Master KG – Jerusalema (feat. Nomcebo Zikode)

September 20, 2020 12:50 PM

In February, Fenomenos do Semba, an Angolan dance studio, posted a video of members line dancing to the track while carrying their plates of food and eating. The video gave the song a whole new lease of life as a pan-African African pop anthem. The Angolan clip kicked off the #Jerusalema​Dance​Challenge across the continent and soon beyond from nuns and monks in France, to a bridal party in Zimbabwe, and a flash mob in Germany

–How South Africa’s “Jerusalema” became a pan-African hit, then a global dance favorite by Norma Young. Here is the video for Master KG’s and Nomcebo’s Jerusalema, and here is Burna Boy’s remix. [via Chisomo Kalinga, PhD]
posted by Kattullus (21 comments total)

Having watched all too many, and also not enough,* Jerusalema Dance Challenge videos tonight, I have to say that my faves are ones that feature people eating while dancing. This one from Boise, Idaho is a good example.

* never enough
posted by Kattullus at 2:38 PM on September 20, 2020 [6 favorites]

You had me extremely confused as I read about people "dancing to the track while carrying their plates of food ..." and I watched the whole video but the people just stayed in that court yard the whole time and they never did head off to the track. Then I read the first sentence again more carefully and... oh. Dancers. Not sprinters and hurdlers and such. Never mind. (Loved it.)
posted by evilmomlady at 3:16 PM on September 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

Here is a translation of lyrics to English, fwiw.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 3:53 PM on September 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

I wondered if this song would make the rounds on metafilter. There are some songs that I can listen to over and over again and this is one of them.

I'm sharing my favorite response to the dance challenge: Teens in Zimbabwe.
posted by wonder twin powers activate form of a sock puppet at 5:18 PM on September 20, 2020 [11 favorites]

I’ve been watching all the different #JerusalemaDanceChallenges on Facebook. I LURVE this song and all the different dance routines. So joyful. It makes me happy.
posted by gt2 at 5:27 PM on September 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

In this summer of dancing separately, this has been a through line. I’m delighted to see it getting some Metafilter love.
posted by meinvt at 6:09 PM on September 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Thank you so much for this magnificent post. As the person who is usually in the last 10 percent of the world to learn about a new cultural phenomenon, the timing is perfect this weekend. Also, I love the singer's voice.
posted by etaoin at 6:59 PM on September 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

That Boise post, with the two or three toddlers running around...

So cute.
posted by Windopaene at 10:17 PM on September 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

I love this. I aspire to be able to dance and hold a giant tin tray of barbecue eats at the same time.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 10:42 PM on September 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

Also, the OG video...

What a wonderful voice she has.
posted by Windopaene at 10:58 PM on September 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Hadn't heard of this at all until this post. Hypnotic song! Looks like I've got an earworm for the next few days.
posted by zardoz at 12:00 AM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

Loving this!
posted by RandomInconsistencies at 12:51 AM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

I love this so much - viral dance challenges aren't my favourite thing, but apparently buffet trays and line dancing are the magic combination.
posted by carbide at 12:56 AM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

The casualness of the while-eating trope the Angolan collective added in is indeed, erm, delicious.

Here is a translation of lyrics to English, fwiw.

“Jerusalem is my home
Guard me
Walk with me
Do not leave me here
[…]
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here”

Does this promised-land theme have a tradition in South (and pan-) African songwriting?
posted by progosk at 3:16 AM on September 21, 2020

(Some more context on what went into the song’s creation and success.)
posted by progosk at 3:33 AM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

Does this promised-land theme have a tradition in South (and pan-) African songwriting?

I don't know, but I was reminded on the sentiments voiced by The Carter Family here.
posted by Paul Slade at 3:58 AM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

eNCA interpreter Nthabiseng Ndhlovu‘s into-it sign language rendition got noticed, too.
posted by progosk at 4:03 AM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

I love this jump rope one too.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:38 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]

Hypnotic song! Looks like I've got an earworm for the next few days.

Agreed! Does it also mean we're done with trap music? That would be okay with me.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:30 AM on September 21, 2020

Days later and this song is still floating through my brain throughout the day. It's really beautiful.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:26 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]

A bit more history.
posted by meinvt at 12:26 PM on September 27, 2020 [1 favorite]