South Africans, What Are The Lyrics To The "Beyonce" Gwijo (Soccer Song)?- Update 2023- A South African Responds

Kamo Bafana, Oct 10, 2018 

Tsakane boys soccer song moral

-snip-
This video is the earliest example of the "Beyonce gwijo" (also given as "soccer song") that I've found.

This video shows young South African teenage or pre-teen boys standing outdoors. The boys wear "regular" clothes and not school uniforms. They clap their own hands in accompaniment, and moving around while they sing this relatively uptempo song. 

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update - 10/4/2023

This pancocojams post showcases five YouTube examples of South African amagwijos (soccer* songs) with the title "Beyonce". 

My Editor's notes about the South African gwijo or amagwijo (plural) entitled "Beyonce" are included in this post along with selected comments from a few discussion threads of YouTube videos of South African "Beyonce" songs. As of the Oct. 4, 2023 publication date for this updated pancocojams post, there are a few other YouTube videos of Beyonce gwijos other than the onese that are showcased in this post.

Update: Special thanks to South African P La (The Gwijo king) for responding to my question about Beyonce gwijos on October 2, 2023

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer/s of these South African "Beyonce" songs. 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.
-snip-
*In the context of South Africa, "soccer" means what people in the United States call "football". "Soccer songs" are another referent for "gwijos", but "gwijos" are sung at other sports events in South Africa-particularly rugby. "Gwijos" are also sung apart from sports events. 

This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on South African gwijo (amagwijo).

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-chronologial-listing-of-youtube.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "A Chronologial Listing Of YouTube Videos Of The South African Gwijo "Beyonce" (October 2018 -August 2021)".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-do-xhosa-south-africa-words-gwijo.html for the pancocojams post entitled "What Do The Xhosa (South Africa) Words "Gwijo" And "AmaGwijo" Mean?"

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/seven-youtube-videos-of-south-african.html for a related pancocojams post entitled "Seven YouTube Videos Of South African Gwijo Remixes Of Rihanna's Hit 2016 Dancehall Song "Work" ".

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE [Revised Sept. 13, 2021]
I'm an African American who unfortunately understands no other language but English. I happened upon a YouTube video of a South African gwijo entitled "Beyonce" while randomly surfing YouTube for videos of South African gwijos. Since I watched that video, I've come across multiple videos of gwijos (also listed as "soccer songs"). The publishing dates for those "Beyonce" gwijo (soccer song) videos are from Oct 2018 tthrough August 2021.

Despite the poularity and longevity of these songs, I haven't found any explanations online for what these songs are about. And I haven't found any lyrics for these songs in Xhosa, let along in English, except for the words "Beyonce ukhalelani". 

The words "Beyonce ukhalelani" are given in at least three YouTube videos of the "Beyonce" gwijo. One video has those words in its title. Another has those words in its summary, and a commenter wrote those words in the discussion thread of a third "Beyonce" gwijo video.

https://mymemory.translated.net/en/Xhosa/English/ukhalelani indicates that "ukhalelani" is a Xhosa word whose English translation is "Why cry." 

Why is Beyonce crying?

I initially assumed that these songs refer to the African American singer Beyoncé. If so, and if Beyonce is crying in those songs, could they be a South African response to or a continuation of Beyonce's song "Sorry" in her 2016 Lemonade film and visual album. In the song "Sorry"  Beyoncé accused her husband Jay-X of cheating on her with "Becky with the good hair". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9:_Lemonade  and https://genius.com/Beyonce-sorry-lyrics. In that song Beyonce says "Sorry I'm not sorry". But I wonder if "Jay-Z" in those gwijos is the one saying he's sorry and pleading for his wife's forgiveness.  

Or maybe these South African songs aren't about that world famous singer. Maybe they're about some other woman is either named Beyonce or is called that name for one reason or another. As I mentioned earlier, the only language I understand is English. But from the way those songs are sung* I'm guessing that there's some kind of sad drama going on between some woman named (or called) Beyonce and her man or someone who thought he was her man.

-snip-
Both of these theories fit the fact that with just one exception, in all of the YouTube videos of "Beyonce" gwijos, those songs are sung by males.

The exception is a very brief video clip.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtWidBPJFvU&ab_channel=GwijoZA,  May 31, 2021 [length 0.30]. That video clip shows teenage girls dressed in their school uniforms at an outdoor school event singing "Beyonce" (gwijo) as accompaniment of males singing it. The males aren't shown in that 

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Sduh Mageba, a commenter in the discussion thread for Queens College - Beyoncé 🙏🏻🔥❤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QCpS76z20s&ab_channel=GwijoRSA wrote this in July 2021

"Beyonce wenzeni 😂😂😂😂😂" 
-snip- 
Google translates the word "wenzeni” from Xhosa to English “What did you do.”
-snip-
I'd also like to know what Beyonce did in these South African gwijos. 

If you know what these South African "Beyonce" songs are about, please share that information in the comment section below. Thanks in advance!

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A SOUTH AFRICAN EXPLANATION ABOUT BEYONCE GWIJOS
From P La(The Gwijo King)

https://m.youtube.com/@PLaTheGwijoKing on Oct. 2, 2023 (Read the entire comment below)
..."In South Africa slang "Beyonce" has become synonymous with girl/woman who's overly materialistic and likes to live the life she she probably doesn't afford...you could also say it's an ordinary girl who likes to act like Beyonce.

There's a version of this gwijo that says
"We Beyonce ukhalelani,
Hoba re tshwere lotto?"

Which is a mixture of isiZulu and seSotho words that can be interpreted to say "Hey Beyonce, why are you complaining/crying because we've got all the money/lotto/bling?"

And instead of being about a heartbroken girl, my interpretation is that an unhappy guy is asking her materialistic "Beyonce wannabe " girlfriend" what could she possibly be complaining about when she's been given all the money/wealth in fulfil her "Beyonce-ish" needs?

However, to be fair, not many people understand the true meaning of even the simplest gwijo songs, even us South Africans, sometimes even the very composers won't be able to give the ultimate meaning, gwijos are often just that open-ended.

 
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THREE ADDITIONAL "BEYONCE" GWIJOS [updated Oct. 3, 2023]

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 Beyonce

GWIJO RSA, july 4, 2022
-snip-
Dorian Smith posted in 2023 on a discussion thread for a no longer available YouTube video of Gumede singing the gwijo "Beyonce" that "Gumede made this song trend". 

This YouTube short (very brief video) shows the young South African man Gumede singing this song wearing a red and white football jersey with his name "G. Gumede" written in the middle.

-snip-
This video replaces a no longer available video that was published by Trash Boy on July 14, 2020.is no longer available. 

Here's the description that I published along with that video.

Gumede is a very highly regarded lead singer of amagwijo. 

Here he is standing in the center of a semi-circle of other teenage boys. The singers wear regular clothes (not school uniforms). All of the singers stand relatively still, but toward the end of the video, some of them begin to snap their fingers to the beat of this song

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -Queen's College Gwijo x Beyonce

Ayakha Sikweyiya, Apr 28, 2021 
-snip-
This video of students from Queens College singing "Beyonce" replaces one that I had previously posted by Gwijo RSA, March 13, 2021 that is now for private viewing only. The description for that video suggests that it is the same as the video that is embedded above. Here's my descriptionthat I wrote for that initial video:

Based on comments I've read in gwijo discussion threads, Queens College is one of the most highly regarded colleges when it comes to singing gwijos.

This is one of several YouTube videos of Queens College singing the "Beyonce" gwijo. The boys are in uniforms and are seated in bleachers outdoors with masks on their faces to protect them against Covid-19. 
-snip-
Here's some information about the use of the word "college" for this South African secondary school:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College
"In South Africa, some secondary schools, especially private schools on the English public school model, have "college" in their title. Thus no less than six of South Africa's Elite seven high schools call themselves "college" and fit this description."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 -Beyonce Gwijo



 Gwijo ZA, May 31, 2021
-snip-
This is the only YouTube video that I found of girls singing the "Beyonce" gwijo.

Some South African females in their school uniforms are part of an outdoors audience outdoors for a progam that includes male students singing the “Beyonce” gwijo. The girls begin to sing that song harmonizing with the boys. Unfortunately this video clip ends waaay too soon with the scene of the  girls moving in a procession while singing this song.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- Gwijo Beyonce kaizer chiefs development

Nhlakanipho Tshabalala #Gwijosongs, Sep 1, 2020

Beyonce ukhalelani
-snip-
Google translate from Zulu to English gives this result for "ukhalelani"= "Why are you crying?"
-snip-
This video shows South African young men dressed in their football (soccer) uniforms singing in their locker room before a game.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREADS FOR TWO OF THESE EMBEDDED VIDEOS

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

Discussion Thread #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y30RgeewPkk&ab_channel=TrashBoy

[This video is given as #2 of the videos that are embedded in this pancocojams post.] 

1. Samuel Mavukani, 2021
"Kill that song ntwana kill that song👌👌👌👌💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"
-snip-
"Ntwana" is a Zulu word that means "boy" or "mate" https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ntwana

In the context of this comment "to kill" means "to do something extremely well".

**
2. Kgotso Jack, 2021
"Beyonce needs to hear this"

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Reply
3. Nkosana Vonk Zibula, 2021
"lol why?"

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Discussion Thread #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MbW6_G1Pl4&t=7s&ab_channel=GwijoRSA

[This is the discussion thread for the video given as #3 in this post.]

1. Thabiso,_c Tshabalala, 2021
"Beyonce ❤❤❤😭😭😭😩❤🐾"

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Reply
2. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"😭😭😭🙏🏿"

**
Reply
3. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Thank you Gumede"

**
Reply
4. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"I’m not Gumede 😹😹"

**
Reply
5. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Lol I know, gumede made this song trend @gwijorsa"

**
Reply
6. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"@Dorian Smith  😹😹😹🙏🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥ok thank you"

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Reply
7. Dorian Smith, 2021
"Lol but who are you by the way? Like beside being the Gwijo King/Queen? You're doing a great job no lie🤷🏽‍"

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Reply
8. Gwijo RSA, 2021
"@Dorian Smith  😭😭Not you giving me the title I don’t deserve 😹🙏🏾 I’m not the King bruh😭I’m juss pushing what we all love ❤️✊🏿"

**
9. Asavela Arthur, 2021

"Queens you never disappoint us boys........"

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Reply
10. Gwijo RSA,2021
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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Visitor comments are welcome. 

What Does The IsiXhosa (South African) Words "Amagwijo" & "Igwijo" Mean?

TRT World, Oct. 3, 2018

TRT is a Turkish public broadcast service. 

Wikipedia 

The Springboks versus the All Blacks is one of sport’s great rivalries. The South Africans beat the ABs in New Zealand in September, and when Siya Kolisi's team attempt to repeat that success in Pretoria this weekend, they'll be supported by traditional AmaGwijo songs. As Lungani Zama reports, it's a sign the Springboks are beginning to finally represent all South Africans....

**** Edited by Azizi Powell Latest revision - October 24, 2023

[Update] This pancocojams post presents information about amagwijo from a 1981 South African dissertation about Xhosa music. This post [also] showcases a YouTube video about amaGwijo and provides article excerpts, online definitions, and comments about gwijo (amaGwijo; igwijo) from South African sources. The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to the Gwijo Squad and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of this video on YouTube. -snip- This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on gwijos*. Click the gwijos tag below for more pancocojams posts on this subject. -snip- *The spelling "gwijos" ['gwijo" with an s" at the end] is an English language plural form of that Xhosa word.". "AmaGwijo" is the Xhosa plural form for "gwijo" Although the word "gwijos" is incorrect in isiXhosa, I've seen it used in a number of YouTube discussion thread comments about a particular gwijo or about more than one gwijo. Consequently, I sometimes use the word "gwijos" in pancocojams posts on this subject.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

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EXCERPT FROM 1981 DISSERTATION

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188774534.pdf

[from fieldwork among the amaXhosa in 1969-1972].  

The text of this dissertation is given "as is" (with typographical errors or misspelled words). 

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188774534.pdf

THE MUSIC OF THE XHOSA - SPEAKING PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Deirdre Doris Hansen 

A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,

for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Grahamstown 1981

 […]

"CRAPTER 2

65

The Marching songs iingoma zokuhamba) which identify the various social groups and many of which are called amagwijo ( their words express and emphasize group sentiments and loyalty), are often the result of group composition. At any rate, the members of these groups insist that everyone collab

66

orated in making their ' signature tunes ' What happens is that, when marching to or from a social event, one member of the group ( it may be anyone, but is usually the song manager or song leader which every group has) starts up a melody on any theme.

The other group members then fall in with the chorus, and thus the song pattern is established. The rhyth~ and tempo of the song derive from the rhythm and tempo of the marching men and/or women. Amagwijo and ordinary Marching songs are always topical, and when the subject matter becomes out - of - date, new songs are composed. Words change, while the style and at least the basic patterns of the songs remain the same, as is the case with all the different types of Xhosa songs.

Examples of amagwijo are: Ho! asinankosi thina apha ( , We have no chief here' ), the March song of an umtshotsho group of Mgwali administrative area ( Deberha ), in Engcobo district; and uTel' uyeza ( , We men of Tela are coming' ),

Marching song of Xesibe young men ( iindlavini ) of Xama administrative area, in MaXesibeni district.

Transcriptions of some of the Marching songs appear in chapter 7:453-7, wher the different categories of music are discussed ( cf. also ch.8: 706-8 for addltional transcription )"... -end of Oct. 24, 2023 update- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/excerpts-from-1981dissertation-about.html for a pancocojams post that includes a brief excerpt of that dissertation.

This description of the amagwijo is quite comparable to United States (and other nations) military cadences. ****

WHAT "GWIJO" MEANS These entries are given in chronological order with the oldest dated definition/comment given first except for comments/replies to sources. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1.

Gwijo Squad changing the face of South Africa Rugby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrCrdUfXnW4&ab_channel=TRTWorld

TRT World, Oct 3, 2018
Narrator [1:06-1:23] Though the [?] of amagwijo may be new to the ears of most South African fans, it has been a part of Xhosa culture for generations.  It started from the struggle and moving on to the sports field and its reemergence in popular culture has certainly put a smile on a lot of people’s faces”… 

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2. 
Gwijo Squad changing the face of South Africa Rugby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrCrdUfXnW4&ab_channel=TRTWorld [comment]

Isipho CITY, 2020
"It's song which is meant to unite the people, for them to know in whatever battle they are facing, they are not alone and to prepare them mentally for whatever is to come!!!"

****
3.
From https://www.newframe.com/gwijo-squad-the-new-sound-of-south-african-sport/Gwijo Squad, the new sound of South African sport 20 ; By: Sibusiso Mjikeliso , Photographer: Ihsaan Haffejee,  Jun 2019

[…]

Igwijo and the trouble it caused

In many ways, [Xhanti] Madolo has always been the guy at the forefront of a wave of change. In high school, he was the rugby cheerleader and courted trouble at post-1994 Dale College in King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape for his penchant for igwijo.

“We sang the school songs with pride and vigour, but we mixed things up with igwijo the year I took over as cheerleader [in 2000],” he recalls.

“We needed to take the cheering to another level, because our team was on another level and the culture was changing. We started bringing in the more popular traditional songs: “Ntombi emnhlotshazana … Yinton’ le uyenzayo, ayilunganga (Fair-skinned girl, what you’re doing is not right)”. And we readapted struggle songs, replacing names like Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela with the first team captain.

“The boys took to it, but the teachers on the other hand had other opinions. They banned igwijo. I don’t know how many times I have been called into the headmaster’s [James Haupt] office because of igwijo.

“Then Grey High School [from Port Elizabeth] threatened not to play against Dale if amagwijo would be sung at rugby matches. They said they were ‘savage songs’ or something like that. But it was too big a thing, too big to contain. They couldn’t fight it and it grew into something that is now the norm in the passages at the school.”...

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4.
From https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/workplace-inclusivity-unsung-gwijo-thabo-moloi "Workplace Inclusivity" - The Unsung Gwijo

Published on August 20, 2019, Thabo Moloi

…."A gwijo is an African chant used to commemorate important cultural events. It is how black people have traditionally come together to celebrate, to mourn, to show solidarity and remind each other of the defiant spirit inherent in all of us"

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5.
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BwIgH7lisI&ab_channel=SABCNews Understanding the Gwijo Squad movement

SABC Digital News, Sep 6, 2019

[Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is my transcription of a brief portion of this televised discussion (at around 1:46 to around 3:40 of this video). Additions and corrections are welcome.]

(Interviewer) -"So you're here to tell us about amagwijo. It's more than what we see in the stadiums, it's a rich tradition. Amigwijo is a Xhosa tradition. Tell us more about it"

Chulumanco Macingwane (C.M.) [chairman of the Gwijo Squad]: "The word igwijo is a Xhosa word, but the practice of gwijo, the singing of these traditional songs that take the form of a leader and respondents is something that is completely ubiquitous in the country. It exists in every single one of our cultures which is why it resonates so much with people of all cultures. Incidentally, I was explaining to some, to some really enthusiastic White supporters today that when you see a gwijo squad or a group of Black people singing gwijo, don't assume that everyone speaks the language that they are singing in. We might be singing in isiXhosa and there might be Venda people and Sotho people and such but it's because this thing exists in all those cultures. So whatever language it is being sung in, they, it resonates with them and they take right with it. Why we felt that if a Venda dude can learn a Xhosa gwijo, it should not be that much difficult if at all for an Afrikaan say to learn a Xhosa gwijo. So that's why..."

[Iinterviewer): "It's for everyone."

(C.M.): "We felt that we needed to bring the spirit of gwijo absolutely to every color, creed, language". Yes.

Interviewer: "So, it's songs to get you through hardship. Rugby is particularly apt. Those players on the field have a lot of pressure. But it's the captain Gqoboka who has clicked so effortlessly with the Gwijo Squad. Tell us about that relationship.".

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6.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/20/sport/south-africa-rugby-fan-group-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html  Meet the Gwijo Squad, the musical fan group confronting apartheid’s legacy

By Daniel Gallen for CNN, September 20, 2019

"The final whistle rings out around Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg. It’s June 9, 2018 and the South Africans have resurrected a lost cause against England, overturning a 24-3 deficit to secure a dramatic and try-laden 42-39 victory.

But the result is almost immaterial. The match will forever be remembered as a turning point in the history of South African sport. It was the first time a black African – Siya Kolisi – captained the Springboks, the national rugby team named after the leaping antelope on its crest that for so many people in South Africa is still an emblem of apartheid.

[…].

After completing his post-match media responsibilities, Kolisi skipped the lap of honor his teammates were undertaking and instead made a beeline to a cluster of fans gathered on the opposite side of the field.

He came straight to us,” Chulumanco Macingwane, 35, told CNN Sport. “It was mind-blowing. He came over and it was in that extraordinary moment that we knew we had started something special.

Macingwane was surrounded by 77 other people who had arrived at one of world rugby’s great stadiums with a single purpose — to sing traditional and spiritually significant African songs known as igwijo – as part of the newly formed Gwijo Squad.

“These are songs that speak to our African roots and reach deep into our ancestral past,” explained Sibusiso Mjikeliso, South African journalist, broadcaster and author of “Being a Black Springbok: The Thando Manana Story.”

“They are songs that have been sung for generations at coming-of-age initiation rites, weddings, funerals and at times of celebration and struggle. They are songs of love, of mourning, of challenge and ritual.”

But they were never heard in rugby stadiums, at least not with this much confidence and so many voices."...

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7.
From https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2019-11-04-the-rousing-singing-of-the-gwijo-squad-fast-becoming-synonymous-with-sa-rugby/ The rousing singing of the Gwijo Squad fast becoming synonymous with SA rugby

04 November 2019, By Alex Patrick
"Captain Siya Kolisi may not have been able to hear them when he ran onto the field with his teammates in Tokyo on Saturday‚ but the rousing singing of the Gwijo Squad back in SA was no doubt reverberating in his heart.

The group‚ who sing traditional Xhosa amaGwijo songs‚ are fast becoming synonymous with SA rugby.

Founded by Johannesburg financial advisor Mzwandile Riba‚ the size of the group [ the Gwijo Squad] varies between 200 and 2‚500‚ depending on the match.

It started off as a small group of friends going to enjoy the rugby together in 2017.

Riba said Gwijo was a word that described the folk singing used to bring groups of people together.

“They are songs of encouragement‚" Riba said."...

****

8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6FfYRNj_3M&ab_channel=GwijoSquad

E039 - iGwijo: healing anthems for South Africa

Vocal Liberation

Nov 23, 2020

[…]

WHAT’S GWIJO?

 Amagwijo is a particular Xhosa practice of collective singing deeply embedded in African culture. It takes the form of call and response (“I say something//You say something I hear you//You hear me. We’re in dialogue together”). Because Gwijo uses no instruments (other than the voice), it could be described as a cappella. For the amaXhosa people of South Africa, Gwijo songs have traditionally been sung to accompany weddings, funerals, initiations and other rites of passage and sacred moments.

Part of these songs’ potency resides in their being so cathartic across a range of human emotions: they can express joy, determination and victory, but also devastation. A Gwijo ‘performance’ can celebrate, protest, resist or reclaim. Ultimately though, it draws on the power of the collective to attain a kind of fierce grace, a coming together in intensity.

[…]

THE STADIUM EFFECT OF GWIJO SQUADS

In South Africa, Gwijo is becoming pervasive at sporting events. It seems to have been born, at least partially, out of an instinct for harmonising discordant energies in the national history and culture. You see, sporting events in South Africa have a history of being segregated and racially charged.

Enter the Gwijo Squad, who turn up to rugby and cricket events to reclaim a sense of shared ownership and create safety. The Gwijo effect in stadiums fosters belonging, raises feel-good energy, and, ultimately imbues the sporting fixture with a sense of communal joy.

Why does it work? All South Africans – whether consciously or subconsciously – carry the intergenerational trauma of their country’s recent history. But when South Africans of all stripes experience the electric co-regulation of Gwijo, the resulting atmospheric shift is irresistible.

[...] 

Gwijo is South Africa’s current movement of song and togetherness. Watch this space.”

****
9.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6FfYRNj_3M&ab_channel=GwijoSquad

Noba bethi ndale published by GwijoSquad, July 5, 2018

[comment]

Siyathandwa Gomo, September 7, 2021
…"I think perhaps other languages do have their own gwijos, however most gwijos that are well known and  have the best vibe are Xhosa. Some gwijos are struggle songs that were made during apartheid in prisons and in protests. Some gwijos are songs made by young Xhosa men while they are in their initiation period and also these gwijos are sung when they come back. There are alot of sources or inspirations behind gwijos.

Plural term for gwijos is amagwijo."

****
10. [Added Sept. 12, 2021]
comment exchange from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_2E4UEfUtg&ab_channel=GwijoRSA "Zonke Izono - Chester [FULL VIDEO]😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭" published by Gwijo RSA, May 17, 2021
1. Owami Khubisa, 2021
"I was gonna be here long time but I did not know soccer songs were called amagwijo 😂😂😂😂"

**
Reply
Gwijo RSA, 2021
"😹😹😹😹😹"

**
Reply
Gwijo RSA, 2021
"How did you find us then 😭😹"

**
Reply
Owami Khubisa, 2021
" @Gwijo RSA  my sister plays soccer and she sent me the song "Story of my Life" and the cover said Gwijo and I searched it then BOOM 🔥🔥🔥😎"

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Toyi Toyi (South African protest dance) information & videos

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on performance elements in South African protests.

This post provides definitions, information, and video examples of South African "toyi toyi".

Click
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/south-african-struggle-songs-protest.html for Part II of this post.

Part II provides information and video examples of South African struggle songs. In the United States the struggle songs that are the focus of that post would be referred to as "protest chants".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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DEFINITION OF "TOYI TOYI"
From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Toyi-toyi
toy-toy
n
1. (Dancing) a dance expressing defiance and protest

vb
2. (Dancing) (intr) to dance in this way
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Note that "toyi toyi" is also written as "toy toy". ("Toyi" appears to be pronounced like the English word "toy").

It's important to note that "toyi toyi" is used as a noun and a verb. Examples of both of those usages are given below. It's also important to note that toyi toyi is usually a non-violent expression of protest (on the part of the protesters).

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INFORMATION ABOUT "TOYI TOYI"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyi-toyi
"Toyi-toyi is a Southern African dance originally from Zimbabwe by Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) forces that has long been used in political protests in South Africa.[1]
Toyi-toyi could begin as the stomping of feet and spontaneous chanting during protests that could include political slogans or songs, either improvised or previously created. Some sources claim that South Africans learned it from Zimbabweans.

Use during Apartheid
Toyi-toyi was often very successful in intimidating the South African troops. The toyi-toyi was also used with chants such as the African National Congress's "Amandla" ("power") and "Awethu" ("ours") or the Pan African Congress's "One Settler, One Bullet".

After the 1976 Soweto massacre, the movement became more militant in the struggle for liberation. The toyi-toyi, a military march dance and song style became commonplace in massive street demonstrations. As one activist puts it, "The toyi-toyi was our weapon. We did not have the technology of warfare, the tear gas and tanks, but we had this weapon."[2]

Current use in South Africa
After Apartheid ended, people have used toyi-toyi to express their grievances against current government policies. Use of the dance has become very popular during recent service delivery protests and among trade unions, and some South Africans have used it in violent attacks against refugees. The country's independent social movements such as Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Anti-Eviction Campaign have begun using toyi-toyi and other liberation protest strategies for their anti-government protests. [3][4] The Anti-Privatisation Forum has come out with a CD that they see as a compilation of music specially for toyi-toying.[5]”...

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From http://www.capetownmagazine.com/whats-the-deal-with/Whats-the-Deal-With-Toyitoyi/125_22_17384
”Toyi-toyi is the war dance of black South Africans, which dates back to the Mau Mau people in Kenya, who rose against the English colonialists. It is a fine example of South Africa’s rare spirit in the face of impossible conditions and abject poverty. From protests to celebrations, the chants capture the emotions of joy, pain, encouragement, heartbreak and solace. Toyi-toyi is a powerful and infectious statement, by which the oppressed may voice their grievances to the government.

“Even though South Africa has 11 official languages, toyi-toyi could be considered the 12th, since it’s nearly as old as the country itself and everyone knows it, including the government.” - a resident of Orange Farm, South of Johannesburg...

The toyi-toyi is quite a marvel to watch. Throngs of people charge forwards, stomping and chanting political slogans. Such energy struck fear into the hearts of the armed forces who tried to contain them. But toyi-toyi was also a distraction from fear during the marches because people knew that later, once the crowds had dispersed, they would suffer harassment at the hands of police."

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order with the oldest dated videos posted first.

WARNING: The viewer comment threads for these YouTube videos may include racist language and profanity. Also, violent scenes are included toward the end of the portion of the movie that is given in this post as Video #4.

Example #1: Township of Jo Slovo Toi Toi for their homes! (pt 1)



Charles Fraser• Uploaded on Jan 24, 2008

The People of the Township of Jo Slovo in Cape Town South Africa demonstrate outside the High Court in Cape Town for their right to stay where they have settled for the last 20 years. The government plans another housing project, but if it is anything like their last, the infamous 'Gateway project', We can all understand what the people are afraid of: Not ever getting a home as promised because they are too expensive.
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Part II of this video isn't available on YouTube.

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Example #2: Human Rights Day 2007 toyi toyi1



Sifuna Zonke, Uploaded on May 11, 2008

APF Human Rights Day protest

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Example #3: How to Toyi-Toyi



CraigiejiMakhos Uploaded on Nov 12, 2009
Stressed? Life getting you down? Or is your bum in the butter? Either way, living in South Africa, it is vital that you learn how to Toyi-toyi.

More videos related to Xhosa culture and language, search under username "UBuntuBridge"
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This is a tongue in cheek instructional video.

Here are three comments from this video's viewer comment thread that demonstrate the use of the word "toyi-toyi" as a noun and as a verb:
Anne Farnsworth, 2010
"Toyi Toyi to celebrate the anniversary of Mandela's election, May 9, 1994"
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Toyi Toyi is used here as a verb.

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bayo akin, 2013
"Toyi-Toyi is a dance from Zimbabwe, the fighters from South Africa who went and fought with ZAPU that brought the dance to South Africa."
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Toyi Toyi is used as a noun.

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abongile chris, 2013
"lol lol you dnt learn to toy-toy it you just move with the motion lol now will toy toy together my fellow brothers lol"
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Toy -toy is used as a verb.

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Example #4: Toyi Toyi



Patrick Balcasio, Uploaded on Feb 11, 2011

Toyi-Toyi scene from the film 'Stander'
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Here are two comments from that video's viewer comment thread:

JakeBluegrass, 2012
"The wrong songs are being sung here. These are ANC songs. Steve Biko, AZAPO and BCM were the influential organisations of the day. The slogans would have been more BCM orientated. The ANC did not feature much during this period. The ANC were caught off guard by the riots and launched a violent campaign to wrest popularity from the BCM. The ANC have been less than honest in ignoring this and have tried to whitewash BCM's role. This sequence shows how ignorant the film makers were of this period."

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Walter Holder, 2012
"Oh Heavens Jake! Shall we appeal to Botha to have the movie banned? There are just too many mistakes for it to continue. Just a few things i noticed : Stander's hair is too long; one cop is wearing a combination belt over camo uniform; the Saracen was painted the wrong colour; there were no albinos in the clip; the cops' moustaches are drooping past the corners of their mouths: one cop's shoe-laces were untied..... ever heard of artistic license?"

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UPDATE: Additional video July 23, 2014

Video #5: African People Power : SATAWU Protest in Johannesburg



Pedro Buccellato, Uploaded on Feb 17, 2011
South African Transport & Allied Workers' Union striking workers march to the Bargaining Council offices in Braamfontein to make their point. Peaceful, well co-ordinated and disciplined: Thanks SATAWU for not trashing Braamies and thanks to the SAPS & Metro units for being cool and keeping things under control.

Johannesburg 16 February 2011
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A long segment beginning at 3:21 shows a large group of protesters singing & doing toyi-toyi. While doing toyi toyi, some of these protestors held their right arm up with their fist clenched/ Others blew vuvuzelas or symbolically held the traditional Zulu warrior weapon known as "assegai" (a short pole weapon). From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assegai "The use of various types of the assegai was widespread all over Africa and it was the most common weapon used before the introduction of firearms. The Zulu and other Nguni tribes of South Africa were renowned for their use of the assegai."

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Thanks to all those who risked and still risk their life and their livelihood in a struggle for rights and justice.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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Visitor comments are welcome.