Zion Christian Chuches' Mokhukhu Choirs (information and videos)

Nyiko Chris Mathebula, Jun 5, 2015
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A commenter wrote that this video was recorded in 1994.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - Feb. 28, 2024

This pancocojams post presents general information about Southern Africa's Zion Christian Church.

Four YouTube videos of Mokhukhu performances are also included in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the Mokhukhu members of Zion Christian Church. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. 
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/01/general-information-about-southern.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "General Information About (Southern Africa's) Zion Christian Church (Article Excerpts)."

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INFORMATION ABOUT ZION CHRISTIAN CHURCHES' MOKHUKHU CHOIRS
Excerpt #1
From http://dictionary.sensagent.com/zion%20christian/en-en/
..."There are several formations within the ZCC which have been created to provide prayer and communion forums for members. The main ones are Mokhukhu, the Female Choir, the Male Choir, the Brass Band, and Nkedi. Mokhukhu is generally regarded by members as the most important of all the groups.

The origins of Mokhukhu

In Sepedi the word mokhukhu means a "shack" or "shanty." In Zion City Moria - the headquarters of the ZCC - situated some 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of Polokwane (previously Pietersburg) in the Limpopo (previously Northern Province) Province, there are many such shacks.3 The manner in which the word mokhukhu came to be applied to a dominant formation within the ZCC lies in the early history of conflicts within the church. After Engenas Lekganyane's death in 1948, Joseph, his son and appointed heir, succeeded him as the leader of the church. However, Joseph's older brother, Edward, contested this with the help of some church members. Traditional custom was in his favor as the older brother, for among the Bapedi the eldest son succeeds his father. It is said that, as a way of intimidating Joseph's followers, the pro-Edward faction burned the shacks in which Joseph's supporters lived. When each shack was ablaze, the Edward faction danced and sang a song containing the words u yasha umkhukhu (a shack is burning). This song, which was isiZulu, was begun by pro-Edward migrant workers based in what was then known as the Reef. The dancing pattern they formed eventually became popular within the branch that the Edward camp established after the conflict and came to be known as Mokhukhu. The name now refers to both the dance pattern and to the group that performs the dance."...

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EXCERPT #2
From http://www.atiner.gr/presentations/Simon-Moripe.pdf

AUTHOR: SIMON. MORIPE

INSTITUTION: UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO – SOUTH AFRICA [no publishing date given; retrieved Jan 17, 2022]

MUSIC AND DANCE

• The height of the ZCC calendar is the Annual Easter pilgrimage to Moriah.

• The Mokhukhu dancers are conspicuous in their uniform and attract thousands of spectators.

• At Moriah they normally compete against each other, but not necessary for a prize or a reward.

[...]

On the streets and sidewalks of South Africa, members of Mokhukhu dance

are instantly recognisable.

• They all wear their white boots, khaki suits, khaki shirts, black tie, and a

black cap with a silver five-pointed star on the forehead, with letters ZCC,

sown on a small strip of green baize cloth and proudly pinned to their clothes.

• Mokhukhu simply means a shelter, a place giving protection from danger or a place providing food and accommodation.

• The Mokhukhu musical group is indeed a place of safety within the structures of the ZCC.

• The communal dance by male adherents involves leaping energetically into air and coming down firmly on both feet, with much jollification and rhythmic movement.

• It is a very rigorous dance.

• These men are able to sing for the whole night with only few intervals for tea and coffee without sugar and milk, which is prayed for.

• Mokhukhu dance is above all a healing dance, epitomizing the characteristics of sharing and egalitarianism.

• It provides healing in the most generic sense: it may cure a sick body or mind as the healer pulls out sickness by laying on hands; mend the social fabric as the dance promotes social cohesion and a manageable release of hostility.

• Mokhukhu dance is an act of worship.

• The Mokhukhu dance provides an outlet to the emotional expression of religious life and is a powerful means of communication in African traditional life.

• It helps to express fellowship and participation in life. It also helps to reduce stress and depression."...

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Mosesetjane kosha

Langa Ralph, July 17, 2019

Kosha

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: @ mississippi with Ivory park

mamphi mcdonald, Dec 8, 2020

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4: ZCC mokhukhu Botswana11

Keemisitswe Ngaka, October 2, 2019

Mokhukhu BOTS

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