Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about South Africa's URCSA (Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa denomination.
This post also presents information about Khayeitsha, South Africa.
This post also showcases five YouTube videos of URCSA Khayeitsha congregation singing. Most of those videos feature members of those congregations singing and playing a musical instrument whose Xhosa name is "umpampampas", but is colloquially called "ibeat". According to https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/44f5/464c1570df0258d80affad087a77371f5782.pdf ..."umpampampas [are] (Bible-sized cushion covered with leather and beat with the palm of one hand), drums, sound pipes."...
Selected comment from the discussion threads for four of these videos are included along with the lyrics for one of these songs.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those featured in these videos and thanks to Sivuyisiwe Lutango, the publisher of these videos on YouTube.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/videos-examples-of-south-africas-urcsa.html
for a October 5, 2019 pancocojams post that showcase videos of the South African Christian congregations which are known for their use of hand held cushions that are percussion instruments.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/05/joyous-celebration-i-beat-south-african.html for a May 10, 2020 titled "Joyous Celebration - I Beat Medley" (South African Gospel Medley with special attention to the hand held cushion percussive instrument)".
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNITING REFORMED CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (URCSA)
From https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/uniting-reformed-church-in-southern-africa
"Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
Church Family :
United and Uniting churches
Based in : South Africa
Present in : Lesotho, Namibia
Membership : 496,744
Pastors : 536
Congregations : 758
[...]
In 1994 the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) was established through the union of the former Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA). Both churches were the fruit of the mission work done by the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Shortly after their arrival in 1652 the Dutch introduced slavery in the Cape and started a slave school to further the Christian religion, Dutch language and culture. The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) of the time had no organized mission activity and accommodated all racial groups. The baptism of slaves was left to the will of their masters. Very few baptized slaves were however confirmed as members of the church. In due course various mission organizations from abroad started working in South Africa, which led to a number of denominations amongst the indigenous people and slaves. This motivated the DRC to start its own independent mission work in 1824. Although the 1829 synod formally rejected discrimination on the basis of skin colour, in practice people of colour were discriminated against, particularly at worship services and holy communion. The synod of 1857 decided to allow separate services for coloured members "because of the weakness of some". The next logical step was the formation in 1881 of the DRMC as a separate church for the converts of the DRC's mission work. In each province of South Africa separate churches for blacks and coloureds were formed. All the coloured congregations eventually joined the DRMC, and the black churches the DRCA. Both remained under the control of the DRC for decades.
In 1966 the DRMC decided in favour of structural unity between the churches of the DRC family. The DRCA put a similar emphasis on unification in 1975. It took another 19 years for that ideal to be partially fulfilled. The DRC did not join the union of the DRMC and the DRCA. The name of the URCSA (in the continuous tense) and its logo (an incomplete circle) reflect the church's emphasis on and hope for the re-unification of the DRC family and the wider family of God.”...
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INFORMATION ABOUT KHAYEITSHA, SOUTH AFRICA
From https://www.tripsavvy.com/visiting-khayelitsha-township-cape-town-south-africa-4158886 "How to Visit Khayelitsha Township, Cape Town: The Complete Guide" Written by JESSICA MACDONALD
Updated 04/09/19
"Located in the Cape Flats area of the Western Cape, Khayelitsha is the second-largest black township in South Africa (after Soweto). It’s a 30-kilometer hop from Cape Town city center; and yet, life in Khayelitsha is very different to life at the prosperous heart of the Mother City, where elegant colonial buildings rub shoulders with world-class restaurants and art galleries.
The township, whose name means “new home” in Xhosa, is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Cape Town area. And yet, despite its problems, Khayelitsha has earned itself a reputation as a hotbed of culture and entrepreneurship. Visitors to Cape Town are increasingly drawn there on guided township tours: here are some of the best options for a meaningful Khayelitsha experience.
Khayelitsha's History
Before planning a visit to Khayelitsha, it’s important to understand the township’s history. In 1983, the apartheid government announced its decision to re-home legal black residents living in informal settlements on the Cape Peninsula to a new, purpose-built site called Khayelitsha. Ostensibly, the new township was created to provide those living in sub-standard squatter camps with improved formal housing; but in reality, Khayelitsha’s role was to give the government better control over the area’s impoverished black communities by grouping them together in one place.
Legal residents were classified as those that had lived on the Cape Peninsula for more than 10 years. Those that didn’t meet that criteria were considered illegal, and many were forcibly repatriated to the Transkei, one of several black homelands created during the apartheid regime. When apartheid ended, people living in the homelands could once again move freely throughout South Africa. Many of those that had been removed from the Western Cape decided to return, along with countless migrants who flocked to Cape Town in search of work.
These migrants arrived with nothing, and many of them erected makeshift shacks on the edges of Khayelitsha. By 1995, the township had expanded to accommodate over half a million people.
Khayelitsha Today
Today, over two million people call Khayelitsha home, earning it its status as the fastest-growing township in South Africa. Poverty is still a crippling issue, with 70% of the township’s residents living in informal shacks, and a third having to walk 200 meters or more to access clean water. Crime and unemployment rates are high. However, Khayelitsha is also a neighborhood on the rise. New brick houses are being built, and residents now have access to schools, clinics and an incredible array of social development projects (including a canoe club and a cycle club)."...
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: URCSA Khayelitsha Hosana 65(1)
Sivuyisiwe Lutango, Mar 14, 2018
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Hazel Nkosi, 2019
"So touched. AmaUniting amahle. U killing it. My church. I am a blessed CWL for 5 years"
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2. Bessie Waller, 2018
"This is so beautiful, I wish could understand what the words they are singing in english"
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3. Nxonxo Masixole, 2018
"Aawww nkosi yam iyandiphilisa umculo walenkonzo phambili maURCSA"
-snip-
Google translate from Xhosa to English
"Awww my lord brings me the music of this service in front of the URCSA"
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4. Andiswa Nkabi, 2019
"Wooww am crying evry time ndimamele eliculo😢😢😢 ndicela nibhale iculo lonke please. Am blessed"
**
5. Sihle Tsengiwe, 2019
"Bhota mnqamlezo weNkos
Hlathi nqaba liwa lam
Xa uMtyholi eqhayisa
Zono xa zincamisa
Ngxonde yokusabela
Bhota mnqamlezo Nkos
2.
Khanya mnqamlezo weNkos
Gxotha ubumnyama bam
Khwezi lomso wothando
Langa lomhla woxolo
Ngqina lobulungisa
Khanya mnqamlezo weNkos
3.
Xhasa mnqamlezo weNkos
Xhasa seka qinisa
Ekulweni khaka lam
Phawu lwabasindiswa
Xhasa mnqamlezo weNkos
.4
Bhota mnqamlezo weNkos
Hlathi,nqaba,liwa lam
Xa kufika ukufa kwam
Yakuphela imihla yam
Nguwe olithemba lam
Bhota mnqamlezo weNkos
-snip-
Google translate from Xhosa to English:
"Bow the cross of the Lord
The forest is my stronghold
When the devil brags
When sins are overwhelming
A fortress of refuge
Cross the Cross Lord
2.
Shine the cross of the Lord
Cast out my darkness
The morning star of love
It's a day of peace
He is a witness of righteousness
Shine the cross of the Lord
3.
Support the cross of the Lord
Support and strengthen
In fighting my shield
The sign of the saved
Support the cross of the Lord
.4
Bow the cross of the Lord
A forest, a stronghold, my rock
When my death came
When my days are over,
You are my hope
Bow the cross of the Lord"
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Video #2: URCSA Khayelitsha
Sivuyisiwe Lutango, Aug 22, 2018
Hosana 184: Vuthelani Ixilongo
-snip-
Google translate from Xhosa to English: "Blow the Trumpet"
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Athenkosi Mandlendoda, 2019
"Sizoyishaya ngempel'iKhayelitsha Aw Heshe Ntsizwaaa.... Looool, awu madoda yhiiini yhiiini yhiiiini.... iza!!! Watching these videos just revives me. Siyabulela!!!"
-snip-
Google translate from Xhosa to English:
"We are going to hit it off on a real day. Watching these videos just revives me. Thanks !!!"
**
2. Nelly Shange, 2020
"Ai,ai,ai, lesembatho singkhumbuza umama wami ai,ai,ai ukbe kukhona okwenziwayo ukvusa asebalala ngabe ngyakwenza"
-snip-
Google translate from Xhosa to English:
"Ai, ai, ai, this dress reminds me of my mother ai, ai, ai if something was done to wake her up she would have done it"
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Video #3: URCSA Khayeitsha Hosana 106
Sivuyisiwe Lutango, Aug 22, 2018
Nkosi Ndive Ngezibele
-snip-
Google translate from Xhosa to English -"Lord Hear Me About Mercy"
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Video #4: URCSA Khayelitsha Hosana 76
Sivuyisiwe Lutango, Aug 22, 2018
Kukho Umnqamlezo
-snip-
Google translate from Xhosa to English - "There is a Cross"
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Video #5: URCSA Khayelitsha Hosana 353(2019 Easter Friday)
Sivuyisiwe Lutango, Apr 25, 2019
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
Hellen Kekana, 2019
"I dont understand the words but joh! The synchronization and the boy with the bell moves me!!! Its electrifying 2🙌🙌"
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malakia solomon lekgothoane, 2019
"The little boy with the bell yoooooh he blesses me"
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