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Monday, February 11, 2019

Information & Comments About The Costumes Worn By South Africa's Soweto Gospel Choir

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about the costumes* that are worn by members of South Africa's Soweto Gospel Choir.

Part I presents an article excerpt and selected comments about costumes that are worn by members of Soweto Gospel Choir.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/02/costumes-worn-by-soweto-gospel-choir.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases eight video examples of Soweto Gospel Choir. General information about the South African songs is included in that post. I plan to publish separate posts for some of those videos that will include lyrics and selected comments from those videos' discussion threads.

Additional pancocojams posts about Soweto Gospel Choir can be accessed by clicking the "Soweto Gospel Choir" link that is found below. The videos that are included in those post also provide examples of the this choir's costumes.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Soweto Gospel Choir for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

Congratulations to Soweto Gospel Choir for their third Grammy award - World Best Music Album (2019). In 2006 and 2007, they won Grammy awards in the category for Best Traditional World Music Album.
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*I'm using the term "costumes" here as that is the term that is used in all of the online articles that I've found. "Costumes" includes the head gear that is sometimes worn by some members of this choir, particularly the women.

The word "costumes" implies that these aren't the "regular", everyday non-performance clothing that are worn by these women and men. "Non-performance" clothing would be referred to as "outfits" rather than "costumes".

DISCLAIMER: This post isn't meant to convey that these are the only costumes that have been worn by members of the Soweto Gospel Choir.

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ARTICLE EXCERPT
From http://www.umass.edu/fac/media/SowetoStudyGuide.pdf
"SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR COSTUMES
South Africa is named the “Rainbow Nation” for its diversity of race and culture, but more than that, it is the integration of these many wonderful cultures and races in a homogenous society that give the title its spirit. We are proud of our country’s visual and cultural traditions and how they have evolved alongside our developing society.

Records of traditional African dress have been passed down from generations and are still used to inform cultural dress today. However, technology and the modern world have gifted traditional crafts with access to cheaper, faster and more accessible materials. For instance, 100 years ago, patterned fabric would have been woven, beaded or hand-painted. These days, many traditional designs have been translated into printed fabric.

With each new generation of South Africans, new elements of design and culture are added to traditional dress. In addition to this aspect, traditional dress is often used in new, contemporary forums. For example, people will often wear African inspired costumes to parliament or other formal functions. Musicians, artist, performers, public personalities proclaim their love and interest in Africa’s aesthetic
heritage by wearing traditional African designs alongside more contemporary clothing. It is this spirit of evolution and integration that makes South Africa and its design so unique. Soweto Gospel Choir for instance, wears costumes inspired by several of the different tribes in South Africa. There is a multitude of beadwork which has been inspired by traditional Zulu design. One can see the characteristic black stripes of Xhosa design in the women’s clothing particularly printed fabrics that have been used to depict traditional Ndebele and Zulu designs. The Vendas are represented with their brightly colored striped fabrics whereas the vibrant colors of the Shangaan tradition are represented beautifully in the floral fabrics. Many of the shapes of skirt, tunic or dress are inspired by traditional dress, but in the true
spirit of South African innovation, have been customized to accommodate our visual needs and our ethos of integration and autonomy."

Lyn Leventhorpe –Costume Designer

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SELECTED REFERENCES TO SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR'S COSTUMES (from articles, reviews, and advertisements)
These excerpts are given in chronological order and are numbered for referencing purposes only)

1. From http://www.sowetogospelfans.com/2008/10/30/soweto-choir-unique-and-inspirational/
..."This choir is amazingly full-throated in their syncopated call and responses and there isn’t a singer who doesn’t pull his or her weight.

They also dance — their shows are full of movement — because dancing is very much an integral part of African church worship, and there’s nothing vaguely show-bizzy about their movement. And with their vibrantly coloured African costumes they’re almost as interesting to watch as to hear.”...

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2. From https://lisner.gwu.edu/soweto-gospel-choir
"Soweto Gospel Choir
#LisnerSings
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 8:00pm
Tickets $30, $35, $40 & $45

"Formed in 2002, the 52-member choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music. Accompanied by an exciting 4-piece band and percussion section, Soweto Gospel Choir performs with evocative sounds, energetic dancing and vibrant, colorful costumes. Singing in 6 of South Africa’s 11 official languages, the young dynamic choir performs both traditional and contemporary music, adding their own unique feel and interpretation to both. Expect a cappella numbers, earthy rhythms and rich harmonies."...
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George Washington University, Washington D.C.

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3. From http://pridenews.ca/2015/12/16/an-evening-of-inspiration-soweto-gospel-choir-sends-message-of-hope/ An Evening Of Divine Inspiration: Soweto Gospel Choir Sends Message Of Hope December 16, 2015 By Victor Carrington
..."Costumes are often brightly coloured representative of African culture; a rainbow nation. Although, one seamstress is in charge of the costumes, a group of ladies will take the costumes to their own homes and work on the intricate beading.”...

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4. From https://thebuzzmagazines.com/calendar-events/soweto-gospel-choir-0 Soweto Gospel Choir
..."Soweto Gospel Choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music and draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around the town. As world-wide ambassadors of South African culture, Soweto Gospel Choir routinely brings audiences to their feet - clapping, stomping, singing, and being transported by the choir's exuberant performances. The choir is known for their famously vibrant robes, swaying with deft ensemble choreography, and bringing audiences to their feet."...

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
In some Soweto Gospel Choir videos, the male members of Soweto Gospel Choir also wear what appears to me to be adapted forms of Yoruba (Nigeria) dansikis, the source of African American "dashikis". In other videos, the men wear pants and a shirt with or without a vest that is decorated with geometric figures or other designs that evoke one or more South African ethnic group/s. In a few videos, some males wear a head band on their head.

In a number of videos, female members of Soweto Gospel Choir are shown wearing a head band on their head, In other videos female members wear a head wrap that looks very similar to some West African women's geles (tied head scarfs). In another YouTube example (given in Part II as #3), women members of Soweto Gospel Choir wear a crown shape hat. Which South African ethnic group/s is/are these head gear associated with?

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This concludes Part I of this two part series.

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