INTUTHUKO YENTOMBI, Sep 30, 2021
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Google translate from Zulu to English: "Intuthuko yentombi" = "Development of the young woman"
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on YouTube videos of Zulu females performing ukusina (ingoma; high kick) dances. The focus of this post is the singing that accompanies those dance performances.
This post presents some information about Zulu ukusina dances. This post also showcases two YouTube videos of ukusina dances and presents some comments from the discussion thread for one of those videos.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/07/examples-of-south-african-zulu-ukusina.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases seven additional YouTube videos of Zulu ukusina dances and presents a few comments from some of those videos.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
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.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
There are many YouTube videos (including some Tik Tok compilations) of South Africa's Zulu ukusina dancing. Some of these videos include the Zulu word "ingoma". The English translation for that Zulu word is usually "song" or "dance". In Swahili the word "ngoma" is translated in English as "drum".
The English language comments for the YouTube/TikTok videos that I have come across mostly focus on how the dance is performed, and especially its high kicks and very few English language comments refer to the songs that accompany this dance.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/real-information-about-south-african_19.html and http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/real-information-about-south-african.html for Part I and Part II of a 2015 pancocojams series entitled "REAL Information About South African Ingoma & Indlamu".
Some content from those posts is included in the overview section that follows these notes.
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DISCLAIMER:
This post doesn't purport to present examples of or information about all the different types of songs that are sung while ukusina is performed.
Additions are welcome.
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EXCERPT FROM VUSABANTU NGEMA'S DISSERTATION ABOUT ZULU DANCES
From http://uzspace.uzulu.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10530/71/Symbolism+&+Implications+in+the+Zulu+Dance+Forms+-+V+Ngema.pdf;jsessionid=28025874320FA7591F6FE1EF49FEBFED?sequence=1
dissertation by Vusabantu Ngema [This pdf link is no longer active.in July 2023]
Click http://www.amazon.com/Symbolism-implications-Zulu-dance-forms/dp/384732988X for a summary of and purchase information about Vusabantu Ngema's 2012 book entitled Symbolism and implications in the Zulu dance forms: Notions of composition, performance and appreciation of dance among the Zulu.
...[page 16]
The third focal point shall be on those dances that are popular and recreational. These are the dances that are mainly for recreation and show of[f] artistry and strength. They are dynamic and spectacular with an aim to out-shine (other competitors). They are often a reflection of some individual flare. These are the dances that are sometimes used at sporting events by young Zulu men and women. They are [p. 17] characterized by strong display of physical strength and character of an individual. They are an important avenue for release of energy.
Definition of Terms
1.7.2 Dance (Ukusina) [pages 18 - 19]
...“In Africa or among Africans dance is not just about steps and their execution instead, it is the expression that goes beyond steps, music, and song. It is the way of life, worship, and training. But AmaZulu refer to Ukusina as that kind of dancing that involves lifting the feet.
1.7.3. Ukudiga
It refers to the kind of dancing that involves the feet in pounding the ground. Ukudiga is commonly used by Izangoma.
1.7.4 Ingoma
The original term for the Zulu anthem was ingoma which referred to the royal dance song that was preferred at that first fruit festival (Umkhosi) every fruit.
...the term ingoma is now used to classify the broad category of Zulu recreational dance.
[...]
Team dances
Team dances that do not require drum accompaniment are recently being referred to as Ingoma. Although the term Ingoma has always been regarded as a general term for dancing among the Zulu people, it has emerged as term now used (particular) in competitions in order to categorize dancing activities in a much more manageable manner.
[...]
The third type of solo dancing among the Zulus is based on Ukusina and is divided into two styles. The first one... is improvisational and is accompanied by singing and clapping. Here there are no particular dance patterns to followed by a dancer. But the second type (of the form of solo dancing) is used in team dancing such as Indlamu and Ingoma. In the performance of Isishamina in particular, there is always an introductory solo before the main dance routine. In most Indlamu performances these solo performances are found sometimes in the middle of performances or towards the end...[page 49]
[...]
"Young girls at Ndomo also perform some form of dual dancing but they lift the knees and shake them attentively to the rhythm of the drum. This kind of performance is referred to as Indlamu or Ingadlela yezintombi and is done in an accompaniment of song and the clapping of hands by the spectators who usually stand in a circular formation. Couples (girls) take turn in the middle of the centre to perform quick movements described above. [page 51]
[...]
The structure of popular dances always consist of a verse and a chorus as opposed to repetitive structures found in ritualistic dances. The basic rhythm patterns and movements are canonized so as to allow everybody (dancers and audience) to follow and appreciate. The essence of [p. 61] popular dance is not the meaning of the movements but the ability to move to the beat with accuracy and style."...
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From watching a number of YouTube videos of ukusina, "call and response" appears to be the general singing style of the songs that accompany these Zulu dances.
For the historical and cultural record, please add information in this video's comment section or in this pancocojams post comment section about these songs. I'm particularly interested in knowing if these songs are traditional, or from protest songs sung during apartheid and/or if these songs are newly created.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Amatshitshi Team Maroon - Balibulele izwe lobaba. They killed the fatherland.
Nelisiwe Sibiya, Mar 25, 2022
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Google translate from Zulu to English: "Balibulele izwe lobaba" = "They killed the fatherland."
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread,
with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. @keketsoeleazarnteka5355, 2022
This is just amazing...I don't know language but I really
enjoyed watching this lady leading and that shallow-melodious voice form the
right side...🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸
**
2. @theambivert8515, 2022
"Could someone please type the lyrics, my group wants to
learn this song😭❤️"
**
Reply
3. @nomcebomasondo1437, 2022
"Kancane kancane sekuqhuma ama divorce balibulele izwe lobaba"
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Google translate from Zulu to English: Zulu to English: "Little by little, divorces are exploding and killing the fatherland"
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Reply
4. @nomcebomasondo1437, 2022
"Kancane kancane sekuqhuma ama divorce balibulele izwe lo
baba
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Google translate from Zulu to English: "
Reply
5.
"They have destroyed our forefathers land"
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6. @Arthur-Silva, 2022
"Incredible! Anyone know the translation by any chance?"
**
Reply
7. @everytingscrumptious, 2022
"They’ve ruined/killed our forefathers land”
**
Reply
8. @khayaluv, 2022
"I'm motswana from Botswana, but can feel the pain from this
song. I don't know much Zulu bt the e songs says
They are killing us for our forefathers land. Probably an
apartheid song"
Reply
9.
"This children are crying for their father's land. Is a very
painful truth behind the song"
10. @nothilebuthelezi8951, 2022
"In the simple terms, cry the beloved cry, the meaning of song"
11.
"The song says they have killed the nation/land of of our fathers..❤️❤️🇿🇦, I love isiZulu and the Zulu culture✊✊✊. Beautiful mayibuye iAfrika👋👋👋"
12. @sibusisotshabalala9060, 2022
"The truth behind the song is painful, amakhaya wethu afile there's no unity. This western influenced life we living discourages the family tree philosophy, "immediate families" r living in isolation from one another this days. I luv our cultural/traditional songs cuz they have a conscious deeper meaning that speaks to the soul. I wish all black people could go back to their roots or at least acknowledge them"
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Google translate from Zulu to English: "amakhaya wethu afile" = "our homes are dead"
**
13. @evanskibet4545, 2022
"the vocal accompanied by the
claps...washhandswashhandsbeautiful"
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That “hand claps…wash hands, wash hands" description refers to the
(individual) hand clapping followed by the palm rubbing motion that is done in
this video. I've also noticed that "clap hands then wash hands, wash
hands" motion performed as accompaniment while singing some South African
gwijos.
**
14. @goziedancia5902, 2022
"The fact that I don't understand a thing but enjoyed to end ❤️the
voices 🥰"
**
15. @youractorsupclose2099, 2022
"The voice l love this song💯🔥💓"
**
16. @nosipholubanzi5236, 2022
"It the soprano Girl for me🙌❤"
**
17. @cliffordkithuri687, 2023
"please when uploading them,don't forget the lyrics. We
are in need of the song.Want to memorise these touching melodies and get the
message.so sweet."
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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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