Kamo Bafana, Oct 10, 2018
Tsakane boys soccer song moral
-snip-
This video is the earliest example of the "Beyonce gwijo" (also given as "soccer song") that I've found.
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Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Update - 10/4/2023
My Editor's notes about the South African gwijo or amagwijo (plural) entitled "Beyonce" are included in this post along with selected comments from a few discussion threads of YouTube videos of South African "Beyonce" songs. As of the Oct. 4, 2023 publication date for this updated pancocojams post, there are a few other YouTube videos of Beyonce gwijos other than the onese that are showcased in this post.
Update: Special thanks to South African P La (The Gwijo king) for responding to my question about Beyonce gwijos on October 2, 2023
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer/s of these South African "Beyonce" songs. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
*In the context of South Africa, "soccer" means what people in the United States call "football". "Soccer songs" are another referent for "gwijos", but "gwijos" are sung at other sports events in South Africa-particularly rugby. "Gwijos" are also sung apart from sports events.
This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on South African gwijo (amagwijo).
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-chronologial-listing-of-youtube.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "A Chronologial Listing Of YouTube Videos Of The South African Gwijo "Beyonce" (October 2018 -August 2021)".
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-do-xhosa-south-africa-words-gwijo.html for the pancocojams post entitled "What Do The Xhosa (South Africa) Words "Gwijo" And "AmaGwijo" Mean?"
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/seven-youtube-videos-of-south-african.html for a related pancocojams post entitled "Seven YouTube Videos Of South African Gwijo Remixes Of Rihanna's Hit 2016 Dancehall Song "Work" ".
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE [Revised Sept. 13, 2021]
I'm an African American who unfortunately understands no other language but English. I happened upon a YouTube video of a South African gwijo entitled "Beyonce" while randomly surfing YouTube for videos of South African gwijos. Since I watched that video, I've come across multiple videos of gwijos (also listed as "soccer songs"). The publishing dates for those "Beyonce" gwijo (soccer song) videos are from Oct 2018 tthrough August 2021.
Despite the poularity and longevity of these songs, I haven't found any explanations online for what these songs are about. And I haven't found any lyrics for these songs in Xhosa, let along in English, except for the words "Beyonce ukhalelani".
The words "Beyonce ukhalelani" are given in at least three YouTube videos of the "Beyonce" gwijo. One video has those words in its title. Another has those words in its summary, and a commenter wrote those words in the discussion thread of a third "Beyonce" gwijo video.
I initially assumed that these songs refer to the African American singer Beyoncé. If so, and if Beyonce is crying in those songs, could they be a South African response to or a continuation of Beyonce's song "Sorry" in her 2016 Lemonade film and visual album. In the song "Sorry" Beyoncé accused her husband Jay-X of cheating on her with "Becky with the good hair". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9:_Lemonade and https://genius.com/Beyonce-sorry-lyrics. In that song Beyonce says "Sorry I'm not sorry". But I wonder if "Jay-Z" in those gwijos is the one saying he's sorry and pleading for his wife's forgiveness.
Or maybe these South African songs aren't about that world famous singer. Maybe they're about some other woman is either named Beyonce or is called that name for one reason or another. As I mentioned earlier, the only language I understand is English. But from the way those songs are sung* I'm guessing that there's some kind of sad drama going on between some woman named (or called) Beyonce and her man or someone who thought he was her man.
Sduh Mageba, a commenter in the discussion thread for Queens College - Beyoncé 🙏🏻🔥❤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QCpS76z20s&ab_channel=GwijoRSA wrote this in July 2021
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THREE ADDITIONAL "BEYONCE" GWIJOS [updated Oct. 3, 2023]
GWIJO RSA, july 4, 2022
-snip-
Dorian Smith posted in 2023 on a discussion thread for a no longer available YouTube video of Gumede singing the gwijo "Beyonce" that "Gumede made this song trend".
This YouTube short (very brief video) shows the young South African man Gumede singing this song wearing a red and white football jersey with his name "G. Gumede" written in the middle.
Ayakha Sikweyiya,
-snip-
This video of students from Queens College singing "Beyonce" replaces one that I had previously posted by Gwijo RSA, March 13, 2021 that is now for private viewing only. The description for that video suggests that it is the same as the video that is embedded above. Here's my descriptionthat I wrote for that initial video:
Discussion Thread #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y30RgeewPkk&ab_channel=TrashBoy
[This video is given as #2 of the videos that are embedded in this pancocojams post.]
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-do-xhosa-south-africa-words-gwijo.html for the pancocojams post entitled "What Do The Xhosa (South Africa) Words "Gwijo" And "AmaGwijo" Mean?"
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/seven-youtube-videos-of-south-african.html for a related pancocojams post entitled "Seven YouTube Videos Of South African Gwijo Remixes Of Rihanna's Hit 2016 Dancehall Song "Work" ".
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE [Revised Sept. 13, 2021]
I'm an African American who unfortunately understands no other language but English. I happened upon a YouTube video of a South African gwijo entitled "Beyonce" while randomly surfing YouTube for videos of South African gwijos. Since I watched that video, I've come across multiple videos of gwijos (also listed as "soccer songs"). The publishing dates for those "Beyonce" gwijo (soccer song) videos are from Oct 2018 tthrough August 2021.
Despite the poularity and longevity of these songs, I haven't found any explanations online for what these songs are about. And I haven't found any lyrics for these songs in Xhosa, let along in English, except for the words "Beyonce ukhalelani".
The words "Beyonce ukhalelani" are given in at least three YouTube videos of the "Beyonce" gwijo. One video has those words in its title. Another has those words in its summary, and a commenter wrote those words in the discussion thread of a third "Beyonce" gwijo video.
https://mymemory.translated.net/en/Xhosa/English/ukhalelani indicates that "ukhalelani" is a Xhosa word whose English translation is "Why cry."
Why is Beyonce crying?
Why is Beyonce crying?
I initially assumed that these songs refer to the African American singer Beyoncé. If so, and if Beyonce is crying in those songs, could they be a South African response to or a continuation of Beyonce's song "Sorry" in her 2016 Lemonade film and visual album. In the song "Sorry" Beyoncé accused her husband Jay-X of cheating on her with "Becky with the good hair". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9:_Lemonade and https://genius.com/Beyonce-sorry-lyrics. In that song Beyonce says "Sorry I'm not sorry". But I wonder if "Jay-Z" in those gwijos is the one saying he's sorry and pleading for his wife's forgiveness.
Or maybe these South African songs aren't about that world famous singer. Maybe they're about some other woman is either named Beyonce or is called that name for one reason or another. As I mentioned earlier, the only language I understand is English. But from the way those songs are sung* I'm guessing that there's some kind of sad drama going on between some woman named (or called) Beyonce and her man or someone who thought he was her man.
-snip-
Both of these theories fit the fact that with just one exception, in all of the YouTube videos of "Beyonce" gwijos, those songs are sung by males.
The exception is a very brief video clip.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtWidBPJFvU&ab_channel=GwijoZA, May 31, 2021 [length 0.30]. That video clip shows teenage girls dressed in their school uniforms at an outdoor school event singing "Beyonce" (gwijo) as accompaniment of males singing it. The males aren't shown in that
Both of these theories fit the fact that with just one exception, in all of the YouTube videos of "Beyonce" gwijos, those songs are sung by males.
The exception is a very brief video clip.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtWidBPJFvU&ab_channel=GwijoZA, May 31, 2021 [length 0.30]. That video clip shows teenage girls dressed in their school uniforms at an outdoor school event singing "Beyonce" (gwijo) as accompaniment of males singing it. The males aren't shown in that
Sduh Mageba, a commenter in the discussion thread for Queens College - Beyoncé 🙏🏻🔥❤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QCpS76z20s&ab_channel=GwijoRSA wrote this in July 2021
"Beyonce wenzeni 😂😂😂😂😂"
-snip-
Google translates the word "wenzeni” from Xhosa to English “What did you do.”
-snip-
I'd also like to know what Beyonce did in these South African gwijos.
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A SOUTH AFRICAN EXPLANATION ABOUT BEYONCE GWIJOS
From P La(The Gwijo King)
-snip-
Google translates the word "wenzeni” from Xhosa to English “What did you do.”
-snip-
I'd also like to know what Beyonce did in these South African gwijos.
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A SOUTH AFRICAN EXPLANATION ABOUT BEYONCE GWIJOS
From P La(The Gwijo King)
https://m.youtube.com/@PLaTheGwijoKing on Oct. 2, 2023 (Read the entire comment below)
..."In South Africa slang "Beyonce" has become synonymous with girl/woman who's overly materialistic and likes to live the life she she probably doesn't afford...you could also say it's an ordinary girl who likes to act like Beyonce.
There's a version of this gwijo that says
"We Beyonce ukhalelani,
Hoba re tshwere lotto?"
Which is a mixture of isiZulu and seSotho words that can be interpreted to say "Hey Beyonce, why are you complaining/crying because we've got all the money/lotto/bling?"
And instead of being about a heartbroken girl, my interpretation is that an unhappy guy is asking her materialistic "Beyonce wannabe " girlfriend" what could she possibly be complaining about when she's been given all the money/wealth in fulfil her "Beyonce-ish" needs?
However, to be fair, not many people understand the true meaning of even the simplest gwijo songs, even us South Africans, sometimes even the very composers won't be able to give the ultimate meaning, gwijos are often just that open-ended.
..."In South Africa slang "Beyonce" has become synonymous with girl/woman who's overly materialistic and likes to live the life she she probably doesn't afford...you could also say it's an ordinary girl who likes to act like Beyonce.
There's a version of this gwijo that says
"We Beyonce ukhalelani,
Hoba re tshwere lotto?"
Which is a mixture of isiZulu and seSotho words that can be interpreted to say "Hey Beyonce, why are you complaining/crying because we've got all the money/lotto/bling?"
And instead of being about a heartbroken girl, my interpretation is that an unhappy guy is asking her materialistic "Beyonce wannabe " girlfriend" what could she possibly be complaining about when she's been given all the money/wealth in fulfil her "Beyonce-ish" needs?
However, to be fair, not many people understand the true meaning of even the simplest gwijo songs, even us South Africans, sometimes even the very composers won't be able to give the ultimate meaning, gwijos are often just that open-ended.
****
THREE ADDITIONAL "BEYONCE" GWIJOS [updated Oct. 3, 2023]
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 Beyonce
GWIJO RSA, july 4, 2022
-snip-
Dorian Smith posted in 2023 on a discussion thread for a no longer available YouTube video of Gumede singing the gwijo "Beyonce" that "Gumede made this song trend".
This YouTube short (very brief video) shows the young South African man Gumede singing this song wearing a red and white football jersey with his name "G. Gumede" written in the middle.
-snip-
This video replaces a no longer available video that was published by Trash Boy on July 14, 2020.is no longer available.
Here he is standing in the center of a semi-circle of other teenage boys. The singers wear regular clothes (not school uniforms). All of the singers stand relatively still, but toward the end of the video, some of them begin to snap their fingers to the beat of this song
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -Queen's College Gwijo x Beyonce
This video replaces a no longer available video that was published by Trash Boy on July 14, 2020.is no longer available.
Here's the description that I published along with that video.
Gumede is a very highly regarded lead singer of amagwijo.Here he is standing in the center of a semi-circle of other teenage boys. The singers wear regular clothes (not school uniforms). All of the singers stand relatively still, but toward the end of the video, some of them begin to snap their fingers to the beat of this song
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -Queen's College Gwijo x Beyonce
Ayakha Sikweyiya,
-snip-
This video of students from Queens College singing "Beyonce" replaces one that I had previously posted by Gwijo RSA, March 13, 2021 that is now for private viewing only. The description for that video suggests that it is the same as the video that is embedded above. Here's my descriptionthat I wrote for that initial video:
Based on comments I've read in gwijo discussion threads, Queens College is one of the most highly regarded colleges when it comes to singing gwijos.
This is one of several YouTube videos of Queens College singing the "Beyonce" gwijo. The boys are in uniforms and are seated in bleachers outdoors with masks on their faces to protect them against Covid-19.
-snip-
Here's some information about the use of the word "college" for this South African secondary school:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College
"In South Africa, some secondary schools, especially private schools on the English public school model, have "college" in their title. Thus no less than six of South Africa's Elite seven high schools call themselves "college" and fit this description."
-snip-
Here's some information about the use of the word "college" for this South African secondary school:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College
"In South Africa, some secondary schools, especially private schools on the English public school model, have "college" in their title. Thus no less than six of South Africa's Elite seven high schools call themselves "college" and fit this description."
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 -Beyonce
Gwijo
-snip-
This is the only YouTube video that I found of girls singing the "Beyonce" gwijo.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- Gwijo Beyonce kaizer chiefs development
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- Gwijo Beyonce kaizer chiefs development
Nhlakanipho Tshabalala #Gwijosongs,
Beyonce ukhalelani
-snip-
Google translate from Zulu to English gives this result for "ukhalelani"= "Why are you crying?"
-snip-
This video shows South African young men dressed in their football (soccer) uniforms singing in their locker room before a game.
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREADS FOR TWO OF THESE EMBEDDED VIDEOS
Discussion Thread #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y30RgeewPkk&ab_channel=TrashBoy
[This video is given as #2 of the videos that are embedded in this pancocojams post.]
1. Samuel Mavukani, 2021
"Kill that song ntwana kill that song👌👌👌👌💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"
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"Ntwana" is a Zulu word that means "boy" or "mate" https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ntwana
In the context of this comment "to kill" means "to do something extremely well".
**
2. Kgotso Jack, 2021
"Beyonce needs to hear this"
**
Reply
3. Nkosana Vonk Zibula, 2021
"lol why?"
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Discussion Thread #2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MbW6_G1Pl4&t=7s&ab_channel=GwijoRSA
[This is the discussion thread for the video given as #3 in this post.]
1. Thabiso,_c Tshabalala, 2021
"Beyonce ❤❤❤😭😭😭😩❤🐾"
**
Reply
2. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"😭😭😭🙏🏿"
**
Reply
3. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Thank you Gumede"
**
Reply
4. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"I’m not Gumede 😹😹"
**
Reply
5. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Lol I know, gumede made this song trend @gwijorsa"
**
Reply
6. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"@Dorian Smith 😹😹😹🙏🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥ok thank you"
**
Reply
7. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Lol but who are you by the way? Like beside being the Gwijo King/Queen? You're doing a great job no lie🤷🏽"
**
Reply
8. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"@Dorian Smith 😭😭Not you giving me the title I don’t deserve 😹🙏🏾 I’m not the King bruh😭I’m juss pushing what we all love ❤️✊🏿"
**
9. Asavela Arthur, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MbW6_G1Pl4&t=7s&ab_channel=GwijoRSA
[This is the discussion thread for the video given as #3 in this post.]
1. Thabiso,_c Tshabalala, 2021
"Beyonce ❤❤❤😭😭😭😩❤🐾"
**
Reply
2. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"😭😭😭🙏🏿"
**
Reply
3. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Thank you Gumede"
**
Reply
4. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"I’m not Gumede 😹😹"
**
Reply
5. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Lol I know, gumede made this song trend @gwijorsa"
**
Reply
6. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"@Dorian Smith 😹😹😹🙏🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥ok thank you"
**
Reply
7. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Lol but who are you by the way? Like beside being the Gwijo King/Queen? You're doing a great job no lie🤷🏽"
**
Reply
8. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"@Dorian Smith 😭😭Not you giving me the title I don’t deserve 😹🙏🏾 I’m not the King bruh😭I’m juss pushing what we all love ❤️✊🏿"
**
9. Asavela Arthur, 2021
"Queens you never disappoint us boys........"
**
Reply
10. Gwijo RSA,2021
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"
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**
Reply
10. Gwijo RSA,2021
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Hi Azizi, thanks for your contribution to and interest in amagwijo. I frequently get redirected to your site everytime I search up any gwijo related content on the internet.
ReplyDeleteIn South Africa slang "Beyonce" has become synonymous with girl/woman who's overly materialistic and likes to live the life she she probably doesn't afford...you could also say it's an ordinary girl who likes to act like Beyonce.
There's a version of this gwijo that says
"We Beyonce ukhalelani,
Hoba re tshwere lotto?"
Which is a mixture of isiZulu and seSotho words that can be interpreted to say "Hey Beyonce, why are you complaining/crying because we've got all the money/lotto/bling?"
And instead of being about a heartbroken girl, my interpretation is that an unhappy guy is asking her materialistic "Beyonce wannabe " girlfriend" what could she possibly be complaining about when she's been given all the money/wealth in fulfil her "Beyonce-ish" needs?
However, to be fair, not many people understand the true meaning of even the simplest gwijo songs, even us South Africans, sometimes even the very composers won't be able to give the ultimate meaning, gwijos are often just that open-ended.
Thank you again for your dedication to making amagwijo and other African indigenous music genres accessible to the world.
P La (The Gwijo King)
https://m.youtube.com/@PLaTheGwijoKing
P La, thank you very much for responding to my sincere question about the Beyonce gwijo. I'm not surprised about the overall meaning of a "Beyonce" type of woman.
DeleteI appreciate the information that you shared about not only that gwijo but gwijos in general. I LOVE gwijos and wish that more people in the United States and elsewhere knew about them. Reading your comment alerted me to the fact that some of the videos I showcased aren't available any more, or aren't available to the general public anymore.
By the way, I've been one of your subscribers for at least two years. I love your creativity.
Here's the hyperlink to you YouTube channel: https://m.youtube.com/@PLaTheGwijoKing