom beats.

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AMAPIANO MUSIC
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amapiano
Amapiano is a style of house music that emerged in South Africa in 2016. Amapiano is a sophisticated hybrid of deep house, jazz and lounge music characterized by synths, airy pads and wide basslines.[1] It is distinguished by high pitched piano melodies, Kwaito basslines, low tempo 90s South African house rhythms and percussions from another local subgenre of house known as Bacardi.[2]

Origins
Although it is known the genre gained popularity in Gauteng, there is a lot of ambiguity in terms of where the Amapiano style of music originates, with various accounts of the musical style in Johannesburg townships, Soweto, Alexandra, Vosloorus and Katlehong where it is most common. Because of the genre's similarities with Barcadi, some people assert the genre began in the Pretoria area with DJ Mojava which was made popular by Pretoria taxi drivers and has been an on going debate about the origin of Amapiano.[3][4][5]

Various accounts as to who formed the popular genre make it impossible to accurately pinpoint its origins.[6]

Popularity
Initially, Amapiano[7] was a confined success in the townships, playing in popular pubs and taverns around Gauteng. The sound itself was underground music, being shared around using messaging apps, more commonly WhatsApp, before it became mainstream being recognised by streaming services such as Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music. The genre was further popularised by DJs who would transform popular music hits and incorporating the jazzy low-tempo into those tracks, including DJ Ganyani, Sun-El Musician, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small.[8]

As of 2020, Amapiano is getting more mainstream across Africa; there are several dedicated charts now, more playlists on digital platforms, not just by South Africans alone.[9][10][11]

The sound is filled with some melodious piano tunes, coupled with a "gong-gong" sound, making it up to what is called "Amapiano". Some DJs and producers do mix it up with Gqom.

[...]

Stylistic origins: Deep house, kwaito, jazz, lounge
Cultural origins: Mid-2010s, Gauteng, South Africa
Typical instruments: Piano, drums, synthesizer

****
Except #2:
From https://newsroom.spotify.com/2019-10-02/charting-the-meteoric-rise-of-south-africas-amapiano/ Charting the Meteoric Rise of South Africa’s AmaPiano
OCTOBER 2, 2019

During the early days of its popularity in 2016, AmaPiano, the uniquely South African take on house music, circulated via low-quality file shares on messaging apps and online forums. Developed by bedroom producers with limited resources, the music spread from phone to phone faster than anyone expected; by early 2019, you couldn’t walk through the streets of South Africa without hearing AmaPiano’s sunny melodies seeping into the air from car windows and phone speakers

“If you put one hundred guys in a room and you asked them where [AmaPiano] started, you’ll get one hundred answers and some very heated debates,” said Siphiwe Ngwenya, cofounder of Born in Soweto, a homegrown label that’s backed AmaPiano since its early days.

[...]

The genre’s popularity with bedroom producers may also have something to do with its well-established sonic lineage. AmaPiano’s sound is somewhat, though not entirely, influenced by kwaito—a midtempo, lyrically rich brew of R&B, hip-hop, and house that emerged from Gaunteng in the ’90s. Both genres combine the drum patterns and basslines of their 4/4 cousins, but AmaPiano carries a cheery brightness—characterized by jazz-inflected keys, eager vocal cuts, and organ licks constructed over a laid-back 115 bpm framework—that kwaito lacks.

[...]

The genre’s popularity with bedroom producers may also have something to do with its well-established sonic lineage. AmaPiano’s sound is somewhat, though not entirely, influenced by kwaito—a midtempo, lyrically rich brew of R&B, hip-hop, and house that emerged from Gaunteng in the ’90s. Both genres combine the drum patterns and basslines of their 4/4 cousins, but AmaPiano carries a cheery brightness—characterized by jazz-inflected keys, eager vocal cuts, and organ licks constructed over a laid-back 115 bpm framework—that kwaito lacks.

South African DJ and radio host DJ Da Kruk attributes the success of AmaPiano to a wider DJ culture. “The AmaPiano movement has a huge mixtape culture attached to it, which I think was a vehicle to move new music from one ear to the next while festivals, club nights, and (specifically in Mznasi) its own form of dance."

****
Excerpt #3
From https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/top-amapiano-songs-january-2020
"Top amapiano songs of January 2020
By Apata Bayode, 10 Feb 2020, ZA [South Africa]
"Last year saw the kwaito-derived amapiano become one of the most talked-about genres in South Africa. The sound made waves around the continent and became inspirational for a number of artists outside its country of origin.

Many producers in South Africa have made the transition from gqom to amapiano and are currently forging a scene that is eclipsing leading genres like hip hop, Afropop and Afro-soul.

As more amapiano releases line up for a 2020 debut, below is a short playlist of the top amapiano songs released in January and featuring some of the genre’s most well-known South African artists.

Emcimbini by Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Samthing Soweto, Aymos, Mas Musiq and Myztro

'Emcimbini' is no doubt the top amapiano track so far this year. The song is off Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa's 2020 Scopions Kings album, which is doing well on streaming platforms.


Phoyisa by Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa ft. Cassper Nyovest and Qwestakufet

The song is a definite hit and serves as a new-year gift from the hottest artists of 2019 – Kabza and Phori.
-snip-
Warning: The label on the video that is included in that article indicates that "Emcimbini" has explicit content.

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Comments About South Africa's Gqom Music From Four YouTube Discussion Threads Of Gqom Music

Edited by Azizi Powell

Updated - May 20, 2020

This pancocojams post provides a compilation of comments about South Africa's contemporary music genre called "Gqom" from four YouTube discussion threads of Gqom videos.

Addendum to this post quotes a review of a 2016 compilation album entitled Gqom Oh! The Sound of Durban by GQOM OH!. This Addendum also includes one purchaser's review of that album.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the performers who are featured in these embedded videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION AND COMMENTS ABOUT GQOM MUSIC & GWARA GWARA DANCING
Pancocojams Editor's note:
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Some of these comments include the curse word "f&&k" written with the substitute letters/elements as they are found in those comments.

Excerpt #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
1. Homer Simpson, 2017
"Guys - please explain to me - I am not familiar with SA House Music - I look at this and all I hear is a Drum beat with a few Lyrics can be so popular - How is that possible?"

**
REPLY
2. Homer Simpson, 2017
".... This song has nothing. It's a drumbeat with some people shouting Vocals in a single monotonous tone. How the heck does that work? Have Music standards become so low?"

**
REPLY
3. Flakka Goat, 2017
"+Homer Simpson you've answered your own question, it's the drum progression and catchy vocals that make the song. it's a gqom track and in gqom, drum progression are king not melody. gqom tracks are drum driven, high energy, simple vocals, simple repetitive melody and dark atmosphere. also there's nothing monotonous about the tone of the vocals, they fit the mood and energy of the song. go listen to some gqom tracks, it will make more sense then."

**
4 Rabotlhoko Tlhabane, 2017
"Trust me cousin, this track is overrated and overhyped! Any Lento by Professor ft Speedy destroys this Wololo...."
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og5InvyyhYY for a video of Lento by Professor ft Speedy. That song is an example of South Africa's House music.

**
REPLY
5. Flakka Goat, 2017
"no it doesn't, gqom tunes bring out inner ratchetry you can't get that type of energy from soft ass songs like lento.,"
-snip-
The word "rachetry" is a newly [?] coined expansion of the slang word "ratchet". In this comment, bringing out [your] inner rachetry" means something like "being your real self with no inhibitions, getting loose, getting "turnt up". I believe that older ways of saying this are "letting it all hang out" and "getting down to the real nitty gritty." [Additions and corrections are welcome.]

**
REPLY
6. sipho mvandaba, 2017
"stop hating bra"

**
REPLY
7. Rabotlhoko Tlhabane, 2017
"Hating? No old friend.. It's me opinion but Lento is better than this track"

**
8. Vegas Element, 2018
"How do you pronounce 'gqom'...."

**
REPLY
9. Cor Rautenbach,2018
"You have to click your tongue on the q (Press tongue against top of mouth and click down). Like the click sounds you hear when they speak in Wakanda. It takes some practice."
-snip-
"When they speak in Wakanda" refers to the isiXhosa accent that was used in the 2018 Black Panther movie.

****
Excerpt #2:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0 Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)
1. Marc Jackson, 2018
"When the song is lit without to many lyrics"

**
REPLY
2. SINE xo, 2018
"Marc Jackson that’s SA music for you! Gqom and Afro House are about the soul and BEAT"

**
REPLY
3. Thulasizwe Mashinini, 2018
"SINE xo Gcom is not house music, it's a genre of its own."
SINE xo, 2018
"Thulasizwe Mashinini where in my comment did I say it’s House music? 😭I am aware what Gqom is being that I am a South African from Durban! 🤯"

****
Excerpt #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRnYn9BhG8M Babes Wodumo ft Duma Ntando & Mampintsha - Jiva Phez'kombhede (Official Music Video)
1. Capital Kingbourne, 2017
"Someone needs to explain gqom to some people. Gqom has never been about meaningful, thought provoking lyrics. Gqom is about turning up the volume, shutting up and grooving. Ku👏🏾phe👏🏾la👏🏾"

**
REPLY
2. msindisi ncayiyana, 2017
"Capital Kingbourne couldn’t have said it any better. Gqom ain’t no RnB n some sh#t like that, where we listen for lyrics. #JayivaPhezuKombhede"

**
REPLY
3. Lungisani Gwala, 2017
"It's just like trap in HipHop.."

**
REPLY
4. Kgomotso Mathope, 2017
"Capital Kingbourne as much as I love soulful music sometimes one needs to let their hair down and just dance and have fun...."

**
REPLY
5. Thulasizwe Mashinini, 2017
"Thanks for explaining why Gcom is trash music"

**
REPLY
6. Kagiso More, 2018
"fuxk gqom.. its stupid and retarded.. yall lack taste"

**
REPLY
7. Thanzi Ramukosi, 2018
"my guy you are missing the point. if you listen to the lyrics and be deep it will not make sense. BUT that is the point, do not be deep just shut up and groove.

everyone here have music they listen to that has "taste". And just because you don't like something, it doesn't mean those who do lack "taste". Preference is subjective."

****
8. Phyllis Zondi, 2017
"The video is🔥🔥🔥Babes is 🔥🔥🔥 the beat is 🔥🔥🔥 the lyrics 😑💩💩....and that is why Babes will struggle to win awards, she has to do better lyrically even tho Gqom isn't a lyrical type of music, Babes has to set herself apart because any girl with a nice body and colorful hairstyle could imitate her (e.g. NUZ queen)"

**
9. Sophia Dlamini, 2017
"This song is so empty. i wish there were more lyrics!"

**
10. Daniel Geyze, 2017
"I no none of the lyrics but I love it gr8 beat"

**
11. Selu Phewa, 2017
"I'm confused by those who are judging the lyrical aspect of this song...if you know igqomu langempela from the RudeBoyz, TLC, Sparks Bantwana, Ndile(ungabaseleki), Lag era you'd know lyrics was Juss ukukhwezela(sing along) especially when high from ecstasy in a loud taxi or club...y'all comments on lyrics should go to hip hop"

**
12. Afro World ZA, 2017
"Empty lyrics"

**
13. Vusumzi Mzuzwana Vusi, 2017
"babes is lazy to write ngeke..but it's Gqom can't complain"

**
14. Skhumbuzo Dube, 2018
"Dance on top of the bed, someones wakes up. Thank me later for the translation"

**
15. Jimmy Mk, 2018
"I don't understand what they are saying, but it seems they really put a lot of work into those lyrics ..."

**
REPLY
16. Charles, 2018
"not much. they just keep shouting they dancing on the bed. it keeps goin on lyk that. no art"

**
17. Ismaël Papa, 2018
"Really good beat. I don’t understand why the clip is so sexualised. Would just keep the audio version"

**
18. Lazarus. p. stephenson, 2018
"they just wasted a good beat i swear"

****
Excerpt #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFao_oNYjBE Babes Wodumo - Ganda Ganda ft Mampintsha and Madanon (Official Music Video)
1. YFW, 2017
"What language is this? Because I need to learn it. 🔥🔥"

**
REPLY
2. Samke Dladla, 2017
"It's in Zulu"

**
REPLY
3. Rabbeca Saili, 2017
"Sammy D what does Babes Wodumo's part mean please"

**
REPLY
4. Samke Dladla, 2017
"It's a stupid children's nursery rhyme about a tractor. Nothing amazing really."

**
5. Nkosinathi Caluza, 2017
"Imanike how is it Babes "FEATURING" Mampintsha and Madanone when she only says 4 words throughout the song"

**
REPLY
6. radlegend, 2017
"True, she only starts "singing" 2 mins into a 3min song."

**
REPLY
7. Ashingtone Mlambo, 2018
"It’s called gqom music"

**
8. Mohau Moabi, 2017
"madanon....Thanks babes for the kind of music, deep house can be tiring sometimes"

**
9. Ntwanano Mazibuko, 2017
"Damn I won't say anything about the lyrics, but this, to me, is the only track thing closest to a hit that comes after Wololo by Babes Wodumo. Ya ba nghoma leyi, big ups!"

**
10. Charles, 2018
"this girl is takin us for fools. she takes all those kiddies songs we used play with when we were little and she makes songs out of them. wtf? wheres the creativity?"

**
REPLY
11. mlungesto 26 IKL, 2018
"Charles If you knew what gqom is you wouldn't even say that."

**
12. Palekid Yung Sav, 2018
"this track ai man no stress"

****
ADDENDUM: REVIEW OF A 2016 GQOM COMPILATION
Excerpt #1:
From https://gqomoh.bandcamp.com/album/gqom-oh-the-sound-of-durban
"‘The Sound of Durban Vol.1’ represents the first full length compilation collecting the sound of the suburbs and townships of Durban, South Africa known as “gqom”. The album unites many of the local young producers of this fresh genre over 15 tracks on double LP and digital (with four bonus tracks) released via the Gqom Oh! label on 29th January 2016.

The result of Rome-based DJ and musician Nan Kolè teaming up with South Africa-based Lerato Phiri, the Gqom Oh! label was set up to highlight the music and artists of Durban, the often overlooked cradle of the new South African sound. Speaking to The FADER in October this year, Kolè says of Phiri “Thanks to her work the artists I was interested in had greater trust in a stranger who contacted them from Italy to promote a kind of music that even South African promoters don't want to promote or to enter the club.”

Derived from an onomatopoeic Zulu word signifying a drum, “gqom” - in the local slang - “iz da sound u get wen u drop a rock on tiles”. This extraordinary, apocalyptic bass music encompasses many influences. Each polyrhythmic track draws on the darker side of electronic music, hip hop, soundsystem culture, kwaito, UK funky and deep tribal African vibrations. As Kolè puts it: “You can feel the troubled history of South Africa. It’s riot music." Tied to a specific dance called bhenga, gqom happens in a DIY-oriented universe, grafting organic and homemade samples on sourced software to create this wholly unique sound. The label’s greater aim is to invest in much needed technology to help build a local creative infrastructure.

‘The Sound of Durban Vol.1’ features a host of local talent including Julz Da DeeJay, Cruel Boyz, Citizen Boy and Formation Boyz. This compilation was preceded by a 12” EP release in summer 2015 described by Hyponik as “thunderous prime time music” and Complex said “it surely won't be long until clubs across the UK are shaken by this new South African sound”. Resident Advisor’s review mentioned “these three tracks muster up a hulking sound out of very few elements, and they do it without coming off macho or alienating—an achievement on its own”.

South Africa is a unique case in the African continent, a place of the soul that has no equal: so strongly western and so deeply African at the same time. With its mix of ethnic tradition and urban tension it has been a cradle of cultural phenomena. In its own way it is a country of great wealth, particularly rich of contradictions, yet 20 years after the end of apartheid little appears to have changed for the millions of black people that live in its notorious townships. It is from this background that innovations are continually being injected into the living body of the local music culture. The heartbeat of Durban is gqom.

released February 1, 2016"
-snip-
This 2016 review indicates that "Tied to a specific dance called bhenga". However, it appears that that dance style has given way to "gwara gwara". Here's an excerpt about gwara gwara from the internet article [no date given] "Top Dance Styles in Africa" By Lebo Matshego https://www.africa.com/top-dance-styles-africa/
"The [gwara gwara] dance went viral after DJ Bongz posted tutorials of how to do the dance on his social media streams, and has been featured in the videos of some of the country’s biggest hits, including “Wololo” by Babes Wodumo and “Gobisiqolo” by Bhizer. Gwara Gwara dance has become one of the most popular dance styles in Africa."

****
Excerpt #2 [from that same link]
Ate Bit Emilio: "The Sound of Durban is a perfect introduction to a new genre that's caught the ear of many DJs & electronic music producers around the world. This style is heavy hitting but not necessarily as dark as people may seem to think - more-so intense and rhythmic. I can see this dominating late night dancefloors as well as after hours parties where you want to keep the heat going and growing. I'm eager to hear more from artists in this genre as it expands and gains more of the notoriety it deserves."

****
UPDATE: May 20, 2020
Here's a quote that I included in the May 7, 2020 pancocojams post entitled "(South African Rapper) Sho Madjozi - "John Cena" (Information, Video, Lyrics + English Translations, & Explanations)" https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/05/south-african-rappersinger-sho-madjozi.html -with italics added to highlight those sentences]

From https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/arts/music/sho-madjozi.html Sho Madjozi’s Mixed Up, Pan-African Rap
..."[Sho Madjozi's] lyrics mix it up, too. She mostly raps in a combination of Xitsonga, the language of the Tsonga people, and English. Her bubblegum-bright party track “Huku” is in Swahili, a language Madjozi learned to speak fluently in Tanzania.

Madjozi’s music features multilingual rap flows — in Xitsonga, Swahili and English — over beats from a style of house music called gqom.[photo caption]

These multilingual flows unfold over a style of music known as gqom, a shadowy strain of house that began bubbling out of townships in Durban, South Africa, in the early 2010s.

To untutored ears, gqom can sound gritty, with its apocalyptic sirens and ribcage-rattling bass. In Europe and the United States, Madjozi said, the style is often “perceived as being alternative or experimental.” But in South Africa, she added, “Gqom is the biggest sound. Gqom is the pop of South Africa.”

Recently, American hip-hop heavyweights seem to have recognized gqom’s combination of rough-hewed authenticity and commercial potential. Kendrick Lamar’s soundtrack for the superhero movie “Black Panther” features gqom beats, and Beyoncé’s new “Lion King” album brings in South African gqom musicians on the track “My Power.”
Madjozi hasn’t had her Hollywood moment yet, but her songs are among gqom’s most accessible examples. On her debut album “Limpopo Champions League,” released in December 2018, she put the genre’s beats into a typical “verse, chorus, verse,” pop song structure, she said."Sho Madjozi's 2019 viral song "John Cena", rapped/sung in Kiswahili and English (with a few South African words) also features gqom beats.

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

How The Black Panther Movie Has Raised Awareness In The USA & Elsewhere About Certain Types Of Contemporary South African Music & Dance

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: August 5, 2018

This pancocojams post provides selected YouTube discussion thread comments which demonstrate how the 2017 Black Panther movie has raised awareness in the United States and elsewhere about certain genres of contemporary South African music & dance.

Note: I've added an Addendum to this post. The Addendum is the complete [to date] exchange between several commenters in a Black Panther Dance Challenge video's discussion thread. I've added this sub-thread because I find it interesting and want to share it with people reading this post. That sub-thread begins with a person self-identifying as an African criticizing Black Americans performing dance challenges and otherwise supporting the Black Panther movie because the movie was funded by White people.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those involved with the Black Panther movie. Thanks also to all those who are involved in the Black Panther Challenge dances. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/various-african-cultural-elements-that.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Various African Cultural Elements That Are Found In The 2018 Fictional Black Panther Movie (with Black Panther trailer video)"

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO EXAMPLES
The following videos are referenced in some of the comments given below.

Video Example #1: T'Challa & Shuri full lab scene(Black Panther 2018)



Nashaly Vega, Published on May 5, 2018

snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 12:26 PM EST
total number of views -175,238
total number of likes- 1,900
total number of dislikes -30

-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html for the pancocojams post entitled Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" (with a reaction YouTube video by The Ubinufu Space).

That post includes the official "Wololo" video and a reaction video posted by a group of Black men and women in the United Kingdom.

Comments from the YouTube Official "Wololo" video's discussion thread are given below as Comment Excerpts #1.

WARNING: This video may be considered inappropriate for children because of its focus on women shaking their butts.

****
Video Example #2: Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)



Distruction Boyz, Published on Dec 1, 2017
-snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 at 12:38 PM EST
total number of views- 7,063,006 views
total likes- 45,000
total dislikes- 3,000

****
Video Example #3 #Omunye
Black Panther Challenge | @mizzk.o



Kendra Oyesanya, Published on Feb 18, 2018
This is how me and the squad walked out of the Black Panther movie :)

[...]

song: Omunye (feat. Benny Maverick, Dladla Mshunqisi)
Artist: Distruction Boyz
Album: Gqom Is the Future

-snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 at 10:53 AM EST
total number of views: 1,580,403
total likes- 36,000
total dislikes- 520
-snip-
Kendra Oyesanya, the lead dancer is from Nigeria.

****
Video Example #4: #BlackPantherChallenge
Black Panther Challenge - @jusbmore @klassikkaneck @splack



World Of Africa TV, Published on Mar 8, 2018
-snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 12:01 PM EST:
total number of views: 453,018 views
total number of likes: 12,000
total number of dislikes- 270
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html for more information about the song "Wololo". Some comments about the inclusion of this song in the Black Panther movie are included below.

Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0 for that official video for the South African song "Omunye" by the Distruction Boys. That is the song that is featured in all of the Black Panther Dance challenges.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS
Most of these comments refer to how the Black Panther and the Black Panther Challenge dance videos have raised the awareness in the United States and elsewhere about certain types of contemporary South African music and dance.

These comments are given under the links for their sources. Numbers have been added for referencing purposes only.

Comment Excerpts #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
1. Sonia, 2018
"Thank you black panther for bringing me here to this amazing song and video"

**
2. David Yvan, 2018
"Yoo, this was in black panther!"

**
REPLY
3. chukwudalu ibe, 2018
"It's an African song"

**
REPLY
4. Mikaela Creedence, 2018
"Ben Grazuca watch Black Panther... it’s during Shuri’s lab scene"
-snip-
The comment from Ben Grazuca no longer appears in this comment thread, but one response indicated that he had insulted Americans for our lack of knowledge about this song. i.e. from Mikaela Creedence, 2018 "Ben Grazuca mmm sad 🤷🏽‍♀️ you clearly live a sad life, anyway I’m Canadian so you insulting Americans doesn’t hurt me"
**
REPLY
5. Faith Jonathan, 2018
"Ben Grazuca i think what he meant is that this song was featured on Black Panther and gain more attention...they played it on Shuri's Lab"

**
6. Beverly Madondo Madondo, 2018
"I sang along to let those from Western and Eastern Africa know this hit is from the Southern 😂 ✌"

**
7. Christine Kiki Anozie, 2018
"Black panther brought me here 💯💯"
-snip-
"Here" meaning to the official YouTube video of Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo

**
8. IC Henry, 2018
"Heard this in BLACK PANTHER and its been stuck in my head for over a WEEK!!!"

**
9. alicia906, 2018
"OMG!!!! I heard this song in Black Panther and immediately needed to have it in my life... I'm from Chicago. I'm sad that I'm a year late on knowing this song... but I Bangzzz it SO HARD IN MY CAR EVERY DAY!"

**
REPLY
10. IC Henry, 2018
"alicia906 I also feel so late to the South African music scene. When you get the chance check out other Gqom and S.A. house music videos! Afrobeats is 🔥 but South Africa is dropping FIRE tunes!!"
-snip-
"Afrobeats" is a contemporary music genre from Nigeria.

**
11. Armon Hall, 2018
"Black Panther brought me to this greatness. 🙅🏿‍♂️"

**
12. daniel peachey, 2018
"When people from overseas only heard of this song cause of BP but us lanzo people are still bumping to this after 2 years"
-snip-
I don't know what "lanzo people" mean, but from its usage, I assume it means people from South Africa.

**
13. Tanya Kaseke, 2018
"Wakanda brought m here😍"

**
14. Vaibhav Kalra, 2018
"from india with love..
cant understand a word but my new thang....
wakanda forever..🙌"

**
15. Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, 2018
"Wakanda forever. Black Panther brings me here."

****
Comment Excerpts #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0 "Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)"

Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is the South African song that is used for all of the Black Panther Challenge dance videos. This video is given as Example #2 above.

1. LetsHangThough, 2018
"hands up if Black Panther led you here!"

REPLY
2. okuomose okuns, 2018
"LetsHangThough this tune wouldn't be yhis big without black panther dance challenges"

**
REPLY
3. LetsHangThough, 2018
"okuomose okuns I liked it before the challenge started, it was big before that. The challenge just revived it!"

**
REPLY
4. Nachaka Davenport, 2018
"Hands in the air. Black Panther led me here. Power to the people!"

**
REPLY
5. SUGAR TO SH&T*, 2018
"LetsHangThough
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
I AM FROM THE U. S. And
CNN NEWS LED ME HERE!!!
🐾🐾BLACK PANTHER🐾
I couldn’t believe this most watched news station was playing clips of this video 😵
I was sitting watching the news when a CNN anchor stated that FORBES just announced that 🐾🐾BLACK PANTHER 🐾
Is the HIGHEST GROSSED SUPER HERO🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Movie 🎥 of all times and it will be another one in the making.
Then I was shocked to see the news anchor show clips of this video and the beat of this music. I started moving my shoulders from side to side and waving my hands before I knew it my old ass was getting it. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
I am here for this sh&t*!!!!🐾🐾"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this screen name and in this comment.

**
6. Kaylin Phillips, 2018
"I love how they used this in Black Panther 😍👏🏽 Wakanda Forever ✊🏽"

**
REPLY
7. KATO ABDO, 2018
"Me also😍😍😍"

**
REPLY
8. El Bee II, 2018
"It wasn't actually in the movie. But the guys that used it in the choreography totally smashed it. 🙅🏾‍♂️"

**
9. Steevenlight75, 2018
"Lol I’m here because of Black Panther choreography"

**
10. Susu Palmers, 2018
"Black panther brought me here! Where all my brothers and sisters from wakanda at 🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️"

**
REPLY
11. Ada Ekwutife, 2018
"Susu Palmers meee I'm from wakanda lmao😛😂😂💀"

**
REPLY
12. sibu ncube, 2018
"Welcome to Wakanda 😁"

**
13. Britt F, 2018
"This should have been on the Black Panther Soundtrack! I wish I understood the lyrics (language) but the beat is Hot🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!!!! Great Music and Great Dancing!!! #blackpantherchallenge
Much Love all the way from the U.S. 😘😘😘😍😍😍😁😁😁"

**
14. HawkZulu, 2018
"Black Panther challenge brought me here.. MY GOD this song is lit. WAKANDA FOREVAHH!!"

**
15. Actively So! Claudia, 2018
"South Africa is Wakanda Nation 😏😏😏"

**
16. Timia Maya Kameeta, 2018
"Africans knew this before black panther already 😏🔥🔥🔥"

**
17. Arry Lee, 2018
"Wakanda lead me here 😍 i love black folks ❤ love from indonesia"

**
18. Ali Wilson, 2018
"Yes Black Panther movie compelled me to search for this track, but when I saw the video I was indeed disappointed....."

**
REPLY
19. IKINGW GAMER, 2018
"This Song wasn't part of black panther movie,it was a challenge on instagram. The song that played in black panther scene is called wololo"

**
20. Miss Coco, 2018
"Thanks to black Panter for leading me here, Great beat"

****
Comment Excerpt #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfc_KZbQu_E Black Panther Challenge | @mizzk.o
-snip-
This video is given as Video Example #3 above.

1. Kendra Oyesanya, 2018
"Thank you all for the love! For the people asking yes we are the creators of the "Black Panther Dance Challenge" and we loved seeing everyones remake! #WakandaForever"

**
REPLY
2. Kona Jyun, 2018
"Amazing job well done on coming out with Black Panther challenge I've never been any more proud as an African to see our people appreciating themselves. Omunye by Distruction Boyz was the perfect song choice for this I watch this video st least three times a week, I'm so happy it went viral thank you for creating a new dance craze. 😎😍#WakandaForever #AfricaForever"

**
REPLY
3. myfddream, 2018
"Kendra Oyesanya Hey great job whos the artist and title of the challenge song. Cant find it."

**
REPLY
4. Kona Jyun, 2018
"myfddream Artist are Distruction Boyz and name of the song is Omunye. They are Zulus from South Africa."

**
5. chi chi, 2018
"I saw this on Facebook. This went viral girl ❤❤❤❤"

**
6. Bri.V.M., 2018
"Omg that was you lol? I saw this on Tumblr. This was too lit! 🔥🔥🔥"

**
7. Reo Ndimande, 2018
"OmG, this is South African song by Destruction Boys😀😀 it's called "Omunye"...There's a part of a very popular dance on the video originating from SA too it's called" Gwaragwara" it was recently performed by Rihanna and went viral!! So excited!"

**
REPLY
8. ten ruwona, 2018
"Reo Ndimande It's amazing how Black Panther has exposed the talent in Africa"

**
9. MseUnscripted, 2018
"It looked as if the Black Panther was blessing them as they danced out...they did the music more justice than the official music video...#MyPeopleAreBeautiful"
-snip-
"The official music video" that the commenter is referring to is the video for "Omunye".

**
10. African Pegasus, 2018
"#GQOMFamily rise up!! South African music is making moves!

Plus her Gwara Gwara at 0:31 was legendary!! Utter bliss!!"
-snip-
"Omunye" is an example of "Gqom" music. The isiZulu word "omunye" has the sexual meaning of "being on top of". A commenter in the official video of that song shared that because of that word's meaning (not because of the video itself which isn't sexually explicit) the song "Omunye" was banned from playing on South African radios.

"Gwara Gwara is the South African dance that is usually performed to Gqom music."

**
11. Brandy Wandera, 2018
"Those are South African dance moves."

**
REPLY
12. Roman Tick, 2018
"Brandy Wandera yes but not all! There was gwara gwara from SA and then Shaku Shaku and shoki from Nigeria but all together is fiiiiire"

**
13. Tsholofelo Tau, 2018
"Because of the song I thought they were South African but then they started doing the gwara gwara and I was like NOPE that's not how we do it. But this is still great choreography so AWESOME!!!"

**
14. Sibusiso Siso, 2018
"Black panther I salute all the way from South Afrika yeah u guys rocks"

**
15. Kay D, 2018
"I saw this on Instagram after I watched Black Panther. On Thursday the week it came out. #WakandaForever ✊🏾✊🏾💖"

**
16. HawkZulu, 2018
"Love to South Africa from you family in America"

**
17. Roman Tick, 2018
"Shaku shaku and Shoki from Nigeria!! Gwara Gwara from South Africa all together is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

**
18. Nothando Zulugirl, 2018
"This song is Omunye Phezu komunye by destruction boys - it's a Zulu song from South Africa - Shout out to black panther for putting Africa on the map. Translation of the song cost 1$ lol Hahaha"

**
19. Darwin G, 2018
"Black panther is so much more than a movie, I love everything around it!"

**
20. Laylaa Yverson, 2018
"Awesome how some black people who call themself black american and always denied there rooots ,beeing interested now,in the African culture, where there normaly belong too,since the film black panther comes out......is no more "i have a dream"now its "wakanda forever"...like it...

****
Comment Examples #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNyVUIhvW64 #BlackPantherChallenge
Black Panther Challenge - @jusbmore @klassikkaneck @splack

This video is given as Video Example #4 above.

1. Nicole Falanka, 2018
"lol that movie is making us so proud"

**
2. Flora Yeboah, 2018
"On point!..Im South African. I love my AFRICA!! Wakanda forever..."

**
3. Clio MDC, 2018
"That gwara gwara with the guy in the dashiki was mad lit"

**
4. LPTV, 2018
"It was going well and then they started barking like dogs"

**
REPLY
5. TheDent InRm'sChin, 2018
"LPTV That's in the movie. Go see it to understand"
-snip-
Some commenters wrote that "the bark" was actually a gorilla grunt, connecting these dancers with the Jabari ethnic group in the Black Panther movie. That also explains why one of the dancers wore a gorilla suit.

**
6. Nthabiseng Kutoane, 2018
"So proud of the fact that the rest of the world is embracing our dance moves...and music!!"

**
7. Jimmy Jones, 2018
"That ending tho!! 😂✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊ love it! #WAKANDAFOREVER ✊✊✊✊"

**
8. MrAramis02, 2018
"the king of wakanda applauds these men despite being from jabari"

**
9. Ntongo Breaker, 2018
"I really like every dance about wakada and the beat of the song really nice 😂😘😍😍😍😍"

**
10. Praise Onaturals, 2018
"Real Entertainment! Wakanda Forever! I NEVER FREEZE! 😂😂😂😂😂"
-snip-
"Wakanda Forever" and "I never freeze" are two catch phrases from the 2018 Black Panther movie.

**
11. BWC B, 2018
"You guys did well. It's one of the best ones taking the challenge."

**
12. Brett Golightly, 2018
"Each time watching it can’t stop watching one in front middle in red!
Love how this all comes together during times like this! Now, if only some of my “fam” could accept my Western & Eastern African bloodlines....."

**
13. dk dk, 2018
"Wakandans woooooohhhhh!"

**
14. Antonieta Merces Reina Galan, 2018
"WAKANDA THE DANCE !!✋"

****
ADDENDUM: DISCUSSION THREAD EXCERPT
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0E7bnTW0bw "Walking back into Black Panther movie like", published by World Of Africa TV on Mar 2, 2018
[numbers added for referencing purposes only)

This sub-thread begins with a person self-identifying as an African criticizing Black Americans performing dance challenges and otherwise supporting the Black Panther movie because the movie was funded by White people.

1. Andrea_, 2018
"Bruh! that movie was not even funded nor produced by the black community..it was funded and produced by white executives from dysney; it's a dysney movie that happened to have a black writer and black actors ..the movie itself has no actual tie nor resemblance to the actual black panther group ( that faught against police brutality done on ppl of color) but ironically the movie was strategically released on black history month to give black ppl yet another false feeling of empowerment; the movie seem like yet another movie made by oppressors to financially exploit something important to the black community such as the black panther group or movement 😦😯😳 is odd all of a sudden African Americans now suddenly want to claim their African roots..usually they alienate themselves from their African roots ..in the stated walk up to an african American and tell him or her that he's ancestors are African and see the reaction you get; they look at you like you called them the n-word in a derivative manner; I am African meaning I was born and raised in Africa but live in the states and upon living here I have been bullied both by a Caucasian and an african American for being African"

**
REPLY
2. Briste Belle, 2018
"Andrea_ so because you are an African and was bullied, you come here to spit rubbish?
I am African too, and you're an idiot.
All these superhero movies are not real but it empowers white people who are the most represented in them. It makes them believe they can do great things and with that empowerment, they actually start implementing it.
It's not a bad thing that African Americans are empowered by a marvel movie. Empowerment is empowerment. So the movie has a black writer, producer and actors but you care only about where the funding came from?
The best thing coming out of it is that it changed the mindset of many African American youths about their roots. As an African, I don't care if black Americans think being African is an insult because they don't understand, I know who I am and I'm proud of who I am you should too, rather than being hateful and bearing grudges."

**
REPLY
3. Shewanda Pugh, 2018
"Where to even start with you?
1. The first appearance of the Black Panther comic book character predates the Black Panther Party by a few months. They're not related nor were they supposed to be.
2. Who cares who made the movie? Anytime diversity is presented in a positive form, we all win, as it's a pathway to greater tolerance.
3. This is a blockbuster film with a mega-budget, international success, and a cast made up of minorities. It opens the door to more such films as it proves we can pull in the crowds and have wide appeal.
4. It seems like you keep poor company. I don't know any African Americans who balk at having an African heritage. I don't know any who would bully someone because of where they're from. You need more positive, thoughtful, intellectual people in your life. Though with the negativity you spew, I'm not sure they'd want to be bothered."

**
REPLY
4. Asa J, 2018
"I really hate when people spew negativity, especially when they act like they have facts they don’t. BLACK PANTHER WAS DIRECTED, PRODUCED AND CAST BY BLACK PEOPLE. What are you so bitter about. You were bullied? So was I. What the hell does that have to do with the movie? Go tell your therapist because this is just not the place or the medium through which you should circumvent your issues. It just makes you look bad."

**
REPLY
5. isfvt tyug, 2018
"Somebody with some sense. You know how stupid these american blacks look smfh Dance when you can fund a damn movie."

**
REPLY
6. beejioux, 2018
hugs

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" (with a YouTube reaction video by The Ubinufu Space)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update: Feb. 10, 2021

This pancocojams post showcases the official YouTube video of the 2016 South African song "Wololo" as well as a YouTube reaction vlog (video blog) to that official video from a group of young Black men and women of African descent who live in the United Kingdom.

Information about that song and its performers is included in this post along with selected comments from the YouTube discussion thread for those two videos. These selected comments are some of the comments from that discussion thread which focus on the song, its performers, its music genre, and the dance that is usually performed for this song.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha for their music and for this video. Thanks also to the Ubunifu Space (United Kingdom team) for their publishing a reaction video to this South African song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Note that this post provides information about the South African song "Wololo" and its official YouTube video. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/comments-about-south-african-meanings.html for a companion pancocojams post that focuses on the South African meanings of the word "wololo').

Also, note that the word "wololo" in this South African song doesn't have the same meaning as the  word "wololo" in the Age Of Empire games.
" KnowYourMeme says: (2013)
"Wololo is the sound made by the Priest unit in the 1997 video game Age of Empires. It is used as an interruptor, causing the color of something to change colors between red and blue." https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1vnug5/whats_a_wololo/

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Empires for information about The Age Of Empires video games.

Here's a comment exchange from 2020 & 2021 that provides an explanation of what "Wololo" means in this South African song:

kelvin giathi
"wololo in Kenya means suprise and shock at something insane.

I think this is it wololo salalaaaaa"

**
Reply
Ebekezela Construction, 2021
"Pretty much the same in isiZulu 😊"

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2016 SOUTH AFRICAN SONG "WOLOLO"
The official YouTube video for Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha's dance song "Wololo" was published on YouTube on June 24, 2016 by West Ink TV Mampintsha. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g for that video.*

The song's lyrics are in isiZulu and from KwaZulu Natal (Durban, South African) slang. "Wololo" is an example of South Africa's Gqom music..

Reflecting the fact that "Wololo" is a mega hit in South Africa as well as in many other African nations and elsewhere in the world, the official YouTube video for that song has gone viral with 8,568,467 total views (as of August 2, 2018 at 6:35 PM EST).

Update: As of Feb. 10, 2021 at 9:33 AM ET, this video has a total # of 11,496,865 views. 

-end of update-

Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha's song "Wololo" isn't well known in the United States. However, to the extent that this song is known, that familiarity can be largely attributed to its inclusion in the 2018 blockbuster hit movie Black Panther (in the beginning of the scene when T'Challa walks into his sister's lab).

Here's a link to a clip of that scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ9nxj54P_s&ab_channel=CUTV [This is an updated link as the previous link is no longer available.]

****
A SYNOPSIS OF AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE SONG "WOLOLO"
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tiXWkfUeHk "Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo ( REACTION VIDEO )"

Ngasiirwe Katushabe, 2017
"Hey! Ngasii the Context Kid here with some context once again:

So this song is pretty simple because qùte a bit of it is really ad-libbing. It is performed in Zulu by Babes Wo-doo-mo and Mam-pin-cha (The nguni "tsha" is pronounced "cha") with the beat by DJ duo the Distruction Boyz. They are from the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

The first part of Babes' chorus is her singing about how her friend fell asleep in studio as they were working and woke up the next day lost as to where they were:

lale ilalilale [ad-libbing]
wavuk'ek'seni, awaz'ulalephi
(you woke up in the morning not knowing where you sleep)
x2

The second part is her giving thanks and praise to the people who she credits for having made her career the success it is; those people being SA House Legend DJ Tira and the peoole of his label Afrotainement as well as her mentor and bae Mampintsha of the iconic House Band Big Nuz who owns the label West Ink:

Weh Tira, sigcwele ngawe
(Yo Tira, we feel you)
Abafana base Afro sigcwele ngabo
(The guys/men from Afro(tainment), we feel them)
Weh Mpintsho, sgcwele ngawe
(Yo Mpintsho [a nickname for Mampintsha], we feel you)
Abafana base West Ink, sigcwele ngabo
(The guys from West Ink, we feel them)
Abafana base Afro benz'amas*mba
(The guys from Afro do their s*%t/ the damn thing)
Abafana base West Ink benz'amawololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo
(The guys from West Ink doing their the damn thing)

NB: "Wololo" is actually more an ad-libbed word that can change meaning but thanks to Babes nkw [typo correction: now] generally refers to the way she uses it in this song.

South African languages like Xhosa and Zulu invent new words for emphasis on things everyday, many of which coming about as a result of the sound of something or the feeling of what is meant.

Side Note:

The choreography in the video is by Babes and the dancers. She has a dance academy called the West Ink School of Dance in KZN that caters to artistic people be it singers, dancers, actors, models and the like which she was part of opening to give back to her community and have people who are not academically inclined thrive in life and make a living for their families.

Other-side note (*Adele pun*😂)

Her name "Babes Wodumo" roughly means "Girl of Fame".

"Babes" is her kid name probably inspired by her name Bongekile . "Wodumo" was added later as she was "famous" for singing, dancing, acting, modelling etc capabilites from a young age all around her hometown on Lamontville, KZN

In South Africa, when asked, "uDume Ngani?" you are asked,"What's your claim to fame".

Shout out to The guys of Ubunifu Space for continuing to show Mzansi love 💪"


****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #1: Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)



West Ink TV Mampintsha, Published on Jun 24, 2016

Music video produced for West Ink by Pilot Films 2016
-snip-
WARNING: This video may be considered inappropriate for children because of its focus on women shaking their butts.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.As a reminder, these are examples of comments from that discussion thread which focus on the song's music genre and the dance that is usually performed for this song. In addition, these selected comments focus on other information about the popularity of this song and its subsequent use in social and commercial media.

These comments are presented in relative chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest year comments given first, except for replies.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Lindiwe Moloi, 2017
"OMG this song is known by primary kids.. its our nation anthem😂😂😂😁😁"

**
2. Christopher Clay, 2017
"What is this genre called?"

**
REPLY
3. Emmanuel Mukhondo, 2027
"Gqom"

**
4. Lonwabo Matross, 2017
"Gwara Gwara dance was made for this song"

**
5. Thinamazulu Zulu, 2017
"Note that the video was shot in the height of winter (A Durban winter nonetheless) that's why guys are wearing long sleeved tops and the girls are in bikinis. Gotta keep it sexy yo. Dope track nonetheless."
-snip-
Here's an excerpt from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durban
"Durban... is the third most populous city in South Africa—after Johannesburg and Cape Town—and the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. Located on the east coast of South Africa, Durban is famous for being the busiest port in the country. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism because of the city's warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches."...

**
6. Sandile Tembe, 2017
"its very sad that babes wodumo didn't win any award in SAMA awards 2017 😕😕😕"
-snip-
Here's information about the SAMA award from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Music_Awards
"The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held in late-April or May every year, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. The nominations are typically announced at the end of March. The winners receive a gold-plated statuette called a SAMA.[1]

The show has mostly been held at the Super Bowl in Sun City, with the exception of three years, and broadcast live on national broadcaster, SABC. The ceremony features live performances as once-off collaborations by a selection of nominees. The SAMAs are considered the South African equivalent of the American Grammy Awards."

**|
7. Sizwe Nzama, 2017
"6 million viewers and not even one award ayi they are playing with babes"
-snip-
As of the date of this post's publication [August 2, 2018], the official video has 8,568,467 views

**
8. Sibisi Mxolisi, 2017
"sisi noma bengakudlela umona shame u ar the star anyway u dnt need the stupid award you have us. everthing with south african has corruption so u dnt need them now uzohlanganisi 6 million views on youtube so dnt stress go to bet on show them who you are ngyazifela ngawe there is no music in mzansi ngaphandle kwa babes"

**
9. Rabotlhoko Tlhabane, 2017
"Trust me cousin, this track is overrated and overhyped! Any Lento by Professor ft Speedy destroys this Wololo....
-snip-
I think the word "any" is a typo for "and". Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og5InvyyhYY for a video of the South African song Professor "Lento" ft Speedy which was published on YouTube in 2011.

**
REPLY
10. Flakka Goat,
"no it doesn't, gqom tunes bring out inner ratchetry you can't get that type of energy from soft ass songs like lento.,

**
REPLY
11. sipho mvandaba, 2017
"stop hating bra"

**
REPLY
12. Rabotlhoko Tlhabane, 2017
"Hating? No old friend.. It's me opinion but Lento is better than this track"

****
13. Sonia, 2018
"Thank you black panther for bringing me here to this amazing song and video"

**
14. David Yvan, 2018
"Yoo, this was in black panther!"

**
REPLY
15. chukwudalu ibe, 2018
"It's an African song"

**
REPLY
16. Mikaela Creedence, 2018
"Ben Grazuca watch Black Panther... it’s during Shuri’s lab scene"
-snip-
The comment from Ben Grazuca no longer appears in this comment thread, but one response indicated that he had insulted Americans for our lack of knowledge about this song. i.e. from Mikaela Creedence, 2018 "Ben Grazuca mmm sad 🤷🏽‍♀️ you clearly live a sad life, anyway I’m Canadian so you insulting Americans doesn’t hurt me"

**
REPLY
17. Faith Jonathan, 2018
"Ben Grazuca i think what he meant is that this song was featured on Black Panther and gain more attention...they played it on Shuri's Lab"

**
18. Vegas Element, 2018
"O.K....so I see how South African Afrobeat differs from Nigerian...I love African music. Damn it I need to visit! Love from Las Vegas."

**
REPLY
19. Mwafrika Mkenya, 2018
"Vegas Element Actually this is a version of Afro-house. There are two main versions ,Angolan 'Kuduro' music and this south African 'gqom' Music."
-snip-
I'm adding this comment, although according to what I've read online, Gqom is a separate music genre from House music (or Kwaito). For example, read a comment exchange from the discussion thread for the South African hit song "Omunye" that I've quoted below in the comment section for this post.

**
20. y2k, 2018
"What dialect or language are they speaking in?"

**
REPLY
21. Bhekuyise Mbele,2018
"It's called isiZulu (one of South African official languages), but it's not that pure, it's mixed with local tsotsi (gangsta) slang as it is used here"

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo ( REACTION VIDEO ) || @BABESWODUMO @MampintshaNuz



The Ubunifu Space, Published on Jun 28, 2017

The Ubunifu team back again with another reaction video!

This is the UK half of the Ubunifu team

Doing Our #UbuReach where we react to a song different to the region we normally do. We will only do this once in a while, but it brings something different and maybe new to our viewers.

This is our reaction to a South African Song: Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo
-snip-
Here's information about The Ubunifu Space from the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UbunifuSpace/
"The Ubunifu Space, January 30, 2018

Made up of two teams.

Based in London, UK & Nairobi, Kenya

We have created a digital space where we showcase & share the different sounds & creative arts of young Africans from within the African continent & also in diaspora, so we can show and create links for Africans from across the continent and the world!"
-snip-
*Note that some scenes in the Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" video may not be suitable for children.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.As a reminder, these selected comments are some of the comments from that discussion thread which focus on the song, its performers, its music genre, and the dance that is usually performed for this song.

These comments are presented in relative chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest year comments given first, except for replies.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Nompumelelo Kubheka, 2017
"Thank you Ubunifu team for giving a reaction to this video. Babes Wodumo got a BET ward nomination for this song and from your reaction to it, I am not surprised why this song has been recognized internationally. She's a newcomer in the SA music industry and we love her."

**
2. Lady T, 2017
"@Ubunifu Space...this song Graced the UK screens on a smirnoff advert about 3 months ago.Such a dope advert!!How did you miss that??#Wololo#"

**
3. Nokwanda BongyNGIDI, 2017
"Yes it is the song kids dance too in SA that really went viral and still is a hit. Thanks guys you so much fun to watch you react to one of our South african music."

**
4. sphamandla cyril, 2017
"LOL that sound of music is called "GQOM" and the lyrics were in IsiZulu,it is slightly different from South African house music though. It did serve as a GQOM beat that went viral and had South African kids dancing to."...
-snip-
This comment continued with a request for this team to publish a vlog "reaction" to two other South African contemporary songs. Many of the comments in this discussion thread were similar "please react to" requests. This is indicated in this compilation by the ellipses ["..."] at the end of those comments.

**
5. Keabetswe Ngoaku, 2017
"hey FAM, yebo it is this song.
mampintsha is pronounced as mam-pinch-a😂😂😂"
-snip-
"FAM" is an African American Vernacular English term that is short for "family".

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6. zakhe nokuthula Mthembu, 2017
"yasssss! this went in... even the guy that is never impressed was dancing from jump"

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7. Boitshoko Tshabile, 2017
"YES COME TO SA!!! I wouldnt mind hosting you guys in johannsburg. AND YES it is the song with that went viral. its a genre in south africa of music called Gqom originating in our westal coast of Durban, that dance is called GwaraGwara"

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8. sihle kwanini, 2017
"Love you guys🙈🙌🏾🙌🏾😂 The song is in Zulu. Mampintsha is pronounced Mampincha....like pinch. Y'all most definitely visit SA especially in the summer💃🏿💃🏿 amaWololo is doing the damn thaaaaang"

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9. PAUL KULCHA #KingOfKwaito, 2017
"that's our Kwaito dance music called Gqom ."...
-snip-
A number of commenters on various YouTube discussion threads about Gqom music indicate that that music genre isn't the same as the South African music genres "Kwaito" or "House".

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10. SkirozTV, 2017
"Ha ha ha ...great reaction guys especially since this is our current club sound banger called Gqom' in South Africa!"

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11. Percy Mashao, 2017
"They famous dance Gwaragwara pronounced ( Gwah rah Gwah rah) is mostly danced to with this song and it was made by Dj bongz."

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12. Sanele Gcabashe, 2017
"Lovely guys...this was one the major hits of the year (2016) crossing over all genres. Yes lyrics are in Zulu, it is a proper turn up jam!"..."

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13. Busiswa Maphalala, 2017
"New Subbie. Yes they were singing in Zulu and they are from KwaZulu Natal this type of music is called igQhomu. I'm Zulu and the parties this side are always lit like that!"....

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14. Josephine Jaruha, 2017
"This music was more of dance moves than singing"

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REPLY
15. Bil Guil Media & Entertainment, 2017
"Josephine Jaruha that was the idea, clever you"

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16. zingrosa, 2017
"Love your energy in this vid!!!!! No one can resist the beat of this song"

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17.
Lindo Kuhle, 2017
"Wololo!!! Proof yet again that wololo was the biggest song in SA. This was the first applause from the guys for a SA song... the energy is unmistakable and it is infectious! Wolololo!!!"

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18. cebisile mabaso, 2017
"Can we please have a moment of prayer for the people who dislike the video."

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19. MTHABISI INNOCENT Marapani, 2017
"They really enjoyed this song more than any they have reacted to."

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20. Libahle Langeni, 2017
"That is the songs beat the dance is called the gwara gwara dance"

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21. Lala Vetro, 2018
"I was just happy when they used this song in Black Panther"

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Comments About The South African Meanings Of The Word "Wololo"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post documents comments from YouTube discussion threads and other internet sites about the South African meanings/s (i.e. not the Age of Empires game meaning) of the word "wololo".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Note that this post documents comments about the South African meanings of the word "wololo" and not the meaning of the 2016 mega hit South African dance song "Wololo" by Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha although the composers of that song popularized (and may have coined) most or all of the particular meanings or the word "wololo" which are included in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html for a pancocojams post about the song Wololo and its official video. A vlog of the UK based The Ubunifu Space's reaction to that "Wololo" video is also featured in that post.

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THE AGE OF EMPIRE MEANING OF THE WORD "WOLOLO"
Note: I've chosen to begin this post with this information because the word "wololo" is so closely associated with the highly regarded Age Of Empire games. However, the Age Of Empire meaning of "wololo" has nothing to do with the South African meanings of this word.

First, here's information about Age Of Empire:
From http://ageofempires.wikia.com/wiki/Age_of_Empires
"Age of Empires is the original history based real-time strategy computer game set in antiquity. The game was developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft. It was first released in North America on 15 October 1997.

Age of Empires was later updated with the The Rise of Rome expansion pack. This added several new units and civilizations as well as additional features that enhance gameplay efficiency and aesthetics.

A remastered version was announced on 12 June 2017, and released on 20 February 2018."...

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Here's information about the word "wololo" in the context of the Age of Empires games:
From https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wololo
"About
"Wololo" is the battle cry of the Priest unit featured in the 1997 historical real-time strategy game Age of Empires. Due to its association with the Priest's mystical ability to assume control of an opponent's unit through conversion, the sound effect has gained notoriety among the fans as one of the most dreaded stock lines from the game. Online, the phonetic transcription of the chant is used as a taunt and an interrupter, which in turn prompts visual responses that indicate a switch of color between red and blue.

Origin
In Age of Empires, the first installment in the strategy game series produced by Ensemble Studios and released in 1997 by Microsoft, the Priest is a civilian unit with special abilities to heal friendly units and convert enemy units. While casting the spell of "conversion," the Priest utters a distinct battle cry ("wololo"), which soon became associated with bad omen among the fans of the game. Upon completion, the color of the targeted unit's attire changes from red to blue (or blue to red).

Spread
On June 7th, 2005, YTMND user oftoronto created a page titled "You are being converted" (shown below, left) which gained over 8.600 views and a 3.73 out of 5 star rating in ten years.[2] On September 16th, 2006, YTMND user Jokerkaaos created a page titled "Wololo!" (shown below, right) which gained over 35.000 views and a 3.85 out of 5 stars in eight years.[3]”...
-snip-
Then again, I don't know how the creators of the Age of Empires games came up with the word "wololo". It's possible that they lifted the word "wololo" from an African language -South African or otherwise- and gave it a new meaning. However, if that is the case, I don't know whether that has been documented.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2016 SONG "WOLOLO"
The official YouTube video for Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha's dance song "Wololo" was published on YouTube on June 24, 2016 by West Ink TV Mampintsha. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g for that video.*

The song's lyrics are in isiZulu and from KwaZulu Natal (Durban, South African) slang. "Wololo" is an example of South Africa's Gqom music which, if I understand it correctly, is a form of Afro-House music.

Reflecting the fact that "Wololo" is a mega hit in South Africa as well as in many other African nations and elsewhere in the world, the official YouTube video for that song has gone viral with 8,565,553 total views (as of August 1, 2018 at 11:43 PM EST).

The familiarity with this song in the United States may be largely attributed to Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha's "Wololo" being featured in the blockbuster 2018 American blockbuster movie Black Panther (in the beginning of the scene when T'Challa walks into his sister's lab, and the discussion of that song's usage in multiple YouTube discussion threads. Here's a line to a clip of that scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulcbLwL-u8Y.
-snip-
*Note that some scenes in that video may not be suitable for children because of the camera's focus on women's butts.

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PRONUNCIATION
Based on its use in Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha's song, "wololo" is pronounced "woh-LOH-loh".

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEANINGS OF THE WORD "WOLOLO"
The content of this pancocojams post reflects that several meanings have been attributed for the South African (and/or other African cultures') word "wololo" including the assertion that this word doesn't have any fixed definition, but can mean whatever anyone wants it to mean.

This post includes all the definitions that I've found as of this date. Additions and corrections are welcome.

The internet sources for these comments are numbered for referencing purposes only and the comments from those sources are also numbered for referencing purposes only.

Excerpt #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g "Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" [official video]
1. Alex F, 2017
"Came here for authentic Wololo!

Was heavily disappointed."

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REPLY
2. Mwafrika Mkenya, 2017
"Alex F Bantu and Nilotic tribes all across Africa have been saying the word Wololo since the beginning of civilization, talking about auntetism. We've been using the word even b4 age of empires or TV"
-snip-
I'm not sure what the word "auntetism" means. Could it be a typo for "antecedent"?

In the comment section for this post that is found below I've referred to some online comments about the possible connection between certain Igbo and/or Yoruba (Nigeria, West African) words and the chant "woyoyo" that is found in some Caribbean Reggae songs such as Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier" and Ini Kamoze'S "Listen to Me Tic".

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3. Danielle Ya E. MANDA, 2017
"what does Wololo means pliz?"

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REPLY
4. Bongumusa Vincent, 2017
"turn-up"
-snip-
This is the most often cited meaning of "turn up" that I've come across online.

"Turn up" originated in African American Vernacular English and means "having fun" (at a party or elsewhere), "being hyped"; "going wild", "getting loose" (i.e. letting go of your inhibitions and therefore being your real self). As noted in this 2014 article entitled "What Does It Really Mean to ‘Turn Up’" https://www.thecut.com/2014/04/what-does-it-really-mean-to-turn-up.html, "when [rapper] Lil Jon asks us “turn down for what?” in his chart-topping single “Turn Down for What” featuring DJ Snake, ....the listener is obligated to bellow back “NOTHING"."...

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Excerpt #2
From http://urbanafricaclub.com/babes-wodumo-wololo-south-africa Babes Wodumo ft. Mampintsha – Wololo (South Africa), published by urbanaafricaclub, no dated given
..."While ‘Wololo’ translates into „Wohoo!“ and was meant to spread awareness of the consequences of drug abuse: „ …the next day you won’t remember where you ended up sleeping, Wololo…!“
-snip-
The second half of this sentence is one description that is given for the meaning of the song "Wololo".

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Example #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tiXWkfUeHk "Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo ( REACTION VIDEO )"
1. Ngasiirwe Katushabe, 2017
..."Wololo" is actually more an ad-libbed word that can change meaning but thanks to Babes nkw [now] generally refers to the way she uses it in this song.

South African languages like Xhosa and Zulu invent new words for emphasis on things everyday, many of which coming about as a result of the sound of something or the feeling of what is meant.
-snip-
This commenter (who referred to himself or herself as "Ngasii the Context Kid" posted a long explanation about the song "Wololo", including some Zulu to English translations of the song's lyrics. This complete comment is included in this pancocojams post: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html.

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2. Sparks Chiliza, 2017
"Wololo means (Turn Up/Have Fun) ."

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REPLY
3. Zama Dladla, 2017
"Far from it honestly. It's just an exclamation like "Yeah" . Literal meaning when someone says it it means they are giving an approval or praise to someone who is good at something. For example if dancers compete and then this one particular dancer who's really good comes in I may just say "Wololo" in anticipation or say it out loud if I am enjoying the way the dancer does his/her moves."

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REPLY
4. Mongameli Productions, 2017
"Sparks Chiliza 😂😂😂😂lies"

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REPLY
5. nothando bhengu, 2017
"nope its an exclamation of approval"

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6. Songezo Mbebe, 2017
"Wololo doesnt really have a meaning, it could mean whatever you want it to mean"

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7. thabo selepe, 2017
"means turn up, the song is basically about turning up and tomorrow you have no idea what happened and where you woke up..."

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Example #4
From https://babezwudumo.wordpress.com/2016/10/29/wololo-babes-wodumo/
..." You hear this song ‘Wololo’ everywhere… (I’ve been told that the translation of Wololo = Wololo… I understand it to mean something like “whoo!”)"

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