Professional Documents
Culture Documents
com
www.ukarts.com
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 groups
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.
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 Caf. 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 Caf, 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 michaela@ukarts.com and we will
then send you a facebook invite link.
1. Amavolovolo
2. Gabi Gabi
3. Shosholoza
4. 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 dont
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.
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 dont)
Mfaz ongazalanga (woman with no children)
Uyothi wabonani (what will you say you saw)
Mfaz ongazalanga (woman with no children)
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
Africas second national anthem. Many people will remember it being sung widely by
crowds at the at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Shosholoza (x2)
Ku le zontaba
Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa
4. Ngiqome KwaZulu
This is another popular wedding hymn, and is also sung mostly by choristers at national and
international competitions.
The Soil singing this song with instructions for each harmony: https://vimeo.com/98559951
(password soilmusic)