Five YouTube Videos Of Choral Performances Of The South African Folk Song "Aya Ngena" (with information & comments)

John Thomas Trinidad And Tobago, September 20, 2011

25,064 views • Sep 20, 2011

Eastern's Interpretation of Aya Ngena with Donna Mae Greaves at Music Voice and Soul 2011
**** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post showcases five YouTube videos of the South African folk song "Aya Ngena". Information about this song is included in this post along with several versions of the song's lyrics. The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to the original composer/s of this song and thanks to the arrangers and featured performers of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. -snip- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-2016-congo-brazzaville-medley-of.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "A 2016 Congo-Brazzaville Medley Of The South African Gospel Songs "Siyahamba", "Shozaloza" & "Aya Ngena" (with comments from various nations around the world)".
**** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE "Aya Ngena" is a traditional Zulu folk song that was created as an anti-apartheid "struggle song" "South African struggle songs" are Gospel songs, folk songs, and songs from other genres that were sung by Black people to raise their resolve, to comfort, and to support themselves and others during the struggle to end South Africa's system of apartheid. South African struggle songs are also called "liberation songs". Their use- but not their structure, tunes, or lyrics- is very similar to African Americans "freedom songs". Some struggle songs are still sung in South Africa during protests and as gwijo (sports) songs. ** The English translation for the isiZulu words "Aya Ngena" are "He went in". (Google translate results) or "They go in" (several online sources, including the homework page that is quoted below.) In the context of the anti-apartheid singing of "Aya Ngena", "he" or "they" are supporters of apartheid. Read the summary for Showcase Video #2 below for an explanation of this struggle song's meaning. ** It appears that 2012 is the earliest year that videos of "Aya Ngena" were published on YouTube. Based on those YouTube videos and their discussion thread comments, that the South African folk song seems to be part of the repertoire of a number of elementary school, middle school, high school, university, and community choral groups and bands in various countries outside of Africa. For example, when I was preparing this pancocojams post, my granddaughter shared with me that her elementary school's vocal teacher taught all of her students this song when she was in the fourth grade. ** Most of the YouTube videos of "Aya Nagena" credit Ruth Morris Gray as the arranger for their version of "Aya Ngena". Here's an excerpt from a homework page about this song: aya-ngena-homework protected view: "This is a very repetitive song in the Zulu language, from the country South Africa.

          

            Zulu words                            pronunciation                                                meaning

            Aya ngena                               Ah-yah nn-geh-nah                             they go in

Aya puma                                ah-yah poo-mah                                 they come out

Aya didi zela                           ah-yah dee-dee zeh-lah                      they are confused

Aya sabah maguala                ah-yah sah-bah mah-gwah-ya           they are frightened"

Here's a quote from a page advertising the sale of "Aya Ngena's" musical score/choral sheet arranged by Ruth Morris Gray: https://www.jwpepper.com/Aya-Ngena/10274693.item?srsltid=AfmBOor0cnruKYAC6P2JsG8M-PgMLfow2qgP5LiFAqXEKbfk4qK4AYgj
"This authentic Zulu folk song is a perfect fit for mixed and treble choirs in three parts! The authentic African rhythmic groove is punctuated by brief solos and joyful handclaps. Add the optional percussion (bells, shaker and drums), and the overall effect will be most impressive!. **** ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOSThese videos are presented in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. SHOWCASE #2
John Thomas Trinidad and Tobago, July 31, 2015"Aya Ngena/ Kan Kan Riddim, Eastern Youth Chorale ft Inge Schluer Kan Kan Riddim by: Kit Israel of Advokit Productions. Arranged by: John Thomas Recorded and Produced by: Adrian Jaikaran Crossfade Production Studio Mixed and Mastered by: Adrian Jaikaran Soloists: Soprano Maxine Greaves Rosezana Hernandez-Winchester Kirleen Boodoosingh Noel Espinosa [...] Additional hook: Rosezanna Hernandez Winchester A production of : The Eastern Performing Arts Fraternity Translation: There is strength in unity We will be strong Let us be strong They will fear us The juxtaposition of the classical (European) elements with Afro Caribbean, Trini and folkloric aesthetics captures the message behind the song. Aya Ngena, a traditional Zulu song of Southern Africa, this piece was sung by the oppressed Zulu people who, under apartheid, were forcibly moved from their homelands to a government created homeland of KwaZulu (Kwa meaning place of). Apartheid in South Africa (1948 to 1994) reduced the rights of the majority black inhabitants. Under its legislation, inhabitants were classified into racial groups and non-white political representation was abolished. Black people were deprived of their citizenship, and the government segregated education, medical care, beaches, and other public services, and provided black people with services inferior to those of white people. This song refers to the relentless actions of the white European government as a cowardly attempt to hide their own sense of fear."**** SHOWCASE #3 - Bloemfontein Children's Choir - Aya Ngena 2022

jacques van den berg, Apr 4, 2022 -snip- Here's some information about Bloemfontein from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloemfontein

"Bloemfontein ... also known as Bloem, is the capital and the largest city of the Free State province in South Africa. It is often, and has been traditionally, referred to as the country's "judicial capital", alongside the legislative capital Cape Town and administrative capital Pretoria, although the highest court in South Africa, the Constitutional Court, has been in Johannesburg[6][7][8] since 1994."...

**** SHOWCASE #4 - Aya Ngena Traditional Zulu Folk Song arr. by Ruth Morris Gray

noer1mel, Nov 6, 2013

Aya Ngena Traditional Zulu Folk Song arr. by Ruth Morris Gray - Performed by BSU's Bemidji Choir and Varsity Singers on November 3rd 2013
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread:

@joshuathompson7333, 2018
"Amazing! Our School Junior Choir, were doing it next week for a competition, I honestly think you Sound way better than us, but it’s a really nice song"

**
Reply
@noer1mel, 2018
"JoshyYoutube2018 Thanks! This is also a college choir, so there is a bit more experience. Good luck at competition! I'm sure you guys will do great!"

**** SHOWCASE #5 - Aya ngena - NOEL CHOIR

ugang00, May 25, 2016

“Aya Ngena” Traditional Zulu Folk Song - 노엘합창단

arr. by Ruth Morris Gray

The Choir of Noel on a 57th Concert 2016 in Busan Culture Center, Korea. ... -snip- Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread: @joeg6314, 2019 "What does this song mean in English. Good performance."

** Reply @ky-sd7bz, 2019 "Aya ngena = They Come In,

Aya phuma = They get out,

Aya didizela = They're in a state of confusion,

Ayesab' amagwala = The cowards are scared."

**** Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.