South African Students Led By Phila Mpofu Singing The Xhosa Hymn "Ndikhokhele Bawo" During Morning Assembly

 

Bawo Ndiyabonga (Bawo Song Choir) lead singer Phila Mpofu 

Phila Mpofu, Sep 16, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofBKS6vSrS4

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is a reprint of a 2023 pancocojams post that showcased this YouTube video of Phila Mpofu as lead singer for the song "Bawo Ndiyabonga". The title for this song appears to most often be given as "Ndikhokhele Bawo" or "Bawo". The English translation for "Ndikhokhele Bawo is "Lead Me Father".

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of this traditional isiXhosa hymn. This rendition of that song occurred during morning assembly by the Motherwell Center in Soqhayisa, South Africa. 

The isiXhosa lyrics of this song are included in this pancocojams post along with their English translations. This post also presents a few comments from the discussion threads for a few comments from the discussion thread for two no longer available videos of Phila Mpofu singing lead for this song.

This pancocojams post also includes the visitor comments and my replies that were published for this 2023 pancocojams post on this song.

I plan to publish another pancocojams post of this video which will feature this same video as well as selected comments from its discussion thread from that video's publishing date on YouTube to the year that I publish that pancocojams post. The link to that post will be added here. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer/s of this song and thanks to Phila Mpofu and all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/03/south-african-schools-morning-assembly.html for Part I of a five part pancocojams series on South African schools morning assembly songs. Some of the videos in those posts are no longer available. However, Part I of that five part series originally showcased one of the now deleted short videos of "Bawo" led by Phila Mpofu and therefore includes some comments that I had previously retrieved from that now deleted video's discussion thread. 

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE ABOUT THIS POST
This post is a copy of a 2023 pancocojams post entitled "Three Examples Of The South African Gospel Song "Ndikhokhele Bawo" ("Bawo") As Sung By Phila Mpofu And Other School Students."

If I remember correctly, the other two videos showed Phila Mpofu leading other students in renditions of this song during school or after-school.

The video that was #2 in the 2023 pancocojams post appeared to be the earliest published video example of a  rendition of "Bawo" led Phila Mpofu that was found online as of Feb. 25, 2024. Some of these renditions may have occurred on different days.  

Unfortunately, the first video of that song that is given above is the only one that still remains on YouTube. I had shared a few of those comments in the 2023 pancocojams post that was the original version of this 2026 post. Those comments are included in this 2026 post and I've deleted that post so that it wouldn't be confused with this updated post.

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Phila Mpofu is the lead singer for this South African high school's morning assembly rendition of the traditional isiXhosa hymn "Ndikhokhele Bawo". The name and location of that school is "Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School" in Motherwell township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
-snip-
Here's the summary of the first published video of this school's morning assembly rendition of "Bawo" that was published by Luthando Makanda:
"This video was taken on the 12 March 2023 at the Motherwell Center in Soqhayisa where we teach Grade 10 to 12s Mathematics and Science."
-end of quote-
Luthando Makanda eventually changed his screen name to "South African School Assembly Music+Gwijo". By at least August 2024, the YouTube account under that name had been closed. Of course, no reason was given for that action. I'm sorry about that, but I'm relieved that Phila Mpofu's video of "Ndikhokhele Bawo" remains on YouTube. I'm also glad that the video that remains includes the girl in the front moving in a stepping-like routine while she and others sing that powerful, beaautiful song. 

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ONLINE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SONG "NDIKHOKHELE BAWO"
These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Quote #1
https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/ndikhokhele-bawo-satb-print-ww1581 
Ndikhokhele Bawo (SATB)*
..."Description:
A traditional Xhosa song that almost every black South African grew up singing in church. It is commonly sung during the Holy Communion, as it is significant to do so, considering the text."
-snip-
"SATB" 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATB
"Choral music

Four-part harmony using soprano, alto, tenor and bass is a common scoring in classical music,[1][2][3][4] including chorales and most Bach cantatas.[5]"

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Quote #2
From https://arsingers.org/ndikhokhele-bawo/
"NDIKHOKHELE BAWO, October 23, 2020 "Ndikhokhele Bawo” – arr. Michael Barrett
"The text of Ndikhokhele Bawo comes from Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and is in the Xhosa language. This Bantu language falls into the category of Nguni languages, the same umbrella that contains Zulu; Xhosa is one of the most widely spoken languages in South Africa"

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QUOTE #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHHnztrFU9k
Ndikhokhele Bawo (Three-part Mixed) - arr. Michael Ryan

The Lorenz Corporation, Jan 29, 2019
"This authentic setting of a cherished isiXhosa folk song…"

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THE EARLIEST YOUTUBE EXAMPLE OF THIS SONG
There are multiple versions of "Ndikhokhele Bawo" on YouTube. 

The earliest  version of "Ndikhokhele Bawo" that I have found on YouTube is Mzansi Youth Choir, Jul 27, 2011, Producer, arranger and Conductor: Ralf Schmitt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioM2migkXiA 

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LYRICS - NDIKHOKHELE BAWO
(Traditional IsiXhosa song, no composer/s identified)

" (originally sung in Xhosa) 

Ndikhokhele Bawo, zundi kokhele (Lead me oh Father [Lead me])
Ndikhokhele mmeli wami (Lead me my savior)
Ezintsizini,  Zalomhlaba Bawo (in all the sorrows of this world Father)
(Bawo, Bawo, Bawo) ( Father, Father, Father)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect/keep me) (Repeat)

Thaluthele thuze kwami  (You calm all my fears) x2
(Bawo, bawo, bawo) ( Father, Father, Father)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect me)

Mmeli wami bawo uthaluthele thuze kwami (Father, Savior, you calm my fears)
Bawo ndiyabonga (Father I thank you)
Ngoba wena usandigcinile (for you still protect me) (Repeat)

(Verse 2)

(Verse 1) "

Online Source - https://africangospellyrics.com/2013/10/04/ndikhokhele-lead-me-lyrics-by-mzansi-youth-choir/

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SELECTED YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREAD COMMENTS FROM TWO DISCUSSION THREADS FOR TWO YOUTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT "BAWO"  AS LED BY PHILA MPOFU  

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

Pancocojams Editor's Note: Feb. 25, 2024- The video that is given at the top of this post isn't the original video that was uploaded on YouTube of this school's students singing that song.

The YouTube video that was originally given in this post that was given here as VIDEO #2 is no longer available. That video's title was entitled "ZundiKhokhele, Bawo Ngiyabonga, Usandigcinile (Female Leading Voice, Amazing)#worshipsong #school" and was published by in 2023 by Luthando Makanda whose online name is now "South African School Assembly Music+Gwijo".

When a YouTube video is deleted, the comments in its discussion thread are also deleted. Fortunately, I had retrieved some of the comments from that video and posted them to that 2023 pancocojams discussion thread before that YouTube video was deleted.

1. @luthandomakanda9180, 2023
"This version is the probably the best unplanned unorchestrated version ever. GLAD YOU could stop in and hear it. I HAVE THE SUBTITLED version of the song on the channel incase you want to get the English meaning"

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2.@moafrika8789, 2023
"That African reflex of having a dance and step to go with even the simplest of our songs is what makes us undeniably blessed as Africans."

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Reply
3. @luthandomakanda9180, 2023
"One of the African Phenomenas of our time, would you say it's worthy of study and research in our Higher Institutions of Learning"

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4. @sketemamma2563, 2023
"This gives me such chills. Not only is the lead singer immensely talented but the rest of the girls match her in their enthusiasm and energy. I love the way that girl in the front row is really feeling it. 😀 I went to school in Zimbabwe and miss these days - the assemblies, the hymns and the overall formality and respect we showed these gatherings. I wish Black kids here in the U.S. could experience this. Am proud of my little sisters. ❤️❤️❤️🇿🇼🇿🇼"

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5. @jamesnjenga813, 2023
"What a way to start the day South Africans have sweet voices they sing sing soo effortlessly loving this from Kenya you guys are the best out choirs can't come close to what you guys can do"

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Reply
6. Luthando Makanda, 2023
"Thank you so much James hope this earns your subscription... and this was just an assembly, as spontaneous as can be"

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7.  @truquetie8149, 2023
"NO MICROPHONE NEEDED! You can still hear her. ❤"

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8. @keemafleming9051, 2023
"I can listen to this over and over… her voice is so powerful and amazing, it brings me joy, sadness and comfort all at once… keep singing young lady… listening and watching out to see you again singing"

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9. @rutendokapezi4582, 2023
"When the camera focused on the lead I couldn’t believe it I thought she was on stage . So beautiful I started crying when I saw how calm she was leading with such power and poise ❤❤blessed"

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10. @aliciamcdonald7105, 2023
"The most amazing voice I have ever heard. NO mic, no auto tune, nothing but PURE UNADULTERATED passion and gifting by the MOST HIGH!"

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11. @priscillapolakie9684, 2023
"I remember my days every morning at school,,we used to start the day with a prayer,,those were the days 😊"

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Reply
12. @thulisilegumede8060, 2023
"It also reminds me of my childhood days when we used to pray and praise God. I am happy to see that there are still schools which have ‘assemblies’ ❤❤"

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13. @tiffanybrown5413,2023
"My brother found a clip of this on TikTok this morning and sent it to me. My spirit was IMMEDIATELY moved to tears before I even knew what these babies were singing. The lyrics took me over the top!! ❤🙌🏾🙌🏾 You can literally FEEL the presence of the Holy Spirit. I had goosebumps and I have been listening to this song on repeat for the past 2 hours. Thank you so much for sharing  this blessing with the rest of the world. Sending you all love from United States (Ohio)🇺🇲"
-snip-
Update: Oct. 18, 2023
Here's a comment exchange about this same high school singing another South African Gospel song entitled "Ndizolibonga Elakho Igama" (This explanation also pertains to that high school morning assembly's renditions of "Ndikhokhele Bawo" from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j2lLj2jo5Y

1. @sibongilemncube5374,2023
"Do they rehearse ❤ they sound exceptional. Reminds me of assembly days yhuuuu. The coordination, love the concept of taking assembly time serious and having order which is what the God we serve is about"

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Reply
2. @luthandomakanda9180, 2023
"No they don't rehearse, but a synergy exist because when we have assembly they repeat certain songs allowing many to catch the catch the flow of how a song should be, but often times we get surprised by the spontaneity"
-snip-
Based on this comment and on another comment exchange in that video's discussion thread or in another  discussion thread of a video that Luthando Makanda published about those high school students singing "Ndikhokhele Bawo", Luthando Makanda is a teacher at that high school.

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Selected Comments from the video given as Video #2 in this post [This video is no longer available on YouTube.]

1.@zuripenda, 2023

"So wonderful, those strong powerful voices and you know the dance moves me.

Thankful as always

Please greet them for me.

🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹"

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Reply
2. @schoolassembly_gwijo,2023
"Thank you so much will pass on the greetings"

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3. @bthompson2192, 2023
"What a way to start the school day! We should all follow this everywhere in all schools. Just Beautiful"

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Reply
4. @reginaldsmith1556,2023
"Agree"

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Reply
5. @schoolassembly_gwijo, 2023
"It really is, and it gets us learners and Educators excited to get the day going."

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6. @uchennaorinya5701, 2023
"What's the title of this song? I want to download it."

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Reply
7. @schoolassembly_gwijo, 2023
"This a Medley that the kids in our school just randomly sang on the spot"

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8. @EmmahTendai-qt2ch,2023
"Wow️..

Which school is this."

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Reply
9. @schoolassembly_gwijo,2023
"It's at the premises of  Soqhayisa but congregating various schools who are part of the ProMaths Kutlwanong Initiative to better Maths and Science in previously disadvantaged learners in Motherweĺl Gqeberha'

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10. @perpsabraham6734,2023
"Which school is this kindly?"

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Reply
11. @schoolassembly_gwijo, 2023
"Combination of schools in Motherwell, but we using the premises of a school Called Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School."

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Reply
12. @sanelisiwemabaso8196, 2023
"This explains the two set of uniforms showing.... Beautifully sang, reminds me of my school days"

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Reply
13. @elizabethmoniloye2829,2023
"I don't understand a single word but I love this song and the way it's sang and the dance steps"

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14. @valentinemuziomhle5492, 2023
"I'm so touched this is what was supposed to be kept in schools unfortunately they've cancelled assembly time for what only God knows but keep this up it's so nice to start the day with this wonderful mood it makes a learner to even forget what happened at at home before living this is so lovely"

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Reply
15. @schoolassembly_gwijo, 2023
"Thank you so much @valentinemuziomuhle5492

we stay ever encouraged to continue  as a movement this side to ensure that this inspiring tradition never fades, and you correct it directs the focus and attention of our Learners and they are able to aspire and reach for greater heights"

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COMMENTS FROM THE 2023 PANCOCOJAMS DISCUSSION THREAD

1. ZanescAugust 7, 2024 at 11:07 AM

   Showcase video #2 has been removed, it was my favourite song. Please Lord help me find it again.

   ReplyDelete
   Replies

   
   Azizi PowellAugust 7, 2024 at 3:58 PM
   Zanese, greetings to you. Thanks for your comment which prompted me to visit this pancocojams post. I see that the videos given as #2 and #3 aren't available on YouTube because the YouTube account for Luthando Makanda ( South African School Assembly Music+Gwijo") Ihas been closed.
   
   I'm sorry that has happened. I wish Luthando Makanda well and thank him for introducing the Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School singers to the rest of the world.
   
   That goodness that Phila Mpofu's YouTube account is still open although it doesn't appear to be very active. Phila Mpofu is the student whose singing is highlighted in that "Ndikhokhele Bawo song.
   Delete
   
   Azizi PowellAugust 7, 2024 at 4:57 PM
   Here's a link to a video of the song Ndikhokhele Bawo as sung at Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njtzubIVwt0 South Africa School Kids Sing Bawo. (FULL VERSION) published by Chef Allen Maddox, December 11, 2023
   Delete
   
   Azizi PowellAugust 7, 2024 at 5:25 PM
   I shared that link for the historical and cultural record. I;m a subscriber of both these channels .However, I particularly encourage people to support the channel of this extraordinary soloist Phila Mpofu.
   Delete
   Reply
2. 
   ZanescAugust 7, 2024 at 5:05 PM

   Yes wish him all the best and thank you as well.
   
   Got that one.
   
   Loved singing #2 to my niece, it highlighted God well.

   ReplyDelete

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Examples Of South African Clap & Tap Gospel Music: Six Videos Of Vusi & The Mighty Singers

D. CHOIR, Feb 17, 2021  #Clapandtap 

#D CHOIR Vusi and The Mighty Singers captured live during the Mighty Night Event featured alongside Isaac and The Mighty Messengers and Mighty Oh Lord Singers

100% Clap and Tap

100% Indigenous Gospel Music

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update- July 21, 2024

This pancocojams post presents information about "Clap & Tap" singing, a form of South Africa's Gospel music. 

This post also includes information about and six* YouTube videos of Vusi & The Mighty Singers performances of "Clap & Tap" music.

*After this pancocojams post was published I added a sixth video that was filmed in 2023.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Vusi & The Mighty Singers for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those that are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT CLAP & TAP MUSIC
Excerpt #1
From https://www.chosic.com/genre-chart/clap-and-tap/
"Clap and tap is a unique music genre that originated in South Africa and is characterized by a combination of hand clapping and foot stomping rhythms, often accompanied by traditional African instruments. This genre is typically associated with religious music and is commonly performed in churches. The music is upbeat and energetic, with lyrics that often center around themes of faith, hope, and redemption. The genre has gained popularity in recent years, with several notable artists and groups emerging from the South African music scene."

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Excerpt #2

From https://brakpanherald.co.za/97689/come-and-clap-and-tap-along/ "Come and clap and tap along" [no author cited; June 27, 2015]
"Come and clap and tap and sing along at the Mmino Wa Clap 'n Tap (MWCNT) Awards 2015, which will be hosted at Emperors Palace today (June 27).

[...]

These will be the first national “clap ‘n tap” gospel music awards in the industry’s existence, meant to acknowledge the art and vocal ability found in traditional African gospel music.

Clap-and-Tap music has similarities to both traditional gospel music and choral music, but does not rely on instruments.

It, instead relies on the melody of the vocals and the sound of clapping hands in a way that creates a fine tune and tempo."...
-snip-
The words "does not rely on instruments" doesn't mean that "Clap & Tap" music is never accompanied by musical instruments. That music may be accompanied by traditional African instruments and/or by snare drums and brass band instruments.

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INFORMATION ABOUT VUSO & THE MIGHTY SINGERS
From https://www.facebook.com/groups/656309007720327/
"About

Vusi & The Mighty Singers Gospel Choir is a clap and tap group from Soweto (Tshiawelo) that was formed and found by Mr V Radebe.

The aim of this group is to heal the inner lost souls of people who want to be healed through the word of GOD and singing"

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEOS

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Vusi & The Mighty Singers - Fateng Sa Golgotha (Mighty Night)

   

D CHOIR, Feb 16, 2021  #Clapandtap #VTMS #DCHOIR

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Vusi & The Mighy Singers - My God Is Goodo
D.CHOIR  Feb 17, 2021  



D.CHOIR  Feb 17, 2021 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 -Vusi & The Mighty Singers - Dumelang Halelujah



D. CHOIR, Feb. 17, 2021

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- FBA Brass Band ft Vusi & The Mighty Singers - Lefelleng mo ke tsamayang. |TSUNAMI CONCERT DVD.

Katlego Molokwane, Jul 23, 2021  #brassband #clapandtap #classicconcert

TSUNAMI

The Timeline Concert 2014

"Lefelleng, moo ke tsamayang,

Ho lahleha ba bangata;

Empa nna ya ntsamaisang

Ke Jesu, ke mong’a tsela"
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#clapandtap #brassband #classicconcert
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Google translate from Sesotho to English:
"In the field, where I walk,

Many are lost;

But I am the one who leads me

I am Jesus, I am the master of the way"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - Vusi & The Mighty Singers - Bodibeng

Kevin Feron, June 19, 2023
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/information-about-south-africas-urcsa.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Information About South Africa's URCSA Denomination & Information About uMpampampas (Hand Drums) Part III of a four part pancocojams series about the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). 

That post includes this quote about the hand held musical instrument that is shown at 1:37 in this video & at other times throughout this video:

 From https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/44f5/464c1570df0258d80affad087a77371f5782.pdf 
"Echoes of orality in Christian Xhosa songs" by M.M. Somniso

"Umpampampa: An umpampampa is a Bible-sized cushion covered with leather. It is held in one hand and beaten with the other. This is done to produce more sound and to regulate the rhythm.
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note (quoted from the pancocojams post whose link is given above):
-snip-
I've noticed in several discussion threads of South African music videos (where men and/or women are playing this hand drum) that some people (my guess is that they are not from South Africa) think that this hand held drum is either a pillow or the church members' Bible (inside the pillow or without the covering for the Bible although the actual Bible isn't in there". In the discussion threads I've happened upon, when people refer to these instruments that way, South Africans are quick to correct them and share other terms they use for uMpampampas such as iBeat. An example of such a discussion is found after Video Example #1 in Part IV of this pancocojams series.
-snip-

"I beat" is another name for this musical instrument that I've come across in discussion threads of YouTube  videos of South African Gospel music. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/05/joyous-celebration-i-beat-south-african.html for a pancocojams post that focuses on these hand held drum cushions being played by many members of the audience during South Africa's Joyous Celebration (Gospel choir) concerts.

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South Africa's UPCSA (Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa) - General Information, Musical Instruments, & Dance Movements

Xola Mdingi, May 30, 2023

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA)

Western Cape Presbytery

Fellowship of Youth

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: March 4, 2024

This pancocojams post presents information about the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) 2022 & 2023. 

This post also showcases seven YouTube videos of Youth Fellowship Of UPCSA (2022, 2023) convocations. I'm particularly interested documenting video examples of the singing, musical instruments, and some of the accompanying dance and hand motions that are performed by members of that Christian denomination's Fellowship Of Youth (FOY) convocations.

Update: I've added one video of older women of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa worshipping to document that it's not just the youth of that Christian denomination that perform these types of worship movements.  

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all members of Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa congregations and, in particular, thanks to members of F. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to Xola Mdingi and to The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT UPCSA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_Presbyterian_Church_in_Southern_Africa
"The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) was formed and constituted in 1999 as the outcome of the union between the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (RPCSA) and the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (PCSA).

These two churches shared the same origin dating back to the 19th century when Britain took over the Cape Colony. Their distinctive characters were that the Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa was constituted among soldiers and settlers who arrived in the Cape in 1820, spreading North into Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Reformed Presbyterian Church on the other hand was a product of Scottish missions intended for the indigenous Africans, which started at Lovedale Mission in Alice. It became autonomous in 1923.

In 1896 the first Presbyterian congregation was founded in Rhodesia at Bulawayo, and later in 1903 in Salisbury (now Harare). Now there is one presbytery of Zimbabwe, used to be 2 Presbyteries in Matabeland and Mashonaland. Currently there are more than 40 congregations and 100,000-300,000 members.[2]

[...]

Recent History

The UPCSA ordains both men and women as ministers and elders, a position inherited from the predecessor body, the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa.[3] The church defines marriage as exclusively heterosexual, between one man and one woman, and "instructs" ministers to not perform same-sex marriages.[4] However, a church court ruled in 2015 that the church did not prohibit its ministers from blessing same-sex unions.[5]

In 2019 the UPCSA celebrated its twentieth anniversary after having spent much of that time in forging structures of union.

Presbyteries

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa has over 500 congregations and more than 900,000 members[1] and is divided into ...Presbyteries (regional districts)"...

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE: DESCRIPTION OF UPCSA'S SANCE MOVEMENTS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS  
While I can list the musical instruments that I see and hear in these videos*, I don't feel competent enough to fully and accurately describe the singing and dancing styles, or the hand clapping, and hand motions that are performed in these videos. Here's my attempt with additions and corrections very welcome:

The singing appears to be spontaneously led by a woman or a man who is given a hand held microphone. The congregation joins in with four part harmony that blends into the lead voice. Hand clapping may accompany this singing, but that hand clapping doesn't appear to dominate like it does with South Africa's Clap and Tap music genre. The singer is joined by other people from the congregation who stand in horizontal lines and begin swaying to the music. Some people play various hand held instruments and some people in the lines sometimes wave their hand to beat of the music.

*UPCSA's musical instruments: one or two djembes (usually played by a man, but also played by a woman in one of these embedded videos), one or more whistles, one or more tambourines, metal percussive instruments that are rhythmically struck, and ibeat (mpampampas- a  hard cloth "pillow" shaped instrument that is attached to one hand and hit with the person's other hand).

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - UPCSA WCP FOY Conference 2022 - Praise Medley

Xola Mdingi, May 31, 2022 May 31, 2022

Fellowship of Youth Conference 2022 Western Cape Presbytery The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- UPCSA FOY Convocation 2022 - uJesu onamandla 

Xola Mdingi, Jul 4, 2022

Fellowship of Youth Convocation 2022

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - UPCSA FOY Convocation 2022 - Esandleni somusa

Xola Mdingi, Jul 5, 2022

Fellowship of Youth Convocation 2022

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - 2023 UPCSA Fellowship of Youth Convocation

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, Sep 14, 2023

15 views • Sep 14, 2023

Enywebeni Kwakamsinya

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - 2023 UPCSA Fellowship of Youth Convocation

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, Sep 14, 2023

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 - UPCSA Fellowship of Youth Convocation

UPCSA Fellowship of Youth, Sep 14, 2023

UThweswe Ubukhosi

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UPDATE: SHOWCASE VIDEO #8 - UPCSA WCP Opening Revival Service 2023 - Sikhangele ngobubele

Xola Mdingi, Jan 31, 2023
The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa 2

Western Cape Presbytery
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Video Examples Of Songs From IMpumalanga Holy Church of God (South Africa)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases eight YouTube video examples of songs from IMpumalanga Holy Church of God (South Africa).

Some comments from a few of these videos 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 all members of IMpumalanga Holy Church of God and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos.
Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on South African religious music. Click the South African religious music tag for more posts in this series.

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EXAMPLES OF SONGS FROM IMPUMALANGA HOLY CHURCH OF GOD (SOUTH AFRICA)
Video #1: IMpumalanga Holy Church of God



IMpumalangaHoly Aug 30, 2013
-snip-
Here's some comments from that video's discussion thread along with information from Wikipedia about the location of this church church's location:
1. Bassy Gause, 2015
"I am mesmerized... GOD LIVES HERE!!! BLESS YOU FOR THIS HEAVENLY HAPPENING. I JUST FELT GOD. I wish I lived wherever this Church is. Its all I listen to now"

**
2. Bassy Gause, 2015
"@Bassy Gause Mai I kindly request Lyrics to this song please and translation as I am Tswana speaking"

**
REPLY
3. Okuhle Mtilwa KaMjoli, 2016
"+Bassy Gause
Alitshintshi izwi lakho ngoba wena uyiNkosi
Your Word does not change for you are God!"

**
REPLY
4. Bassy Gause. 2016
"Bless You my Brother.

**
5. Bongie Mvimvi, 2015
"i want to know wheres the impumalanga holy churchu"

**
REPLY
6. HIVE DOTCOM, 2017
"volksrust dear"
-snip-
Here's information about Volksrust, South Africa from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksrust
"Volksrust is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa near the KwaZulu-Natal provincial border, some 240 km southeast of Johannesburg, 53 km north of Newcastle and 80 km southeast of Standerton.

History
The town was laid out in 1888 on the farms Boschpad Drift, Rooibult or Llanwarne, Verkyk and Zandfontein, and proclaimed in 1889.[2] It lies at an elevation of 5,429 feet (1,655 m), and 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the pass through the Drakensberg known as Laing's Nek.[3] Municipal status was attained in 1904.[2]

Dorothea de Jager, daughter of Dirk Uys, one of the battle victims, named the town Volksrust (Nation's Rest). The name probably refers to the citizens resting here after the Battle of Majuba on 27 February 1881,[4] when the Transvaal won its independence back from the British. During the Second Boer War the British built a concentration camp in Volksrust, where many Boer women and children died."...

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Video #2: IMpumalanga Holy Church of God 2014



IMpumalangaHoly, Nov 17, 2014

at Dobsonville Kopanong Hall ,2014 CD launch of Living Water
-snip-
Here are three comments from this video's discussion thread:
1.Thandekile Motham 2015
"powerful may Da Maker be with guys and bless you.as a zionist am really proud of u"

**
2. siyabonga brian, 2015
"Jehovah this is power"

**
3. Simphiwe Zungu, 2015
"aw amen bazalwane be HOLLY ay niyangbusisa kakhulu keep t up in the name of jesus"
-snip-
Here's a Google translation from Zulu to English:
"aw amen brothers of HOLLY ay you bless me very much keep t up in the name of jesus"

****
Video #3: IMPUMALANGA HOLY



Philile Mshibe, Oct 1, 2015

IMPUMALANGA HOLY CHURCH OF GOD

haaaaaaaaaaaa

****
Video #4: Impumalanga Holy Church Of God



Lunga Shenge, Oct 19, 2016

Izwi lesiphambano
-snip-
Google translate from Zulu to English:
Izwi lesiphambano = The voice of the cross


****
Video #5: Impumalanga holy church of god



THULISILE SIKHAKHANE, Mar 16, 2017
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:

Mxolisi Johnson, 2018
"To hear IHCOG rhythm it bless my soul"

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Video #6:
IHCOG 2017 bewungakanani???



Sboniso Lucky Nene, Jul 16, 2017

EMpumalanga (Hamarsdale 2017 Youth Conv)

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Video #7: Impumalanga holy church of god



THULISILE SIKHAKHANE, Oct 17, 2017

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Video #8: Impumalanga Holy: Ungumalusi



Very Productions, Jan 8, 2018

Impumalanga performed at 10 year anniversary of Insindiso Yobu Krestu

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Video Clips Of Audiences At South African Gospel Choir Joyous Celebration Concerts With Yellow Hand Held "uMpampampas"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: June 24, 2025 [title change and a few content changes]

This pancocojams post presents information, comments, and video examples of the yellow clapping devices that are held by a number of audience attendees at various concerts by the South African Gospel choir Joyous Celebration.

A video of the uMpampampa instrument that is played by some members of the South African Christian denomination Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) is also included in this post.

The Addendum of this post showcases some examples video clips of Joyous Celebration concert audiences where the audiences don't appear to hold these yellow clapping devices.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post and all those who are featured in videos that are embedded in this post.

****
DISCLAIMER
I'm African American and acknowledge that I'm an outsider to South African culture and to the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) religious denomination. I've never traveled to South Africa (or to any other African country for that matter), and don't speak any language but English. In addition, I've not been fortunate enough to attend any Joyous Celebration concert in the United States (as I presume there have been such concerts).

I'm publishing this post because it suddenly occurred to me yesterday when I watched a Joyous Celebration YouTube video that the yellow hand held pillow-looking clapping instruments  that some audience members held are very similar to the uMpampampa hand drum that are found in this pancocojams post that I recently published: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/videos-examples-of-south-africas-urcsa.html "Videos Examples Of South Africa's URCSA Denomination (with focus on uMpampampa (hand drum)".

"Pillow-looking clapping devices" was my term for these musical accompaniment devices before I learned about the term "uPampampa" which is one of the Xhosa terms for those hand held instruments. Those instruments are played by some members of the URCSA church during their worship services. 

I've found very little information or comments online about the URCSA churches' uMpampampa musical instrument. And I've found even less information or comments online about the yellow clapping devices that many Joyous Celebration concert attendees use during some of that Gospel choir's concerts. The images of  Joyous Celebration concert audiences using  these "clappers" are scattered throughout various Joyous Celebration music videos.

The 2015 Joyous Celebration video entitled "Hallelujah Nkateko - Lihle's version" includes a
few clips of Joyous Celebration choir members holding these yellow clappers.     

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES
The yellow hand held "clappers" that are held by some Joyous Celebration concert attendees appear to be a smaller version of the uMpampampa (hand drum) that is performed by some men and women during services of the South African Christian denomination Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). I've read references to the uMpampampa as a "pillow" and referents to the smaller "Joyous Celebration" device as a "cushion", but it appears from my reading that both of these terms are considered to be incorrect and are frown upon by some South Africans.

Some scenes in the 2015 Joyous Celebration YouTube video entitled "Hallelujah Nkateko- Lihle's Version" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUrnIYOpR-w show a few choir members holding these yellow clappers. There may be other videos of Joyous Celebration choir members with these clappers, but the clappers are usually shown in some images of Joyous Celebration audiences. Those screen shots that I've found of Joyous Celebration audiences show them having the yellow clapper affixed to their left hand by an elastic (rubber band) and being hit with their right hand. Presumably, these "clappers" result in a louder sound than that which would have been made by clapping hands. Also, using one hand to clap this device means that your hands won't hurt as much as they would if you were clapping both your hands together.  

In contrast, the URCSA's "clappers" are played like a musical instruments with while the men and women playing them dance along with other worshipers. Also, the URCSA "uMpampampa that I've seen in videos are either white, or red or blue, or black, and not the yellow which appears to be the only color the Joyous Celebration clappers have. The URCSA "hand drums" are sometimes (it appears incorrectly) referred to as "pillows"* and the hand held yellow devices that some Joyous Celebration concert attendees hold are sometimes descriptively, but again probably incorrectly referred to as "cushions".

I don't know when these "clappers" began to be held by Joyous Celebration audiences or choir members and I don't know how widespread this custom has been and remains in 2019 (when this editorial comment was written) among Joyous Celebration choir members and their concert attendees and/or among other South African audiences at other religious church services or concerts. Furthermore, I wonder if the uMpampampa or the smaller versions of these clappers that I've noticed being held by some Joyous Celebration audiences/choir members have ever been used by audiences during non-religious concerts or other secular gatherings.

The Addendum below showcases examples of some Joyous Celebration videos which don't appear to have any shots of audiences or choir members holding these yellow clappers.

The only information that I recall reading at this time about Joyous Celebration audiences' use of these yellow "clappers" is given below.

My questions about these musical/clapping devices aren't meant to detract from paramount purpose of these videos as religious songs - to praise God. However, for the historical, cultural, and folkloric record please share any information that you know about uMpampampa and/or the Joyous Celebration audiences use of these yellow clappers.

Thank you.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND/OR CLAPPING DEVICE THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS POST
Excerpt #1:
Here's a portion of a 2005 South African dissertation that I found online that refers to an instrument that appears to describe the hand drum known as "uMpampampa":
From https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/5102/Malembe_Sipho_S_2005.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

South African popular Gospel Music
In the Post-Apartheid Era: Genre, Production, Mediation and Consumption.
Sipho S. Malembe

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree Masters in Music (MMus),
At the School of Music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
Howard College
..."A number of early artists/groups stood out remarkably, in clearly demarcating and defining the genre of local 'Gospel'. Without going into depth with their music, I want to highlight a few such artists/groups. One of the very early 'Gospel' groups is Amodadana aseWesile. This group began in the mid 70's. Their music is hymnal, which is a direct influence of the missionaries' music. Their music is also characterised by translating well-known missionaries' hymns into local indigenous languages, as pointed to by Muwowo, in Table
2.1.

As he suggested, this translation alters the rhythm into a more African-oriented one. The music also has a forward-driving, danceable rhythm. The very use of the percussive sounds, like 'tshiiif called 'isifutho', and 'isqamelo', a small hand-held pillow like instrument; to emphasise certain beats of the bar in a phrase, emphasises and strengthens the rhythm of the musIc."
-snip-
I've added italics to highlight sentences in this passage.

****
Excerpt #2
From https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/44f5/464c1570df0258d80affad087a77371f5782.pdf
"Echoes of orality in Christian Xhosa songs
M.M. Somniso
School of Language, Media and Communication
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
PORT ELIZABETH

Umpampampa: An umpampampa is a Bible-sized cushion covered with leather. It is held in one hand and beaten with the other. This is done to produce more sound and to regulate the rhythm."...
-snip-
I've noticed in several discussion threads of South African music videos (where men and/or women are playing this hand drum) that some people (my guess is that they are not from South Africa) think that this hand held drum is either a pillow or the church members' Bible (inside the pillow or without the covering for the Bible although the actual Bible isn't in there". In the discussion threads I've happened upon, when people refer to these instruments that way, South Africans are quick to correct them and share other terms they use for uMpampampas such as iBeat. "....

An example of such a discussion is given as Excerpt #3 below.
-snip-
This passage is quoted in https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/information-about-south-africas.html Information About South Africa's Amakhorasi (Gospel) Music (From An Excerpt Of A 2016 Book & A 2005 Doctoral Thesis)
(Part II of a four part pancocojams series that showcases brief excerpts about certain forms of Black church music in Southern Africa).

****
Excerpt #3
From the discussion thread for Joyous Celebration - Hi Hanya Mahala (Live at Carnival City, 2012) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsUa2rENH4Y
debo adediran, 2018
"i have been listening to this songs for years. its hasnt gone dry in my ears. GOD was truly in the concert. pls whats the yellow thing they used to clap called and any suggestions where i can get it pls? thank you"

**
REPLY
Mr R, 2018
"debo adediran
Traditionally, the Methodist Church which has influenced the gospel music and dancing in the RSA has been using cushions to bring out a beat when singing. Such beats were sometimes done without musical instruments. It is therefore upon such background that the popular Methodist feel is brought into the Joyous Celebration concerts."

****
A SHOWCASE VIDEO OF URCSA uMpampampa (hand drum) with a comment exchange about that instrument

URCSA Khayelitsha Ndikhangele Ngobubele 334



Sivuyisiwe Lutango , Mar 14, 2018
-snip-
Here's some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only.)
1. Obakeng Boshielo, 2018
"i don't know what the lyrics are but i can feel the energy through the phone 😀 I love the way they hitting the pillows"

**
REPLY
2. sihle mabombo, 2019
"It's called umPhafphaf"

**
REPLY
3. Des, 2019
"its not the pillows, Its their Bibles or Worship books"

**
REPLY
4. Thandeka Malinga, 2019
"It's not a pillow nor a worship book but we call it a Beat"

**
REPLY
5. OBAKENG MICHAEL, 2019
"Ke beat...or bithi😂😂"

**
REPLY
6. Sanelisiwe Lurai, 2019
"😂😂😂 I'm dead ngu "Mpampampa" sis or iBeat"
-snip-
Here’s what I think this comment means: “I’m dead” is a colloquial American expression that means “I’m dying of laughter”. I don’t know what “ngu” means. After writing that word it appears to me that Sanelisiwe Lurai then wrote the two names that are used for what was referred to as a “pillow”. The word “sis” in that sentence is a referent for the female commenter (i.e. “sis” as a short form of the word “sister”.)

**
REPLY
7. Phiwe Mpahlwa, 2019
"Lol as Xhosa's we call it umpampampa"

**
REPLY
8. Veronica Tlhoni, 2019
"Reebitsa beat love"

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO CLIPS OF JOYOUS CELEBRATION AUDIENCE WITH YELLOW CLAPPERS
Example #1:
Joyous Celebration - Ngiphete' Ungqo



joyousVEVO, Oct 19, 2015

[...]

Song: Ngiphete Ungqo
Artist: Joyous Celebration
Album: Joyous Celebration 16 [2012]
-snip-
From the wikipedia article about Joyous Celebration which lists the dates and names of this South African Gospel choir's albums: "Joyous Celebration 16: Royal Priesthood - Live in Johannesburg at Carnival City's Big Top Arena (2012)"
-snip-
A good clip from this video that shows these clappers is at 1.30, but these yellow clapping devices can be seen at other times in audience shots in this video.
-snip-
This is a Xhosa song. Here's a comment about the song's meaning:
Bongumenzi Dlamini, 2017
"This song says we don't worry for we have the real gospel....".
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/south-africas-joyous-celebration-choir.html for a 2018 pancocojams post entitled "South Africa's Joyous Celebration Choir Featuring Nobathembu Mabeka - "Ngiphete' Ungqo" (information, video, & lyrics)"

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Example #2: Joyous Celebration - Hi Hanya Mahala (Live at Carnival City, 2012)



joyousVEVO20, Aug 9, 2019

Music video by Joyous Celebration performing Hi Hanya Mahala (Live at Carnival City, 2012). (C) 2012 Sony Music Entertainment Africa (Pty) Ltd/Joyous Celebration

[...]

Song: Hi Hanya Mahala
Artist: Joyous Celebration
Album: Joyous Celebration 16 [2012]
-snip-
A good clip from this video that shows these clappers is at 3.47-3:51, but these yellow clapping devices can be seen at other times in audience shots in this video.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/south-africas-joyous-celebration-choir_28.html
January 28, 2018

South Africa's Joyous Celebration Choir (16) - "Hi Hanya Mahala" (video & lyrics). The lyrics to this song (along with an English translation) are found in this post.

Commenters shared that this song is sung in Shangaan (Xitsonga) - the language spoken by the Tsonga people of southern Africa.

Here's a portion of a comment written in 2013 on that discussion thread:
"Hi Hanya Mahala (We are Living For Free)" by Mercy Ndlovu (Joyous Celebration 16)

1:(Solo:) Ka Jeso wamahala na waku xava ulava wini?
(Between a Jesus you can buy and one that’s free which do you want?)
(All:) Ndzi lava mahala (I want the free one)
(Solo:) Ai angana yini? (What does He have?)
(All:) Angana vutomi, bya kuhanya na kuhanyisa, alokose
(He has life, life to live and to heal)"...

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Example #3: Joyous Celebration - Yesu Wena UnguMhlobo (Live At The CTICC, Cape Town, 2019) (Live)



joyousVEVO, Apr 18, 2019

Music video by Joyous Celebration performing Yesu Wena UnguMhlobo (Live At The CTICC, Cape Town, 2019) (Live). (C) 2019 Sony Music Entertainment Africa (Pty) Ltd/Joyous Celebration Foundation

-snip-
A good clip from this video that shows these clappers is at 3.41, but these yellow clapping devices can be seen at other times in audience shots in this video.

Joyous Celebration is paying homage to the South African Methodist Church by singing one of their classic songs and wearing clothing that is the same or approximates the style of clothing that is worn by members of that denomination.

Here's the Xhosa lyrics for this song (and their English translation) from that video's discussion thread

Yesu! Wena unguMhlobo
Jesus! You are a friend
Umhlobo womphefumulo
A soulmate
Ndiza kuWe undincede
I come to You for help
Uncede le ntliziyo
Help this heart × 5

Themba limbi andinalo
I have no other hope
Endingabamba lona
That I can hold onto
Nqaba yimbi andinayo
I have no other refuge
Endingangena kuyo
That I can go onto × 6
Amen

[Hymn 195 Methodist Church of Southern Africa]

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Videos Examples Of South Africa's URCSA Denomination (with focus on uMpampampas)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: October 22, 2019

This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series that showcases brief excerpts about certain forms of Black church music in Southern Africa and showcases a few YouTube video examples of South Africa's amakhorasi music.

Part IV showcases videos of URCSA services. Special focus in these videos is on some members of that denomination playing uMpampampa (hand drum) and other indigenous musical instruments as an integral part of their church services.

Selected comments from one of these video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/black-church-music-in-zambia-excerpt.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents a brief excerpt of a 2015 doctoral thesis for the University of the Western Cape written by Kapenwa Kondolo. The thesis is entitled "The Ministry of Music: A Case Study On The United Church of Zambia And The New Jerusalem Church".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/information-about-south-africas.html for Part II of this series. Part II is divided into two sections. Section A presents a summary of a 2016 social science book by Austin C. Okigbo entitled Music, Culture, and the Politics of Health: Ethnography of a South African AIDS Choir Section A also presents a brief excerpt from that book which provides information about certain forms of Black South African church music.

Section B presents a brief excerpt from a 2005 doctoral thesis that includes information about certain forms of music in South African churches.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/10/information-about-south-africas-urcsa.html for Part III of this series. Part III provides information about Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) and showcases videos of URCSA services.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these selected videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Part III of this pancocojams series lists indigenous musical instruments that are played for Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa church services. One of these instruments is what Americans call "cow bells", and the other is the uMpampampa hand drum (also called "iBeat"). Also, in at least two of the videos which are featured in this pancocojams post show a djembe drum being played (in one video a woman bends down and plays the djembe and in another video a man stands, holding the djembe between his knees).

****
UPDATE: October 12, 2019
Here's a portion of a 2005 South African dissertation that I found online that refers to an instrument that appears to describe the hand drum known as "uMpampampa":
From https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/5102/Malembe_Sipho_S_2005.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

South African popular Gospel Music
In the Post-Apartheid Era: Genre, Production, Mediation and Consumption.
Sipho S. Malembe

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree Masters in Music (MMus),
At the School of Music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
Howard College
..."A number of early artists/groups stood out remarkably, in clearly demarcating and defining the genre of local 'Gospel'. Without going into depth with their music, I want to highlight a few such artists/groups. One of the very early 'Gospel' groups is Amodadana aseWesile. This group began in the mid 70's. Their music is hymnal, which is a direct influence of the missionaries' music. Their music is also characterised by translating well-known missionaries' hymns into local indigenous languages, as pointed to by Muwowo, in Table
2.1.

As he suggested, this translation alters the rhythm into a more African-oriented one. The music also has a forward-driving, danceable rhythm. The very use of the percussive sounds, like 'tshiiif called 'isifutho', and 'isqamelo', a small hand-held pillow like instrument; to emphasise certain beats of the bar in a phrase, emphasises and strengthens the rhythm of the musIc."
-snip-
I've added italics to highlight sentences in this passage.
-end of 10/12/2019 Update-

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: URCSA Khayelitsha Ndikhangele Ngobubele 334



Sivuyisiwe Lutango , Mar 14, 2018
-snip-
Here's some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only.)
1. Obakeng Boshielo, 2018
"i don't know what the lyrics are but i can feel the energy through the phone 😀 I love the way they hitting the pillows"

**
REPLY
2. sihle mabombo, 2019
"It's called umPhafphaf"

**
REPLY
3. Des, 2019
"its not the pillows, Its their Bibles or Worship books"

**
REPLY
4. Thandeka Malinga, 2019
"It's not a pillow nor a worship book but we call it a Beat"

**
REPLY
5. OBAKENG MICHAEL, 2019
"Ke beat...or bithi😂😂"

**
REPLY
6. Sanelisiwe Lurai, 2019
"😂😂😂 I'm dead ngu "Mpampampa" sis or iBeat"
-snip-
Here’s what I think this comment means: “I’m dead” is a colloquial American expression that means “I’m dying of laughter”. I don’t know what “ngu” means. After writing that word it appears to me that Sanelisiwe Lurai then wrote the two names that are used for what was referred to as a “pillow”. The word “sis” in that sentence is a referent for the female commenter (i.e. “sis” as a short form of the word “sister”.)

**
REPLY
7. Phiwe Mpahlwa, 2019
"Lol as Xhosa's we call it umpampampa"

**
REPLY
8. Veronica Tlhoni, 2019
"Reebitsa beat love"

**
UPDATE: October 22, 2019
[This comment is in response to several requests for the name of this song (including a request that I made in that video's discussion thread.]
9. Sihle Ntlabati, 2019
"The name of the hymn is Sikhangele ngobubhele English translation is We seek with kindness"

****
Example #2: URCSA Khayelitsha



Aug 30, 2017
-snip-
Notice that throughout this video a man stands playing a djembe. This video and the video given below as #3 in this post are both from URCSA Khayelitsha. I don't know how common it is to play one or more djembes along with uMpampampas and other indigenous African instruments during that particular church's URCSA church services and/or during other URCSA church services. Please share information about this topic if you are familiar with these church services. Thanks!

Here's information about the very popular djembe drum:
"The djembe drum is said to have been invented in the 12th Century by the Mandinke tribe in what is now Mali, in West Africa. It has been played by West Africans for generations forming an integral part of ritualistic life in Mali, Guinea, Senegal and other neighbouring West African countries." http://www.drumafrica.co.uk/articles/the-djembe/

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Example #3: URCSA Khayelitsha



Siphesihle Butumelo TsengiweAug 8, 2018

Hosana 154
-snip-
Notice that around 4:16 a woman can be seen bending down playing a djembe.

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Example #4: Re rata ha rekabona Jesu



Letsatsi Mohlomi, Feb 4, 2018

URCSA CFM Johannesburg Presbytery at Tembisa Wes
-snip-
This video shows part of the church's collection [of money].

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Example #5: MBB BODIBE AT LITCHTENBURG NOORD



makwati jaftaphello, Feb 8, 2017

URC LITCHTENBURG NOORD REVIVAL

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This concludes this five part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.