Ladysmith Black Mambazo The musical tradition of isicathamiya originated in a township outside Johannesburg, South Africa, over a century ago, as a pastime for migrant workers who wished to remember their homelands. Together with the songs of their mothers, wives, and children, the workers incorporated the hardships of mining life into their music. The Zulu word, isicathamiya, means "to stalk like a cat," and refers to the light dance steps that accompany soft harmonies sung a cappella by men in choirs. The same South African migrant workers invented a form of dancing called isicathulo, the Zulu word for "gumboots." They mined for gold in darkness, chained to their work areas dozens of feet apart without the right to speak. It was in these grim conditions that the isicathulo style of dance evolved -- first, as a form of communication reminiscent of Morse Code, the miners used their boots and bodies to reach out to each other. Eventually, outside the mines, the rhythms of isicathamiya and isicathulo took on more energy and became a form of entertainment during the workers' free time -- the music and dance both exciting the spirit and relieving the tension caused by oppression. Suggested Sites... Songs and Sounds of South Africa - listen to Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing isicathamiya in NPR's Studio 4A. Choral Music From KwaZulu Natal - article from the 1997 Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, detailing the stylistic history and sacred dimensions of isicathamiya. Rosa's Gumboot Lesson - learn to dance isicathulo in a simple, eight-step lesson. From Homeland to Township - essay about the cross-cultural harmony and political themes of musical traditions in South Africa -- from rap artists to jazz bands to choirs.

Directory categories: Isicathamiya, African Music, African Dance, Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Archived under: Africa, Cultures, Entertainment, Music, Regional, South Africa

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