Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents five additional* examples of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. chant "This Is A Serious Matter".
Selected comments from some of these showcased videos are also included in this post, including a comment about fraternity and sorority calls that I posted in response to a question in the discussion thread for the video given as #3).
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all past and present member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority-inc-this-is.html for the 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. "This Is A Serious Matter" (Text Examples & Videos)". As indicated by that title, that post includes text (words) for those showcased examples of "This Is A Serious Matter".
****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is a historically Black Greek letter sorority and is a member of The National Pan-Hellenic Council (informally known as "The Divine Nine").
I consider fraternity & sorority chants to be cultural artifacts which deserve to be collected, preserved, and studied. I also believe that fraternity & sorority songs and chants should only be recited and/or performed by those persons who are affiliated with the specific organization that is associated with that particular chant.
****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CHANT
"This Is A Serious Matter" appears to be the most widely known traditional Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. (AKA) chant. This chant and its accompanying step routine have become signature parts of the culture of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. A signature movement in that routine is to step from left to right while both hands are held palm up close to the steppers' waist.
The lyrics to "This is a Serious Matter" may differ among various Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapters or within the same chapter at different points in time. "This is a Serious Matter" is usually composed of two line rhyming verses that state the history of the sorority, praise the sorority and its members, and/or diss (insult) other sororities. This chant always includes the line "this is a serious matter".
Many versions of this chant start with the step team saying "1 9 0 8". This is the date that Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded. Most versions of "This Is A Serious Matter" include a reference to the fact that Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc was the first Black sorority. Each version of this chant includes the refrain "This Is a SERIOUS matter". However, a step team may only repeated the words "This is a serious matter; this is a serious, serious, serious matter". My sense is that what "is a serious matter" is the sorority itself- its history, its ideals, its present activities, and its members' commitment to that organization.
Thanks to Anonymous, May 30, 2014 for publishing these comments in the discussion thread for the 2012 post on this subject whose link is given above:
"Serious Matter was authored and first performed at Langston University, Langston Oklahoma in 1986 by the Ivy line lovingly named '15 Girls in Search of 20 Pearls"
-The Author-"
**
"The chant was performed at the Langston University Homecoming Event..."
-Anonymous, May 30, 2014
-snip-
If anyone remembers the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. chant from the late 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s please share that information with me and other blog readers in the comment section below.
-snip-
For the record, I "went over" (became a member of AKA Sorority, Inc) in 1967-Gamma Zeta chapter, New Jersey. Members of the state's graduate chapter pledged my line. We only stepped a couple of times, and I don't remember learning "This is a Serious Matter".
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO EXAMPLES
Example #1: Greekster.tv - Serious Matter AKA
greekstertv, Dec 28, 2009
Interviewing the sisters of AKA at the Rutgers 10th Annual LTA Step, Stroll and Salute Exhibition
-snip-
Rutgers University is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey USA (and two other campuses in New Jersey]
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Atiba Sonnebeyatta, 2009
"im just wondering why they spelled IOTA in the beginning?"
**
REPLY
2. Kiera Walker, 2011
"@aksonnebeyatta theyre i think theyre iota psi chapter"
**
REPLY
3. Artrez Johnson, 2012
"umm i think thats their chapter #representing"
**
4. KaekaiTV, 2010
"1:25 delta diss! HAHA!"
-snip-
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is another historically Black Greek letter sorority. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc has some "serious" history with that organization....
**
6. comments431, 2013
"That Delta shade. LOL"
****
Example #2: AKA Probate (This is a Serious Matter)
16GPS, Apr 28, 2012
-snip-
Here are three comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Kahlyn Ward, 2014
"What school was this?"
**
REPLY
2. 16GPS, 2015
"Alabama State University"
-snip-
Alabama State University is located in Montgomery, Alabama [USA]
**
3. Nunya Biznazz, 2018
"My...what a large line."
-snip-
"line"= referent for the group of probates (new members of the sorority or the fraternity)
****
Example #3: Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Yard Show Spring 2014
Human Jukebox Media, Mar 26, 2014
Southern University
Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
AKA Week 2014
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Tony Tone, 2014
"Y'all did that ..."
**
2. Coco Nut, 2014
"SU solidified my love for this lovely sorority yearsssss ago"
-snip-
Southern University is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana [USA]
**
3. blackgreekhelp.com, 2014
"one of the best alpha kappa alpha yard shows!"
**
4. Justin Cartwright, 2014
"Did y'all catch the diss at 2:34?!"
**
REPLY
5. Bizzy Sea, 2015
**
REPLY
6. Bizzy Sea, 2015
"What was the diss? I couldn't hear anything"
**
REPLY
7. Justin Cartwright, 2015
"A diss to the Deltas"
**
REPLY
8. Justin Cartwright, 2015
"@Deborah Dieudonne "So while you waddle around, in your crimson and cream (The Deltas), don't forget that these Ivys put you ducks on the scene." Since the 22 founders of DST were originally AKAs. Lol"
**
REPLY
9. Bizzy Sea, 2015
"Ohhh, I didn't hear them. Thanks for replying."
**
10. Dominique Burton, 2014
"Does anyone know the name of the song that they're strolling to at the end?"
**
REPLY
11. Erin Watson, 2014
"Choppa- Lonely"
**
REPLY
12. Dominique Burton, 2014
"@Erin Watson Thank you!"
**
13. jarvaris greene, 2017
"They throwing shade like a palm tree"
**
14. ZuZu RayRay, 2017
"These Beta Psi girls are some of the best here in Youtube"
**
15. Rhandi Ferguson, 2017
"I'm all for sororities especially African American ones but aren't sororities supposed to be about sister hood all over? So what's the point if in every step and chat there's hate and shade thrown towards the other ladies? If you ask me this just brings even more hate in our African society that's already being torn down by the whites"
**
REPLY
16. Sydnee Jackson, 2018
"Baha Beauty it’s just for entertainment they lots of community service on the back end"
**
17. Jahslyn k, 2015
"why do they do that high pitch voice thing SSSKKKKWWEETT i think thats what they are saying. Is that something all sororities do??"
**
REPLY
18. TIFFANYBUTTERFLY, 2016
"Yes every sorority has a call
**
REPLY
19. Jahslyn k, 2016
"@TIFFANYBUTTERFLY a call? But why whats the point?"
**
20. Azizi Powell, 2020
"@@Jahslyn k, I'm an inactive member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Gamma Zeta chapter). I pledged waaaay back in 1967. Here's a portion of what I wrote about historically Black fraternity & sorority calls on my cultural blog: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/black-fraternity-sorority-calls.html
"Historically Black Greek lettered organization calls are signature sounds that members of an organization make to get the attention of another member or members of their organization who is some distance away. Calls can also be used to greet another member or member of that organization, and calls can also be used to "represent" (promote, "big up") their organization during public events. I would also add that out of respect, people who aren't members of a particular organization should not use that organization's call.
A fraternity or sorority might have more than one signature call. These calls are usually informal (i.e. not recognized as an official part of that organization by that organization's governing body.) Non-members of a specific organization are strictly prohibited from verbally or in writing using that organization's call in public or in private....
Calls are part of Black history and culture" - extending back to field hollers (arwhoolie) and perhaps even extending back to African musical traditions"....
**
21. Jada Farmer, 2020
"Two of the prettiest dolls said the infamous line “you better watch you man, because your man be watching me” miss April and Melody okay baby"
****
Example #4: AKA Serious Matter
Alexis Delgado, Mar 9, 2019
-snip-
This Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. chapter is located at Monmouth University. West Long Branch, New Jersey [USA].
****
Example #5: AKA 2019 Probate : Serious Matter - Pi Mu Chapter
pearlfection16, Apr 16, 2019
Pi Mu Chapter - Baylor University [Waco, Texas USA]
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment