501. African Trilogy - HKWMVC

The African Trilogy is a synthesis of three South African songs:

"Siyahamba" was composed around 1950 by Andries van Tonder, a church elder. It was originally written in Afrikaans, but later translated into Zulu by Thabo Mkize. In 1978, the Swedish choral group Fjedur toured South Africa and their musical director, Anders Nyberg, returning after the tour, heard and recorded "Siyahamba" at a girls' school in Natal. In 1984, he arranged it for a Western four-voice setting and published it in a songbook and recording called "Freedom is Coming: Songs of Protest and Praise from South Africa". In the 1990s, it started appearing in Catholic and other church hymn books under the title "We Are Marching in the Light of God".

"Shosholoza" is a work song that was especially popular with the men whose work it was to lay railway lines. Meaning to push forward, endeavour or strive, it evokes a sense of pride, and these days is used as a rallying cry by sportsmen and women and their supporters.

"Sikele Africa" is the South African national anthem, sung here in English.

The African Trilogy has become a favourite with male choirs in particular.

At our 2008 End of Season party at Helena May, the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir did an impromptu performance of the trilogy between the main course and the dessert, beginning at the tables and ending up in choir formation out the front. My wife and a friend managed to capture most of the song on video, but because of the unplanned nature of the performance, could not get the beginning.

You can see a playlist of my songs from Asia, Africa and the Middle East here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3EA30970DB19283E

For lyrics and chords please go to my website: http://www.raymondcrooke.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folks
• song
• africa
• hong
• kong
• welsh
• male
• voice
• choir
• helena
• may

[rington1]

You most certainly were "Marching in the Light of God" what a sense of comradeship from an impromptu performance. Thanks you so much for this posting.

Alex...

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks, Alex. Would be nice if we got the whole song, but I'm pleased my wife had her camera handy and caught most of it.

[shawnmcnair1]

Cool video.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks Shawn. Glad you liked it.

[kaburto1966]

:)!!!!

[raymondcrooke]

.  . / v

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks, Lew. Being part of this choir is one of the things I enjoy most about Hong Kong.

[raymondcrooke]

I look forward to seeing that video. No, I won't stop yet. I'll aim for 1000. Thanks for commenting.

[alonzogarbanzo]

Terrific. Just couldn't stop, could you, Raymond? My wife and daughter and I do a trio version of "Siyahamba"---in fact, it's become something of our "signature" performance piece. I'll be posting that one sometime in July! keep 'em coming, sir.

[lewdite]

Wonderfully "charged" video. Thanks for sharing...