Community Choirs Project – THE SOIL

www.afrovibesuk.com
www.ukarts.com
Community Choirs Project – THE SOIL
AFROVIBES is a biennial festival that celebrates the performing and visual arts of South
Africa. This year we are bringing a four week season of work to 17 venues across the UK.
Each venue will host a full week of performances and events, giving audiences the unique
opportunity to enjoy a diverse programme of quality work including political drama,
astonishing real life stories, stunning contemporary dance, great music, film and
photography. In addition every venue will have its Township Cafe where visitors can enjoy
typical South African food and drink while taking in music, poetry, talks and free pop-up
performances by local artists as well as Afrovibes performers.
THE SOIL is an award winning three member a cappella group. Their music can is described
as ‘Kasi Soul’ featuring a contemporary township style- an eclectic mix of musical genres
such as jazz, hip hop, Afro-Pop and Afro-Soul underpinned by beatboxing. The group’s
musical style is evident in its rhythmic vocal bass line and beat boxing whilst the remaining
voices contribute to the choral and polyphonic accompaniment. Equal and up to the
challenge, each of the group members take turns in solo vocal performance to display their
virtuoso style and display the beautiful melodic verses embedded in each song. In the past
seven years THE SOIL have been touring internationally including the Apollo Theatre Harlem
and the 2013 Edinburgh International Festival.
See The SOIL sing in the following videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UJEH4GbtQk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8YL2fvSEDc&list=RD02UupOix3aML0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnlSOm1NKZg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sXCNmENyd8
Community Choirs
South Africa has a rich heritage of traditional song, especially known for the call and
response songs that were used during the struggles. In the 2012 festivals two of our UK
venues welcomed the South African artists to their venue by inviting local community choirs
to sing South African songs in the Township Café. This year we want to repeat this
experience – but think bigger!
THE SOIL have chosen 4 traditional South African songs that they invite a network of local
community choirs across the UK to learn. During the festival these choirs will have the
opportunity to sing in the Township Café, meet and have a workshop with THE SOIL, in some
cases perform these songs on stage with THE SOIL as either a curtain raiser or encore to
their main performance.
A special facebook group has been created allowing you to join and share images, video and
recordings of your choir learning these songs. This facebook group will also allow you to
message The Soil and post questions to all the different choirs participating in this project
across the UK. To join the facebook page please email [email protected] and we will
then send you a facebook invite link.
The 4 chosen songs are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Amavolovolo
Gabi Gabi
Shosholoza
Ngiqome KwaZulu
Of course if your choir would like to learn and perform other South African songs to sing at
Afrovibes festival events you are very welcome to do so. Please discuss this with your venue
contact.
There now follows a series of videos made by The Soil including an introduction to each of
these songs, the lyrics, the music notation and video tutorials breaking down each harmony.
We hope we have given you everything you need to help you learn the songs, but don’t
hesitate to join the facebook page and ask a question….
1. Amavolovolo
The text for Amavolovolo is from pre-democratic South Africa and is a warning to stay away
from Kwa-mashu, a township in South Africa. People feared going to Kwa-mashu because
there was so much violence. In fact, the word “Amavolovolo” is a mutation of the English
word “revolver.” Today, however, Amavolovolo is often sung at parties and weddings. The
piece is strophic and can be performed with a variety of percussion instruments.
The lyrics are: Ngeke Siyelena KwaMashu (We won’t go to KwaMashu)
Sisaba amavolovolo (we’re scared of the guns)
See this link to watch the Drakensberg Boys Choir performing “Amavolovolo”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GOqFHraZmM
THE SOIL singing Amavolovo with instruction video for each harmony:
-https://vimeo.com/98546376
password soilmusic
2. Gabi Gabi
This song, sang predominantly at weddings, is a bragging song about a woman whose
daughter is getting married. The mother brags mainly to her neighbours about her beautiful
daughter and this glorious day.
Awubeke ngalena (look that side)
Gabi Gabi (this is basically a term said when one shows off what they have that others don’t)
Mfaz’ ongazalanga (woman with no children)
Uyothi wabonani (what will you say you saw)
Mfaz’ ongazalanga (woman with no children)
Link to St Paul’s choir singing the Christian version, of this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi7O21f1jZM
The Soil singing the wedding version with instruction video for each harmony:
https://vimeo.com/98551535
(password soilmusic)
3. Shosholoza
Shosholoza is a Ndebele folk song that originated in Zimbabwe but was popularized in South
Africa. The song was sung by Ndebele all-male migrant workers that were working in the
South African mines in a call and response style. The song is very popular in South African
culture, often sung as a motivational/victory song that it is often referred to as South
Africa’s second national anthem. Many people will remember it being sung widely by
crowds at the at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Shosholoza (x2) (Go forward)
Ku le zontaba (From those mountains)
Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa (on this train from South Africa)
Shosholoza (x2)
Ku le zontaba
Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa
Wena u ya baleka (You’re running
Wena u uya baleka (You’re running away)
Ku lezontaba (from those mountains)
Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa (on this train from South Africa)
Drakensberg Boys Choir performing “Shosholoza”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saJmOw0GGyI
THE SOIL singing Shosholoza with instruction video for each harmony:
https://vimeo.com/98566319
password soilmusic
4. Ngiqome KwaZulu
This is another popular wedding hymn, and is also sung mostly by choristers at national and
international competitions.
Ngiqome Kwa’Zulu (I fell in love in Zulu land)
Zulu mama (zulu mom)
helelele helelele helelele
Kwaze Kwamnandi (this is lovely)
Recording of this song online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y4MVbO6DwI
The Soil singing this song with instructions for each harmony: https://vimeo.com/98559951
(password soilmusic)
Any questions you have about this project please contact:
Michaela Waldram-Jones on 07989 323020
[email protected]
Ngiqome KwaZulu