Overall Pancocojams Blog Statistics & The Ten Most Popular Pancocojams Posts (From August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022)

Compiled by Azizi Powell, Pancocojams Blog Founder & Editor

This pancocojams post provides information about the meaning of the blog name "pancocojams" and provides some statistical information about this blog.

Publishing these links in one post makes it easier for me- and hopefully you - to enjoy these posts again. This post also provides opportunities for you to check out some posts that you might have missed.

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EXPLANATION FOR THE BLOG NAME "PANCOCOJAMS"

"Pancocojams" is an expansion of the title that I coined* for my previous (now inactive) cultural website- "cocojams".

When I coined the word "pancocojams", I gave it the meaning "Black cultures around the world".

"pan" = worldwide

 "coco" = chocolate (= Black people)

 "jams" = music (expanded meaning - "cultures")

*I launched my "cocojams" cultural website in 2001 and voluntarily deactivated it in 2014.

It wasn't until some years after I "coined" the word "cocojams" that I found out that it was a previously existing word.

**
Note that in 2020, I changed the format of this pancocojams statistics post from "January-December"  to "August - July."

**
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/12/overall-blog-statistics-ten-most.html for last year's post entitled "Overall Pancocojams Blog Statistics & The Ten Most Popular Pancocojams Posts (From August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021)"

**
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-twenty-five-most-popular.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "The Twenty-Five Most Popular Pancocojams Posts (From Aug-29, 2011-Dec 26, 2021)".

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PANCOCOJAMS BLOG OVERALL STATISTICS

A total of 4727 posts have been published on pancocojams since I launched this blog on August 29, 2011.

This number includes this post, but doesn't include a few pancocojams post that I have deleted for various reasons, including my publishing revised or updated posts on those subjects.

The total number of page views for this pancocojams blog is 12,364,087 (from August 20, 2011 to December 28, 2022 at 1:22 PM ET.

This number doesn't include my page views.

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TOP TEN PANCOCOJAMS POSTS WITH THE MOST VIEWS (from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 (Numbers retrieved on December 28, 2022 ending at 12:44 PM)

1.

Examples Of The Children's Hand Clap Rhymes "Lemonade Crunchy Ice" & "Lemonade Ice Tea"

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/08/examples-of-childrens-hand-clap-rhymes.html

published August 26, 2021

total # of views - 5995

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2.

What The African American Vernacular English Saying "Understood The Assignment" Means & Examples Of Other Ways Of Saying It

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/08/what-african-american-vernacular.html

published on August 30, 2021

total # of views - 4754

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3.

The Evolution Of The Children's Rhyme "Say Say My Playmate" (with a focus on some examples that include a reference to the flu)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-evolution-of-childrens-rhyme-say.html

published on September 4, 2021

total # of views - 4567

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4. 

Song "My Own Drum" from the 2021 animated movie Vivo (Official video, lyrics, & Information)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/08/song-my-own-drum-from-2021-animated.html

published on August 9, 2021

total # of views - 4327

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5.

Yaba Buluku (original sound file) with some lyrics translated in English from the original song & for the remix)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/01/yaba-buluku-original-sound-file-with.html

published on Jan.31,2022

total # of views - 3712

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6. 

GoNoodles' 2016 "Peanut Butter In A Cup" Version Of "Bang Bang Choo CHoo Train" And Two 2021 Animated YouTube Videos Of The "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train" Meme

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/01/gonoodles-2016-peanut-butter-in-cup.html

published on January 5, 2022

total # of views - 3464

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7.

(Somali singer) Nimco Happy - "Isii Nafta" (Love You More Than My Life) video, information, & English translated lyrics

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/somali-singer-nimco-happy-isii-nafta.html

published on February 6, 2022

total # of views - 3091

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8. 

Africans Discuss The "Proper" Attire For Women Singing In Gospel Choirs (Comments From A YouTube Discussion Thread About South Africa's Joyous Celebration Gospel Choir)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/06/africans-discuss-proper-attire-for.html

published on June 26, 2022

total # of views - 2311

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9.

Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Childish Gambino, Oumou Sangaré – Mood 4 Eva (video & lyrics)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/08/beyonce-jay-z-childish-gambino-oumou.html

published on August 27, 2021

total # of views - 2269

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10.

The History Of Majorette Dance Lines (a performance art that originated at historically Black American universities)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-history-of-majorette-dance-lines.html

published on Oct. 2, 2021

total # of views - 2123

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

African American Christmas Song - "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" (information, video, and lyrics)

Spelman College,   Dec 23, 2019

Children, Go Where I Send Thee, arr. Kevin Johnson

Performed by the Spelman College Glee Club during the 93rd Annual Spelman-Morehouse Christmas Carol Concert.

Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post showcases a video of the Spelman College Glee Club performing the song "Children Go Where I Send Thee". Information about and "standard" lyrics for that African American Christmas song are also included in this post. The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of "Children, Go Where I Send Thee". Thanks also to all those who quoted in this post and all those who are featured in this showcase video.
-snip- Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-probable-connection-between-english.html for Part I and http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-probable-connection-between-english.html for Part II of a 2015 posts about "Children, Go Where I Send Thee". Some of the information that is presented in Part I of that series is also quoted in this 2022 pancocojams post.  However, the 2015 Wikipedia page for this song has been revised and includes information that "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" was first collected from African American singers in 1934 and not in 1936.

Part II of that 2015 pancocojams series showcases several videos of children singing this song and several lyric versions of that song. ****
INFORMATION ABOUT FOR "CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE"Excerpt #1 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children,_Go_Where_I_Send_Thee [retrieved 2015] " "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" is a traditional African-American spiritual song, as well as a cumulative song. This song is also known as "The Holy Baby" or "Born in Bethlehem." There are many versions of this song, each giving a Biblical meaning to the numbers mentioned....
**** Excerpt #2 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children,_Go_Where_I_Send_Thee [retrieved 2022]

“Children, Go Where I Send Thee” (alternatively “Children, Go Where I Send You” or variations thereof, also known as “The Holy Baby,” “Little Bitty Baby,” or “Born in Bethlehem”) is a traditional African-American spiritual song.[1] Among the many different versions of the song, a defining feature is the cumulative structure, with each number (typically up to 12 or 10) accompanied by a biblical reference. Today, many Americans know it as a Christmas carol.[2]

[...]

Origins

The song’s origins are uncertain; however, its nearest known relative is the English folk song “The Twelve Apostles.”[2] Both songs are listed in the Roud Folk Song Index as #133. Parallel features in the two songs’ cumulative structure and lyrics (cumulating to 12 loosely biblical references) make this connection apparent. While “The Twelve Apostles” began appearing in English folk song collections in the mid-eighteen hundreds, the song’s origins likely span back much further. Possible earlier points of origin include the traditional Yiddish Passover song “Echad Mi Yodea,” which was first documented in the 16th century.[2]

In 1908 in Gloucestershire, composer Percy Grainger used a phonogram to capture the earliest known sound recordings of “The Twelve Apostles.”[5] From 1908 to 1917, folklorist Cecil Sharp transcribed multiple versions of “The Twelve Apostles” in Appalachia, providing evidence of the song’s propagation into the American South.[6]

In 1934, folklorists John Avery Lomax and Alan Lomax travelled to Bellwood Labor Camp in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of a field recording trip. This trip produced the earliest known version of the tune to be recorded in North America. Sung by an unidentified group of African-American convicts, the recording presents a number of notable elements that begin to distinguish the song from its English ancestor.... The lyrics also show a trend toward those more commonly associated with “Children, Go Where I Send Thee.” For instance, the line “Two, two, the lily-white boys clothed all in green” in Grainger’s recording [of "The Twelve Apostles"] has become “One was the little white babe all dressed in blue” in the Bellwood Prison Camp recording.[7][2]

“Children, Go Where I Send Thee” became further distanced from its English ancestor with The Golden Gate Quartet’s 1937 commercial recording of the song for RCA Victor's Bluebird label.[8] This recording features further lyrical and stylistic developments worth noting. The lines for the numbers three and two are: “Three was the Hebrew children; two was Paul and Silas.” As with many spirituals, these references to imprisoned biblical figures are analogues for the enslavement of African Americans. Coupled with the recording’s rhythmically driven jubilee quartet style, these features make the song a distinctly American folk tune.[2]

While the Golden Gate Quartet were largely responsible for popularizing the song, theirs was only one of many contemporary versions. The Golden Gate Quartet themselves learned the song from another jubilee quartet, the Heavenly Gospel Singers.[2]"... -snip- Although most online sources categorize "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" as a "Spiritual", I categorize it as an early African American Gospel song since I adhere to the position that African American Spirituals are those religious songs from Black American which were composed up to and including 1865 (the end of the United States Civil War). Furthermore, according to this comment by a blogger who went by the name of Q in the internet folk music forum Mudcat: ["Children Go Where I Send Thee" is ]  "Not found in the collections of old slave and plantation songs nor later collections of spirituals. Not listed as a spiritual in the Cleveland Index."... http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=5139 (03 Dec 05-9:13 PM) 

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"STANDARD" LYRICS FOR "CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE" [composers unknown; traditional African American song]

Children go where I send thee, 
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
One by one
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.*

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Two by two
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Three by three
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Four by four
Four for the four that stood at the door.
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Five by five
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Six by six
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Seven by seven
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Eight by eight
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Nine by nine
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Ten by ten
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Eleven by eleven
Eleven for the eleven deriders
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children go where I send thee,
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee
Twelve by twelve
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles
Eleven for the eleven deriders
Ten for the ten that never got in
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven
Six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the Gospel preacher
Four the four that stood at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little, bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Online source: https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5018
-snip-
* I sung these words as "who was born, born, born in Bethlehem"
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SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR "STANDARD" LYRICS AND OTHER LYRICS FOR THIS SONG
[I gleaned these explanations from offline and online sources.]

One for the little bitty baby (meaning Jesus).
Two for Paul and Silas. (or "two for Mary and Joseph")
Three for the three men riding (meaning the three Kings/Magi); or "three for the Hebrew children")
Four for the four knocking on the door (meaning the Four Evangelists).
Five for the Five that came back alive (or "five for the Gospel preachers")
Six for the six that never got fixed. 
Seven for the seven that all went to Heaven
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate.
Nine for the nine that stood in the line.
Ten for the Ten Commandments.
Eleven for the eleven deriders.
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles (or the twelve Disciples)

In the line "eleven deriders", "deriders" means people who deride (ridicule) the Bible. Because of folk processing (accidental mishearing, misremembering etc.) that line is also given as "eleven is the (or for the) Gospel riders (or Gospel writers).

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.

Todrick Hall - "Bells, Bows, Gifts, Trees" (video, information, and lyrics)

todrickhall, Dec. 1, 2020

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about Todrick Hall and showcases Todrick Hall's 2020 song/video "Bells, Bows, Gifts, Trees". This song and video is a cover of his 2019 hit song "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels".

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

All copyright remains with their owners,

Thanks to Todrick Hall for his music and dancing. Thanks to all those who are associated with this song and this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT TODRICK HALL
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todrick_Hall
"Todrick Hall (born April 4, 1985) is an American singer, choreographer, and YouTuber. He gained national attention on the ninth season of the televised singing competition American Idol. Following this, he amassed a huge following on YouTube with viral videos including original songs, parodies, and skits. A documentary series about his video-making process titled Todrick aired on MTV in 2015.

Starting with season eight, Hall became a resident choreographer and occasional judge on RuPaul's Drag Race.[3][4] From 2016 to 2017, Hall starred as Lola in Kinky Boots on Broadway. Later in 2017, he began appearances as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway and the West End.

As a singer-songwriter he has released four studio albums, including the visual albums Straight Outta Oz (2016) and Forbidden (2018). In 2020 he released an EP, Quarantine Queen, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic featuring "Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrub", and was the international host of Global Pride 2020.[5][6]"...

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REVIEW OF TODRICK HALL'S "BELLS, BOWS, GIFTS, TREES" SONG & ITS OFFICIAL VIDEO
From https://instinctmagazine.com/todrick-halls-bells-bows-gifts-trees-will-make-your-holi-slay/  "Todrick Hall’s ‘Bells Bows Gifts Trees’ Will Make Your Holi-Slay"; December 3, 2020 by Michael Cook
"Sleigh what!? Todrick Hall has reworked his now legendary track ‘Nails Hair Hips Heels’ for the holidays, serving up a brand new version titled “Bells Bows Gifts Trees” that is sure to help get us through a holiday season like we’ve never seen before. The accompanying video shows Hall and his legion of background dancers (including an out of drag Cake Moss) once again, in a warehouse. Garbed in vibrant red leather gloves and with a massive neon-green Christmas tree in the background, Hall hits every mark to pitch-perfect lyrics like “and then I trim the tree, it’s The Three Wise Men for me, Home Alone is on tv…Throughout the track there are faint sounds of jingling holiday bells and gift wrap tearing, adding to the holiday splendor and vibe of the track. "...

Of course, this is not the first time Todrick has put a new (and timely) spin on the pulsing track that made us all stomp the runway the moment it was released early in 2019. As the pandemic took hold this past summer, those very same dance floors were cleared, Hall dropped an entire EP exclusively of pandemic-related tracks (the aptly titled Quarantine Queen). The EP included a rework of ‘Nails Hair Hips Heels’ titled ‘Masks Gloves Soap Scrubs’ (with an accompanying video with guests including Tiffany Haddish, Kandi Burruss, Amber Riley & Peppermint). "....

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LYRICS - BELLS, BOWS, GIFTS, TREES
(written by Jean-Yves “Jeeve” Ducornet & Todrick Hall)

[Verse 1]
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Snowmen, snow ski
Squeezin' down chimneys
Santa's thiccc, three Cs
Ice skates, cold mist
Mistletoe, get kissed
No mask? Naughty list
Whoville, who dis?
Rum-pa-pum-pum, get an ugly sweater
Sugar plum plum, this is Yuletide weather
All the reindeer and the sleigh is loaded
All I want for Christmas is a cure for COVID

[Pre-Chorus]
Girl, what did that girl just say, girl?
Ooh girl, I don't dance, I prance (Prance)
I don't sled, I slay (Slay)
I don't stop, I shop, shop, shop till Christmas Day (Okay)
And then I trim the tree (Yep)
It's the three wise men for me (That's right)
Home Alone is on TV (Vee)
So I might let you see (What you gonna let them see?)

[Chorus]
My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees (Aah!)

My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees

[Verse 2]
Saint Nick, coat puffed
Mrs Claus, skirt fluffed
Singin' carols, hands muffed
Milk, cookies, I'm stuffed
Lights up, let's cruise
Card maxed, mom's booze
Teddy bear, it's huge
Trump is the new Scrooge
Fa-la-la-la, go be gay and merry
Get that eggnog, gingerbread, cranberry
Ratty rat king and a dewdrop fairy
Alexa, play Mariah Carey

Girl, what did that girl just say, girl?
Ooh girl, I don't dance, I prance (Prance)
I don't sled, I slay (Slay) 
I don't stop, I shop, shop, shop till Christmas Day (Okay)
And then I trim the tree (Yep) 
It's the Yule log for me (That's right) 
Charlie Brown is on TV 
(Tee Vee) 
So I might let you see (What you gonna let them see?)

[Chorus]
My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees (Aah!)

My bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees
Bells, bows, gifts, trees

[Break]
Alright, Christmas queens, y'all know what time it is, come on
Hang up all of your decor, hang up all of your decor
Now I want you to get your tinsel, get your stockings, get your lights, get your wreaths
'Cause I don't want to see you dance
I want to see you prance, come on

[Bridge]

Shop for me, shop for me, shop
Shop for me, shop for me, shop
Shop for me, shop for me, shop
Shop for me, shop for me, shop

Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)
Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)
Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)
Tongue pop for me, pop for me (Pop)

Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr
Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr (Woohoo)
Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr (It's cold!)
Say "brr" for me, "brr" for me, brr

Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh
Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh
Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh
Give myrrh for me, myrrh for me, myrhh (Come on, nativity!)

Now snow for me, snow for me, snow
Snow for me, snow for me, snow (Woo)
Snow for me, snow for me, snow (Haha)
Snow for me, snow for me, snow (I know you better kick!)

Ho-ho-ho for me, ho for me, ho
Ho for me, ho for me, ho
Ho-ho-ho for me, ho for me, ho (Ho ho ho)
Ho for me, ho for me, ho (Merry Christmas)

Now wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap
Wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap
Wrap-wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap
Wrap for me, wrap for me, wrap

Now clap for me, clap for me, clap
Clap for me, clap for me, clap
Clap for me, clap for me, clap
Clap for me, clap for me, clap (Let's go)

Shake your butt for me, butt for me, butt
Butt for me, butt for me, butt
Shake your butt for me, butt for me, butt
Butt for me, butt for me, butt

Crack nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts
Nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts
Crack nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts
Nuts for me, nuts for me, nuts

[Outro]
That's all
Ha ha ha ha!


Online source: https://genius.com/Todrick-hall-bells-bows-gifts-trees-lyrics

release date: Dec 1, 2020

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Nigeria's Traditional "Agbo Remireke" Masquerade & Festival That Occurs Every Three Years From December 25th Through January 9thth

Landmark Youth, Dec 29, 2021  AGBOWA IKOSI

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases three YouTube videos of a masquerade called Agbo Remireke that is celebrated once in three years during December in the Nigerian town of Agbowa-Ikosi.

Information about this masquerade is also included in this post.

The Addendum to this pancocojams post includes a video of a HBCU (historically Black [United States] colleges and  university) marching band because of a statement that I read that HBCU drum majors' high stepping marching style was partly influenced by Yoruba Egungun festivals.*   

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who were part of this masquerade and all those who were associated with the production of these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to Landmark Youth for publishing these videos on YouTube. 
-snip-
I searched for YouTube videos about Egungun masquerades after reading this quote about historically Black (United States) colleges and universities' drum majors' high stepping marching traditions: "Black historian Sterling Stuckey and music historians connect black college band showmanship to influences from 13th-century West Africa and the Egun masqueraders of the Yoruba tribe, who would play musical instruments and dance in funeral processions. Other historians point to black drill sergeants during World War I who introduced both melody and foot-stomping syncopation into their cadence counting, permanently altering the standard, Western marching call." quote from http://www.hbcusports.com/forums/threads/an-article-on-the-history-of-hbcu-marching-bands.24538/ An article on the history of HBCU marching bands, Discussion in 'The Band Board' started by PsychoJag, Dec 19, 2003.

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-origins-of-historically-black.html for a 2016 pancocojams post entitled The Origins Of High Step Style Marching (Historically Black Colleges & Universities Marching Bands)

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Agbo Remireke Festival 2021, Kederi Dance II

Landmark Youth, Dec 29, 2021  AGBOWA IKOSI

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EXPLANATION OF THE YORUBA TERM "EGUNGUN" 
From  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egungun 
"Egungun, (egúngún with Yorùbá language tone marks) in the broadest sense is any Yoruba masquerade or masked, costumed figure.[1] More specifically, it is a Yoruba masquerade for ancestor reverence, or the ancestors themselves as a collective force. Eégún is the reduced form (abbreviation through assimilation) of the word egúngún and has the same meaning. [2] There is a misconception that Egun or Eegun (eégún with Yorùbá tone marks) is the singular form, or that it represents the ancestors while egúngún is the masquerade or the plural form. This misconception is common in the Americas by Orisa devotees that do not speak Yorùbá language as a vernacular.[3] Egungun is a visible manifestation of the spirits of departed ancestors who periodically revisit the human community for remembrance, celebration, and blessings.[4]"...

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE AGBO REMIREKE MASQUERADE AND FESTIVAL

These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From https://www.facebook.com/nigeriafoundation/photos/a.113230867408617/125477972850573/?type=3
..." The Agbo Remireke Festival is a significant occasion in Yoruba culture that is held every three years during the month of December"... 

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EXCERPT #2
From https://cultureexplore.wordpress.com/2016/02/03/agbo-remireke-a-festival-of-unity/ Agbo Remireke-A Festival of Unity
"Agbo Remireke Festival is best described as a festival of unity and reunion of the people of Agbowa at home and in diaspora.  Although a very small community, the people of Agbowa have a very vibrant culture and tradition which they have sustained for several decades; I am talking about the Agbo-Remireke festival, celebrated every three years, in honour of a water deity.  The interesting thing about the festival is that, it’s celebrated during Christmas, even though it’s a traditional festival. The festival starts on Christmas day, the 25th of December and ends on the 9th of January.

The festival is a unifying platform for all the religions; Christianity, Islam and Traditional belief system. In other words, unity is placed as a top priority as against religious affiliation for celebrating this festival.  The festival is open to all, explained Chief Oluwaremilekun Adeniyi; the Iyalode of Agbowa during an interview with her. She also stressed on the importance of the festival to the people of Agbowa, she said the Agbo Remireke is the only festival celebrated by the people of Agbowa and it’s highly attended by Agbowa citizens at home and in diaspora. She said the festival brings peace and unity to the community. Engineer Shikiru Kunle Ogunfowora, the Aro of Agbowa buttressed same point by saying the festival attracts both youths and the elderly, male and female and even children are encouraged to be part of the festival so that, the tradition is sustained. He said, the festival is dedicated to women.”…

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EXCERPT #3
From https://steemit.com/culture/@sammielaboi/agbo-remireke-festival-of-agbowa-ikosi AGBO REMIREKE FESTIVAL OF AGBOWA -IKOSI, written by sammielaboi, 2017
"Masquerades in Nigeria are regarded as spirits or heavenly bodies which communicate between people’s ancestors and the living. They wear masks and have dance steps that can keep spectators in one spot for a long time. Some masquerades chase and flog spectators while others don’t.

Masquerades festivals are traditional and cultural events which civilization cannot erase. It is an event usually celebrated by a local community. Different communities have different type of masquerade they celebrate. These festivals serve to meet specific needs as well as to provide entertainment for the people. They also help to remind people of their traditions and in recent times helps in unifying a community.

AGBO REMIREKE

Agbo remireke festival is the most important and significant festival of Agbowa-ikosi. It is celebrated once in three years during the Christmas period. This study seeks to bring to lime light the dramatics of the festival, and to look at the way the people of Agbowa have been celebrating this festival in the past and recent years. Another purpose of this study is to look at the way the people celebrate this festival despite the fact that many identify themselves as either Christians or Muslims.

[…]

Origin of Agbo-remireke Festival

According to my informant, the Agbo festival did not originate from Agbowa-Ikosi. It was collected from a village called Iwopin. It is said that a man from Agbowa-Ikosi went on a journey to Iwopin in Ogun State. He saw the festival been celebrated and he liked it. He went to meet the elders of Iwopin to enquire how he would be able to bring the festival to Agbowa. He was required to perform some sacrifices. So he came back to Agbowa to consult with the elders about bringing the festival to Agbowa.

The elders bought into the idea and went along with him to Iwopin to carry out the necessary sacrifices and bring the festival to Agbowa. After the completion of the sacrifice, the deities that are associated with the festival were given to them. The name of the deities are: “Majenimo” also known as “Okooro”. This diety is the one that declares the date of the Agbo Festival. Another diety given to these elders is called “Alelugbagba”. This diety is also important in choosing the date of the celebration. When the “Alelugbagba” masquerade comes out, it means that the date of celebration is fixed. If it has not come out, then the date can still be changed. It also goes in search of plantains to be used for sacrifice.

Another deity in the celebration is the “Ajeye” (Chicken eater) deity. This deity goes in search of chickens to be used for sacrifice and it is also believed that the “Ajeye” is the Agbo-remireke deity.

It is believed that the Agbo remireke will be tired after the performance, so as the husband, “Ajeye” has to provide the food that she will eat after her performance. Hence, he goes in search of chicken for her. The main deity of the festival is the Agbo-remireke deity. It is a feminine deity. A collection of this deities are called “Irunmale” meaning “deities”. The festival is performed once in three years and it is done during the Christmas period.

Drum

There are special drums for the festival. The drums are in three different sets, the smallest one is called “Ipere” or “Omele” in other Yoruba communities. There is also a twin set of drums called “Kuge”. One of the twin sets of drum is known as “Kuge Olohun Oke” which means high sounding Kuge and the other one is called “Kuge Olohun Isale” which means low sounding Kuge. The biggest drum is called “Olori Ilu” which which means the “Chief drum”. The drum is used to communicate with the Agbo masquerade. It changes its dance steps as the drummer changes the beats.

Dance

The masquerade dances to the beat of the drum. There are also three different types of dance that the masquerade dances. The first one is called “Irenle” or “Ilale”. This dance is sued to show off the costume of the masquerade. It is a majestic dance where the masquerade bends down and displays its colourful costume. The second dance is known as “Kederi”. In this dance, the masquerade shows off its dancing skills. The third dance is called “Ayegun”. It is only danced on the last day of the festival. When the Agbo-Remireke is about to dance the “Ayegun” dance, her husband, the “Ajeye” masquerade stands besides her. The dance steps are a natural gift. Though, people learn the dance even if they are not talented but there is always a sharp difference between those who are naturally gifted and those who are not.

Costume

This is the most expensive aspect of the festival. “Eku” is the Yoruba name for masquerade costumes. The people of Agbowa-Ikosi go as far as importing the material for the costume from abroad. The costume for non masquerade can cost as much as two to five million naira. Colourful designs are embroidered on the costume. According to my informant, when the festival first came to Agbowa, women’s old wrappers were used as costume. With the arrival of modernity, the costume changed and beautiful designs are being made on the costume. The costume also includes a mask with a feminine face. It is believed that the masquerade is a female, so the mask is also made with afeminine face and plaited hair. The masquerade also holds a sword and horse tail known as “Irukere” in Yoruba language. The sword is used by the masquerade to make way for itself. The audience gets carried away with its performance and they constitute an obstruction which prevents the masquerade from dancing round the square. It wields the sword in order to scare people back, thereby making a way for itself. The horse tail is used to add to its majestic aura. There are also rattles tied to the masquerade’s legs. The rattle is called “Ide” in Yoruba. It is used to announce its presence and also to keep it in tune with the drum.

Music

This is a very important aspect of the festival. Though, there is little or no linguistic content in masquerade festivals as noted by Finnegan, there is the use of music to convey messages to people during this time. The elders sing a song to greet the people. The people also reply with song. A very important part of the music is this festival is the insult and praise songs. Different groups emerge to compose songs which will either be in praise of someone or be an insult to someone. The praise song is used to encourage people to keep on doing good and the insult song serves as a form of check and balance to defaulters. The Agbo also has an “Oriki”, a panegyric/praise chant. The chant is used to hail the Agbo deity and the other deities associated with it."...

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ADDENDUM- HBCU DRUM MAJORS' HIGH STEPPING MARCHING STYLE

Famu Marching 100 | "Snake Walk/ Pre-Game Entrance" (2021)

MARCHING 100 PAPARAZZI, Sept. 21, 2021

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Two Contemporary Versions Of "Go Tell It On The mountain" (with information & lyrics)

The Kingdom Choir - Dec. 15, 2021

-snip-
This version used the standard lyrics for this Christmas song but sings them in a contemporary gospelized style.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases YouTube videos of two contemporary versions of "Go Tell It On The Mountain". 

Information about "Go Tell It On The Mountain" is presented in this post along with the traditional lyrics and the lyrics that are sung in the 2021 television movie Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to John Wesley Work, Jr. for collecting and standardizing lyrics to "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Thanks to Kirk Franklin for his contemporary version of the song, and thanks to all those who are featured in these showcased video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN" & THAT SONG'S STANDARD LYRICS
From  https://gaither.com/go-tell-it-on-the-mountain-the-story-behind-the-song/
"John Wesley Work, Jr., may not have originated the Negro spiritual “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” but he can take credit for the fact that we still sing it every Christmas.  As the son of a church choir director, Work grew up in Nashville loving music.  Even though he earned his Master’s in Latin and went on to teach ancient Latin and Greek, his first love continued to be music, and he went on to become the first African-American collector of Negro spirituals.  This proved to be a daunting task for Work because they were passed down orally, from plantation to plantation; very few were ever written down.  But Work proved up to the challenge, publishing his first book, New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, in Songs of the American Negro, six years later.  It was in this second volume that “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” first appeared.  The original singers of the song fulfilled the same important task the angels gave the shepherds that first Christmas night outside of Bethlehem, proclaiming, “that Jesus Christ is born!”  And thanks to John Wesley Work, so can we.

 Go, Tell It On the Mountain

John Wesley Work, Jr., 1907

 Refrain:

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.

Refrain

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! Above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior’s birth.

Refrain

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

Refrain

[end of song]

[…]

This story is an excerpt from the Gaither Homecoming Bible, published by Thomas Nelson Publishing (2012)."
-snip-
The referent "American Negro" is outdated and has been replaced by African American and/or "Black American."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas | Go Tell It on the Mountain

Movie Clips, Dec. 12, 2021
-snip-
Click https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15515414/ for information about this 2021 made for Lifetime (channel) television movie entitled Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas.

The lead singer is Angela Birchett.

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LYRICS - GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
(Kirk Franklin's version)

[Intro: Kirk Franklin]

Listen, I hope you don't mind this holiday season

If we take it back just a minute here

'Cause I know some people are getting excited about material things

But I wish I could get a church in here, uh-huh

That knows that Jesus is the reason for the season

Can I get one witness in here?

Said, can I get one witness in here?

Here we go, say it

Sing, mother

[Chorus: Female Lead]

Go tell it on the moun—, mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, go tell it on the mountain

That, that Jesus Christ is born (Go girl)

[Bridge: Female Lead, Choir]

I want you to go (Tell it, He's up here)

I want you to go (Tell it, He's our Savior, and Master)

Oh, go (Tell it, He's a deliverer)

Oh, go (Go), go (Go)

Tell 'em that Jesus

(That Jesus Christ is born)

Born, tell 'em that Jesus

(That Jesus Christ is born)

Born, born (Go, tell it)

Go, tell it (Go tell it)

All about the Lord (Tell it)

You oughta go tell it (Go, tell it)

Born in a manger (Tell it)

Go tell it (Go tell it)

Go run and tell all about it (Tell it)

Come on in here

Go tell it (Tell it)

All about the Lord, tell it (Go tell it)

Go tell it (Tell it)

The Savior's born

You oughta tell it

Born is the King

You oughta tell it

Go tell it (Go tell it)

That Jesus (That Jesus Christ)

Tell them that Jesus (That Jesus Christ)

Oh, Jesus (That Jesus Christ)

Oh, Jesus (That Jesus Christ is born)

[Outro: Female Lead, Choir, Kirk Franklin]

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

(You better come on in here, sister, good God Almighty)

(Ooh-ooh) Ooh, ooh, ooh

Oh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh

Wrapped in swaddling clothes, ooh, ooh

That Jesus (That Jesus Christ is born)

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Put those blessed hands together

Say hallelujah, say hallelujah, say it

Good God this evening

Pick 'em up, put 'em down

Pick 'em up, put 'em down

-snip-
Online source:  https://genius.com/Kirk-franklin-go-tell-it-on-the-mountain-lyrics

A recording of this version was  originally released on Kirk Franklin's Christmas (album), Nov. 7, 1995

The words in parenthesis are either sung or spoken.

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