Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the poem/spoken word "Why Is We Americans" by Amiri Baraka (also known as Imamu Amiri Baraka; and LeRoi Jones)

Information about Amiri Baraka is given in the Addendum to this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, sociological, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Amiri Baraka for his life's legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Def Poetry - Amiri Baraka - Why is We Americans



urbanrenewalprogram, Published on Aug 26, 2010

Amiri Baraka in Season 1 Episode 4 of Def Poetry Jam

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TEXT - "WHY IS WE AMERICANS" by AMIRI BARAKA

From https://genius.com/Amiri-baraka-why-is-we-americans-excerpt-annotated
"[Intro:]
Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, the legendary Amiri Baraka.

[Amiri Baraka:]
This is an excerpt from a poem called: Why is We Americans. But reality is an excerpt on Television.

Why is We Americans? Why is We Americans?

Bu-de-daaaa. Bu-de-daaaa. Bu-de-daaaa. Bu-de-daaaa. Bu-do-do. Be-De-De-De-Bu-De-Bu-Bup-Boo-Boo.

What I want is me. For real. I want me and my self. And what that is is what I be and what I see and feel and who is me in the. What it is, is who it is, and when it me its what is be….I’m gone be here, if I want, like I said, self determination, but I ain’t come from a foolish tribe, we wants the mule the land, you can make it three hundred years of blue chip stock in the entire operation. We want to be paid, in a central bank the average worker farmer wage for all those years we gave it free. Plus we want damages, for all the killings and the fraud, the lynchings, the missing justice, the lies and frame-ups, the unwarranted jailings, the tar and featherings, the character and race assassinations. historical slander, ugly caricatures, for every sambo, step and fechit flick, we want to be paid, for every hurtful thing you did or said. For all the land you took, for all the rapes, all the rosewoods and black wall streets you destroyed. All the mis-education, jobs loss, segregated shacks we lived in, the disease that ate and killed us, for all the mad police that drilled us. For all the music and dances you stole. The styles. The language. The hip clothes you copped. The careers you stopped. All these are suits, specific litigation, as represent we be like we, for reparations for damages paid to the Afro-American nation.

Bu-de-daaaa. Bu-de-daaaa. Bu-de-daaaa.

We want education for all of us and anyone else in the black belt hurt by slavery. For all the native peoples even them poor white people you show all the time as funny, all them abners and daisy maes, them Beverly Hill Billies who never got to no beverly hills. who never got to Harvard on they grandfathers wills. we want reparations for them, right on, for the Mexicans whose land you stole. For all of North Mexico you call Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, all that, all that, all that, all that, Bu-de-daaaa do do bap bap bap baaa du de do.
All that you gotta give up, autonomy and reparations. To the Chicanos, and the Native Americans, who souls you ripped out with their land, give Self-Determination, Regional autonomy, that’s what my we is askin, and they gon do the same. when they demand it, like us again, in they own exploited name. Yeh the education that’s right two hundred…years. We want a central stash, a central bank, with democratically elected trustees, and a board elected by us all, to map out, from the referendum we set up, what we want to spend it on. To build that Malcolm sense Self-Determination as Self-Reliance and Self Respect and Self Defense, the will of what the good Dr. Du Bois beat on – true self consciousness. Simply the psychology of Freedom.

Bu-de-daaaa Bu-de-daaaa Pu de-daaaa Pu de-daaaa bap bap bap bap bu de bu de bu de bu bu.

Then we can talk about bein American. Then we can listen – then we can listen without the undercurrent of desire to first set your ass on fire. We will only talk of voluntary unity, of autonomy, as vective arms of self-determination. If there is democracy in you that is where it will be shown. this is the only way we is Americans. This is the only truth that can be told. OTHERWISE there is no future between us but war. And we is rather lovers and singers and dancers and poets and drummers and actors and runners and elegant heartbeats of the suns flame….but we is also to the end of our silence and sitdown. We is at the end of being under your ignorant smell your intentional hell. Either give us our lives or plan to forfeit your own.
-snip-
About "Why Is We Americans" created by atrklja, 2014
"This excerpt was originally part of the first season of the HBO spoken-word series titled Def Jam Poetry, which aired from the years 2002-2007. Artists featured on the show include Dave Chappelle,The Last Poets, Jewel, Jamie Foxx as well as many others. Russel Simmons, co-creator, was quoted stating that “… artists feel their voices are powerful and they’re going to use them more, I think, in promoting social change in political climates that affect their ideas” in relation to the series and it’s impact (Ogg). The show has since been granted the Tony Award, the Peabody Award, been on Broadway as well as produced a book. “Why is We Americans” excerpt can also be found as a part of a longer feature on his life provided by the site Democracy Now.

Baraka himself was known as an influential Civil Rights Activist as well as a Poet, Critic, Writer and Scholar. Having been involved and influenced by Beat poetry, Black Nationalism and Marxism, Amiri changed his views on his art and it’s purpose throughout his life. While this poem is situated during the later years of his artistry, his varied political and social beliefs remain a feature within this work. He specifically discusses the tension created by the Civil War in American from a black perspective. Both style and prose in “Why is We Americans” are characteristic of his reputation of being a controversial artist, often receiving mixed reviews of his work."
-snip-
This comment is reformatted for this pancocojams post to enhance its readability.

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ADDENDUM: INFORMATION ABOUT AMIRI BARAKA

Amiri Baraka (1934-2014): Poet-Playwright-Activist Who Shaped Revolutionary Politics, Black Culture



Democracy Now!, Published on Jan 10, 2014

http://www.democracynow.org - We spend the hour looking at the life and legacy of Amiri Baraka, the poet, playwright and political organizer who died Thursday at the age of 79. Baraka was a leading force in the black arts movement of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1963 he published "Blues People: Negro Music in White America," known as the first major history of black music to be written by an African American. A year later he published a collection of poetry titled "The Dead Lecturer" and won an Obie Award for his play, "Dutchman." After the assassination of Malcolm X in 1965 he moved to Harlem and founded the Black Arts Repertory Theater. In the late 1960s, Baraka moved back to his hometown of Newark and began focusing more on political organizing, prompting the FBI to identify him as "the person who will probably emerge as the leader of the pan-African movement in the United States." Baraka continued writing and performing poetry up until his hospitalization late last year, leaving behind a body of work that greatly influenced a younger generation of hip-hop artists and slam poets. We are joined by four of Baraka's longtime comrades and friends: Sonia Sanchez, a renowned writer, poet, playwright and activist; Felipe Luciano, a poet, activist, journalist and writer who was an original member of the poetry and musical group The Last Poets; Komozi Woodard, a professor of history at Sarah Lawrence College and author of "A Nation Within a Nation: Amiri Baraka and Black Power Politics"; and Larry Hamm, chairman of the People's Organization for Progress in Newark, New Jersey.

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From https://www.biography.com/people/amiri-baraka-9198235
"Amiri Baraka is an African-American poet, activist and scholar. He was an influential black nationalist and later became a Marxist.

Synopsis
Amiri Baraka (formerly LeRoi Jones) was born in Newark, New Jersey, on October 7, 1934. After three years in the U.S. Air Force, Jones joined the Beat movement in Greenwich Village. After the assassination of Malcolm X, he took the name Amiri Baraka and became involved in the Black Nationalist poetry and literature scenes. He later identified himself as a Marxist. Baraka died on January 9, 2014 at the age of 79.

Early Life
Amiri Baraka was born Everett LeRoi Jones on October 7, 1934, in Newark, New Jersey. After developing an interest in poetry and jazz in high school, Baraka attended Howard University, where he changed his name to LeRoi James. He earned his degree in English in 1954, and then joined the United States Air Force. After three years of service, Baraka received a dishonorable discharge for owning inappropriate texts.

Baraka then moved to Manhattan, where, in addition to attending Columbia University and The New School, he became a prominent artist in the Greenwich Village scene and befriended Beat poets such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. He published their and other poets' work in the newly founded Totem Press. In 1961, Baraka published his first major collection of poetry, Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note. His 1964 play, The Dutchman, which addressed racial tensions and American blacks' repressed hostility toward whites, gained him fame and acclaim.

Political Activism
After a trip to Cuba, Baraka disassociated with the apolitical Beat movement in favor of addressing racial politics. The assassination of Malcolm X was a turning point in his life. Afterward, he disavowed his old life—including his marriage to Hettie Cohen—and changed his name to Amiri Baraka. He became a black nationalist, moved to Harlem and founded the Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School. The company dissolved after a few months, however, and Bakara moved back to Newark and founded the Spirit House Players. Baraka fully immersed himself in Newark, becoming a leader of the city's African-American community.

In 1968, Baraka became a Muslim and added the prefix Imamu, meaning "spiritual leader," to his name. In 1974, however, he dropped the prefix, identifying as a Marxist.

Later Life & Death
Baraka is known for his aggressive, incendiary style. His writing is controversial and has often polarized readers. His poem "Somebody Blew up America," suggesting that Israel and American leaders knew of the 9/11 attacks before they happened, was condemned for being anti-Semitic. After the public outcry against the poem, Baraka was fired from his position as New Jersey's poet laureate.

A prolific writer, Baraka has penned more than 50 books, including fiction, music criticism, essays, short stories, poetry and plays. In 1984, he published The Autobiography of LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka. He's taught at many universities, including the New School for Social Research, San Francisco State University and Yale University. Before retirement, he served as professor emeritus of Africana Studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook for 20 years.

Baraka died on January 9, 2014 in Newark, New Jersey at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife, Amina Baraka, two daughters from his first marriage and four children from his second.

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From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiri_Baraka
..."In 1967, Baraka (still Leroi Jones) visited Maulana Karenga in Los Angeles and became an advocate of his philosophy of Kawaida, a multifaceted, categorized activist philosophy that produced the "Nguzo Saba," Kwanzaa, and an emphasis on African names.[9] It was at this time that he adopted the name Imamu Amear Baraka.[1] Imamu is a Swahili title for "spiritual leader", derived from the Arabic word Imam (إمام). According to Shaw, he dropped the honorific Imamu and eventually changed Amear (which means "Prince") to Amiri.[1] Baraka means "blessing, in the sense of divine favor."[1]”...
-snip-
As a member of the cultural nationalist organization Committee For Unified Newark (CFUN) from 1967-August 1969. During most of that time Amiri Baraka was the head of that organization and was known by the title "Imamu".

I was aware that Imamu Baraka either was or used to be Muslim, but no Islamic or any other religious teachings were given in that organization. I do however recall that some people (perhaps also Amiri Baraka) voluntarily fasted during the Islamic observation of Ramadan.

I don’t recall Imamu Baraka’s name being spelled “Amear” and not “Amiri” (the standard Swahili spelling of that name).

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information and commentary about the African American sources and other sources for the female name "Daisha" and similarly pronounced female names.

This post is part of pancocojams' ongoing series on names and nicknames.

The content of this post is presented for etymological and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

DISCLAIMER:
This article does not indicate or imply that African American females or other Black female are the only ones with this name. However, this post does indicate that the majority of females with the name "Daisha" and similarly pronounced names are Black.

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PANCOCOJAMS NOTE
This recent article about a Louisiana teacher with the name "Deyshia" was the impetus for this post:
From https://www.today.com/news/handcuffed-teacher-deyshia-hargrave-opens-about-her-arrest-school-board-t121073
Handcuffed teacher Deyshia Hargrave opens up about her arrest at school board meeting
Jan. 11, 2018 at 8:52 AM Eun Kyung Kim

The Louisiana teacher who was handcuffed after being kicked out of a school board meeting in which she questioned the superintendent’s hefty pay raise is speaking out in her first interview following her arrest and encouraging others to take a stand.

A video of the dramatic arrest of Deyshia Hargrave has sparked outrage after the middle school English teacher spoke up Monday night at a Vermilion Parish School Board meeting.”...
-snip-
A photograph of Deyshia Hargrave and two videos are embedded in this article. Both videos include the pronunciation of the name “Deyshia” as "DAY-shah" or "DAY-shuh".

For the purpose of this post, it's important to note that Deyshia Hargrave appears to be a White woman. Prior to reading this article, because of her given name, I assumed that this teacher was Black. My (probably) erroneous assumption was based on the fact that the only people I knew or had heard of with the name "Daisa" (and similarly pronounced names) are Black. My assumption was also based on the fact that the name "Daisha" end with the "sha" sound which is very popular among contemporary (late 1960 to date) African Americans.

As a preface to a compilation of excerpts about the name "Daisha", here's a note that I included in some previous pancocojams post about distinctive African American names:

"African Americans are known to have a larger name pool than most population groups within the United States. Distinctive African American names include names that aren't commonly given in the United States. These names may be from traditional African languages, or from Arabic, or from other languages throughout the world, including certain names from European languages and from Hebrew which aren't that familiar in the United States. Distinctive African American names are also names that are newly created using a number of different strategies. Among these naming strategies are:
-respelling an already existing name so that it more closely fits how it is pronounced

-adding a certain prefix or a certain suffix to an already existing name or to a spelling variant of an existing name, or to a relatively newly coined name. For example, the prefix "La" is mostly, but not only added to certain female names, the prefix "De" is mostly but not always added to certain male names, the suffix "isha" is only added to female names, and the suffix "ious" is only added to male names.

-using capital letter for the first letter that occurs after a prefix

-adding an apostrophe or a hyphen to a name

-combining parts of two names (usually the names of the child's parents) to create the child's name

My interest in what I refer to as "distinctive" African American given names (meaning "first and middle names") was sparked when I received my "African free name"* "Azizi" in 1968. "African free names" is a term that afrocentric African Americans used in the late 1960s and 1970s to refer to traditional African or Arabic given names (or less often, to African or Arabic first names and last names) that were either chosen by individuals or given to individuals by other people. "Free names" replaced the European/Hebrew birth names which were called "slave names".

My name "Azizi" is a Swahili form of the Arabic female name "Aziza". In part because of Swahili's close relationship with Arabic, that East African and Central African language was the first traditional African languages that African Americans used as a source for our names and our children's names. Thanks to the availability of published books on African names in the 1970s, more African Americans began choosing given names from Akan, from Yoruba, Zulu, and from certain other traditional African languages.

[...]

A name could be spelled "the regular way" or spelled differently to more closely conform to the way it sounds. The first letter in the second syllable could be capitalized and/or an apostrophe or hyphen could separate the first syllable from the second syllable. Less often, the name could include an accent mark. And, as the first excerpt given below, the African American custom of conferring distinctive given names began centuries before the late 1960s and 1970s, although that custom appears to have increased since the late 1960s and on. And it's important to note that some distinctive African American originated personal names are more common (among African Americans) than other distinctive African American originated personal names. Also, some people who aren't Black have names that are African American originated or which are most popular among African Americans.

*Some Mormans living in Utah and Idaho have certain naming practices that are similar to African Americans. For example, some distinctive Morman names begin with "La", some names are created by combining two already existing names, and a number of given names include an apostrophe. However, Morman originated are usually different from African American originated “La” names because the "base" names (the names before the prefix or apostraphe) are often unfamiliar to African Americans.

Read my speculation below in the comment section about why I think the "la" prefix is one of the foremost sound preferences among African Americans.
-snip-
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-i-got-my-african-name.html for the 2011 pancocojams post entitled "How I Got My African Name".

** Of course, all names were "made up" at one time or another.

Read my speculation below in the comment section about why I think the "la" prefix for females and males is one of the foremost sound preferences among African Americans.
-snip-
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-i-got-my-african-name.html for the 2011 pancocojams post entitled "How I Got My African Name".

** Of course, all names were "made up" at one time or another."

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SUMMARIZING MY OPINIONS REGARDING THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE NAME "DAISHA" (and similarly pronounced names)
-"Daisha" (and similarly pronounced names) is a given female name that originated in the United States.

-"Daisha" appears to usually be pronounced DAY-shah, but might also be pronounced other ways.

-Most of the females in the United States who have the name "Daisha" are Black, however there are non-Black females who also have that name. (Read comments #10, #30, and #42 in Except #2) below.

--"Daisha" appears to be of relatively recent origin among African Americans (1980s on*). However, the similar spelled (and pronounced?) female names "Diasia" is included Newbell Niles Puckett's list of 1877 - 1937 list of Black American names (as indicated on page 265 of Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd's book Proud Heritage: 11,001 Names for your African American Baby).

-The contemporary (1980s on) use of the name "Daisha" is probably not related to the somewhat similar female name "Dessie". That name is also included in Newbell Niles Puckett's list of 1877 - 1937 list of Black American names (as indicated on page 265 of Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd's book Proud Heritage: 11,001 Names for your African American Baby.)

-The female name "Daisha" may be related to Sherley Anne Williams' 1986 historical novel entitled Dessa Rose about an enslaved Black female with that name https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dessa_Rose may have influenced the creation of the name "Daisha", but I doubt that that name account for the increased selection of that name by Black American. Also, the name "Daisha" predates that book. The earliest date for this name that is given in the comment section of Excerpt #2 in this post is 1980 (comment #44 below).

-From various online comments it appears that the main source for the coinage of the name "Daisha" is the purposely respelled word "deja" from the French term "deja vu". This respelling of the word "Deja" and its use as a given name was heavily influenced by Black model/actress Tyra Banks played the character "Deja" in the n the 1995 African American movie Higher Learning.

-"Daisha" could also be created from combining portions of two already existing given names (such as "David" and "Keisha".

-"Daisha" may sometimes be coined from the Latin name "Dacia" (an ancient Roman province)

-"Daisha" isn't usually derived from the Russian nickname "Dasha" which rhymes with the nickname "Sasha".

-"Daisha" is also probably not related to the Ethiopian name "Dessie" (a place name meaning "my joy") which also has been used as a female given name. Click https://wollo.org/local-history-dessie/ for a detailed Ethiopian article about "Dessie". However, since there's no established meaning for the name "Daisha", that meaning could be used for that name.

-The relative familiarity (among African Americans) with the female name "Daisha" can be partly attributed to that population's high familiarity with the (usually) male name "Deshaun" (and similarly spelled names such as "DaShawn". These contemporary African American originated names are pronounced "DAY-shawn".

-"Daisha" isn't an Arabic name, nor does it necessarily mean "being alive"*. Those idea likely came from the erroneous assumption that "Daisha" is a form of the Arabic female name "Aisha" which means "Life". However, "Aisha" is pronounced "i-EE-sha". But few people report the name "Daisha" being pronounced that way. That said, that meaning could be given for the name "Daisha" as there is not established meaning for that name.

*as indicated on http://www.thenamemeaning.com/daisha/
and
http://www.momjunction.com/articles/muslim-baby-girl-names-with-their-meanings_00330274/#gref
"Daisha:
This feminine Arabic origin name peaked in popularity in the year 1995. So if you want a distinctive name for your daughter, pick this name, meaning ‘alive’."
-snip-
"Daisha" and similarly spelled names aren't included in lists of female Arabic names such as http://tadeebulquran.com/muslim-girls-names-d/

**
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/aisha-and-maisha-name-origins-meanings.html
"Aisha" And "Maisha" (Name Origins, Meanings, Variants, And Pronunciations)

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EXCERPTS FROM ONLINE ARTICLES ABOUT THE NAME "DAISHA"
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From http://www.baby-girl-names.org/d/daisha.htm

[...]

Daisha first appeared in the top thousand girl or boy names during 1995, which is the first year shown on the table. Daisha last appeared in either or both of these name lists during 2001,

[...]

During the last 125 years, parents have used Daisha as a girl's name nearly 100% of the time and almost never as a boy's name. Cumulative counts and total counts shown on the above tables are significantly lower than actual counts because the name Daisha appears in the top 1,000 girl names only 7 times during the last 125 years.

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EXCERPT #2
From http://www.babynameshub.com/girl-names/Daisha.html
Daisha

..."A few facts about the girl's name Daisha:

Records indicate that 1,833 girls in the United States have been named Daisha since 1880.
The greatest number of people were given this name in 1995, when 313 people in the U.S. were given the name Daisha. Those people are now 21 years old.

So ... how do we know this stuff? Baby Names Hub identifies trends by analyzing vast amounts of data made available by the U.S. government and other public sources. This data, including social security statistics, provides detailed information on baby name popularity and trends in the United States.

[...]

[Pancocojams notes: These are selected examples of comments about the name "Daisha" that were given on that page. Note that some commenters indicate that they are White but people think thought that they were Black because of that name. I've added numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only.]

1. "my name is Daisha (day-sha) and i was boorn in 1998 and i love my Name even though people seem to pronounce it wrong they say Day-Jah its annoying but i always say the sh makes what sound. shh day-shha" May. 4, 2013:

**
2. "My name is Daisha (day-sha) and I am always surprised when people actually pronounce it correctly! Usually I get day-eesha or day-jaa. It doesn't bother me though, it is very unique and beautiful, thanks mom!" Jun. 20, 2012:

**
3. "my name is Daisha and i never knew how many people had my name. i met some people with my name before, hate when people pronounce it wrong but its unique and my dad got it from a song he heard." Jan. 27, 2011:

**
4. "I Love My Name. Its Dai'Sha Vaughna And I Think Its Very Unique But People Have That Name And Make It Ghetto ." Jan. 14, 2011:

**
5. "I NAMED MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER DAISHA BC MY VERY FIRST BEST FRIEND WAS NAMED DACIA AND I NAMED HER AFTER THAT GIRL I JUS SPELLED IT DIFFRENTLY ITS PRONOUCED DAY-SHA!:) ITS A BEAUTIFUL" Dec. 14, 2010: Report as inappropriate

**
6. "my name is Daisha and people mispronounce it and i like that its unique and my mom got it from a song called "i love you Daisha" i hate it that people kept calling me die-asha and Dasha what kind of name is that? i never knew so many people had my name i only knew my cousin had my name my is pronounced Daja but my dad wanted it spelled with a s but my mom didn't o well i love my name :)" Dec. 3, 2010:

**
7. "My name is Daisha and it's pronounced day-sha. It gets mis-pronounced on a weekly basis (deja, di-eesha, deesha.) I love it though and wouldn't change it for the world. It is unique!" Oct. 5, 2010:

**
8. "I named my daughter Daisha. It's pronounced like Deja." Jan. 18, 2010

**
9. "Our daughter is named Daisha. We found the name in a book of baby names and changed the spelling form Dacia to Daisha when she was born in 1986. Still many people mispronounce it. We know of two other Daishas named since our daughter was born" Nov. 19, 2009:

**
10. "My name is Daisha and I am 31 years old! I never heard of anyone else with my name until I was 17 years old, back in 1995! I HATED my name when I was younger- but I love how different it is now... And it is funny, because I am a pale pasty white girl and when people meet me they do a double take and almost always say "You're white? Where did your parents get that name?" I have learned to smile and say "My mom was a hippy" That gets a chuckle. I love my name and am so glad I am no longer the only person in the world with it!! =)" Sep. 16, 2009:

**
11. "i named my daughter daisha in 2005 ... i thought i made it up lol untill i googled it one day . :-} i love this name and so does every person that meets her. We have met some DEJA'S around my city but no daisha's. we pronounce it day-sha ... my name is dana so one day my daughter told me our names sound alike and she likes our names i thought that was cute. this is a name for a princess" May. 25, 2009

**
12. "My oldest child name is Daisha.. I also thought I made it up my name is keisha and my husband name is david.I guess I didnt" Aug. 11, 2008

**
13. "i love my name cuz it is unique and not everyone has it..but my school it is like 2 girls with my name dacia,daja, but really my full name is adaisha so that makes me stand out ya digg.. ***LOvE AdAiShA LeShAY" Jul. 22, 2008

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14. "I am actually a Daisha. My mom met a "daisha" but spelled differently. then she changed it up a little and now i am who i am! i like to be unique. hard to find the meaning though. :(" Jul. 9, 2008

**
15. "i LOVE MY NAME AND OMG ITS SO MANY PEOPLE WITH MY NAME LOL HOW TIGHT BUT MY NAME IS DAY-SHA LOL BUT SPELLED DAISHA AND A LOT PEOPLE SAY THE I WITH A E AND I HATE THAT BUT MY FRIENDS SAY MY NAME IS GEHTTO BUT I LOVE MY NAME AND NOT MANY POEPLE HAVE IT IN MY STATE SO IT YOU LIVE IN ST.LOUIS MO AND THIS IS YO NAME PLEASE CHAT WITH ME" Jun. 22, 2008

**
16. "i named my daughter daisha ... i thought i made it up ! lol well i love it and so does everyone else . i have yet to meet any one with it im from nj and there are alot of dejas but thats about it. i try not to say her name to much in public because i always hear people say hey i like that name and i dont want them to steal it !! ;-) nice to hear how older girls love there name i hope my daughter does when she grows up . Daisha is a very unique name fit for a queen !" Jun. 3, 2008

**
17. "My husband and I found the name "Dacia" in a baby book and, as a previous person to post on this site, changed the spelling to "Daisha" as we liked its look better. Yes, it is mispronounced quite often. A lot of people pronounce it like "Dash a" I think it should be clear how to say it but whatever. Everytime her name comes up we are told how beautiful it is and I agree. Her first and middle name are beautiful together - "Daisha Rose"" May. 25, 2008

**
18. "My name is Daisha; pronounced Day-sha!! I love my name...it's eccentric as am I!!! Yes it's always pronounced wrong, written wrong, etc. People are stupid...if you sound it out it sounds just like it's spelled!! BEAUTIFUL NAME!!!" Apr. 24, 2008

**
19. "my name is daisha. People mispronounce my name all the time its DAY sha! i dont like it when people put TA and La infront of Daisha its sounds awful!" Apr. 24, 2008

**
20. "Hi, my name is Daisha:pronounced Day-sha." I often get called many different names; such as Die- eja, or even Daisy!" I know, Daisy?" Anyway, i actually prefer people to pronounce it "Deja" like Deja Vu." I thought i was the only one with this name, but i guess not!" Mar. 23, 2008

**
21. "My name is Daisha, pronounced 'Day-sha' and in high school my not-so-funny economics teacher thought it was funny to call me "De ja vu.""

**
22. "my name is daisha, school was horrible no one could ever get it right they always said daja or die-shay." Aug. 4, 2007

**
23. "My name is Daisha and I have had some crazy experiences with it. I love my name dearly, but sometimes its such a pain to have a name that no one can pronounce. The most common mispronunciation would be something along the lines of die-ee-sha. Odd." Dec. 28, 2006

**
24. "I named my daughter Daisha because my name is La'keisha and my husband name is David. she was born in 1990 and I thought she was the only one with that name.....lol now ity is so popular... I ALSO have a daughter name dalea pronounced dah-lee-ah and a son named Da'nyre pronouced dah-ny-ree"

**
25. "My name is Daisha. It is also pronounced DAY SHA. I like my name. I think it's beautiful. As a unique person, my name helps define me. At first galance, people often call me D-sha, Deja, Dashya, Die-ee-sha. But it does not bother me, I like to correct them." Oct. 25, 2006

**
26. "I love my name. When I was young I hated it because it was unique and now that I am an adult (25) I love it BECAUSE it is unique. I am now making it my goal to name all my kids with unique names. One down ??? to go!! My name is pronounced Daysha (and I do wish it were spelled that way) because I have been called mostly Dai'sha or Dashia. But my mom says she was thinking of the pronounciation of Daisy when choosing the spelling of my name!!! I do know another Daisha, but she spells it Dacia (pronounced the same as mine)!! I am happy to say though that I don't hear it that often at all!!" Aug. 1, 2006

**
27. "my name i is daisha(day-shuh) my mom said she got it from a little girl she used to baby sit but hers was pronounced "deja) she said she just changed it a little,i never liked my name because no one could prononuce it but i have grown to love it thanks mom! congrats to all daisha's we have a great name" Jun. 17, 2006

**
28. "I was born in 1989 and my name id Daisha Sharee'! You say my name like this Day-Shuh Shuh-Ree! I have never met another Daisha in my life I heard of Dayjah's but no Daisha's I love my name because it is different. I think names are very important and I gave my little girl a unique name for that reason. Her name is Xzalyah Shante'se! You say it like this X-Zal-Yuh Shan-Teese!" May. 24, 2006

**
29. "My name is Daishea I have one extra letter I have never met anyone with my name. You pronouce my name Day-she-a." May. 7, 2006

**
30. "Alot of people think I'm black because of my name, but I'm not. It's odd. Kind of funny. But great. Oh and my name is Daisha pronounced Day-Sha and I know of another girl in this town with the same name as me." Mar. 30, 2006

**
31. "My daughter's name is Daisha, it is pronounced Day Sha, but she always get called Danisha." Mar. 17, 2006

**
32. "My Name Is Pronounced Day-Sha.I love My Name It is Very Proper And It is Special.People Say My Name Is Unique And They Call Me Da-Isha Or Daisy.At First I didn't Like It But I started To Love It Like Everyone Else." Feb. 8, 2006

**
33. "My name is also DAISHA and is pronounced day-sha. People generally had a harder time saying it correctly when I was younger but, now I am 23 and my friends learned quickly how to pronounce it correctly. I have met other girls with the name Daisha but they all spelled it completely different and pronounced it as deja'. I love my name because it is very different and I grew or "developed" a personality to fit the uniqueness of my name. :)" Jan. 28, 2006: Report as inappropriate

**
34. "My name is Daisha also. Pronounced Dai'-sha. I had some trouble growing up because for some reason people always wanted to throw in an invisible "n" and call me Danisha. I've learned to love my name despite people's difficulty saying it." Sep. 10, 2005:

**
35. "This is a great name! As you can probably tell, it is my name. I, however, spell my name DaiSha. The "a" sound is long, and people often say "Oh, like daisy." It was very unique, but I once thought it was too unique. Now, my husband and I have given our three girls even more unique names than mine, and I'm okay okay with that now. Very rarely do people pronounce my name correctly at first glance; they'll always say D-Shay or Deja, and it did bother me. I began to just correct them politely by answering their salutations "This is DaiSha" or "It's DaiSha--just change the 'y' to 'i' and add -sha." It;s who I am now and I love it!!!" Jul. 12, 2005

**
36. "it is pronounced day-shuh. people somtimes spell it daysha or dashia. I've never met some one my age named daisha" Jul. 9, 2005

**
37. "I love my name. (day-sha) people often say it like Die-ishia. Ive grown to lik it. Ive met people with my name and I have 2 cousins with the same name. I love that its unique and not lik isabella or amanda ;) those are popular and boring namea" Jul. 22, 2012

**
38. "my name is De'Shah (Day-Sha) i have a love/hate relationship w/ it. i get called deshawn deshay deshawna deaishia ugh its just seems like a half name like it should be more" Sep. 19, 2011:

**
39. "MY NAME IS DACIA PRONOUNCED DAISHA GROWING UP IN THE 70'S, AND 80'S I NEVER HEARD ANYONE WITH THAT NAME. I LOVE MY NAME IT IS VERY UNIQUE AND AS TIME GO BY I HEAR IT MORE AND MORE. IT WAS GIVEN TO ME FROM MY DAD." Feb. 28, 2011

**
40. "My name is D'Aisha pronounced (Die-ee-sha) my name get mispronounce on a daily basis even when I was little. I got so used to it that mostly I just go alone with how people would pronounce it unless they are way off..I love my name!! Thanx auntie!!" Oct. 25, 2010:

**
41. "Well I am 29 years old and my name is Dahisha. Some different, but i like it a lot." Jun. 2, 2010:

**
42. "GRAND DAUGHTER THEY ASK IF SHE IS BLACK WHEN SHE NOT WITH ME" Apr. 15, 2010

**
43. "My daughters name is Daisha. I thought I was being creative and I thought I invented it for her. Her grand father's name is David plus her great grandfather's name Elisha. I combined the two names. Hence: Daisha. I love it." Mar. 2, 2010:

**
44. "I named my oldest daughter Daisha born, 1980. I received that name from someone I had met in a Payless store while I was pregnant with her. Her father and uncle changed the spelling from the baby book spelling Dacia to Daisha. I was not so excited about the spelling change but it made his family happy to contribute to her naming. That was most important to me. Daisha LOVES her name." Apr. 26, 2008:

**
45. "i thought i was the first one to use this name i live in holland... nobody i know has the same name i pronounce it like the word deja veu because thats the most beautyfull way to say it" Jan. 10, 2008: "i thought i was the first one to use this name i live in holland... nobody i know has the same name i pronounce it like the word deja veu" Jan. 10, 2008:

**
46. "my name is Daisha.I am nine years old and I live in the u.k.I dont know anyone else called Daisha and when I tell people my name, they always ask me to tell them again which is quite annoying but I`m used to it now.I don't know any other Daishas in this country.At fist I didn't really like my name but now I think it's kinda cool." Dec. 11, 2006:

**
47. "My baby girl is Daisha people often compliment the name but sometimes she gets called Dah Isha. In Navajo it means little sister." Nov. 26, 2006

**
48. "my name is Daisha it's pronouced Day-sha I have never met any one with my name, people always say daija but i always correct them because i hate when people screw it up. I have always loved my name" Nov. 16, 2006:

**
49. "My name is LaDaisha i get called Daisha most of the time the only way others have a hard time with my name it seems like if they are "TEACHERS"" Nov. 14, 2006:

**
50. "My name is Daisha!It is pronounced DAY-SHA!!People call me DEJA,DAIAISHA,DAI'ISHA.i'VE been called that so many times I am used to it now,but I still would like someone to call me by my real name!!" Sep. 25, 2006:

**
51. "My Name is Daisha, and all the theachers say me danisha , and a lot of diferents names but always my friends tell me ýWhat is your name Daýsha or Daisha and i dont now _DVM" Sep. 15, 2006

**
52. "my name is Daisha and its pronounced Day Sha alot of people have problems saying it. its a very beautiful name and i love it!" Sep. 12, 2006:

**
53. "I have a daughter name "Daisha" and never heard any where else! I got it from the boys name Daishaun, I have never had a problem with anyone saying her name wrong! I think it is a beautiful name!" Aug. 28, 2006

**
54. "My daughters name is Daisha...pronounced with a long a...we named her in 1993.We have never met anyone with the same name." Aug. 15, 2006:

**
55. "My name is spelled Daysha, and I have always loved it, even though most people don't pronounce it correctly. I get compliments all the time, and two of my classmates even named their daughters Daysha!! Since college, I have met probably 4-5 people with my name." Jul. 25, 2006
"my name is daisha but no one seems to know the meaning of this name i have heard of other daisha's out there but havent met any most people think that i am african american when gthey hear my name" Jul. 6, 2006

**
56. "i named my daughter daishanai (day-sha-naa)she adjusted well its different and she is beautiful like her name ..so, it worked out" May. 8, 2006: Report as inappropriate

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Eited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post lists selected distinctive Mormon names which I believe are also contemporary (1960s to date) distinctive names that are largely found among African Americans.

A quote about a famous African American with that name is given after some of these selected names. I've also added other brief notes about some of these selected names.

This post is part of pancocojams' ongoing series on distinctive names and nicknames.

The content of this post is presented for etymological and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
DISCLAIMER
I don't consider myself to be an expert on African American naming practices. However, I am African American and I have been informally studying African American naming practices and I have been collecting examples of distinctive African American names for more than twenty years.

In contrast, my only knowledge of Mormon names and Mormon naming practices is what I've read online.

This isn't meant to be a comprehensive overview of this topic.

With regard to the list of shared names, I've included those contemporary* African American names that I have directly known, read of, or heard. I therefore know that other people might arrive at a different list of these names than the one that I've given below.

*By contemporary, I mean names that were given from the 1960 on. The late 1960s was the beginning of the Black power movement which fostered an increase by African Americans of non-standard given names.

There are other, largely no longer given "older names" in those Mormon lists which that some African Americans had prior to the 1960s. However, I've not added names from that category onto this "shared names" list that is found below.

This list also doesn't include examples of what I consider to be "different", "trendy" names from these online sources that are now popular in the general American population including African Americans. "Brookelyn", a variant spelling of "Brooklyn" is an example of that category of different names.

Additions and corrections to both of these categories are welcome.

****
SELECTED DISTINCTIVE MORMON NAMES AND DISTINCTIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN NAMES [SHARED MALE NAMES]
Pancocojams Editor's Note: I've included comments about some of these names after the name itself.

EXCERPT #1:
List of Mormon names from http://www.just-think-it.com/sbn/mormon-m.htm"1,500,000 baby names MALE Mormon baby names"

A, B
C, D
Cordell
D'Monte
Daquan
-snip-
Among African Americans, this name is usually pronounced "DAY-quan".
-snip-
Darnell
Delmar
Deontre'
-snip-
Among African Americans, this name is spelled "Deondre" without the apostrophe at the end. It is also spelled "DeAndre" and "Deaundray" among other spellings.

Deron
-snip-
Among African Americans, this name has various other spellings, including capitalizing the "r". Often a suffix is added such as "Deronte (usually pronounced "day-RON-tay)
-snip-
DeShawn
-snip-
This contemporary male name is very popular among certain populations of African Americans. It is usually pronounced "Day-shawn". Instead of Deshawn, the prefix could be "Da" (pronounced "day") and, like other De/day names, its nickname is often "Day Day"). The "shawn" element is spelled "shon", "shaun", or "sean". This name could also have an added suffix (such as "te"/"tay" or "dre"/"dray".

One female form of this name among African Americans is "Deshawna".
-snip-
Devon
-snip-
Among African Americans, in the name "Devon" usually has a suffix (same as DeShawn), but I believe that the "De" in Devonte (for example) is usually pronounced "dah") and not "day". An African American spelling of this name is "DeVante". A famous example: "DeVante Swing" - member of the American R&B quartet with brothers DeVante Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodeci
-snip-
DeWayne
-snip-
This name is also spelled "Dwayne" among African Americans. A famous example of an African American with this name is Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr., born January 17, 1982) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwyane_Wade

E, F
G, H
I, J
Jacari
-snip-
Among African Americans, I believe that this male name is usually spelled "Jaquari" (pronunciation: jah-KAH-ree or jah-CAR-ree). An "African American" variant form of this male name is "Jaquarius".
Jaden
Jadon
K, L
Kenrick
LaMar
Larnell
-snip-
This name serves as an example of the frequent use of the "ell" suffix in Mormon male (and female) names and in African American male (and female) names.
-snip-
LaVar
LeVar
-snip-
Levardis Robert Martyn "LeVar" Burton Jr. (born February 16, 1957) is an American actor, presenter, director and author. He is best known for his roles as the host of the long-running PBS children's series Reading Rainbow, Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the young Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeVar_Burton
-snip-

M, N
Mondell
Among African Americans, this name is usually given as "Montell".
"Montell Du'Sean Barnett (born December 3, 1968), known professionally as Montell Jordan, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for his 1995 single "This Is How We Do It"."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montell_Jordan
-snip-
Notice the middle name Du'Sean which is a rare example of a distinctive African American apostrophe name that includes the widely used "Sean" ("Shawn", "Shon", "Shaun") name.
-snip-
Montel Brian Anthony Williams (born July 3, 1956) is an American television personality, radio talk show host, and actor. He is best known as host of the long-running The Montel Williams Show"...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montel_Williams.

O, P
Odell
Q, R
S, T
Shay
-snip-
Among African American, this is usually a female nickname, often doubled ("Shay Shay")
Shon
-snip-
Among African Americans, "Shon" may be most often spelled "Shaun" or (when spelled various ways) is an element that is part of longer male or female names.
-snip-
Tevyn
-snip-
This name serves as an example of the Mormon custom of substituting a "y" for the letter "i" in names. Among African Americans, "Tevyn" is usually spelled "Tevin".
"Tevin Jermod Campbell (born November 12, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter and actor."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tevin_Campbell
-snip-
Tevin Ford Coleman (born April 16, 1993) is an American football running back for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tevin_Coleman
-snip-
Trace-Denzel
-snip-
I added the name "Trace-Denzel" to give an example of a Mormon hyphenated name.
-snip-
"Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954)[1] is an American actor, director, and producer. He has received three Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award,[2] and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film Glory (1989) and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day (2001)"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzel_Washington
-snip-
Travon
-snip-
"Trayvon" is another spelling of this name among African Americans. A famous example of this name is Trayvon Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012), a 17-year-old African American from Miami Gardens, Florida, who was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trayvon_Martin
-snip-
U, V
W, X
Y, Z

****
SELECTED DISTINCTIVE MORMON NAMES AND DISTINCTIVE CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN NAMES [SHARED FEMALE NAMES]
Excerpt #2: From http://www.just-think-it.com/sbn/mormon-f.htm http://www.just-think-it.com/sbn/mormon-f.htm"1,500,000 baby names FEMALE Mormon baby names"

A, B
Alena
Aleta
Alina
Alinda
Almira
Anniyah
Ardell
Ardella
Arletta
Arminta
Askia
-snip-
"Askia" is a male African name for a famous historical figure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Askia_Mohammad_I. I've no direct experience with it being used as a female or male name, but a Google search resulted in the male name Askia Booker (a Black male basketball player) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Askia_Booker
-snip-
Azi
-snip-
This is one of the nicknames that people have used for my (female) Kiswahili originated name "Azizi". I've been told that the Arabic form of this name "Aziza" is the most often used female form of the male name "Aziz".

C, D
Chandra
Chanice
-snip-
Among African Americans, the name "Chanice" may be spelled "Shanice", and is an example of the frequent us of "Sha" and "Cha" prefixes in African American names. Those prefixes are also found, but not as frequently, in Mormon names.
-snip-
Shanice Lorraine Wilson[1] (born May 14, 1973), better known simply as Shanice, is an American singer–songwriter, actress and dancer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanice
-snip-
The suffix "ice" (pronounced "ees") is found many more African American names than Mormon names. The African American names with the suffix "ice" are usually female, but one common example is the male name "Maurice".
-snip-
Channa
Channelle
Chantell
Charis
-snip-
Among African Americans, this name is given as "Karis".
-snip-
Cherysa
-snip-
The name "Cherise" that is relatively common among African Americans. This name is similar to the name "Cherysa" that is found in this Mormon name list. The substitution of a "y" for an "i" appears to be a commonly spelling practice among some Mormons according to several online articles including https://nameberry.com/blog/mormon-baby-names-traditions-and-trends"Mormon Baby Names: Traditions and trends" quote: "Girls’ names almost always have a letter y in them somewhere. Mormons love the letter y. Which explains the popularity of names that end with –ley (or more commonly –lee or –leigh), and names that end with –lyn"...
-snip-
Chiara
-snip-
"Ciara" is another spelling of this name. "Ciara Princess Harris (born October 25, 1985),[1] known mononymously as Ciara ... is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, model and actress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciara
-snip-

Chenille
Claudean
-snip-
"Claudine is a 1974 American comedy-drama, romantic film, produced by Third World Films and distributed by 20th Century Fox... it is noted for being one of the few mainstream films featuring an African-American cast released during that time which was not a blaxploitation film."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudine_(film)
-snip-
DaNeen
-snip-
Among African Americans, this name is also spelled "Deneen" and pronounced dah-NEEN.
-snip-
Danetta
Danica
-snip-
The "ica" suffix is often given as "ika" in contemporary "African American" names.
-snip-
Dannika
Dawnica
-snip-
Judging from the lists of Mormon names that I've read, "Dawn" is a popular name element among some Mormon, similar to the popularity of the name element "Shawn" (and its variant spellings "Shon", "Shaun" and "Sean" among some African Americans.
-snip-
Deja
-snip-
Deja was the name of the fictional character that Tyra Banks played in the 1995 movie Higher Learning. According to http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Deja : "Deja entered the list in 1980-1989 and reached its peak position of #182 in the U.S. in the year 1996, and is presently at #1947. (2016 BIRTH STATISTICS)"
-snip-
Deneen
-snip-
I know an African American woman name "Deneen" who was born in the 1970s.
Deneil
Denica
DeShaune
-snip-
This name is very similar to the multiple African American names (both male and female) which include the element "Shaun" or another spelling of that name. Female names with this element may end with "a" (i.e. DeShauna". The "de" prefix in those names is usually pronounced "day".
-snip-
Desta
-snip-
The name "Desta" is found on online list of Ethiopian female names, with the meaning "happiness". http://www.top-100-baby-names-search.com/ethiopian-baby-names.html. I know one African American woman with this name.
-snip-
Destany
-snip-
The female name "Destiny" is relatively common among African Americans.
-snip-
DeVonte
-snip-
Among African Americans, this name is usually given to males. (Read the name list for males that is found above.)
-snip-
Dorenda
Donetta
E, F
Felisa
-snip-
Among African Americans, this name is usually spelled "Felicia". This name has been popularized by the saying "Bye Felicia".

An uncommon African American spelling of this name is Phylicia Rashād ...(June 19, 1948) is an American actress, singer and stage director. She is known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–92), which earned her Emmy Award nominations in 1985 and 1986."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylicia_Rashad
-snip-
Florice
Heaven-Lee
Heavenly-Melanie
-snip-
The name "Heaven" and "Heavenly" are found among African Americans. I added these example of Mormon names to document the use of hyphenated names are among Mormons. I'm not aware if these names are hyphenated among African Americans.
-snip-
G, H
I, J
Imari
-snip-
The name "Imari" is similar in spelling and pronunciation to the name "Amari". African Americans have used the name Amari as male and female name. "Amari" is said to be of Swahili origin, but it could have been coined by African Americans from the male name "Amiri" (meaning "prince").

"Amari Cooper (born June 17, 1994) is an American football wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Alabama where he was the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver and a unanimous All-American in 2014. Widely considered the top wide receiver prospect of the 2015 NFL Draft, he was selected with the fourth overall pick by the Raiders."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amari_Cooper.
-snip-
Isha
The Isha prayer (Arabic: صلاة العشاء‎ ṣalāt al-ʿišāʾ... "night prayer") is the night-time daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. It is the fifth of the five daily prayers– (salat) [Islamic evening begins at maghrib]."... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isha_prayer
-snip-
Among African Americans, the name "Isha" may be considered a clip of the now relatively widely known Arabic name "Aisha" ("Ayisha", "Ayesha, "Iesha" etc.). "Iesha" is the title of a 1990 hit R&B record about a girl with that name. The song was recorded by the African American young boys group "Another Bad Creation (ABC)".
-snip-
Janielle
Among African Americans, this name is also spelled "Janelle" and may be best known because of the singer Janelle Monae.

"Janelle Monáe Robinson...born December 1, 1985)[10] is an American recording artist, record producer, actress and model"... K, Lhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janelle_Mon%C3%A1e
-snip-
Javan
-snip-
Among African Americans, the name "Javan" is usually given as "Javon". "Javon" is usually considered a male name.
-snip-
Jayla
"Jayla" is a frequently found contemporary name among African Americans.
Jelisa
Jelissa
Jenica
Jennica
Jinaya
-snip-
Among African Americans, the female name "Jinaya" is usually spelled "Jeniya". This contemporary name is widely found among African Americans.
-snip-
Jontay
-snip-
Among African Americans "Jontay" ("Jonte") is a male or female name. This name may have been coined by African Americans by rhyming the male name "Donte".
-snip-
K, L
Kieri
Kieron
Kiersha
Kirsha
Kishia
-snip-
The three names "Kiersha", "Kirsha", and "Kishia" are similar in spelling to the very frequently used contemporary African American name "Keisha" (found with multiple spellings). I believe that this name became so popular among African Americans as a result of this actress: "Keshia Knight Pulliam (born April 9, 1979)[2] is an American actress. She is known for her childhood role as Rudy Huxtable, the youngest child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable at just the age of 5 to 13, on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–92)...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keshia_Knight_Pulliam.
-snip-
Lachelle
LaTisha
-snip-
Read the note about the name "Tisha" below.
-snip-
LaShawna
Lavonda
-snip-
There are other "La" names in this list of Mormon female names. While I recognize other names on this list as ones that African Americans have, those names that I recognize appear to me to predate the late 1960s (names such as LaRinda, Lorinda, (among African Americans "Larenda"), "LaRue", "LaQuita", Latrina, and "Lavada" (pronounced lah-VEY-dah), LaVonne (LaVaughn) are names of females who I've known who are in their fifties and sixties. A famous example of the name "LaVaughn" among African Americans is "Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American lawyer and writer who was First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is married to the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady. Raised on the South Side of Chicago".https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama.
-snip-
M, N
M'Kayla
Macayla
McKayla
-snip-
The female name "Makayla" (pronounced mah-KAY-lah) is frequently found among African Americans.
-snip-
Malia
Malia (pronunciation mah-LEE-ah) is the oldest daughter of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Her younger sister is named Natasha (Sasha). http://csipresident.wikia.com/wiki/Malia_Obama.
-snip-
Niecee
Among African American "Neecy" is a nickname for the name "Denise".
-snip-
O, P
Q, R
Rhiana
Among Americans and others, this name is most widely associated with the singer "Rihanna".
"Robyn Rihanna Fenty ... February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, and actress."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna
-snip-
S, T
Risha
-snip-
This is a rare example of an "isha" (pronounced "eesha") suffix Arabic name that is found among African Americans.
-snip-
Shahara
-snip-
This name is usually given as "Sahara" among African Americans.
Shamaine
Shamaya
Shanel
-snip-
This name is usually given as "Chanel" among African Americans.
-snip-
Shanisha
Shantay
-snip-
"Shontae" ("Shonte", "Shauntay" etc) are very frequently found contemporary African American female names.
Shantel
Shantell
Shantelle
Shawntae
Shayla-rynne
Among African Americans, the name "Shayla" is found without the other hyphenated name.
-snip-
Taleah
Taleesha
Talesha
-snip-
"Talesha" is an example of "eesha" suffix names that are relatively common among post 1960s African American female names.
-snip-
Tamecia
-snip-
Among African Americans, "Tamecia" is given as "Tamika".
"Tamika" is pronounced tah-ME-kah. I agree with the following commenter that African Americans in the early 1960s coined the "Tamika" was coined by African from the Japanese as a form of the name "Tamiko":
"It is unlikely that Tamika has anything to do with "tamu"*. It is more likely just an African-American variation of Tamiko. If you check the SSA data you will see that in 1968, the first year both Tamiko and Tamika are among the top 1000, there were more Tamikos born than Tamikas. The name was probably introduced to the United States by the 1963 film _A Girl Named Tamiko_. This film, though about a Japanese woman falling in love with a White American man, was in many ways an anti-racism story. This appealed to African-Americans back in the 1960s, and some of them who saw the movie named daughters Tamiko because of it. The very title of the film of course would encourage this. In American accents, though, Tamiko easily can be mistaken for "Tamika", and since -a is a much more common ending for feminine names in English than -o is, African-American parents who heard the name outside of its film context assumed that "Tamika" was how it should be spelled.
― clevelandkentevans 7/5/2005"
*"Tamu" (mentioned in that comment) was a Swahili female name that was popularized in the early 1970s http://myauctionfinds.com/2012/11/02/readers-ask-about-tamu-and-terri-lee-dolls/.

I believe that the name "Tamu" didn't "take" among African Americans because we don't like the beginning or ending sound of the letter "u".
-snip-
Tanisha
Tenika
-snip-
"Teneka" ("Tenieka") is a form of the relatively widely found post 1960s African American name "Tamika".
-snip-
Tiana
The name "Tiana" (pronounced tee-AH-nah) is best known because it is the name of the first Black princess in the Disney franchise.
"Tiana is a fictional main character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' 49th animated feature film The Princess and the Frog (2009). Created by directors Ron Clements and John Musker and animated by Mark Henn, Tiana is voiced by Anika Noni Rose as an adult, while Elizabeth M. Dampier voices the character as a child. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiana_(Disney)
-snip-
Tisha
-snip-
The name Tisha (pronounced "TEE-sha") is best known because of African American actress Tisha Campbell-Martin is probably best known as the lead actress in the television sicom Martin.
-snip-
Toshia
-snip-
This name is given as "Tasha", "Tosha" among African Americans.
-snip-
U, V
Venetia
Venita
Vonda
W, X
Y, Z
Zion
Among African Americans, the name "Zion" is given relatively frequently to females or males. I have of often seen the name "Zion" paired with the name "Zaire" (zi-AIR) as a twin name, in keeping with the African American custom of giving twins names that begin with the same letter of the alphabet.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the 2016 Haitian Kompas song "Map Marye" by Klass.

Information about this music group is included in this post along with lyrics for this song in Haitian Creole and their English translation.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Klass for this song and thanks to all those who quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: KLASS - Map Marye official music video!



kompagrooves, Published on Aug 5, 2016
-snip-
Here's a comment in English from that video's discussion thread:
Oasisfullfilled, 2016
"One thing I can say about Klass they be talking about real subjects that people go through. This is the perfect song to send to your peeps when they triping. Haitians forget what they went through and put that pressure on their kids, they mean well but sometimes they can be overbearing : ) But I love my Haitian Parents and people. Klass it is baby!!!"

****
LYRICS: MAP MARYE

Papi pa di m ou bliye
Mati ou di m ou te pase
Lè ou ak manmanm te fèk rankontre
Se paske w te kenbe jodya m ekziste

[Pre-chorus]
Pouki ou vle pou pitit ou eritye
Mizè ou te andire, se pa sa l ta dwe ye
Se li mwen vle, benediksyon ou konte
Men si w pa aksepte, m ap oblije marye

[Chorus]
M ap marye, oh m ap marye avè l
Li respekte fanmi l, nan li mwen wè lavi m
M ap marye, oh m ap marye avè l
M pa mande pèmisyon, m ap chèche benediksyon

[Verse 2]
Manmi ou di m ou pa vle wè l
Ou di m san w pa ale avè l
Sonje se mwen ki pral viv avèl
Li fè lavi m pi bèl ohh

[Pre-chorus]
Pouki ou vle pou pitit ou eritye
Mizè ou te andire, se pa sa l ta dwe ye
Se li mwen vle, benediksyon ou konte
Men si w pa aksepte, m ap oblije marye

[Chorus]
M ap marye, oh m ap marye avè l
Li respekte fanmi l, nan li mwen wè lavi m
M ap marye, oh m ap marye avè l
M pa mande pèmisyon, m ap chèche benediksyon

[Guitar solo]
Woy, woy konpa
Pipo tout jan tout tan
Woy, woy
Wouch, oh letènèl
Lalalalalala
Eske nelson patisserie plòtonnen

Mamni tande – ya oh
Sa se pitit ou kap pale – ya ya oh
Mwen toujou fè sa w vle men fwa sa ou dwe sipòte m – ya ya oh
Papi tanpri – ya oh
M konnen w pa ta vle m soufri – ya ya oh
Men ou pa ka fè santiman m, se li menm ki tout kè kontan m

Manmi ou se tèt chapo mwen ba ou, fò w mete l
Nou pa ka chwazi pou mwen, je suis plus un garmin
Papi ou se tèt chapo mwen ba ou, fò w mete l
Nou toulède gradye profesyonèl nou ye

Cheri pa enkyete w, m gen kontwòl tout bagay
K L A S S, klass
Konpa, konpa
Sa son w brezo
Woy woy, yo mele
Yaya fly
Woy woy, yo mele
Klass it is baby, yes it is baby
Moskino
Bon nou pral bay on ti apèsu sou bal la wi, tande sa

Gen sa k gen tèt ki pa gen kò
Gen sa k gen kò ki pa gen tèt
Nou menm djaz sa nou gen tèt nou gen kò, depose konpa

Se se se, ay, men konpa

Manmi ou se tèt chapo mwen ba ou, fò w mete l
Si nou konnen nou byen eduke m, pouki nou gen dout sou chwa m ap fè
Papi ou se tèt chapo mwen ba ou, fò w mete l

*** Source : wikimizik***
From https://www.konpaevents.com/new-song-lyrics-sing-with-klass-map-marye-lyrics/

****
-snip-
Google translation from Haitian Creole to English:

Papi does not tell me you forgot
Mathew told me you had passed
When you and your mother have just met
It's because you've kept me jody

[Pre-chorus]
Why do you want your children to inherit?
The affair you endured is not what it should be
I want it, your blessing is counted
But if you do not accept, I'll have to get married

[Chorus]
I'm getting married, oh marrying
She respects her family, in her I see my life
I'm getting married, oh marrying
I do not ask permission, I look for blessings

[Verse 2]
Your mommy tells me you do not want to see her
You tell me without going with her
Remember that I am going to live
It makes my life more beautiful ohh

[Pre-chorus]
Why do you want your children to inherit?
The affair you endured is not what it should be
I want it, your blessing is counted
But if you do not accept, I'll have to get married

[Chorus]
I'm getting married, oh marrying
She respects her family, in her I see my life
I'm getting married, oh marrying
I do not ask permission, I look for blessings

[Guitar solo]
Woy, woy compass
Pipo all the way
Woy, woy
Wear, oh let's go
Lalalalalala
Is Nelson patisserie plungned

Mamni heard - ya oh
This is your baby - oh ya
I always do what you want but the time you have to support me - oh ya
Papi please - ya oh
I know you do not want me to suffer - ya oh
But you can not make my feelings, it's all my joy

Your mommy is the head of my hat, give it to you
You can not choose for me, I'm still garmin
Your pope is the head of my hat, give it to you
We are both professional graduates

Cheri does not worry, I have control of everything
K L A S S, class
Compass, compass
That sounds wild
Woy yawn, they are confused
Yaya fly
Woy yawn, they are confused
Class it is baby, yes it is baby
Moskino
Well, we'll give a little insight into the bullet, yes

There are those who do not have bodies
There is no body that has no head
We ourselves have our bodies, our compassions

It is, ay, but compass

Your mommy is the head of my hat, give it to you
If you know me well, why do you have doubts about my choices?
Your pope is the head of my hat, give it to you
-snip-
Additions and corrections for these lyrics are welcome.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT KLASS
From http://kompamagazine.com/kompaboard/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=422 KLASS AND THE HAITIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY aka (HMI)?
..."In the entertainment industry, especially music, groups are formed and disbanded afterward for different reasons and that’s how KLASS got into the game on April 18, 2012 with their members as follows:

• Maestro & drummer, Jean Herard Richard aka Richie aka Hitmaker/Superstar maker.
• Lead vocal: Edersse Stanis: aka Pipo, The prophet/The voice.
• Lead guitar: Romny Floristal aka El Pozo the Assassin.
• Bass guitar: Nixon Mesidor aka Sexy Nicky.
• Rhythm Guitar: Kevin Gaippe aka BelKod.
• Percussions: Wid Pierre aka Carlo Cheveux.
• Keyboard: Jean Pierre Francisque aka JP.
• Congas: Sorel Sanon aka Soso Brezo.
• Saxophone: Abdel LaFrance aka Taxman
• Trumpet: Nathan Seth Merlin
• Sound engineer: Lavaud Georges
• Logistic: Serge Enel Jean-Louis aka Sergo.
• Manager: Herve Bastien aka Manager the Best

Today, before KLASS became the envy of the HMI due to their sudden success, Jean Herard Richard the proud founder of the band along with Romny Floristal, Nixon Mesidor Herve Bastien then later on Edersse Stanis, went through stages in his musical career. Jean Herard Richard was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in October that makes him a Libra. He grew up in the North of Haiti, Cap Haitian where he attended school. He went from bands to bands like Power-X, 2nd Fashion then made his way to the United States in 1992 where he attended college at BCC in Miami, Florida. Then, he joined Tah-Pajj until 1996. Richie left that group to join Zenglen from 1997 to 2011. At that point, he realized that stability is essential in order to secure a viable future in this shaky industry for himself and his band mates. That’s how the magical group KLASS was born in the HMI on April 18, 2012.

At first, when KLASS released their first single “Bagay Neuf” in early 2012 with a different lead singer, the song was a very hot song but not good enough to create the buzz that the Hitmaker, the superstar maker is known for. So sensibly, Richie closed shop and went back to the studio for months with other Klassmates to create new hit songs like “Priorite, You don’t want me” etc. None of this would have been possible without the Prophet, Pipo, the commanding voice of Konpa Direk of today. Note that Pipo wasn’t part of the group initially. He later joined KLASS after his departure from another reputable group known to most in the HMI. The rest is history in the making since the release of their first CD in 2013. That album sets the bar so high that Klass becomes without any doubt the number one band in the industry and to this date they are still packing clubs wherever they are performing."...

****
From http://www.elinefleury.com/single-post/2016/1/25/Klass-Best-Haitian-Entertainer-of-the-Year
Klass " Best Haitian Entertainer of the Year"
January 25, 2016 by Kate Menard
"Since its inception, just under four years ago, Konpa band KLASS has seen quick and tremendous success. This past October, at the 34th Annual International Reggae & World Music Awards, KLASS took home "Best Haitian Entertainer of the Year". Despite its accolades and fame, however, it is apparent that the band remains grounded, dedicated to its music, and dedicated to its fans."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of traditional Afro-Colombian music, dancing, and chanting.

Information about Colombian palenques and about San Basilio De Palenque in particular is included in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
PALENQUES IN COLOMBIAN HISTORY
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilombo
A quilombo (Portuguese pronunciation: [kiˈlõbu]; from the Kimbundu word kilombo) is a Brazilian hinterland settlement founded by people of African origin including the Quilombolas, or Maroons. Most of the inhabitants of quilombos (called quilombolas) were escaped slaves and, in some cases, later these escaped African slaves would help provide shelter and homes to other minorities of marginalised Portuguese, Brazilian aboriginals, Jews[citation needed] and Arabs,[citation needed] and/or other non-black, non-slave Brazilians. However, the documentation on runaway slave communities typically uses the term mocambo, an Ambundu word meaning "hideout", to describe the settlements. A mocambo is typically much smaller than a quilombo. Quilombo was not used until the 1670s and then primarily in more southerly parts of Brazil.

A similar settlement exists in the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, and is called a palenque. Its inhabitants are palenqueros who speak various Spanish-African-based creole languages.
-snip-
Italics added to highlight these sentences.

**
From https://www.wola.org/analysis/palenques-legacy-afro-colombian-resistance/
"Numerous palenques, or free towns for escaped slaves, gradually emerged at different moments and in different regions of Colombia in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. One of the most important and influential of these is Palenque de San Basilio, which was first recognized in 1713 and designated by UNESCO in 2005 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Today, Palenque de San Basilio stands as monument to resistance and the fight for a better life in Afro-Colombian communities."...

**
From https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/colombia-dispatch-4-palenque-an-afro-colombian-community-87781979/ Colombia Dispatch 4: Palenque: An Afro-Colombian Community
"Four hundred years ago, escaped slaves formed Palenque. Today, the Colombian town celebrates its African roots By Kenneth Fletcher, MITHSONIAN.COM, OCTOBER 28, 2008

Centuries ago, escaped slaves built isolated forts in the jungles that surround Cartagena, once Colombia’s main port for incoming slaves. Today, the Afro-Colombian inhabitants of San Basilio de Palenque, a village just over an hour from Cartagena, have preserved many of the customs of their African ancestors.

I wander around the dusty streets and of the small town on a scorching hot day, listening to residents speaking a local Creole tongue. A mixture of African languages with Spanish and Portuguese, it sounds a lot like the Bantu languages of central Africa. Although the town now has electricity and running water in most homes, locals still gather at the creek to wash clothes, chat and bathe. In the center of town there’s a statue of town founder Benkos Bioho breaking out of chains. Locals say he established Palenque in 1603 with 36 other escaped slaves.

While most other strongholds for escaped slaves eventually fell, this one survived because of its isolation among the hills and swamps about 30 miles outside Cartagena. Locals claim that in 1713 the inhabitants declared it the first independent community in the Americas. Escaped slaves would head to Palenque, knowing that was their chance at freedom. But several decades ago, that same isolation led residents, called Palenqueros, to leave the village for big cities in search of work.

Today, colorfully dressed Palenquera women commute to Cartagena to sell candy and fruit on the streets, while many men work in construction and paving roads. But when Palenqueros first arrived in the cities they encountered racism and were mocked for their strange language. Out of embarrassment, many refrained from observing their traditional customs.

Near the town square, I sat down with Edwin Valdez Hernandez, a charismatic young instructor at the Batata Dance and Music School in Palenque. He tells me that in the 1980s and ’90s a new generation of young, educated Palenqueros fostered a resurgence in pride in the community’s African roots.

“We defend our values with a shout,” Valdez says. “We are black, and we are defending our culture.”

He believes this pride is essential to combating the racism he says still flourishes on the Colombian coast. His friend, Enrique Marques, agrees, “If you lose your culture, you become a slave again.”

The town’s public school now teaches Palenque’s traditional language to all students."...

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO - BAILE MAPALE, ORIKYTABALA , DE SAN BASILIO DE PALENKE, CARTAGENA COLOMBIA



tradicionyfuzzion, Published on Sep 18, 2008

BAILE MAPALE POR ORIKYTABALA DE SANBASILIO DE PALENKE HERENCIA AFRIKA
-snip-
I think the Spanish to English translation of this sentence is "Mapale Orikytabala dance from San Basilip Palenque, Cartegena, Colombia
-snip-
Here are selected comments from the discussion thread of this video (Numbers are added for referencing purposes only and the English translations are given after all of these comments.)
1. sandrajara28, 2014
"En Colombia estamos orgullosos de nuestras raices africanas e indigenas para todo el que piense que diciendonos negros nos insultas este es el verdadero folclor y la COLOMBIA MESTIZA..QUE VIVA EL AFRICA DENTRO DE COLOMBIA QUE VIVA PALENQUE HPTA "!!!!!!"

**
2. ana rabat, 2015
"Yo soy de África central y tenemos un baile parecido. Qué bueno saber que hay un pedazo de mi África en Colombia."

**
REPLY
3. Nene Loxano Diax, 2015
"+ana rabat Si no estas enterada hay un corregimiento que se llama SAN BACILIO DE PALUENQUE queda en el departamento de Bolívar deberías ir a visitarlo son descendientes de africa."

**
REPLY
4. Billy DeCastro, 2015
"+ana rabat la música del norte y el este del país está influenciada por danzas introducidas a estas regiones por esclavos africanos. que fueron traídos a colombia por europeos, la mezcla de estas con las notas e instrumentos locales formaron un folklor único pero variado en la forma de festejarlo, por largo tiempo fue solo de nuestro suelo, que luego se esparció por toda latino america y las islas del caribe"

**
REPLY ]to question in Spanish "What are the names (of these dances?)"
5. Billy DeCastro, 2016
"To? Guillermo De Castro, bailes. Cumbia y Mapale, en el este en Choco y Buenaventura hay varias danzas que tienen raices africana 

**
6. Cha Ara Gallego, 2016
"Eso es un buen mapalé: Fuerza, energía, sabor, sensualidad; nunca vulgaridad. Maravilloso, San Basilio de Palenque."

**
REPLY
7. Alex Monher, 2016
"HOLA SALUDOS DE MEXICO DESCONOS QUE ES UN MAPALE PODRIAS EXPLICARLO POR FAVOR"

** 
REPLY
8. Cha Ara Gallego, 2016
"Hola, claro. El mapalé es un ritmo y una danza de origen afro y es propio de la costa atlántica colombiana. Se caracteriza, entra varias cosas, por tener movimientos fuertes y sensuales (no vulgares). En esta danza se representan diversos aspectos de la cultura afro que se encuentra en nuestro país. Ente ellas, la imitación del movimiento que hace un pez, al que le llaman mapalé, cuando lo sacan del agua. Esta expresión tuvo su origen hace siglos cundo vivíamos en Colombia la terrible época de la segregación y la esclavitud de la raza negra. Como te digo tiene sus orígenes en las expresiones afros y a ello se suma la mezcla de razas y toda esta cuestión étnica que se dio aquí en la época de la colonia. Actualmente se conservan esta y otras expresiones afros. El video muestra a un grupo de San Basilio de Palenque (el África pequeño, como lo llamamos también), una población cimarrona cerca de Cartagena. San Basilio fue el primer asentamiento de esclavos libres en Colombia. Su lider fue Benkhos Biojó y es para nosotros muy valioso, en todos los aspectos, contar con la vigencia de esta población en la que es como si se hubiese detenido el tiempo en tanto que aún se puede ver la riqueza y belleza de sus arraigadas costumbres y expresiones. Esto es algo muy breve del mapalé. Es muchísimo lo que hay detrás de esta y de las demás danzas afrocolombianas, que son fuerza, sabor, pasión y puro sentimiento; pero aquí te cuento un poco.
Espero haber podido aportar algo en tu haber. Y estás invitadísimo para que vengas y conozcas esta y las otras culturas de nuestro país. Te enamorarás. Yo no soy afrodescendiente, pero me declaro afro y palenquera de corazón, y soy fiel admiradora de esta raza bella, libre y fuerte. Un abrazo caluroso desde Colombia.

**
REPLY
9. Alex Monher, 2016
"GRACIAS POR LA EXPLICACION A ORA ME QUEDA CLARO QUE ES UN MAPALE ES MEJOR PREGUNTAR QUE QUEDARSE CON LA DUDA LA MEJOR EXPLICACION DE UNA PERSONA DE COLOMBIA GRACIAS CLARO QUE ME ENAMORARIA DE COLOMBIA YA QUE EN LA CD DE MEXICO AMAMOS LA MUSICA DE COLOMBIA MUY BUEN SABOR Y RITMO SALUDOS DE MEXICO GRACIAS POR RESPONDER".

**
10. Benishka García, 2017
"Quiero visitar este Palenque. Quiero sentir el repicar de los tambores cerca de mí. Viva mi Madre Patria África."
-snip-
Here are Google translations Spanish to English translations of these comments:
1. sandrajara28, 2014
"In Colombia we are proud of our African and indigenous roots for all who think that telling us blacks insults us this is the real folklore and the COLOMBIA MESTIZA..THE LIVE AFRICA WITHIN COLOMBIA THAT LIVES PALTAQUE HPTA "!!!"

**
2. ana rabat, 2015
"I am from central Africa and we have a similar dance. Good to know there is a piece of my Africa in Colombia."

**
REPLY
3. Nene Loxano Diax, 2015
"+ ana rabat If you are not aware there is a corregimiento that is called SAN BACILIO DE PALUENQUE is in the department of Bolívar you should go to visit him they are descendants of africa."
-snip-
corregimiento = district (location) ?

**
REPLY
4. +Ana Rabat music from the north and east of the country is influenced by dances introduced to these regions by African slaves. that were brought to Colombia by Europeans, the mixture of these with the notes and local instruments formed a unique but varied folk in the way of celebrating it, for a long time it was only from our soil, which later spread throughout Latin America and the islands from the Caribbean

**
REPLY
5. To? Guillermo De Castro, dances. Cumbia and Mapale, in the east in Choco and Buenaventura there are several dances that have African roots
-snip-

**
6. Cha Ara Gallego, 2016
"That's a good mapalé: Strength, energy, taste, sensuality; never vulgarity. Wonderful, San Basilio de Palenque."

**
REPLY
7. Alex Monher, 2016
"HELLO GREETINGS FROM MEXICO WE KNOW THAT IT IS A MAPLE YOU COULD EXPLAIN IT PLEASE."

**
REPLY
8. Cha Ara Gallego, 2016
"Hi, of course. The mapalé is a rhythm and a dance of Afro origin and is typical of the Colombian Atlantic coast. It is characterized, it enters several things, by having strong and sensual movements (not vulgar). In this dance various aspects of Afro culture that is found in our country are represented. Among them, the imitation of the movement made by a fish, which they call mapalé, when they take it out of the water. This expression had its origin centuries ago when we lived in Colombia the terrible era of segregation and slavery of the black race. As I say, it has its origins in Afro expressions and to this is added the mixture of races and all this ethnic question that was given here at the time of the colony. Currently this and other Afro expressions are preserved. The video shows a group of San Basilio de Palenque (small Africa, as we also call it), a maroon population near Cartagena. San Basilio was the first settlement of free slaves in Colombia. Its leader was Benkhos Biojó and it is for us very valuable, in all aspects, to have the validity of this population in which it is as if the time had stopped while you can still see the richness and beauty of its deep-rooted customs and expressions. This is something very brief of the mapalé. There is a lot of what is behind this and the other Afro-Colombian dances, which are strength, taste, passion and pure feeling; but here I tell you a little.
I hope I could contribute something to your credit. And you are very invited to come and know this and the other cultures of our country. You will fall in love I am not an Afro-descendant, but I declare myself afro and a palenquero of heart, and I am a faithful admirer of this beautiful, free and strong race. A warm hug from Colombia."

**
REPLY
9. Alex Monher, 2016
"THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION TO PRAYER IT IS CLEAR THAT IT IS A MAPLE IT IS BETTER TO ASK THEM TO STAY WITH THE DOUBT THE BEST EXPLANATION OF A PERSON FROM COLOMBIA THANK YOU CLEAR I WOULD LOVE COLOMBIA SINCE ON THE CD OF MEXICO WE LOVE THE MUSIC OF COLOMBIA VERY GOOD FLAVOR AND RITUM GREETINGS FROM MEXICO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING."

**
10.Benishka García, 2017
"I want to visit this Palenque. I want to feel the drumming of the drums near me. Long live my Motherland Africa."

****
Here are three selected comments from the discussion thread of another copy of this YouTube video: (Comments are numbered for referencing purposes only)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcSdTrS6_Pg arthuroneil, Published on Mar 20, 2011
1. Laura Betancur, 2012
"No, they do not say Palenque, they say "Mapalé", which is the musical rhythm dancing

**
2. Jeanne Suila, 2016
"Sound like the traditional music and dance of the ethnic Kongo people of the 2 Congos and Angola (North Angola)."

**
REPLY
3. Aprende Español, 2017
"Jeanne Suila so interesting, i dont know exactly where were from the slaves that spanish conquer bring to colombia, maybe from Kongo and Angola! For my country these traditions are very special and important, this is part of our history too."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post is a video and an unofficial transcript of Viola Davis' powerful speech at the 2018 Women's March in Los Angeles, California. Other Women's Marches were held in a number of cities throughout the United States.

The content of this post is presented for sociological, cultural, political, motivational, and inspirational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Viola Davis, and all the organizers and participants of the Women's March, Me Too Movement, and Resist! Movements.
-snip-
Click https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/20/us/womens-march.html for a New York Times article about the Women's Marches in the United States (January 20,2018).

and

This daily kos diary includes photos and comments about the Women's Marches in various United States cities: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/20/1734458/-Stronger-than-ever-Check-out-the-massive-roaring-crowds-across-the-nation-for-the-Women-s-March. [Warning for those working at schools or other public institutions: There's one instance of profanity occurs in the comments.]

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Viola Davis speaks at Women's March



CNN, Published on Jan 20, 2018

Actress Viola Davis gave a passionate speech at the Women's March in Los Angeles.

****
UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF VIOLA DAVIS' SPEECH AT WOMEN'S MARCH 2018
"In the words of my fellow American, Malcolm X, I'm gonna make it plain.

In 1877, America, the greatest country on this planet, put laws in place called the Jim Crow laws. And the Jim Crow laws restricted the rights to quadroons, octoroons, Blacks, Hispanics, Indians, and Malays. Restricted medical. Restricted relationships. Restricted education.Restricted life.

It told us that we were "less than" and it came on the heels of the 13th Amendment. It came on the heels of fifty five individual great Americans writing the greatest document called the Constitution of the United States, saying "We the people".


Now the reason why those destructive laws came into place, I think can be greatly described by Martin Luther King. And what he said about time is. He said "I'm not ready to wait a hundred years, or two hundred years for things to change. That I think actually that time is neutral. That it can either be used constructively or destructively. That human progress rarely rolls in on inevitability. It is through human dedication, an effort, that we move forward. And that when we don't work, what happens is that time actually becomes an ally to the primitive forces of social stagnation. And the guardians of the status quo are in their oxygen tanks keeping the old order alive.

And so that time needs to be helped by every single moment doing right.

And the reason why these Jim Crow laws were in place that stifled my rights and your rights is because we fell asleep.

We fall asleep when we're moving ahead and we don't look to the left and the right and see that we're no including people in this move ahead. Because really, at the end of the day, we only move forward when it doesn't cost of anything. But I'm here today saying that no one and nothing can be great unless it cost you something.

One out of every five women will be sexually assaulted and raped before she reaches the age of eighteen. One out of six boys. If you are a woman of color and you are raped before you reach the age of eighteen, than you are 66% more likely to be sexually assaulted again.

Seventy percent of girls who are sex trafficed are girls of color. They are coming out of the foster care system. They a re coming out of poverty. It is a billion dollar industry. When they go into the sex trafficing business- and they call it a business, trust me - more than likely they are gang raped.

I am speaking today not just for the 'Me Toos', 'cause I was a 'Me Too,' but when I raise my hand, I am aware of all the women who are still in silence. The women who are faceless. The women who don't have the money and don't have the constitution and who don't have the confidence and who don't have the images in our media that gives them a sense of self-worth enough to break their silence that's rooted in the shame of assault, that's rooted in the stigma of assault.

Written on the Statue of Liberty is "Come, Come you tiredless, poor, yearning to breath free- to breath free."

Every single day, your job as an American citizen is not just to fight for your rights. It's to fight for the right of every individual that is taking a breath, whose heart is pumping and breathing on this earth..

And like the originators of this "Me Too", the Fannie Lou Hamers, the Recy Taylor who in 1944 was gang raped by six White men, and she spoke up. Rosa Parks fought for her rights. She was silenced. To the Tarana Burkes. To the originators, the first women to speak out -it cost them something. Nothing and no one can be great without a cost.

Listen, I am always introduced as an award winning actor. But my testimony is one of poverty. My testimony is one of being sexually assaulted, and was very much seeing a childhood that was robbed from me. And I know that every single day when I think of that, I know that the trauma of those events are still with me today. And that's what drives me to, to the voting booth. That's what allows me to listen to the women who are still in silence. That's what allows me, even to become a citizen on this planet, is the fact that we are here to connect. That we are here as three hundred and twenty four million people living on this earth to know that every day that we breath and we live that we gotta bring up everyone with us.

I stand in solidarity with all women who raise their hands because I know that it was not easy. And my hope for the future, my hope- and I do hope- that we never go back.

That it's not a just about clapping your hands and screaming and shouting every time someone says something that sounds good. It's about keeping it rolling once you go home."
-snip-
This is my transcription of Viola Davis' speech* which is shown in the video given above. I used italics to represent the words that Ms Davis emphasized in this speech. The space near the beginning of this speech represents a (I believe purposeful pause that Ms. Davis made in her remarks.

This transcription doesn't include audience cheers to this speech.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

For the record, Ms. Davis isn't looking at any notes while she deliver this speech.

Here are links to some information about the four specific women that Viola Davis gave a shout out to in her speech:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Lou_Hamer
"Fannie Lou Hamer (/ˈheɪmər/; born Fannie Lou Townsend; October 6, 1917 – March 14, 1977) was an American voting rights activist, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and philanthropist who worked primarily in Mississippi. She was instrumental in organizing Mississippi's Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She was the vice-chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which she represented at the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey."...

**
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recy_Taylor
"Recy Taylor (née Corbitt; December 31, 1919 – December 28, 2017)[2]:297 was an African American woman from Abbeville in Henry County, Alabama, US. She was born and raised in a sharecropping family in the Jim Crow era Southern United States. Taylor's refusal to remain silent about a brutal rape she suffered, perpetrated by white men, led to organizing in the African-American community on behalf of justice and civil rights."

**
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks
"Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement, whom the United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement".[1]

On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake's order to give up her seat in the "colored section" to a white passenger, after the whites-only section was filled. Parks was not the first person to resist bus segregation. Others had taken similar steps, including Bayard Rustin in 1942,[2] Irene Morgan in 1946, Lillie Mae Bradford in 1951,[3] Sarah Louise Keys in 1952, and the members of the ultimately successful Browder v. Gayle 1956 lawsuit (Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder, Susie McDonald, and Mary Louise Smith) who were arrested in Montgomery for not giving up their bus seats months before Parks. NAACP organizers believed that Parks was the best candidate for seeing through a court challenge after her arrest for civil disobedience in violating Alabama segregation laws, although eventually her case became bogged down in the state courts while the Browder v. Gayle case succeeded.[4][5]

Parks' act of defiance and the Montgomery bus boycott became important symbols of the modern Civil Rights Movement. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation"...

**
From https://hellogiggles.com/news/me-too-movement-black-woman/"Actually, a black woman created the "Me Too" movement 10 years ago" by CAITLIN GALLAGHER, October 18, 2017
..."Although most people think the idea originated with Milano, the original “Me Too” movement was started by Tarana Burke, and she created the campaign for the youth organization Just Be Inc. in 2007"....


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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

Update: January 21, 2018

[Pancocojams Editor's comment: This pancocojams post was originally published in 2011. I made a few changes and additions to my 2011 written editor's comment, including the addition of a brief comment about some Black female natural hair styles after 2000.

I replaced a video of African American folk singer Odetta since the one that I had previously published was no longer available. I also replaced a video of African American R&B singer Aretha Franklin with one of South African singer Miriam Makeba since that video of Aretha Franklin was no longer available, and since I already showcased another video of that singer, but hadn't included one of Miriam Makeba. And I added some additional videos of early 21st century Black women's large natural hairstyles and other natural hairstyles.]

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT
An "afro" (also known as "fro") is an African American term for a natural hairstyle that is worn or was worn by some Black females and Black males. For centuries people in some Black African nations, and some Black people in other part of the world such as in the Fiji Islands and in Australia have been sporting what Americans would consider to be "afros". However, since the early 20th century, with the development & marketing of hair care products for Black people by Madame C. Walker and other Black hair care entrepreneurs, chemically or heat straightened hair were the principle ways that Black women (in the United States) wore their hair. Until the mid 1960s, few African American teenagers and women would have even considered wearing their hair naturally out in public.

The emergence of the afro and other Black natural hairstyles in the United States during the 1960s was closely tied to the "Black is beautiful" movement. That Black pride movement was fueled by the large number of African nations that became politically independent from Europe rule in the 1960s. The hey day of afros for African Americans was in the 1970s. It appears to me that particularly in large urban US cities, more Black people-including teenage females & males-wore their hair in afros during the 1970s than in any previous time or to date. Check out this Soul Train television show video for an example of the different ways African American males & females wore their hair in the 1970s:

Soul Train Line Dance to Curtis Mayfield Get Down



Uploaded by bysolo65 on May 3, 2011

-snip-

In the 1960 & the 1970s, the wider & bigger the afros the more they were highly valued by afro-centric (African cultural centered) Black folks. Indeed, because of the wide and also sometimes "wild" appearance of many afros, one vernacular nickname for the afro that Black folks used was "bush". Calling someone's fro a "bush" could be positive, negative, or neutral depending on who said it, and when & how it was said.

For many Black people, afros are just a hairstyle. I started wearing my hair in an afro in 1966 and I've consistently worn my hair in an afro style ever since then. For me, the afro is much more than a hair style - it's a statement of Black pride. I remember when some Black males and females started wearing their hair in afros, a lot of Black folks were incensed that we would show the world our "back to Africa" roots. And many non-Black folks thought that everyone wearing their hair in a fro was a radical who hated White people. That of course wasn't true then and it isn't true now. Furthermore, lots of people who didn't wear afros- including some Black people - thought and still think that people who wore/wear their hair in afros didn't wash or comb or style or nourish their afro hair. That is also untrue.

From the 1980s to the early 2000s, it seemed that very few African American adults chose to wear their hair in an afro. For example, during that time period the only women I saw wearing afros in my adopted city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were a few Black women over the age of 40. I purposely wrote "adults" because even in the 1960s and 1970s, and also today it seems to me that very few African American children under 18 years old wear their hair in afros-although this may be slightly changing now with the attention being paid to more natural hairstyles for Black folks such as corn rolls & dreads (dreadlocks).*

*Added January 2018- This has definitely changed since I wrote this comment. I think that it's less common nowadays to chemically straighten Black girls' hair, particularly before the age of 13 years or so. One commonly found hairstyle for many Black American girls under 12 years of age is wearing their natural hair (or extensions) with beads. And a lot of Black American females over 12 years girls wear their natural hair out in long, undefined hair styles that are the same as those shown in the videos for Black women that are found near the end of this updated post.
-end of addition-

Nowadays [written in 2011 but still true in 2018] there appears to be more styles for afros than I remember in the 1960s and 1970s. Since the early 2000s or so, I've been seeing younger Black women wearing closely cropped (very short) afros, or moderatedly short but styled 'fros. And this year (2011), I've been seeing more young African American women (and African American men) sportin' large wide naturals*, but not halo shaped as Angela Davis' hair style was. I think that there are many reasons for the (still moderate) increase in Black folks wearing their hair in afros (or naturals, since I think the term "afros" is rarely used). One reason is the recycling of fashion trends. In addition to the reasons I have already mentioned, some females who wear their hair naturally indicate that they do so because that style is easier to take care of than relaxed (straightened) hairstyles and/or the belief (which I think is fact) that natural hairstyles are usually healthier for the hair.

*"A natural" is another term for an "afro" and other hair styles (such as dreadlocks) for tightly curled* hair that are typical of people of Black African descent when that hair is not hot combed or chemically treated. Person who have natural hairstyles (i.e. afros, twists, locks etc) shampoo and condition their hair. Females or males may highlight their hair with colors and may put beads or cowrie shells in their twists or dreadlocks. Furthermore, afros may be texturized (chemical treatment may be added for a shorter time period)to loosen some of the hair's natural curl. If this happened in the 1960s - 1980s I didn't know about it. Also, females & males may choose to have their afros cut & styled in beauty parlors or barber shops. That said, there is a trend nowadays for some big afros to be worn seemingly unstyled - or maybe I should say that the seemingly unstyled wide afro is a current style.

I attended an event this week (August 2012) and saw a Black woman who was probably in her forties with a very short closely cropped afro that was probably texturized and also dyed blond. I also saw another Black woman around the same age who wore her natural hair (not a wig or hair pieces known as "extensions") in an unstyled wide afro. Her hair was dyed brown with red tinges. Those colors were almost certainly the result of a beauty parlor or barber shop treatment. Furthermore, her hair may have also been chemically treated as it wasn't tightly curled but somewhat straight. Instead of the hair in her afro being tightly curly and close to her head, and big (meaning touching her shoulders in length), her hair was away from her head and went every which way. But she (like me and other Black people) may have some portions of her hair that are naturally straighter than other hair portions, and therefore her wide somewhat straight afro might have been all natural except for the hair colors. Also, there are some Black people who have naturally brown hair or other non-black hair color but in that woman's case her afro hair colors probably weren't "natural". I should also note that these women were very attractive.

*"tightly curled" is the term I prefer for various textures of hair that is considered typical of the hair texture for people of Black African descent although it isn't hair textures of all Black people and isn't hair textures which are exclusive to Black people. I say "textures" because there are a range of tightly curled hair textures. Other terms for "tightly curled" hair such as kinky, nappy, frizzy, coarse, woolly often have negative connotations and can therefore lead to negative consequences by those who use them.
-snip-
Added January 21, 2018
The terms "afro" and "'fro" and the purposely halo shaped short or wide natural hair appear to have been retired from use. Since at least the early 2000s, Black women, in particular, have been wearing their hair in a number of natural hairstyles, including large coils with undefined shapes. This hairstyle is largely the result of combing out multiple thin braids and leaving the hair "as is". That natural hair style is quite different from the purposely rounded, halo shape of 1970s afros. Some examples of these early 2000s to date [2018] Black women's natural hairstyles are found near the end of this updated post along with a few other examples of Black women's natural hairstyles.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
This post showcases several music videos of Black women wearing their hair in an afro. Videos are presented of featured vocalists from four African nations and from the United States. I've also included a video from the Fiji islands to show examples of what Americans would consider to be afros in that Melanesian nation.

Each featured video is presented with my subjective description of the length and style of the afro given in parenthesis*. By no means is this a comprehensive presentation of the ways that Black women wear afros or the nations of the world where females wear afros.

*I'm not a beautician. My apologies if these descriptions of afros are subjective and simplistic.

Without further comment, here are the featured videos of female afro styles from very closely cropped to very wide:

Angelique Kidjo –“Mallaikka” (Benin, West Africa)



Uploaded by equinoxrox on Apr 28, 2007

African singer Angelique Kidjo from Benin sings love song ballad in Swahil at the Africa Rollback Malaria Concert. English subtitles. On March 12 and 13 in 2005, some of Africa's greatest musical talents got together to play for two nights in downtown Dakar while trying to spread the message about combating malaria.

[a very closely cropped afro which has been dyed blond; Since about the 1990s, a small number of African American women also began to dye their straightened hair blond and dye their (usually) closely cropped or relatively short afro blond.]

**
Laura Mvula -"She"- (In South Africa) - by Damian Weilers



Laura Mvula, Published on Nov 17, 2012

Shot by South African director Damian Weilers in Montagu, Western Cape.
'She' is taken from Laura Mvula's debut EP available now
-snip-
Vocalist Laura Mvula was born in South Africa but grew up in the United Kingdom. Her hair is worn in a closely cropped afro.

Hat tip to http://afroeurope.blogspot.com/2012/11/new-video-new-sound-of-laura-mvula-she.html for alerting me to this video.

****
Cesaria Evora - "Mar de Canal" (Cape Verde, West Africa)



Uploaded by alcom34 on Jun 8, 2007

Voz d'Amor - 2003

[a short afro which appears to be "texturized" (slightly chemically treated?)]

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Rebecca Malope - “Hamba Lenquola” (South Africa)



Uploaded by MAURA MACIVER on Apr 13, 2008

[moderately short, styled afro]

**
Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata (Live 1967)



Miriam Makeba Official Channel, Published on Mar 17, 2015

[moderately short afro]

**
Aretha Franklin - Jump (Soul Train 70's) (United States)



MyRhythm NSoulTV, Published on Apr 10, 2014

[moderately big/wide afro dyed light brown]

**
ODETTA



pining4apple, Published on Nov 23, 2011

[moderately short, styled afro]

**
Fiji Music (Fiji)



Alexey Bekmuratov on Nov 18, 2009

Vinaka Vakaniu Collection-2

[moderatively big afros]

Also, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1vrUNfTTBY&feature=related for other photographs of Fijian females and males with what Americans would all "afros".

**
Ethiopian Music Kassahun Taye (sora ye wello bahlawi)



[long style with partially braided hair on top; Americans would call this look a natural hairstyle which if worn out might be called "afros". That said, Ethiopians are unlikely to consider this style an afro.]

**
Natalie Cole - This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) 1975 (United States)



Uploaded by jondbee56 on Aug 8, 2010

[very big/wide halo shaped afro]

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Esperanza Spalding BLACK GOLD- OFFICIAL (credits) (United States)


Uploaded by montunoartists on Feb 5, 2012

Official Site: http://www.esperanzaspalding.com

...This song is singing to our African American heritage before slavery. Over the decades, so much of the strength in the African American community has seeded from resistance and endurance. I wanted to address the part of our heritage spanning back to pre-colonial Africa and the elements of Black pride that draw from our connection to our ancestors in their own land. I particularly wanted to create something that spoke to young boys.

[very big/wide round shaped afro]

**
[Update January 21, 2018]


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Viola Davis speaks at Women's March



CNN, Published on Jan 20, 2018

Actress Viola Davis gave a passionate speech at the Women's March in Los Angeles.

[very large, undefined hair coils]


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DAISHA - GOOD LIFE OFFICIAL VIDEO



iamthedaisha, Published on May 18, 2016

90s house vibes! EP "I Am The Daisha" drops May 20th!

[really very large, undefined hair coils, with other Black women's natural hair styles]

**
Janelle Monáe - Electric Lady [Official Video]



janellemonae, Published on Jul 30, 2014

Janelle Monáe - Electric Lady [Official Video] - Directed By ALAN FERGUSON

[various Black women's natural hairstyles]

**
Cardi B, Michelle Obama and other celebrities show their natural hair!



M.C.rush, Published on Apr 3, 2017

Cardi B, Michelle Obama and other celebrities show their natural hair!

After wearing her hair in protective styles at the White House, now Michelle is free to let her hair hang down. You go girl!

Clips of celebrities included:
Michelle Obama
Uzo Aduba
Brittany Sky
Jessica White
Gabrielle Union
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Whoopi Goldberg
Kim Fields
Esperanza Spalding
Jenifer Lewis
Kimberly Elise
K.Michelle
Leela James
SZA
Jhene Aiko
Porsha Williams
Goapele
Teyana Taylor
Winnie Harlow
Rihanna
Aja Naomi King
Keri Hilson
Denise Boutte
Jasmine Tookes
Toya Wright
Karlie Redd
Cardi B.
Rasheeda
Masika Kalysha
Tahiry Jose
Tammy Rivera
Kenya Moore

[various Black women's natural hairstyles]

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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/videos-of-african-american-males-music.html"Videos of African American Males (Music & Natural Hairstyles), Part 1"

That post presents videos of afro hair styles worn by various African American non-religious music performers (from 1969 - 2002). That post also includes an essay that I wrote on "The Psycho-Social Implications For African Americans of Natural Hair Styles".

Note: I haven't updated that series on Black male hairstyles to include post 2002 fashions.

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The content of this post is provided for historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of a live performance of South African singer and songwriter Busi Mhlongo singing her Maskandi song "Izizwe". Two sound files of House remixes of "Izizwe" are also showcased in this post.

Information about Busi Mhlongo is also included in this post along with selected comments from the discussion threads of these examples. According to some of these commenters, the song "Izizwe" promotes the end of xenophobia in South Africa.

In addition, this post presents some information about South Africa's Maskandi music genre.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Busi Mhlongo for her musical legacy. Rest in Peace.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT BUSI MHLONGO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busi_Mhlongo
"Busi Mhlongo (28 October 1947 – 15 June 2010 [1]), born as Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo, was a virtuoso singer, dancer and composer originally from Inanda in Natal, South Africa.[1][2]

Biography
Drawing on various South African styles such as Mbaqanga, Maskanda*, Marabi and traditional Zulu, fused with contemporary elements from jazz, funk, rock, gospel, rap, opera, reggae and West African music she produced a fresh and exciting sound. Her infectious music and singing style have a universal appeal and her lyrics carry powerful and poignant messages. In the 1960s, she adopted the artistic name Vickie; only later did she became known by Busi Mhlongo. She was an initiated sangoma, which heavily influenced her music.[3][4]"
-snip-
"Busi" is a nickname for "Busisiwe". Here's information about that name from https://www.behindthename.com/name/busisiwe/submitted
"GENDER: Feminine
USAGE: African
PRONOUNCED: boo-see-SEE-weh
CONTRIBUTOR: Nqoh on 6/26/2008
Meaning & History
South African Zulu girl name meaning 'blessed'"
-snip-
*Here's some information about Maskanda (Maskandi) music from
"Maskanda (or Maskandi) is a kind of Zulu folk music that is evolving with South African society. Ethekwini Online describes it as "The music played by the man on the move, the modern minstrel, today’s troubadour. It is the music of the man walking the long miles to court a bride, or to meet with his Chief; a means of transport. It is the music of the man who sings of his real life experiences, his daily joys and sorrows, his observations of the world. It’s the music of the man who’s got the Zulu blues."

Nowadays this is untrue in as much as it is no longer just the domain of men. African women - notably Busi Mhlongo - are also making Maskandi music. Maskandi music is largely popular and mostly consumed in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, given its rich Zulu heritage and significance to the Zulu tribe. Looking at the genre from a record sales point of view...Maskandi happens to be the 2nd top selling genre in South Africa, after Gospel music. Although Maskandi music can be heard in more urban cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, it is important to note that it is largely the played by migrants who come to the big cities to seek a better quality of life and better employment opportunities."...

**
Here's some additional information from https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/traditional-music-south-africa"Traditional music in South Africa" By DJ Okapi, 21 Nov 2014

[...]

"Zulu Maskandi and Isicathamiya

The ‘neo-traditional’ genre most closely associated with the amaZulu is maskandi, which emerged in the late 1960s played by migrant workers living in hostels and compounds (enkomponi) near mines. Their music reflected felt a nostalgic yearning for home and was typically played on guitar and by men. Bucking this trend was the late Busi Mhlongo, whose last album Amakholwa explored the connection between maskandi and faith, drawing on gospel, rock and funk influences. While maskandi and gospel address similar themes of yearning for a better life and overcoming hardship, they are stylistically not related. Instead a closer connection between traditional Zulu music and gospel is isicathamiya, a type of acapella gospel music sung by choirs, made famous internationally by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. More recently rapper Zulu Boy managed to fuse traditional Zulu influences into his own brand of hip-hop."

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Busi Mhlongo Live Zithin' izizwe live at Nantes & Roskilde [video]



Bafana Nhlapo, Published on Sep 25, 2009

South African diva, singer and songwriter Busi Mhlongo - Live recordings from the Fin de Siecle Festival in Nantes France, 1997 and the the Roskilde Festival in Denmark 1999. Cameras by Dick Jewell and Marcus Conway. edited by Lianne Cox. Taken from the DVD Busi Mhlongo Urbanzulu live by MELT 2000 cat. No MZADVCD014. featuring Spector Ngwayi, Thierry Mvie, Serge Ngndo, Brice Wassy Ndodile Shezi & Thembisa Khuzwayo
-snip-
The Google translation from Zulu to English of “Zithin' izizwe" is “We are the nations". However, in her introduction to this song as shown in this video, Busi says "'Izizwe' means “foreigner”. I am izizwe to you and you are izizwe to me. All and all we make one”.

Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with Zulu words translated to English by Google translate given below the comment itself). These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

2012
1. Sihle Mndela
"Powerful message this song holds... "Zithini izizwe nina, benhlek'izizwe nina khuluma ngani..."
"Nehlisa isthunzi senu ma Africa masen'bulalana nodwa nje"
-snip-
Google translation from Zulu to English= "What do you say, the nations you're talking about ..."
"Reduce your shade in Africa and kill each other"
-snip-
Remember that Busi Mhlongo said that "izizwe" means "foreigner" so instead of the word "nations", the translation should be "the foreigners you are talking about".

Perhaps a more accurate translation of the second sentence is "Reduce your hate in Africa and stop killing each other."

**
2013
2. Maanka Chipindi
"Are you able to translate please"

**
REPLY
3. N1nG1nJ3r
"Ngingumuntu omhlophe kodwa ngifunda isizulu esikoleni sami.

Uthi: What we are saying, (us, our nation), we are (might be "we aren't) laughing when we say this-

Our hisses are failing, in Africa we are killing eachother like this...

Zulu is complex in its structure and I might be horribly mistaken in its meaning, but it can't be far off as the root words are true, even though their contextual meaning might be convoluted. Hope it helped :)

Also feel free to reply to correct any mistakes :)
-snip-
Google translation from Zulu to English of "Ngingumuntu omhlophe kodwa ngifunda isizulu esikoleni sami.

Uthi" = "I'm a white man but I'm learning the weather at my school.

He says"....

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2014
4. Olivier South
"RIP sweet sweet sister..we salute you maMhlongo"

**
5. Zama Lunga
"Very powerful, I love the messages her songs hold

Your music will always teach us Ubuntu"
-snip-
Here's information about the Bantu word "ubuntu" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_philosophy
"Ubuntu... is a Nguni Bantu term meaning "humanity". It is often also translated as "humanity towards others", but is often used in a more philosophical sense to mean "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity".[3]"...

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2015
6. Antoinette Halberstadt
"I would love someone on here to translate the main parts of this song, for those of us who don't speak much or any Zulu!"

**
REPLY
7. Skhalo
"+Antoinette Halberstadt This is basically saying no Xenophobia- Stop killing among our selves"

**
REPLY
8. Antoinette Halberstadt
"+Sello Bopape Thank you Sello. So very relevant now! We should all post it in the comments sections of all the media reports about the latest wave of xenophobic violence that is SO saddening!
-snip-
Skhalo’s screen name apparently was “Sello Bopape” when this online exchange was made.

**
REPLY
9. Skhalo
"Busi Mhlongo - Yehlisan' Umoya Ma-Afrika>>> Calm down/Stop it Africans >>this one is direct saying No to Violence..."

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Example #2: BlackCoffee feat Busi Mhlongo - Izizwe [sound file]

audrey ndaba, Published on May 28, 2008

i like the message in this song, its so coherent with wats going on in S.A now with the Xenophobia...
-snip-
Here s information about (DJ) Black Coffee from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Coffee_(DJ)
"Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo (born 11 March 1976), better known by his stage name Black Coffee, is a South African record producer and DJ. He began his career around 1995[1] and has released five albums[2] as well as a live DVD under his Johannesburg-based record label, Soulistic Music.[3] He is arguably the most prominent electronic music producer in Africa.

[...]

Music Career
In 2005, he launched his career with a remix of Hugh Masekela's 1972 hit Stimela.[14] Later that year he released his self-titled debut album under his Johannesburg based record label Soulistic Music,[13] Black Coffee's wholly owned corporate structure, his team's home base and the jump-off point for himself, and as time has evidenced for many others too.[15] The album featured collaborations with the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo amongst a few."...
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with Zulu words translated to English by Google translate given below the comment itself). These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

1. Fezile Mbuku, 2008
"i loveeeeeeee this song. blackcoffee yo yo yo yo this is hot."
-snip-
The word "yo" in this sentence probably means something like "yeah".

**
2. Mlulami Dike, 2010
"@Mludja..Black Coffee can make you to be well known by ppl especial youth just like mamu uBusi, i know her because of Black Coffee nd..i respect her with dat uncompetable sharp voice. Black Coffee introduced her into dis House music..I even went to her Live perfomance in Grahamstown in 2008...nd..she turned up da stage into somethin..else..may your soul rest in peace mama. we gonna mic ya.."

**
3. Trompas, 2011
"Please upload the other house version...its too nice..
-snip-
Note that “too nice” is a positive statement meaning "very nice"; "real nice". In contrast, "too __" in American English is often a negative description meaning that the thing or person being described is in excess.

**
4. Odirile Mondlane, 2015
"Growing up! in a foreign country, i understand this song it gets me all emotional at times...everything about it....the message is just precise...one of the songs i do not dance to. i just listen. 'Thini zizwe? Ndi zo yi bika le ndaba, kwa bakithe khaya! :)
-snip-
Google translation's of these words from Zulu to English for “'Thini zizwe? Ndi zo yi bika le ndaba, kwa bakithe khaya! :)" is "What are you feeling? It's about this story, for the homeowners".

However, given Busi Mhlongo's statement that "izizwe" means "foreigners" [as noted in the video given as Example #1], that translation is probably wrong.

**
Lalla Olifant, 2017
"God bless BC...I have been listening to this ever since it existed and it's been so many years, nearly a decade if i am not mistaken and i still think it's my fav track by BC. Rest in peace Mama Mhlongo, we loved you back then, we love you now and we will forever love and cherish you."

****
Example #3: Busi Mhlongo - Izizwe(point 5 remix) [sound file]



Freddy Motsumi, Published on Jul 7, 2011
-snip-
This remix was produced by (musical group, DJs) Point 5. Unfortunately, I haven't found any information about Point 5 online.

Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with Zulu words translated to English by Google translate given below the comment itself). These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

2011
1. tyson dube
"ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe much love for this track"
-snip-
This is a line from that song. According to Google translate "ewe" is the Zulu word for "yes".

**
2. Thanda
"club BANGER!!!!!!!"

**
3. kelly buru
"TUNE!!!!!!!!!"

**
4. Balushi Sekele
"this is the one. old + new = the boom...."
-snip-
"The boom" might be a typo or a mishearing of the African American Vernacular English term "the bomb", meaning something that is very good. "The old" is the original song "Iziziwe" and "the new" is the House remix.

**
5. Mdu Madondo
Mdu Madondo
"Mam' Busi was but divine... House remix off the hook!!"
-snip-
"Off the hook" is an African American Vernacular English phrase meaning "very good".

**
2012
6. Mabuda Yanga Romeo
"Piont5 you am sure u made mam'ubusi proud with this, may her soul rest in peace, its point5 baby and thats wats up!!!!!!!"
-snip-
"Points" refers to "Points 5", the producers of this remix.

**
7. MissLindo Sindane
"One house track I will never get over..."
-snip-
"House" here means the genre of music known as "South African House". There are different categories of South African House music. I don't know which category this is.

****
2011
8. mosima collin Tlabela
"killer song DJ"

**
9. sammwa214
"so happy to have found this song after a streneous search its s hit in kenya"

**
10. Shireen Mzizi
"yeah thats more like it.....we can enjoy international music but we love our own brand"

****
2016
11. Takalani Mkhalele
"You know your a 90's baby if you still jam with this song"

**
REPLY
12, Antoinette Njambali, 2017
"And still know all the lyrics"

****
2017
132. Mihlali Dante Maninjwa
"This jam used to give me goosebumps n in 2017 it still does that. Its a classic"

**
14. Vincent Tawana
"may your soul so rest in peace mama, gone is the most beautiful voice we had in Mzansi"
-snip-
"Mzansi"= "South Africa"

**
15. Oscar 11
"😂😂😁 "Thin' izizwe yea"🙌🙌🙌 2017 n it still goes in"

**
16. One Bantatetse
"tuuuuuuuune....never gets old."

**
17. Veronica Vilakazi
"It ain't a set if you haven't played this song!"
-snip-
"A set" - a party, a social event that includes music and dancing

** 
18. KG Ndlovu
"thini sizwe ma africa. thini sizwe. what about land africans what about land."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams posts provides a compilation of comments about Igbo names from people writing on nairaland.com [Nigerian] online discussion threads about Igbo names.

The first section of this post quotes comments about the frequent use of the given names that include the name element "chi" and prefix or as a suffix, or otherwise include "chi".

The second section of this post quotes selected comments from those same discussion threads about the frequent use* of sixteen Igbo personal names.

The "frequently given" names [as indicated in these comments] are as follows:

(given in alphabetical order, and not in any ranking order)
Arinze
Chiamaka
Chinedu
Chioma
Chizutere (including versions such as Zicora and Ziteora)
Emeka
Nneka
Nkechi
Ngozi
Ijeoma
Mmesomma (Mmesomachukwu)
Obonna
Uche
Uchenna
Ugonna
Uzor
-snip-
A few additional Igbo names are mentioned in some of these comments.

Information about the meanings of these names are given in the Addendum to this post, even if those meanings are included in the comments themselves.

*Note that I've used the term "frequent use" rather than "most popular". It seems to me that "popular" has a positive connotation, but some of the commenters citing the names that are cited in these comments aren't happy about how often those names are given to Igbo children.

The content of this post is presented for etymological, historical, and cultural purposes.

This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on African names and naming traditions.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
DISCLAIMER:
The comments quoted in this post are the opinions of the commenters on those featured discussion threads.

It appears that most of the people commenting on those discussion threads were Igbos living in Nigeria. At one commenter on one of these discussion threads identified herself as an English woman who is married to a Igbo man.

As an African American who may not be of any Igbo ancestry, who has never been to Nigeria, who has never knowingly been in direct or indirect contact with any Igbos, and who doesn't speak Igbo, I take no position about the general opinions about Igbo naming customs that are given in this post.

The specific names that these commenters cited may not actually have been frequently used the names for all Igbos in Nigeria. Furthermore, if these cited names were (or are still) frequently used by Igbos in Nigeria, they may have been (or may still be) most frequently used by certain age groups, and certain populations of Igbos.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
These excerpts are divided into two sections: "General comments about "chi prefix names" and "Specific "frequently given" names".

The excerpts in each section are given in chronological order based on the publishing date of the first comment that is quoted from that particular source. These excerpts are numbered for referencing purposes only as are multiple comments from the same excerpt.

I believe that these discussions are still open for comments. As such, after this pancocojams post is published there may be additional comments on those discussion threads that mention the popularity of specific Igbo names.

****
GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT 'CHI" NAMES
EXCERPT #1
From http://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings/10
Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by rubi(f): 3:32pm On Jul 15, 2008
"I love igbo names so much but I don't know why they always begin with chi
is it that we love God too much or what."

****
EXCERPT #2
From http://www.nairaland.com/1536317/some-funky-igbo-names-meaning
Re: Some Funky Igbo Names And Their Meaning by odumchi: 5:50am On Nov 30, 2013
..."To be honest, I'm tired of the "Chi craze". We need more diversity".

****
EXCERPT #3
1. From http://www.nairaland.com/1902797/common-beautiful-names-igbo-tribe
Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by Afrocatalyst: 6:10am On Sep 16, 2014
"Do we have to put Chi in all the names. I need core igbo names pls for my unborn daughter."

**
2. Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by thunder74(m): 6:15am On Sep 16, 2014
Most of the names has "Chukwu" or Chi" before or after.

**
3. Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by basille(m): 8:08am On Sep 16, 2014
"All core and authentic igbo names has diminished over times and the little ones remaining is either been contaminated with the word"chukwu/chi" by over religious freaks or englishdized by jobless youth with no comprehension and appreciation of their culture.

**
4. From http://www.nairaland.com/1902797/common-beautiful-names-igbo-tribe/2
Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by jcmaiah(m): 6:51am On Sep 16, 2014
"My Igbo name remains the sweetest Igbo name of all time... Chihurumnanya, but since I am male I changed it to Chukwuhurumnanya. In ancient Igbos a mans name don't start with Chi, rather Chukwu. A womans name can end with both chukwu or chi but cant start with it.
Example... Chima=female, chukwuma=male.
again some names that are 99% used by female has male users too.
Example... Chioma=female, Chukwuoma=male.
Chiamaka=female, Chukwuamaka=male.
Igbo name abuses are common in abia state and part of ebonyi. In abia u see a man bearing Chinyere or Chioma."

**
5. From http://www.nairaland.com/1902797/common-beautiful-names-igbo-tribe/10
Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by Nobody: 6:31pm On Sep 16, 2014
..."The 'Chi' prefix in igbo names is as old as the igbo race,just that it is rampantly used in contemporary times."

**
6. From http://www.nairaland.com/1902797/common-beautiful-names-igbo-tribe/11
Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by bigfrancis21(m): 1:10am On Sep 17, 2014
[begin quote] "thunder74: Most of the names has "Chukwu" or Chi" before or after." [end quote]

"It goes to explain to you the importance and significance of 'chi' in Igbo mythology. Before the introduction of christianity, Igbo people believed every person had a guardian spirit or chi that followed every individual around and helping that individual on his spiritual journey on earth. The concept of chi was so important that it reflected greatly in the names of Igbo people. After the introduction of christianity, the concept of 'chi' was modified to refer to God almighty(chi ukwu = Chukwu)."

**
7. From http://www.nairaland.com/1902797/common-beautiful-names-igbo-tribe/12
Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by Nobody: 4:35pm On Sep 23, 2014
"Everything chukwu chukwu"

**
8. Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by Vessi: 10:56am On Sep 24, 2014
"we love and respect God. Any problem you have with our culture?"

**
9. Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by nnenneigbo(f): 9:59am On Aug 08, 2016
[begin quote] TheArchangel:
"These are the new generation Igbo names with Christian undertones/ beliefs. A whole lot of the names has God as either the suffix or prefix." [end quote]

"I won't name my kids anything with chi, it's too common. I'll go with authentic names like adaobi, ike, adaora etc lol."
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note: I believe that "chi" is pronounced the same as the English word "she".

"Chukwa" [chi + ukwa] is another element that is found in many Igbo names. "Chukwa" means "mighty God" and is the Igbo referent (and "Olisa") for the Supreme Deity.

Additional information about "chi" is given below, particularly in the quotes about the meaning of the name "Chioma".

****
SPECIFIC FREQUENTLY GIVEN IGBO NAMES
EXCERPT #1
1. From http://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings/8
Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by SoWhat1: 11:26pm On Mar 15, 2008
"Over-used Igbo female names:
Nneka
Nkechi
Ngozi
Ijeoma
Chioma
Uche

Over-use Igbo male names:

Emeka
Obinna
Uzor

No Igbo family is complete without one Nkechi, one Nneka, an at least one Emeka. I went to a house warming an there were 12 females their named Nneka and 8 Nkechis, and it was not a large party. I am not saying these are not nice names with deep meanings, but I would like to see some variety and creativity. Just a thought."

**
2. From http://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings/14
Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by asha80(m): 7:20am On Nov 09, 2011
[beginning quote] "Ileke-IdI:

Arinze is a Yoruba name, dear. Segun Arinze. Or is he mixed? [quote ended]


"ignorance.

arinze is a popular igbo name and segun arinze is mixed.

Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by Crayola1: 7:21am On Nov 09, 2011
^^
Thank you.

He chose that name because it was suggested by someone that having two ethnic names would make him more "mysterious" to viewers in films

I'm not even Nigerian and I knew this dear, please school up failing has never been cute [kiss emoji]

http://nigerian-movies.net/starprofiles/segun.php
http://www.modernghana.com/movie/8124/3/many-people-have-bad-impression-about-mesegun-arin.html [Pancocojams Editor: This link no longer active.]

And yes he's has an Igbo mother and Yoruba father.

With the full name of Arinze being Arinzechukwu.

Class dismissed. Hit the books"

****
EXCERPT #2:
From http://www.nairaland.com/208039/igbo-baby-names
1. Re: Igbo Baby Names by LoveAlways(f): 3:49am On Dec 16, 2008
"Hey All

What is a nice Igbo baby name for a girl beginning with the letter "C"?

Thanks"

**
2. Re: Igbo Baby Names by Nobody: 2:30am On Dec 17, 2008
"I love th ename Chioma and Emeka.

I'll pro'lly name my angel Chioma. Lovely name"

**
3. Re: Igbo Baby Names by Nobody: 2:45am On Dec 17, 2008
Chioma is way too common. Chinasa is just fine.

Chika, chiamaka, chukwuka . . . beautiful names you can also consider"

**
4. Re: Igbo Baby Names by Nobody: 2:50am On Dec 17, 2008
It's common in naija not here
And why does it matter if it's common? It's the beauty of the name that counts"

****
EXCERPT #3:
http://www.nairaland.com/598034/igbo-nameshttp://www.nairaland.com/598034/igbo-names

Igbo Names by jovi: 9:37am On Feb 03, 2011
Pls examples of some uncommon igbo names?.(i.e no Emeka's, ngozi, e.t.c)

Thanks!
-snip-
This comment implies that Emeka and Ngozi are common (i.e. frequently used) Igbo names.

****
EXCERPT #4
From http://www.nairaland.com/1145142/modern-igbo-baby-names
"Modern Igbo Baby Names by Nnenwoke: 12:49am On Dec 29, 2012
So I've been at a loss for Igbo names that speak to me. Don't get me wrong, I love the meaning of our names but I want more than the typical Ugonna, Emeka etc. for our little guy. I've noticed a wave of funky baby girl names and I am hoping to compile a list of fun names for boys. If you know any, please, please share! Thanks everyone."

****
EXCERPT #5
From
Re: Modern Igbo Baby Names by Nnenwoke: 6:54pm On Jan 02, 2013
"Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I actually do like Chimezie but again, know quite a few and dearfriend, you have some interesting recommendations. Will see if I can get my husband to buy into any of them. Other suggestions are still welcomed! Thanks again"

****
EXCERPT #6
From http://www.nairaland.com/1536317/some-funky-igbo-names-meaning
Re: Some Funky Igbo Names And Their Meaning by Nobody: 2:01pm On Dec 03, 2013
"Op, u compiled that thing without Mmesomma?!
most of the children born these days have the name."
-snip-
Op= Original poster = the person who started the discussion

“u compiled that thing” = compiled lists of Igbo given names that don't include the element "chi"

****
EXCERPT #7
From http://www.nairaland.com/1902797/common-beautiful-names-igbo-tribeM.a>
1. Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by freshness2020: 6:07am On Sep 16, 2014
"Chinedu-God guides!(most popular male igbo names)

[...]

ChiAmaka..God is so beautiful. (one of most populous female igbo names)"
-snip-
This spelling may be a typo. This name is given as "Chiamakaka" without the capital "A" on other online lists and pages that I've found.

**
2. Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by officialcharlz(m): 6:51pm On Sep 14, 2014
"Chizutere- God sent.
a favorite among the igbo community, other versions include zicora, ziteora. it is also unisex."

**
3. Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by kackar22: 7:20am On Sep 16, 2014
"Why is everybody catefully avoiding Emeka which remains the most widely answered name for the great igbos till today"

**
4. From http://www.nairaland.com/1902797/common-beautiful-names-igbo-tribe/5
Re: Common Beautiful Names From The Igbo Tribe by Vikthor(m): 8:56am On Sep 16, 2014
"Y'all keep forgetting the most popular one...."Uchenna"..

****
ADDENDUM- MEANINGS OF SPECIFIC NAMES MENTIONED IN THIS POST
[These names are given in alphabetical order]

ARINZE (ARINZECHUKWA)
From http://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings/23 Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by bigfrancis21(m): 2:43am On Nov 10, 2013
"Arinze Chukwu means Thank God. This is how it is used in statements in Anambra Igbo - Arinze Chukwu na Emeka a furo m n'olu taata. Thank God Emeka did not see me at work today."

****
CHIAMAKA
From https://www.behindthename.com/name/chiamaka
"Given Name CHIAMAKA
GENDER: Feminine
USAGE: Western African, Igbo
Meaning & History
Means "God is beautiful" in Igbo.
See All Relations · Show Family Tree
Related Names
DIMINUTIVES: Amaka, Chi, Chichi (Igbo)"

****
CHINEDU
From https://www.behindthename.com/name/chinedu
GENDER: Masculine & Feminine
USAGE: Western African, Igbo
Meaning & History
Means "God leads" in Igbo."

****
CHIOMA
Here are some comments about the name "Chiona" from https://www.behindthename.com/name/chioma/comments
1. "'CHIOMA' literally means good God. But refering to the ancient meaning of 'Chi' as 'luck', 'destiny' or 'personal god' and 'oma' meaning 'good', 'Chioma' could also mean 'good luck', 'good destiny' or 'good personal god'."
― chomie3 8/9/2005

**
2. "Chioma can also be used for men, I know, I am one, and my name is Chioma."
― Chioma 10/29/2006

**
3. "The name 'Chioma' actually originated from the pre-colonial/Christian Igbo (Eastern Nigeria) society where it was believed that each individual has a personal 'god' that guides him or her. It was believed that some people have bad 'chis' (gods) for example people who die young or people who meet with some form of tragedy in their lifetime. Others were believed to have good 'chis' like those who seem to glide through life without misfortunes. The name 'Chioma' was given as a way of praying for 'good luck' so to say for the new born baby."
― chyike 12/6/2006

**
4. "I feel CHIOMA can still stand for Favor or Goodluck since it is an Igbo name and "Chi" can still stand for luck and "Oma" good which means a luck for good, in the other way "Good luck" and good luck also means favor."
― Anonymous User 2/22/2007

**
5. "The name Chioma means more than just "good God", which is the literal translation. Literarily, it means someone that is "lucky" or "favoured". It originates from an Igbo expression, which translates to "you have good God". When you bear "Chioma" as a name, it means you are "a carrier of a good God", implying that things go well with you wherever you go."
― ChyObasi 4/26/2011

****
CHIZUTERE
(including versions of this name such as "Zicora" and "Ziteora")
From https://ask.naija.ng/culture/what-are-popular-igbo-names-and-their-meaning-i29048.html
"Chizutere – ‘god's envoy’. It is one of the most favorite names among Igbo. There are also such versions as Zicora and Ziteora. This name will be suitable both for boys and for girls."

****
EMEKA
From https://www.behindthename.com/name/emeka
Means "great deeds" in Igbo. It also functions as a short form of CHUKWUEMEKA.

**
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Emeka
"Emeka
An igbo (a nigerian language) name meaning "has done well". Usually begins with a prefix (Chi or Chukwu) like Chukwuemeka, Olisaemeka or Nnaemeka all meaning "God has done well".

He was named Emeka as an appriciation to God.*

#amaka#ebuka#chidluka#chiemela#chidinma

by Anderson Mba July 11, 2006
-snip-
The commenter gave this sentence as an example of how this word is used. Notice the hashtags that the commenter gave of other [frequently used] Igbo names.

**
From http://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings/2
1. Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by Mzi(m): 6:45pm On Nov 02, 2006
"Hi All,

I am a South African and cannot speak Igbo. What does the name Emeka actually mean? I am a great follower of His Excellency Chief EMEKA ANYAOKU. I have always thought that I would name my son after him. But I need to know the meaning of the name first. Regards, Mzi"

**
2. Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by kamsi(f): 12:00am On Nov 04, 2006
"Mzi, Emeka is a shortened word. The full name is chukwuemeka which basically means God's grace or more literally that God has done a wonderfull or marvelous work or deed."

****
IJEOMA
From https://www.onlinenigeria.com/nigeriannames/ad.asp?blurb=3025
"IJEOMA translates to "A SUCCESS WISH. WISHING THE PERSON A HAPPY/GOOD JOURNEY ON EARTH." n English. It is common with the Igbo tribe in Nigeria and primarily used by Unisexs"
-snip-
From comments that I've read online, it appears that the name "Ijeoma" is usually only given to females.

****
MMESOMMACHUCKA (MMESOMMA)
From http://www.wivestownhallconnection.com/2013/05/nigerian-igbo-name-for-my-baby.html
"Mmesomachukwu- Mmeso, Oma, Mimi (God's goodness)"

**
From http://www.nairaland.com/598034/igbo-names
1. Re: Igbo Names by Nobody: 3:50pm On Feb 09, 2011
"Mmesomachukwu (Meso for short)"

**
2. Re: Igbo Names by amumex: 4:55pm On Feb 09, 2011
"that is a good name. (Meso)"

**
3. Re: Igbo Names by Nobody: 5:09pm On Feb 09, 2011
"^^ Yep! My neice's name . . . my first daughter's getting it too!"

**
4. Re: Igbo Names by mafolayomi(f): 4:58pm On Feb 10, 2011
"Ujujoan:
sound nice, whats d meaning? unisex?"

**
5. Re: Igbo Names by jovi: 5:06pm On Feb 10, 2011
"Means God's goodness or God shares his love/graces, sho get?"
-snip-
This exchange shows how the name Mmesomachukwu changed from an uncommon name in 2011 (according to this commenter) to a frequently given name in __ according to the comment given in Section 2, Excerpt #6 given above (date written Dec 03, 2013)

****
NNEKA
From https://www.behindthename.com/name/nneka
"Given Name NNEKA
GENDER: Feminine
USAGE: Western African, Igbo
Meaning & History
Means "my mother is supreme" in Igbo."
-snip-
I've also found this name's meaning as "my mother is the greatest"

**
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nneka
"Nneka is an Igbo given name, and can also be a short form of the Igbo name Nnemkadi.
-snip-
This page also lists some notable people with the name "Nneka".

****
NKECHI
"Nkechi" is an Igbo name meaning "God's own". This name is primarily given to females
Here are some comments about this name from https://www.behindthename.com/name/nkechi/comments
1. "My daughter's name is Nkechinyere which means "What God has given". Nkechi is actually the short form of Nkechinyere so you know I love this name. The meaning of this name is not right on this website. It means "God's own". The meaning of Nkechi is different from the meaning of Nkechinyere. [noted -ed]"
― Adaobi 12/7/2004

**
"Nke - means 'belongs to'
Chi - God
Nkechi - God's property"
― chigba 1/3/2005

**
3. The meaning given to the name Nkechi on your website is wrong. Please refer to the comment of Adaobi. She got it right. "Nkechi" on its own means "God's own". Nkechi can also be the shortened form of "Nkechinyere" meaning "What God has given, God's gift, Gift from God". Would you mind making the necessary updating? [noted -ed]
― chika 3/29/2007

**
4. Mostly such igbo names are given due to what the parent pass through before having a child, Nkechinyere or Nkechi in short are given when a parent conceive when they less expected, it is said to be God who gave or gift from God."

― Chinweikpe 10/26/2016

****
NGOZI
From https://www.onlinenigeria.com/nigeriannames/ad.asp?blurb=644
"Ngozi
Meaning: Blessed
Ngozi translates to "Blessed" in English. It is common with the igbo tribe in Nigeria and primarily used by Females"
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngozi for other meanings of the word "ngozi" in other African languages

****
OBINNA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obinna
"Obinna is an Igbo name, or sometimes surname. The name's origin is from the Igbo, located in south eastern Nigeria, and is usually male. Though people from other cultures may bear the name. The direct English translation is, "father's heart".[1]"...
-snip-
"obi"=heart + "nna"=father [in the Igbo language]

****
UCHE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uche
"Uche is a Nigerian name originating among the Igbo people, which can mean "intention", "will", "mind", or "sense". Variants can include Uchechukwu (which means "God's will" or "God's intention"), Ucheoma (which means "beautiful mind"), and Uchendu (which means "thinking/thought of life")."

****
UCHENNA
From https://www.onlinenigeria.com/nigeriannames/ad.asp?blurb=1580
Meaning: The father's will
Uchenna translates to "The father's will" in English. It is common with the Igbo tribe in Nigeria and primarily used by Unisexs
-snip-
I'm not sure if "Uche" is a short form of the name "Uchenna" or is always a short form of that name (and other names).

Also, from what I've read, if I'm not mistaken, Uchenna and Uche are most often given to females.

****
UGONNA
From http://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings/1
Re: Igbo Names & Their Meanings by chinani(f): 8:28pm On Jun 23, 2006
Ugonna translates "Father's eagle".

Or if God is meant by "Father" than "God's eagle". (But then Ugochi translates to "God's eagle" spot on.)

I've also heard that the meaning of Ugochi is "Divine prestige". The divinity would be God's annointment persay & the prestige would be the eagle so you are the "feather in the cap".

So Ugonna could be "Divine prestige" or "Father's prestige".

Someone, anyone, correct me if I'm wrong. . ."

****
UZOR (CHIBUZOR)
From https://www.onlinenigeria.com/nigeriannames/ad.asp?blurb=4126
"Chibuzor

Meaning: God is the way

Chibuzor translates to "God is the way" in English. It is common with the Igbo tribe in Nigeria and primarily used by Unisexs"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides a compilation of comments about big afros (hairstyles) and "dead" audiences on a YouTube discussion thread about The Sylvers' 1976 Midnight Special television show performance of their hit song "Boogie Fever".

Information about the "Boogie fever" song is included in this post.

The Addendum to this post contains my comment about racial differences in audience etiquette.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composers of "Boogie Fever" and thanks to The Sylvers for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on Black hair styles. Click the "afros" tag and the "Black hair styles" tag for other posts in this series.
-snip-
I've decided to publish a separate post on racial differences in audience etiquette. The link to that post will be added here ASAP>

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: The Sylvers - Boogie Fever (Midnight Special 1976)



thepaak786, Published on Nov 8, 2009

The Sylvers Perform "Boogie Fever" on The Midnight Special In 1976.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE R&B SONG "BOOGIE FEVER"
From https://genius.com/The-sylvers-boogie-fever-lyrics

“Boogie Fever” is a single on The Sylvers‘ fourth album Showcase.

“Boogie Fever” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a week in May 1976 and Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart in March of 1976.

It also topped the RPM charts in Canada and was also certified Gold.
-snip-
The song's lyrics are also found on that page.

****
From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Fever https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Fever
..."Billboard ranked it [the song "Boogie Fever"] as the No. 20 song for 1976. "Boogie Fever" is one of two gold records by the Sylvers, the other being "Hot Line".

[...]

The song was featured in the Stephen King miniseries The Stand (1994) and the feature film Roll Bounce (2005). In 2010, "Boogie Fever" was briefly used in a scene in Despicable Me, and in 2012 it was used in its theme park attraction adaptation, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. The song has also appeared in TV ads for Intel Pentium II, Old Navy and Little Caesars Pizza. An instrumental version was also music for level 1 and level 9 of the game Frantic Freddie.”…

[...]

Songwriter(s) Freddie Perren, Kenneth St. Lewis"...
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sylvers
for an article about The Sylvers.

Note: "Boogie" is an African American Vernacular English term that means "to dance".

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
These selected comments are divided into two sections: "Comments about The Sylvers' afro hairstyle" and "Comments about the audience at this televised performance of The Slyvers' performing "Boogie Fever".

These comments are given in chronological order by year with the oldest comments given first, except for responses. The comments in each section are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Notice that some of these comments address both of these section topics.
I've added my own comments after a few of the comments about afros. I've also added a comment after the section about that particular television audience's lack of response during that "Boogie Fever" performance.

SECTION I- COMMENTS ABOUT THE GROUPS' AFROS
2010
1. parisel313
"silly froes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

**
REPLY
2. mslegacy01
"@parisel313 Silly 'fro's?!??? WHAT was SO silly about 'em!?! Those boys had some of the BIGGEST, BADDEST most beautiful and healthy fro's around! I'd LOVE to stop relaxing my hair (as a woman) and wear my hair PROUDLY in a 'FRO!

Tell me you're NOT black making that stupid comment"

****
2011
3. charlesw62
"WOW! I remember when my afro was that big!!! LOL"

**
4. TheRealCritique
"I think this wins the all-time afro competition...big, and seriously well-rounded and even. I can't imagine what that looks like after you sleep on it."
-snip-
While my 'fro was never that big, I had what I would consider a "medium size afro". Usually at night I adhered to the common custom of plaiting my hair into several braids*. The next morning I took out the braids and picked (combed my hair using a wide tooth afro pic). Braiding my hair and then "picking it" helped to de-tangle the tightly curled hair coils, resulting in a wider look. While I picked my hair, I would pat it down to achieve the round look (that I call a "halo look") that was popular in the 1970s. A much more wind-spread, any shape or no shape natural ("afro") look is much more popular now, if that look can even be termed an "afro".

*This wasn't a hair style that was usually worn in public. This hair style wasn't cornrolls that Black females have worn forever, and wasn't the micro braids hairstyles that Black females wear nowadays.

**
5. Oakbluffsdiva
"Boy those fro's were picked to perfection!!! Foster was my boyfriend when Michael J. wouldn't act right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lolllllllllll"
-snip-
“picked to perfection” = The comb used for “afros” was called an “afro pic”. "Picked to perfection" means combing out your hair (combing the tightly coiled strands of hair which probably had been braided overnight)* with an afro pic) until it achieved its desired round shape.

*Read the note that I wrote after comment #4 above.

**
6. InfinityNebula Heaven
"BLACK PPL NEED TO GO BACK TO THE PPL THEY REALLY WERE BEGINNING WITH THE BEAUTIFUL AFROS AND STOP ASSIMILATING INTO WHITE CULTURE THAT WATERS DOWN WHO BLACK PPL ARE AS A WHOLE
THE BEGINNING OF BLACK DOWNFALL IN AMERICA BEGAN WHEN THEY ASSIMILATED AND BEGAN TO BE ASHAMED TO BE BLACK CUTTING THE BEAUTIFUL AFRO AND STRAITENING THE HAIR LIKE EURO'S"
PEACE!

**
7. vinyl45junkie
" I took my baby to the DRIVE IN show" What a great time era! Drive in's, fashion, hair,(great afro's,purfectly round) and the music just awsome !

****
2012
8. DARLENE THERATLADY
"Back in the days of the natural fro"

**
9. Calvin Roach
"Now those are Afro's!"

**
10. mrsfifties
"blows my mind when i c how all the guys have the same afro look,, im not knockin them by any means,they were very good, funny how u notice things like tht now"

****
2013
11. BerlinFan82
"Some serious 'fros."

**
12. BALD ETTA
"THE SYLVER'S HAD THE GREATEST FROS OF ALL TIME!"

**
13. creativechic92
"This is so AFROTASTIC!!"

**
14. discolady2
"like the afros every body getting back n2 their afros again i'm glad didn't need that perm noway ."
-snip-
"n2"= into

**
15. Karmadog
"If only their hair were a bit bigger, they'd be perfect! :)"

****
2014
16. Calvin Dunn
"The guys were my "hair idols" back in the 70's..LOL I saw them live in Oakland Cal. After that - I had one of the biggest afros in high school. Lol Whats amazing to me is they sound perfect, and their harmonies are excellent - even while doing dance steps. There's no groups or bands out there today that can sound that good live or in studio."

**
17. Jeff Cobb
"Lordy, those fros ain't no joke!"

**
18. Marcela Buggin'
"Ooh, them 'fros. Got a sista swoonin' over here!"

**
19. troysvisualarts
"Always been a fan of this super disco group and this great dance groove classic, makes me wanna get down!!! :D Man these guys had the biggest baddest finest frizzed afro hairdos of any disco/funk group of that era, I bet they invested a good portion of their income on Afro Sheen to maintain those fros! ;)"
-snip-
"Afro Sheen" the brand name for very popular hair care products for Black Americans' hair. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/eleven-non-racist-product-commercials.html for two 1970s Afro-Sheen commercials. Another hair care commercial from is featured in that post is for Ultra-Sheen, a rival Black hair care brand.

**
20. OrchidIslander
"I grew up back in the day dancing to the Sylvers. Back then I had a killer "fro" Today my head is shaved because of my hair challenged ancestors and the only place I seem to grow hair is on my back and knuckles. Life is still good....boogie fever baby!"

****
2015
21. Wildman
"Those Afro's are Bad Ass..Love Em..."

**
22. zigzagbigbag
"If I could grow an afro like that I'd do it in a heartbeat. Alas.... I'm white. :("

**
REPLY
23. Chris Simpson
"+zigzagbigbag Are you Jewish? There might still be hope! #jewfro"

**
REPLY
24. pup lover
"+Chris Simpson LOL"

**
REPLY
25. a j
"zigzagbigbag Back in the late 60s, Eric Clapton had a killer 'fro! :D"

**
26. William Gibbs
"Huge afros rock. What a great era."

**
27. Motoroil
"Those fros had their own zip code!"

**
28. Hozaak Labias
"I always wanted to have a afro but I'm native American"

**
29. Elizabeth Roberto
"this is a "GOOD" song & the singer is "REAL CUTE"& i do like "The Sylvers!" but that HAIR makes them look like Q-tips Heads! lol do people even wear their hair like that anymore? it would be "VERY ODD LOOKING" if they did. -_- _"

****
2016
30. FancyPants69
"Great live performance of this song....Foster Sylvers was so damn cute.....RIP Edmund Sylvers....During a time when anybody that had a Big Afro was considered fine as all get out!!!"
-snip-
Edmund Sylvers is the lead singer for "Boogie Fever".

****
2017
31. Jose Martínez
"What the hell that hair😘😘😱😱😱😱"

**
32. rafterscott
"The 'Fro seriously needs to make a comeback."
-snip-
The rounded natural hair style (big, medium, or short) is largely out of style. However, the "unstyled", non-descriptive shaped "natural", particularly big unstyled "naturals" are "in". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-changing-shape-of-womens-afro-hair.html The Changing Shape Of Women's Afro Hair Styles (with January 2018 Update) for video examples of these Black natural hairstyles and video examples of the older "afro" hair styles.

**
33. jjj ddd
"I miss seeing fros and Bell bottomms"
-snip-
"bell bottoms [pants] = pants that flared out toward their bottoms

**
34. dennis tate
"Awesome song
There fros are dope!"
-snip-
"Dope"= an African American Vernacular English term meaning "very good".

****
2018
35. brandon stewart
"I LOVE THESE AFROS OMG."

**
36. Rich Lo
"The bigger the fro the better"

****
SECTION II- COMMENTS ABOUT THIS TELEVISION SHOW'S AUDIENCE
1. OldskolFan, 2009
"Audience is too sedated. I was 10 when I saw them perform this and I was standing on the chair screaming. I guess it was not their kind er musiq?"

****
2. thediva3BC, 2010
"It's cracking me up how this audience is subdued and then watch the same performance on soul train and the audience is PARTYIN'"
-snip-
Soul Train was a long running [from October 2, 1971 to March 27, 2006], iconic dance series that mostly targeted Black Americans. The series was "created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer." Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train for information about Soul Train.

****
2011
3. memdiva
"That choreography is sooooo amazing! They really got down up there! I cant believe the crowd was just sitting there. How can you just sit there amd stare and something like that and not dance? I would have caught the boogie fever right along with the sylvers!"

**
4. Yabbadabbawhat100
"@949galaxy I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the audience was told to stay seated by the director. It's the only explanation I can think of for people quietly sitting through a killer performance like that. :-)"
-snip-
I didn't see an comment by someone with that name. "memdiva" could have changed her name from @949galaxy or someone else could have dropped that screen name for another name.

**
5. NanTheGoldChild
"That damn audience needed life support, wth?? That was a live ass boogie down performance if I ever saw one!!! Sylvers Forever!!!"

**
REPLY
6. eniebabe44
"@Nanadsyl ..unfortunalely that was the Midnight Special Audience for a while..they would just sit there and then applaud at the end...the show got on my nerves because people are performing their asses off and the audience just sits there...the producers of the show must have been out of the minds or maybe they were hungover...lol"

**
7. Mama Nuveau
"@Nina513 Yeah, but that audience WAS mostly white, even though they were on The Midnight Special show, which was supposed to be so hip and cool with all that acts they showcased. That audience WAS pitiful...dead, dead, dead! They could've at least had some cues for the audience to get hype like they do now...but that was then...Ed Sullivan's audiences were much more lively, it seemed."

**
8. jonathan taylor
"They're on the stage rocking and everyone's just sitting there like it's a black and white movie. Come on crowd show some emotion. Sing along, clap your hands, something."

**
9. Mucupuru
"whats wrong with the audience ? they will never be infected with the boogie fever !"

****
2012

****
2013
10. Scott O'Mary
"The funniest part of this clip is not the afro's or the clothes, but the audience full of stiff white people"

**
11. T Conte
"That audience was about the unboogiest audience of all time. Stiff as boards, except for a few. How could they remain so still with this funkiness?"

**
REPLY
12. pchelloo
"Yeah...I agree......must've been in Russia or Korea maybe? True Sylvers fan here"

**
13. 67johnnyjoe
"Great song, great LIVE singing and dancing! Today's groups couldn't perform this. But can't believe the audience wasn't up and dancing!"

**
14. Silver Jag
"You can see this was the transitional period between rock music and disco for MNS because you have a disco/dance group performing but the audience is still sitting in chairs just watching."
-snip-
"MNS" = Midnight Special television series

**
REPLY
15. typo368
"probably all stoned!!! :)"
-snip-
"stoned" = " on 'recreational' (illegal) drugs

**
16. David Huff
"what's wrong with the crowd? sitting on hands."

**
17. RockWithYu
"Man, that is the DEADEST crowd…it's like they're performing inside a morgue…"

****
2014
18. Jez Parish
"Check out the drummer - looks as bored as hell. Are the audience all dead????"

**
REPLY
19. CaneFu
"Are the audience all dead?"...NO, it's called 'watching and appreciating' the performance"

**
REPLY
20. Jez Parish
"Really? How the hell could you tell? lol"

**
REPLY
21. elijah jackson
"+CaneFu They're in Japan?"

**
22. jmusic45
"That's a dead looking audience. I don't even see but one person nodding their head,"

****
2015
23. BigMTBrain
"WHOA!?!?! Why such a DEAD audience?!?

****
2016
24. Jim Bilbrey
"yeah the audience looks like a bunch of Deadbeats. but if that had been a soul train audience. with Don Cornelius they would be getting down"

**
25. Carl Trascher
"[profanity abbreviation deleted] is wrong with the audience?"

**
REPLY
26. RayNDeere
"A lot of times they brought in crowds for long tapings. They may have several acts perform their set for later performances. But early on they did tell the crowds not to dance."

****
2017
27. gabstanace2
"It should be a federal crime not to dance to that song!"

**
2018
28. tanya ms80sfreak
"I'm dancing right now how can the audience be superglued to their seats"

**
29. spiff2268
"1. The audience was quiet because the bands actually played live and the producers wanted to get the best recordings possible.

2. Black people, bring back them 'fros! They were awesome!"

**
30. Jerry Jazzbo
"The audience was on qualludes."

****
ADDENDUM: RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
It's possible that the audience for this Midnight Special television show featuring The Sylvers' performance of "Boogie Night" -and other Midnight Special shows were instructed to be silent and stay in their seats without clapping or moving during the show's taping.

However, I believe that there are core differences in audience etiquette during performances or other cultural events (including religious events) between African Americans and White Americans, and between some other racial populations. I have experienced these cultural differences and have read about them online, including in some YouTube discussion threads of other videos (and especially pre-1980s videos) of African American performances in front of White audiences or majority White audiences in the United States and in Europe.

Generally speaking, African Americans' audience etiquette is rooted in Black African traditions where people are expected to demonstrate their appreciation-or lack of appreciation for performances- during and not just after those performances. In so doing, audiences give energy to the performers and are active participants in those performances. This active, expressive audience behavior has been found and continues to be found during religious events such as certain but not all Black denominations' church services and during certain non-religious cultural performances such as some musical concerts, plays, spoken word events, and rallies.

Here are some verbal examples and physical examples of active expressive audience behavior during performances and/or other non-religious or religious cultural events:

Verbal
-shouting approval exclamations such as "Amen!", "Go 'head!", "Do it!", "Yeah!" [Note that disapproval exclamations may also be shouted]
-speaking on command in "response" to a performer's "call"

Physical
-nodding your head in time with the song
-clapping hands along with a song
-raising your hand (and/or waving your hand) while seated or standing up
-raising both hands (and/or waving both hands)
-standing up
-singing along
-dancing

Historical accounts of English theatre audiences attending Shakespearean plays and other plays of that time document that those audiences demonstrated some of these active, expressive audience behaviors, and more. However, eventually the White European norm developed in which the audience was-and largely still is- expected to be silent and still during cultural performances, i.e. audiences were and are expected to be inactive and non-expressive during performances and other cultural events.

I've experienced how people are sometimes not sure which audience etiquette standards they should follow when there are integrated audiences for cultural events in the United States. This particularly occurred at "downtown" events when audiences consist of a large number of African Americans and also a considerable number of White Americans. One example that comes to mind was during a Drum Line performance that I attended that was staged by an African American ensemble. In addition to playing drums as if they were part of a drum & bugle corp drum line, the ensemble sang and danced to old & current Black songs. Because this performance was held in a downtown concert venue, and because there were so many White folks there, I believe that Black folks' expressive responses to the show was far less than it would have been if the performance had been held in a Black community venue and if there were no White people or fewer White people in attendance.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post focuses on the subject of racial differences in audience etiquette. By "etiquette" I mean understood rules and expectations for proper behavior.

Some of the excerpts in this post provide information about the changes in audience etiquette for [European] classical music that have occurred and may be occurring now.

Some excerpts from this post are included in the content and my comments from the pancocojams post entitled "The Sylvers' 1976 Hit Song "Boogie Fever" And YouTube Comments About Big Afros &"Dead" Audiences"http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-sylvers-1976-hit-song-boogie-fever.html

This post also includes a viewer's comment on this subject and my explanatory note about that comment in the pancocojams post entitled "What "Sugar" Means In Soca Music"http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-sugar-means-in-soca-music.html

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those are featured in these videos.

****
EXCERPTS AND COMMENTS ABOUT RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
[Pancocojams Editor's Note:
I wrote this comment as an Addendum to this January 2018 pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-sylvers-1976-hit-song-boogie-fever.html The Sylvers' 1976 Hit Song "Boogie Fever" And YouTube Comments About Big Afros &"Dead" Audiences
"It's possible that the audience for this Midnight Special television show featuring The Sylvers' performance of "Boogie Night" -and other Midnight Special shows were instructed to be silent and stay in their seats without clapping or moving during the show's taping.

However, I believe that there are core differences in audience etiquette during performances or other cultural events (including religious events) between African Americans and White Americans, and between some other racial populations. I have experienced these cultural differences and have read about them online, including in some YouTube discussion threads of other videos (and especially pre-1980s videos) of African American performances in front of White audiences or majority White audiences in the United States and in Europe.

Generally speaking, African Americans' audience etiquette is rooted in Black African traditions where people are expected to demonstrate their appreciation-or lack of appreciation for performances- during and not just after those performances. In so doing, audiences give energy to the performers and are active participants in those performances. This active, expressive audience behavior has been found and continues to be found during religious events such as certain but not all Black denominations' church services and during certain non-religious cultural performances such as some musical concerts, plays, spoken word events, and rallies.

Here are some verbal examples and physical examples of active expressive audience behavior during performances and/or other non-religious or religious cultural events:

Verbal
-shouting approval exclamations such as "Amen!", "Go 'head!", "Do it!", "Yeah!" [Note that disapproval exclamations may also be shouted]
-speaking on command in "response" to a performer's "call"

Physical
-nodding your head in time with the song
-clapping hands along with a song
-raising your hand (and/or waving your hand) while seated or standing up
-raising both hands (and/or waving both hands)
-standing up
-singing along
-dancing

Historical accounts of English theatre audiences attending Shakespearean plays and other plays of that time document that those audiences demonstrated some of these active, expressive audience behaviors, and more. However, eventually the White European norm developed in which the audience was-and largely still is- expected to be silent and still during cultural performances, i.e. audiences were and are expected to be inactive and non-expressive during performances and other cultural events.

I've experienced how people are sometimes not sure which audience etiquette standards they should follow when there are integrated audiences for cultural events in the United States. This particularly occurred at "downtown" events when audiences consist of a large number of African Americans and also a considerable number of White Americans. One example that comes to mind was during a Drum Line performance that I attended that was staged by an African American ensemble. In addition to playing drums as if they were part of a drum & bugle corp drum line, the ensemble sang and danced to old & current Black songs. Because this performance was held in a downtown concert venue, and because there were so many White folks there, I believe that Black folks' expressive responses to the show was far less than it would have been if the performance had been held in a Black community venue and if there were no White people or fewer White people in attendance."
-snip-
Here's the video of The Sylvers performing their 1976 hit song "Boogie Fever" on the American television Midnight Special:

The Sylvers - Boogie Fever (Midnight Special 1976)



thepaak786, Published on Nov 8, 2009

The Sylvers Perform "Boogie Fever" on The Midnight Special In 1976.
-snip-
Here are some comments from that video's discussion thread that were included in that pancocojams post. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only. (These comments have different numbers than those that I assigned for them in that post).

1. thediva3BC, 2010
"It's cracking me up how this audience is subdued and then watch the same performance on soul train and the audience is PARTYIN'"
-snip-
Soul Train was a long running [from October 2, 1971 to March 27, 2006], iconic dance series that mostly targeted Black Americans. The series was "created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer." Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train for information about Soul Train.

**
2. eniebabe44
"@Nanadsyl ..unfortunalely that was the Midnight Special Audience for a while..they would just sit there and then applaud at the end...the show got on my nerves because people are performing their asses off and the audience just sits there...the producers of the show must have been out of the minds or maybe they were hungover...lol"

**
3. memdiva, 2011
"That choreography is sooooo amazing! They really got down up there! I cant believe the crowd was just sitting there. How can you just sit there amd stare and something like that and not dance? I would have caught the boogie fever right along with the sylvers!"

**
4. Yabbadabbawhat100, 2011
"@949galaxy I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the audience was told to stay seated by the director. It's the only explanation I can think of for people quietly sitting through a killer performance like that. :-)"

**
5. Mama Nuveau, 2011
"@Nina513 Yeah, but that audience WAS mostly white, even though they were on The Midnight Special show, which was supposed to be so hip and cool with all that acts they showcased. That audience WAS pitiful...dead, dead, dead! They could've at least had some cues for the audience to get hype like they do now...but that was then...Ed Sullivan's audiences were much more lively, it seemed."

**
6. Scott O'Mary, 2013
"The funniest part of this clip is not the afro's or the clothes, but the audience full of stiff white people"

**
7. T Conte, 2013
"That audience was about the unboogiest audience of all time. Stiff as boards, except for a few. How could they remain so still with this funkiness?"

**
REPLY
8. pchelloo, 2013
"Yeah...I agree......must've been in Russia or Korea maybe? True Sylvers fan here"

**
9. Jez Parish, 2014
"Check out the drummer - looks as bored as hell. Are the audience all dead????"

**
REPLY
10. CaneFu, 2014
"Are the audience all dead?"...NO, it's called 'watching and appreciating' the performance"

**
REPLY
11. Jez Parish, 2014
"Really? How the hell could you tell? lol"

**
REPLY
12 elijah jackson, 2014
"+CaneFu They're in Japan?"

**
14. jmusic45, 2014
"That's a dead looking audience. I don't even see but one person nodding their head,"

**
15. Jim Bilbrey, 2016
"yeah the audience looks like a bunch of Deadbeats. but if that had been a soul train audience. with Don Cornelius they would be getting down"

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EXCERPT #2
From https://www.americantheatre.org/2015/12/09/why-i-almost-slapped-a-fellow-theatre-patron-and-what-that-says-about-our-theatres/ Why I Almost Slapped a Fellow Theatre Patron, and What That Says About Our Theatres

How a seemingly normal night at the theatre led to an altercation with a patron over microaggressions and white privilege.

BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU, DECEMBER 9, 2015
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
In this article, Dominique Morisseau, a self-described award winning Black playwright shares incidents of what she considers to be "microaggressions" and "white prilege" that occurred during her attendance at an off-Broadway play. In summary, an elderly White woman noticed that she and the friends with her didn't have tickets when they asked at the box office about discounted tickets. The White woman (who Ms. Morisseau calls "Jane") "handed me the tickets"...Then, as she walked away, she added, “Just don’t pop your gum, because I hate that.” [The writer added] "I wasn’t chewing any gum at the time."

Ms Morisseau then wrote that "As the production began, we were suddenly transported into an interactive audience experience. I had developed a role in this play as an actress, so I knew the culture and tone that the play was setting. The lights were up on the audience to invite us into our own personal “church‐like” experience. And my own church experience is a buoyant one, so I began to laugh and nod my head as the play’s music began. I clapped as the onstage choir clapped.

Because I was sitting dead center, I was even recognized by the lead of the show, who started to use me as he gave his opening monologue; he made eye contact and gestured to me. In the middle of the play’s opening, as my friend and I laughed and enjoyed ourselves, Jane leaned in toward me and whispered, “Can you stop and keep it down?”...

First the gum-popping comment, and now this. Two things went through my head. The first was instant rage. The second was audacity. And that audacity caused me to respond to Jane in a whisper: “I will laugh whenever I think things are funny, so get used to it. You’re not going to tell me how I should respond to art.” Jane tried to chastise me further, but I simply put my hand up and said, “No more.”

[...]

Ms Morrison also lists several other incidents that she describes as "microaggressions and "white privilege". One of those incidents was "That time at a prestigious theatre festival when black women were responding exactly how I want them to respond to my play—loudly and expressively and “ummm hmm”-ing—and an older white patron approached them at intermission and said: “Can you enjoy the play a little quieter, please? ”
-snip-
That article has 253 comments, some of them supportive of the writer's position, but most of them very critical of her behavior towards Jane and her assumptions that Jane exhibited any "white privilege". Here are some of those comments: (All of these comments are from 2015. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only)
1. EJ L
"I'm a playwright and a theatre goer. As a playwright I love hearing all kinds of loud responses to my work, because it's validating however at the same time when I'm going to see work at a theatre or a movie theatre for that matter, I'm a total sound nazi because people (anybody) making any sort of noise takes me out of the world of what's going on onstage. If you were to mention the show, maybe Hamilton? After spending a ton of money I personally wouldn't want to hear you at all or anyone else. Again, it disturbs my energetic connection to what's going on onstage. I understand why you'd want to make it about race, but it isn't. It is theatre etiquette. Was the gum popping comment extremely rude? Yes (though I haven't offered a piece of gum to my mom since 1996 for the same reason). Would I have told you to keep it down too? Yes, because I didn't pay to hear you, I paid to hear these wonderful people and you are creating an oppressive environment for me where my experience of the piece is ruined by me being angry. Because race is such a sensitive topic and I realize this is just one more trigger since she was white, I don't think it's that. If I were sitting in churches where call and response is required (and I've been singing in those places for 15 years) I do get upset when people aren't actively participating but when you're in a Broadway theatre that's specifically not interactive like say Sleep No More, those aren't the rules and I think being noisy when it's not like at the end of a song or the end of a great monologue, it's disrespectful to those who are trying to listen. Also if you were part of the development of this play, then you aren't experiencing it for the first time like these other people. And I think it's fair that these people get to have the quiet space to decide on their own how to feel here. I understand wanting to fly off the handle because of all the horrible crap going on in this world but I think it's important ESPECIALLY as a playwright to take into consideration how someone wants to receive the work so it's affective with them."

**
Response to EJ L
2. Olivia Wray EJ L
"The world does not exist to cater to your personal needs. just because you prefer to enjoy things one way, doesn't mean someone can't enjoy things a different way. sure, i don't like loud noises either. i'd probably get annoyed, as well. even still, i wouldn't DARE tell someone that them overtly enjoying the show is the wrong way to do so. there isn't always strictly a right and wrong way to do anything. in some cases, there are. sleep no more being a great example of when things need to be more on the quiet side of things. but if someone is watching an interactive show that's funny, like in this particular article, people are EXPECTED to make noise, to laugh. if someone expresses themselves loudly, the actors are responsible for staying in character and working through it. who knows? it might even make the show more enjoyable. i love when actors break the fourth wall and interact with us and having a vocal audience member gives actors something to work with. as an actor myself, i'd much prefer to hear people in the audience than having a silent audience. it's so much more fun. so please, just open your mind to other people's experiences and try and stop seeing things as "I paid money for this," etc. it's not about you."

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Response to EJ L
3. WriterBCuz
"I go to the theater a lot, and it's absolutely not OK with me (and most everyone else) if people make extra noise or talk and I can't hear the words that the actors are speaking.
I think it is more helpful to make it NOT about race on this particular issue."

**
4. lumppumpkin
"Ok so lemme get this straight.. So you don't have money to buy a ticket so an old lady who happens to be white helps you out by giving you the ticket for free. She makes a bit of a rude remark when it comes to not chewing gum but to be fair no one should really be chewing gum at a theater. So yeah slight rude remark but SHE GAVE YOU A TICKET FOR FREE, c'mon let it pass. Then when you are both watching the play you're being quite loud so she asks you to be quiet at which you refute her and then very rudely gave her a "talk to the hand" now this is a BIG NO NO, my parent and I hope everyone's parents have taught them not to look a gift horse in the mouth and to be thankful when receiving gifts. If it was me I'd be on my best behavior but to actually do something that rude, very very disrespectful and I bet that's what her husband was thinking as well. They just wanted to watch a play in peace, decided to help a girl out and then you are rude to them, if I was in your position, I would've apologized on the spot or left quickly after the play was over but no you had to once again then confront her after the play on why she was "policing you" SHE WANTED TO HEAR THE PLAY that's all, and then you dare start trying to talk shit behind her back to others, of course she'd stand up for herself, frankly you should be very embarrassed about this whole pathetic ordeal. And the fact that you're trying to get the last word in by posting this up for the public to see makes it more pathetic. This wasn't a race issue, this wasn't any type of issue than you being rude to someone who helped you and to think that you even wanted to slap her, do you have no shame? Honestly this is what anger management classes are for.

You said you want her to respect your enjoyment of the play but this is a two lane street and she wanted to enjoy it with little background noise (who knows, she may have been hard of hearing) and frankly the moment she gave you the ticket FOR FREE meant that her wishes should've been put ahead of your own, it's simple society etiquette for being polite, but no, you want the cake and to eat it too. And to people enabling this type of behavior, why? Have none of you learnt to respect your elders? I'm merely 19 and yet I feel like I have more common sense in this than you guys, do you feel like you're owed the world, that you're special and people should bend over backwards for you? That we owe you our respect? No, that's not how it works, you earn respect and should be polite to others who help you. When I'm old and grey and retired from who knows how many years of work, the last thing I want to happen is to be publicly embarrassed by a self entitled spoiled brat who thinks that me asking her to shush during a play which I bought her ticket for is an issue worth posting a whole article about. Frankly I probably wouldn't have the energy for it, go on Jane for being able to put you in your place at the end. Sure you may not have "needed" her charity but you damn well accepted it anyways, honestly you just have no shame, I hope you figure things out for yourself and apologize to Jane the next time you ever see her."
-snip-
I reformmated this comment to enhance its readability/

**
5. Jackie Davis
"#ppi that time I went to see Passing Strange at New Rep where Cliff O and Maurice P and Cheryl S
TORE IT DOWN! My other friends of color and I totally enjoyed it and the actors appreciated our "presence", if you will. At the end of the performance an older, white-haired, white man came right over to me, far within my personal space, AND cut off the conversation I was having to say "maybe you should have enjoyed it (the show) a little less." Without missing a beat I responded "Maybe YOU, should have gone golfing, where it's nice and quiet and about you." He looked shocked. I then added don't you dare to presume that you can approach me and say whatever the hell you feel like. Those days are done."
And then I went back to my conversation. I am at that point. I check them at the gate."

**
Response to Jackie Davis
6. jazzdc
Thanks jackie - I'm Puerto Rican and my wife is black. We are both musicians. I can't tell you the number of times white people look past me to find the band leader (I'm the band leader) or ask my wife (she is a harpist) as she is loading in her instrument when the harpist is going to show up. We are a little older and have witnessed actual discrimination in the past affecting our income, housing etc., so this is nothing for us. We just laugh it off. We have also been to many a broadway show and are fans. I sympathize with all those involved in this situation. However, I have to side with the older woman in the story. Your story sounds similar to the article. You interrupt the performance of the other patrons and thus make the show a bit more about you and your friends instead of the actors. Someone interrupts your conversation to point out your behavior and you set them straight. Perfect. Thanks for confirming negative stereotypes of black folk at the movies and theatre.

**
Response to jazzdc
7. smartytrousers
"I guess you missed the part where the people in the play actually appreciated their responses in both stories/situations...because it's all about the white people. Not every play is meant to sit there in absolute silence. Do you like when people come up to you after a show and say, "I was expecting a bit more hip hop?" It would be ridiculous."

**
8. Shada
"Really liked this article. I'm a white guy occasional actor, and my "way in" to understanding your POV was noticing that - yes, older audiences laugh less. Even when we (the actors on stage) *know* we're killing it, you get a more muted response from an older audience. The younger folks in the audience are afraid to laugh and react openly, too, because the elitist audiences usually respond with a heavy dose of side-eye. It's classism, it's ageism, and - well - of course it's race, because, like you said, these things are all tied up together.

I like the thing you said about treating theater like church, and then totally described an African-American church. Just because one culture self-inflicts emotional repression doesn't mean they need to ruin everyone else's fun. It's theater, not a mausoleum."

**
9. Keith Josef
"Dominique, thank you for this fearless testament to what many of us experience in theater. It is the truth for thousands of us. It's quite unfortunate and very telling that some people (even here leaving comments) can't see how their entitlement gives them license to tell a person of color what they're experiencing is inaccurate or wrong or unjustified, or even define what issues with race and diversity looks like. It is very unfortunate. Again, thank you Dominique for bringing to the surface one of hundreds of issues that plague our theater community. Let's keep talking and exposing and changing."

**
Response to Keith Josef
10. htkatt Keith Josef
"I admire your writing, Mr. Josef. But I think you're heaping on a bit in your assessment of Ms. Morisseau's experience. I have no doubt that she - and you - have experienced unpleasantness that you can properly assign to white entitlement. But there is nothing about this encounter that sounds racially motivated to me. Age, definitely. And the woman who gave Ms. Morisseau the tickets handled it clumsily. But as I read Ms. Morisseau's description of the encounter, it sounds to me like she is the one who ratcheted things to up the level of hostility."

**
Response to htkatt
11. Keith Josef
"That's just the thing—perhaps you don't feel the encounter sounds racially motivated, but that doesn't mean it isn't. That doesn't mean Ms. Morisseau (or any other person) isn't able to accurately define an encounter as racist or misogynist (whatever the situation), particularly if micro-aggressions are part of the daily experience, part of the historical experience. Ms. Morisseau's testament is not new territory; it happens to thousands, and thousands are able to accurately access what is happening to them and pinpoint the culprits. One of the glitches of entitlement is its inability (and sometimes unwillingness) to legitimize another's experience. It's much like what Ms. Morisseau mentions about people not believing she's the playwright or that the seats were for her parents. There's an entitled culture of deciding what's legit or not. That's what resonated most for me in this piece. My interest is how to dismantle it. It's not healthy for anyone."

**
12. Jana Segal
"Wow! What harsh responses to this article! My thoughts... First of all NOBODY likes to be told what to do. That would make me mad and ruin the show for me right there. I wonder how many other people were distracted by their exchange. But this is definitely a cultural difference. I remember the first time I encountered people yelling back at the movie theater in Brooklyn. I was shocked and a bit amused. But I didn't appreciate missing some important lines in the plot. The difference here was that this was an interactive performance. The actor on stage had an exchange with the playwright - perhaps grateful to have someone to play off of. It might have been helpful to have an announcement about the nature of the play - that it would include lively audience interaction. That might have been education enough. And the woman could have decided if it were her cup of tea or not."

**
13. marymiriam
"Hey, as a white, older person who goes to the theater a lot…I get told to quiet down, too…I just laugh (out loud). You have to choose your moments. The other person had the problem. But please don't pile all the blame on a whole generation of a particular color. What does that say about you?"

**
Response to marymiriam
14. joy m.
"The question isn't whether this sometimes happens to people of all races, but the frequency with which it happens in the provocation for the behavior. White people are pulled over by cops sometimes, but that doesn't mean that people of color don't have a right to complain about the fact that they are disproportionately targeted, often for minor or nonexistent offenses"

**
Response to joy m
15. marymiriam
"Absolutely true. But sometimes, it's just one stupid person. Of course everyone has a right to complain. But this wasn't a pullover by a cop or illegal housing or being turned down for a job or all those other injustices that this society has to fight. Sometimes it's just one stupid person being stupid. You have to pick your battles or you'll just end up exhausted before the fight."

**
16. Response to marymiriam
"joy m.
"But the point is, it's not just one person. To quote Dominique, "this isn't an isolated incident". I witnessed a play in an outdoor theater on a chilly night where a white patron was sitting behind a young black man in a hooded sweatshirt that was in no way obstructing her view, and she--without saying a single word to the boy--pulled the hood off of his head. For no reason, except her assumption that she belonged there and he did not. I've seen many other examples of flagrant disrespect. It's there to see if you attend theater with non white people or if you have your eyes open.

I ask you to listen to the people of color writing in this thread who say they have been made to feel unwelcome in our theaters for no reason, time and time and time again. And then think about how the American theater will survive in a diversifying nation if people of color are continually made to feel like intruders when they go to see a play. This is a real issue of grave importance and I'm distressed to see how easily so many on this thread are simply dismissing Dominique's experience."

**
17. Jack Whitelaw
"It's true in classical music as well, and it's ultimately going to cause the decline of the entire industry when the aging white audience is gone and no young people will come to the theatre. Very sad."

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EXCERPT #3:
Lord Kitchener - SUGAR BUM BUM




IsDePanInMe, Published on Nov 17, 2007

Calypso/Soca classic by the Grandmaster.
-snip-
"Looks like the audience couldn't get their sugar bum bum's off their chairs. Where was it recorded? Prison?"
-JJMMWGDuPree, 2011
-snip-
This comment suggests that the usual audience response to Soca music is dancing or at least moving to the music in your seat. However, I've noticed that when Black folks are in settings that are either integrated with White people or settings that are considered "upper class", there is often some confusion about which rules of audience behavior to follow. Or there is a tendency to follow the White middle class standard which is the opposite of dancing or moving in one's seat (or overtly responding to performances until those performances are completed.

[I wrote this comment in this 2013 pancocojams post "What "Sugar" Means In Soca Music"http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-sugar-means-in-soca-music.html]

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EXCERPT #4
Here's an excerpt from an article that cites changes in concert etiquette in China: "Off notes: lessons in etiquette for China’s classical music concertgoers"http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1802690/notes-lessons-etiquette-chinas-classical-music-concertgoers
21 May, 2015
..."Zheng, who founded the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra in Fujian, recalled the first performance in China by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in October, 1979.

The venue, the Beijing Capital Gymnasium, was filled with people who had just stepped out from the shadow of the Cultural Revolution. The conductor, Herbert von Karajan, stood on the stage and waited until the whole hall was silent.

“Many people were late, and we waited for a long time,” Zheng said. “Everyone held their breath because we all knew what he was waiting for.”

In Zheng’s eyes, Karajan gave an important lesson in theatre etiquette to the audience: don’t be late, and keep quiet.

After that concert, Zheng devoted herself to passing on more knowledge of theatre etiquette to concertgoers. Between movements of her concerts, she takes a few minutes to explain aspects of classical music to the audience, from the meaning of a prelude to the correct time to applaud.

“I don’t think our audiences are intentionally rude, but they’re not aware of the traditions of concert etiquette,” Zheng said.

In Chinese tradition, concerts were often held in restaurants and teahouses, where applause and cheers from the audience were a sign of appreciation when performers hit a high pitch. In contrast, an audience of Western classical music refrains from applauding until all the movements have been performed.

The lack of national education about Western music also makes it difficult to spread such knowledge to all audiences.

“I taught them the very basics about concert etiquette 30 years ago, but I am still trying to teach them the same thing,” Zheng said."...

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EXCERPT #5
From https://www.wqxr.org/story/217763-show-audiences-be-allowed-clap-whenever-they-want/ Jun 20, 2012
When Franz Liszt performed, the audience got so caught up in the moment that it would applaud and cheer after every movement. Sometimes people would even clap during the performance. Liszt then might start to improvise and work the crowd like a Vegas performer. Nowadays such behavior would be unthinkable. But should it be?

In a recent article for the Huffington Post, Richard Dare, the CEO and managing director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, argued that classical concerts have become too devoid of such spontaneity. Audiences are stifled by ritual and protocol, he said, and are afraid of clapping between movements and attracting the scorn of fellow patrons."...
-snip-
Here are three comments from that article's discussion thread

David from Flushing
"Baroque operas and oratorios suffer greatly when there is applause at the end of each aria. It can make for a very long performance and interrupts the flow of the music.

I see movie theaters have resorted to movie etiquette instruction before films with such helpful advice as do not talk during the show. Perhaps this is needed at concerts/operas as well. The Met used to have "The audience is urgently requested not to interrupt the performance with applause" printed in the program."
Jun 23, 2012, 8:50 PM

**
Cameron Stevens from Denver, CO
"I think they should get a general consensus from the performers, if they would be disturbed if applause came at non-traditional times. Then, they should make an announcement at the same time as the one about listening devices. I think that would be the most respectful. As for my own personal preference, I think applause after movements or breaks should be allowed. The urge to applaud should not be quashed. In this day and age with the arts being crushed, we should encourage any positive reaction to whatever is being experienced. As a performer, I would appreciate the break to 1) rest and relax and compose before the next section 2) use the applause to give me energy that may be lacking when having to perform so long without a response"
Jun 23, 2012, 7:35 PM

**
CPM from New York City
"This is the question: Do "Classical" musicians want to expand their audience and foster a legacy of performing beautiful, enthralling and vital compositions, or do they want to cling to a dwindling audience of musicologists and aging fans, and remain, for the general public, curators of sacred concert hall museums?

I am an actor and a classical music addict. On stage I'm infuriated if someone coughs loudly during a delicate moment, but I'm incredibly invigorated when an audience applauds after a scene. This is never distracting. It is a focusing and channelling force for me, no matter what the nature of the subsequent scene. I've never met an actor yet that feels differently. A "movement" in a concerto, symphony, or chamber piece is, on an emotional level at least, the equivalent of a "scene" in theatre or opera. This is why the uninitiated at the concert hall are the ones who have an incredible impulse to applaud after a thrilling first movement. They feel and recognize the impact of the soaring ride they just took but they are immediately made to feel awkward and unschooled regarding a strange and stoic set of concert-going rules. Their very first urge to applaud great music is snuffed. Think about it from an audience development standpoint and take a cue from the brand new fans, the first-timers. It is at least counterproductive to discourage applause.

If Mozart attended a concert at Carnegie Hall today (and a brilliant performance at that), after the first movement he'd either get a kick out of the entire audience apparently playing a "silent treatment" joke on the musicians, or he'd wonder if the cocktails in the lobby were laced with a mind numbing narcotic."

Jun 22, 2012, 12:49 AM

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams provides examples of and commentary about the children's rhyme "I like coffee, I like tea, I like sitting on a black man's knee". That rhyme is also given as "Do you like coffee? Do you like tea? Do you like sitting on a black man's knee?"

The content of this post is presented for folkloric and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT
My internet searches for the children's rhyme "I like coffee, I like tea, I like sitting on a black man's knee" suggests that it is (or was) a relatively widely known rhyme in England. Most online examples of "I like coffee...I like sitting on a black man's knee" indicate that it was (or is) chanted while jumping rope. Although the author of "I like coffee...I like sitting on a black man's knee" rhymes is unknown, for the reasons I've articulated below, it seems obvious to me that the author of this rhyme was White.

The earliest publication that includes this "sitting on a black man's knee" rhyme appears to be Iona Archibald Opie's and Peter Opie's The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren. However, it's significant that the Opie's version of that rhyme is "Do you like coffee? Do you like tea? Do you like sitting on a blackman's knee"? The passage from that book which contains this rhyme is presented as Excerpt #1 below. If this "trick question" version is the earliest form of this rhyme, and not the declarative statement "I like coffee...I like sitting on a black man's knee", that could explain the purpose of this rhyme for children who weren't [aren't] Black.

Analysis of children's recreational rhymes rarely consider that these rhymes may have different meanings for children who aren't White than they do for White children. For White children, sitting on a Black man's knee would have been (and, largely, may still be) considered something that was (is) socially unacceptable because of the negative stereotypes about Black people in general and Black males in particular. For White children in the past (if not now) "sitting on a black man's knee" would have been (and may still be) considered a risque, sexualized, and also scary action.

I believe that it's significant that "Black men" are the only racial/ethnic population that are featured in these rhymes- There are no comparable examples of "I like coffee...I like sitting on a White man's knee" or "I like sitting on an Asian man's knee."

Although we [Black people] teach our children that they shouldn't sit on any strange man's lap-unless he's the Santa Claus in the store or cultural event during the Christmas season, we don't hold those negative stereotypes about Black males and thus Black children wouldn't interpret this rhyme in the same way as White children.

I don't remember "I like coffee...I like sitting on a black man's knee" from my childhood (in Atlantic City, New Jersey, early 1950s). I wonder if anyone outside of England remembers this rhyme. If so, for the folkloric record, please share that information in the comment section below. Please include demographics (especially your race/ethnicity, geographical location, and decade that you remember this rhyme). Thanks!
-snip-
My custom is to capitalize the racial referents "Black" and "White". However, I've used the lower case "b" for "black man" as that is how that referent is found in the examples I am quoting.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/selected-examples-of-referents-for.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Selected Examples Of Referents For Black People In Children's Rhymes"

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EXCERPTS ABOUT THE RHYME "I LIKE COFFEE....I LIKE SITTING ON A BLACK MAN'S KNEE"
These excerpts are given in relatively random order, and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From https://books.google.com/books?id=sdWwHbOf4oAC&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=i+like+coffee+i+like+tea+i+like+sitting+on+a+black+man%27s+knee&source=bl&ots=HpDAN7l85O&sig=8S_C-5wB9bySayW9t_Gzz3WdoOU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4y73_ifbYAhXD61MKHY06CzE4ChDoAQgoMAA#
The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren
Iona Archibald Opie, ‎Peter Opie
[First published in 1959]

[page 65] -Given in section entitled “Guile”
..."’Can you say tea-pot backwards?’ (The person says “pot tea” and you say you know he is)’
“Do you feel like a cup of tea??” ‘Yes’. ‘You look like one”.

'Are you soft?’ ‘No’. ‘Are you daft? ‘ ‘No’. Are you far off of it?’ ‘No.’ (You say, ‘I thought not”.)

This last is almost one of those triple-question tricks in which the person is led to expect that the answer given to the first two questions will also do for the third:
Do you like apples?
Do you like pears?
Do you like tumbling
down the stairs?

Or,
Do you like white
Do you like pink?
Do you like falling
down the sink?

Possibly the rhyming aids the delusion, for these formulas are highly popular, particularly with very young children who have just started school. Our daughter, for example, was five years old when she came home with:
Do you like coffee ?
Do you like tea ?
Do you like sitting on a blackman's knee ?
-snip-
The "Are you soft" example doesn’t translate well into American English. While, I realize that “daft” means “crazy”, I’m not sure what “far off of it” means. But I "get" that these "triple questions" are meant to "trick" the child into saying "yes", when the third answer would definitely be "no". As I indicated in my comments above, given the negative stereotypes that were held about Black people in general, and Black men in particular, for White children in the late 1950s and (likely) for many non-Black children now, I suspect that the answer to the question "Do you like sitting on a blackman's knee" wouldn't have been (wouldn't be) "Yes", but a loud "NO!". For those children (and not for Black children) "sitting on a Black man's knee" would have been (and may still be) something that would not only be socially unacceptable, but also be considered disgusting.

The writer quoted in Excerpt #3 gives another possible interpretation of this rhyme in which "sitting on a black man's knee" was eroticized. If that is the case, the declarative statement "I like sitting on a black man's knee" may be an example of children being risque by challenging societal taboos of sitting on a Black man's lap for sexualized, if not romantic, reasons.

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EXCERPT #2
From http://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history/Opie-collection-of-children-s-games-and-songs-/021M-C0898X0059XX-0100V0
"Type: sound

Duration: 00:47:41

[...]

Subjects: Children's games; Children's songs

Recording date: 1982-06

Is part of (Collection): Opie collection of children's games and songs

[...]

"There is a short pause in the recording at [00:15:00] and Iona explains that she is now in Flitwick, Bedford. There is much background noise from traffic. Iona begins by talking to some schoolgirls, one of whom is thirteen.

They sing the skipping song 'I Like Coffee, I Like Tea'. The girl sings: 'I like coffee, I like tea, I like sitting on a black man's knee' [00:15:27 - 00:15:34]"

****
EXCERPT #3
From https://books.google.com/books?id=OkyBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA126&lpg=PA126&dq=i+like+coffee+i+like+tea+i+like+sitting+on+a+black+man%27s+knee&source=bl&ots=oZAdnb3j9l&sig=G_Nw_cUozzmmYB_Jdjdqmuc7jzo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrz_Gu_fXYAhWEq1MKHY5UBh8Q6AEIRjAF#v=onepage&q=i%20like%20coffee%20i%20like%20tea%20i%20like%20sitting%20on%20a%20black%20man's%20knee&f=falseRichard Hoggart and Cultural Studies
S. Owen
[Springer, Oct 14, 2008]

[summary of this book]

"In this new collection of essays, a range of established and emerging cultural critics re-evaluate Richard Hoggart's contribution to the history of ideas and to the discipline of Cultural Studies. They examine Hoggart's legacy, identifying his widespread influence, tracing continuities and complexities, and affirming his importance."

[page 126]
‘Them’ And ‘Us’ - Robert J C Young
..."Perhaps Leeds was different, but in many English cities, from London to Newcastle, local English and immigrant communities of Jews, Irish, and later Caribbean, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani did meet, and 1957 was the time when this was first becoming a political issue on a national level- it was the year before the first Nottingham riots. In the world of The Uses, there seems to be as little explicit consciousness of black people as of the colonies.

The charlady secures her old felt hat with a large pin with a piccaninny’s head carved on the blunt end-a relic of a day at sea, I suppose’ (118), everyone knows that a local woman had a black child after the annual visit of the circus a few years ago. This illicit attraction is staged more spectacularly in one of the jumping rope rhymes which Hoggart quotes without comment:

I like coffee, I like tea
I like sitting on a black man’s knee (58)

The regular version of this rhyme is

I like coffee, I like tea
I want [the person’s name] to jump with me.

Or more suggestively,

I like the boys and the boys like me

Even Salman Rushdie, in The Satanic Verses, cites a comparatively anodyne version compared to Hoggart’s, when Saladin Chamcha is making threatening erotic anonymous phone calls to Gibreel:

I like coffee, I like tea,
I like the things you do to me.
Tell her that, the voice swooned, and rang off.
(Rushdie, 1988, 444)

The spectral appearance of the eroticised black man’s knee in The Uses suggests another dimension to the rather puritanical sex life that is evoked in the everyday lives of the working class. It also suggests the phantom presence of different communities who register no presence in the book.”

****
EXCERPT #4
From http://the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2015/05/bluebells-cockleshells-catherine-johnson.html Bluebells, Cockleshells
Catherine Johnson, Thursday, 14 May 2015
“That's what started me off a walk in those woods last week, I couldn't get this skipping rhyme out of my head;

Bluebells, cockleshells,
Evey, Ivy, O-ver,

Did you play this one? You'd need a big group, and a big rope with two enders, or one ender (nobody wanted to be an ender) and then you'd tie the other end to a drainpipe. Anyway on 'Bluebells, cockle shells' the rope would be swayed, not turned all the way over until the word 'over' in the rhyme. At this the next girl, it was always a girl (and there was only Barry Morgan in our school who could skip I may be wrong here) would run into the rope. She'd sing;

I like coffee I like tea
I like Sheila in with me

And then Sheila would jump in and you'd both skip together and spell out her name as you jumped. But sometimes, and this would be around 1970 in London, I can remember singing;

I like coffee I like tea,
I like sitting on a black man's knee

Which seems completely shocking today - although we didn't think about it then - and did I think I was skipping about my Dad? Not at all, this was the same mythical black man who famously got caught by his toe, best mates, no doubt with the man from China who was forever doing up his flies. Skipping rhymes were always odd and sometimes rude and sometimes completely scatological. Can I just say I am glad those days are gone? I never felt these rhymes were a sign of any kind of innocence.”...

****
EXCERPT #5
From http://www.odps.org/glossword/index.php?a=term&d=3&t=381 Seedy Songs and Rotten Rhymes - the poetry of the playground
"I like coffee
I like coffee I like tea I like sitting on a black mans knee With a one and a two and a three (on three lift your skirt, turn tround quickly, bend over and show your bum)"

****
EXCERPT #6
From http://britishexpats.com/forum/barbie-92/playground-songs-448434/page3/
May 9th 2007, 12:03 am #39
"sasbear [Female]
This may be classed as un PC now but.this is what we sang ...

I like coffee
I like tea
I like sitting on a black man's knee"

**
May 9th 2007, 12:10 am
asher Female
Quote:
Originally Posted by sasbear
This may be classed as un PC now but.this is what we sang ...

I like coffee
I like tea
I like sitting on a black man's knee
we sang it as a skipping song [end of quote]

"as above then I want so and so in with me."
-snip-
“I want so and so in with me” [means] I want [person’s name] to join me jumping rope.

****
EXCERPT #7
From https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=36600.120 Topic: When did you first encounter racism?
Re: When did you first encounter racism?
Sexton Brackets, Reply #125 on: June 13, 2013, 10:10:01 AM »
"Another playground one round my way was

"Do you like coffee?
Do you like tea?
Do you like sitting on a black man's knee?"

There was one black kid in my class when I was eight (1974) and our teacher would regularly mock-glower at him and say "Don't you give me those black looks, boy" in a weird Windsor Davies-type voice, to the poor kid's obvious embarrassment. It was very funny for the rest of us at the time, though."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of a Joyous Celebration Choir (South Africa) featuring soloist Nobathembu Mabeka singing her composition "Ngiphete' Ungqo".

Information about Joyous Celebration is given in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread. Lyrics to this song in Xhosa and their English translation are included in those comments.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Joyous Celebration and Nobathembu Mabeka for their music.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT JOYOUS CELEBRATION CHOIR
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyous_Celebration
"Joyous Celebration is a South African Gospel choir which was formed in 1994 following the success of South Africa's first democratic elections. What was merely meant to be a one-time studio project by South African musicians turned into a massive platform for upcoming South African artists. The choir has enjoyed success in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, having released 22 albums as of 2018. It is one of South Africa's most successful gospel choirs, following acts like The Soweto Gospel Choir.[1] ...

****
From http://musicmag.co.za/joyous-celebration-profile/
..."The [Joyous Celebration] choir was formed by the well-known gospel producers in the country; Lindelani Mkhize, Jabu Hlongwane and Mthunzi Namba. The choir has been sponsored by Giant telecommunications Network MTN, hence the name ‘MTN Joyous Celebration’. Previous sponsors include ‘Old Mutual’ and other South African media partners. The choir usually comprises 30 to 35 singers and a 6 to 8 piece band. There are usually 8 to 10 soprano singers, 8 to 10 contralto singers and 10 to 13 tenor singers. The founders try to change singers often in order to give others the same platform and exposure, this by holding auditions often. Most singers stay with the choir for a period of 1 to 5 years; however, others do go over that period, with previous singers such as Ntokozo Mbambo, the previous musical director Nqubeko Mbatha, and the current lead guitarist Msizi Mashiane having stayed with the choir for 11 years each. The founders often refer to Joyous Celebration as a gospel project as the singers are not only trained in music but how one carries themselves as a gospel musician and how to basically stand on their own in the tough music and ministry industry."...

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE Joyous Celebration - Ngiphete' Ungqo



joyousVEVO, Published on Oct 19, 2015

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread, including lyrics in Xhosa and their English translations.

These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

1. piecha23, 2015
"Can someone translate this song for me. Love it."

**
REPLY [Pancocojams Editor: This is the English translation of the Xhosa lyrics for this song.]
2. Moriti Molapo, 2015

"I'm untouchable
I'm unaffected
I'm not wandering
I'm not hurting
(Yes I'm unshakable, I've got the best of gospel)

I'm untouchable
I'm a holy girl/lady
No I'm untouchable
I'm a lady/girl of gospel

Even if you can give me money
A car, cellphone and all of that
I'm untouchable
I'm a lady/girl of gospel
Where my girl's at?

I'm not wandering
I'm a holy woman/mother
I'm not wandering
I'm a woman/mother of gospel

When times are hard
I look upon Christ
I'm not wandering, no
I'm not wandering
I'm not wandering
Where my mothers at?

The man says I'm unaffected
I'm a holy man
I'm unaffected
I'm a man of gospel

Even if you show me your cleavage
Mini-skirt, hairpieces and all that
I'm not affected
I'm a man of the gospel
Where the man at?

I'm unshakable
I'm a holy father
I'm unshakable
I'm a father of gospel

I sleep at home, I eat at home
I get everything at home
I'm a father, I'm a father of gospel
Where my fathers at?

We have the best, we have the best
We have the best, we have the best
We have the best, we have the best
Of gospel

I'm not hurting
I've got the best of gospel
No I'm not hurting
I've got the best of gospel"

**
REPLY
3. Marielyn Tonui, 2015
"+Moriti Molapo thanks..why am I not zulu again..this songs are awesome"

**
REPLY
4. Made in South Africa, 2016
"+Marielyn Tonui This is actually Xhosa, not Zulu. No worries you can thank me later :)"

**
5. REPLY
3. Timothy Mckenzie, 2016
"+Moriti Molapo hey can u write the lyrics in that language she is singing on...kindly thanks

**
REPLY
6. Moriti Molapo, 2016
"+Timothy Mckenzie pls go on Facebook and like Joyous celebration lyrics. You will all their song lyrics there including this one. Enjoy."

**
7. Timothy Mckenzie, 2016 [Pancocojams Editor: These are the Xhosa lyrics for this song.]

"And'phatha phathwa,
And'thinta thintwa
And'khathazeki

And' bheka bheki
(Yebo and'shukunyiswa
ndipheth' ungqo wevangeli)

And'phatha phathwa,
And'thinta thintwa
And' bheka bheki,
And khathazeki
(Yebo and'shukunyiswa
ndipheth' ungqo wevangeli)

And'phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi engcwele
And' phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi mina yevangeli

Nob'ungandinikeza imali
Imoto, icellphone nditsho konke
And'phathwa mina
Ndiyintombi mina
Yevangeli
Zithin' izintombi?

And'phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi engcwele
Luth' and' phatha phathwa
Ndiyintombi yevangeli
[Repeat]

And'bheka bheki
Ndingumama mina ongcwele
And' bhekabheki
Ndingumama mina wevangeli

Se kufik' ubunzima
Ubuhlungu, and'bheki
Ndijong' uKristu
And'bheki
And'bheki, and'bheki
And'bheki, and'bheki
Hay'bo, bathin' oomama

And'bheka bheki
Ndingumama ongcwele
Hay' and' bhekabheki
Ndingumama wevangeli
[Repeat]

Imali, imoto, cellphone
Konke

Ziph' iinsizwa
Ith' insizwa and'thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa mina engcwele
And'thinta thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa mina yevangeli

Nob'ungandivezel' icleavage, Isigcebhezane, amahairpiece
Nditsho konke, ndiyinsizwa mina
Ndiyinsizwa mina yevangeli.
Zithin' izinsizwa

And'thinta thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa engcwele
Luth' and'thinta thintwa
Ndiyinsizwa yevangeli
[Repeat]

And'shukunyiswa
Ndingubaba ongcwele
And'shukunyiswa
Ndingubaba mina wevangeli

Ndilal' ekhaya, ngidl'ekhaya
Konk'ekhaya ndiyak'thola
Ngingubaba mina,
Ngingubaba mina
Wevangeli
Bathin' oobaba

And'shukunyiswa
Ngingubaba ongcwele
Hay' and'shukunyiswa
Ngingubaba wevangeli
[Repeat]

Icleavage, is'gcebhi, hairpiece
Konke
Dance

Sipheth' unqo, sipheth' ungqo
Sipheth' unqo, sipheth' ungqo
Sipheth' unqo, sipheth' ungqo
Wevangeli

As'khathazeki
Sipheth' uNgqo wevangeli
Luth' as'khathazeki
Sipheth' ungqo wevangeli

Andiphatha phathwa
And'bheka bheki
Thinti konke
Ndipheth' unqo
Ndipheth' unqo wevangeli

As'khathazeki
Sipheth' uNgqo wevangeli
Luth' as'khathazeki
Sipheth' ungqo wevangeli"

**
8. Hepsibah Effange, 2016
"+Moriti Molapo please what's the meaning oh "ivo" she keeps saying?"

**
REPLY
9. Moriti Molapo, 2016
Moriti Molapo
"+Hepsibah Effange its Evangeli meaning I stand for the Gospel... A mother, a brother, a girl, a father standing for the Gospel."

**
REPLY
10. Ntomboxolo Nkwali, 2017
"Hepsibah Effange you asked the meaning of "ivo" according to your understanding of the song, it's "iyhooh" meaning "oh yes" I think I tried to make it understandable hey....

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post is Part I of a two part series on South Africa's Joyous Celebration choir and the Xitsonga (Shangaan) song "Hi Hanya Mahala.

Part I of this series showcases a video of a Joyous Celebration choir (South Africa) featuring soloist Mercy Ndlovu singing her composition "Hi Hanya Mahala".

Part I also provides information about Joyous Celebration and information about Shangaan (Xitsonga ) language.

This post also includes selected comments from this video's discussion thread about the Joyous Celebration choir, the song "Hi Hanya Mahala", and/or that performance. The lyrics to "Hi Hanya Mahala" in Shangaan) also included in these comments along with those lyrics' English translation.

Part II of this series also features the same video of "Hi Hanya Mahala" and highlights selected comments that from that video's discussion thread that reflect Joyous Celebration's global reach.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Joyous Celebration and Mercy Ndlovu for their music.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT JOYOUS CELEBRATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyous_Celebration
"Joyous Celebration is a South African Gospel choir which was formed in 1994 following the success of South Africa's first democratic elections. What was merely meant to be a one-time studio project by South African musicians turned into a massive platform for upcoming South African artists. The choir has enjoyed success in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, having released 22 albums as of 2018. It is one of South Africa's most successful gospel choirs, following acts like The Soweto Gospel Choir.[1] ...
-snip-
Click for more information about Joyous Celebration. Also, click the "Joyous Celebration" tag below for more pancocojams posts about this South African choir.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT SHANGAAN (XITSONGA)
From https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/shangaan
"Shangaan
NOUN plural shangaans
1. A member of the Tsonga people of southern Africa.

2. noun The Bantu language of the Shangaan.

[...]

Relating to the Shangaan or their language.

[...]

Origin
Probably named after the founding chief Soshangane."

****
From http://www.changana.info/factsfigures/
"Changana - Local Language of Southern Africa
FACTS & FIGURES
4 million speakers
According to www.ethnologue.com over 4 million people speak Changana as their first language. It is mainly spoken in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Dialect or language?
Changana, Ronga, Xitswa and Tsonga are considered dialects of the same language. Tsonga is an official language spoken in Soutern Africa.

Changana vs. Ronga
In Mozambique, Ronga is the dialect which is mainly spoken around the capital Maputo. Changana is spoken in the southern provinces of Gaza and Inhambane.

Forbidden language
Under Portuguese Colonisation Changana was a forbidden and despised language. Even today in many local schools, the students are not allowed to speak Changana.

Swiss missionaries who came to Mozambique in the early 20th century started to teach the local Mozambicans in their Changana language."

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE Joyous Celebration - Hi Hanya Mahala (We are Living For Free) by Mercy Ndlovu (Joyous Celebration 16)



Sony Music Africa, Published on Mar 16, 2012

Hi Hanya Mahala features on the new Joyous Celebration 16 DVD - Live at Carnival City.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread, including lyrics in Xhosa and their English translations.

These comments about this song are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

2012
1. Trevor Machimana
"this is injustice to a classic shangaan song, the pronunciation is off even the interpretation of the lead guitar scales is wrong... please consult before recording! if we are doing this to a local language what more abt nigerian gospel??????"

**
REPLY
2. Itumeleng Mohlala
"great song, bt i agree, de singers could hv tried to say de correct words here, bt above all, a great song by JC...s always....luv it"

**
REPLY
3. Trevor Machimana
"The leader is shangaan its her duty to make sure the pronunciation and chord progressions including melodies are spot on, if Donnie McCklurkin could sing in zulu then we dont have excuses as south africans not to sing in another official language - if they want to hide behind mother tongues, then they must stop singing english songs and JC members who are sotho must only sing sotho songs and same must apply to zulu and xhosa"

**
REPLY
4. Applepieudz
"@TMachimana you forget that most of these singers shangaan is not their mother tounge so please bear with them and enjoy the music...."

**
5. RaymondandCo
"I'm not South African so I don't know about them not pronouncing words correctly, HOWEVER I DO know they 'delivered' this in SUCH a real and deep way that it's brought TEARS to my eyes and that's not something I experience often from hearing a youtube.... The LEAD singer, the drums, the music, THE CHOIR, the dancing, the liberty, the freedom, the fluidity, I could go on - I am SOOOOO touched right now! This project deserves a WORLD MUSIC AWARD in some BIG WORLD known Award! LORD LET IT BE AMEN!"

**
6. noZA67
"Great voices but dress is of great concern because the outside reflects what is in the heart. Its impossible to be something outside and be something different inside. I love joyous and the leader is great but lets have more of 'Godly fearing women covering' so the message delivered can find place in the hearts of those who are trully seeking God. I'm not condenming you children of God but I want us to preach the true message to people. Neither am I perfect but its good we admonish each other."

**
REPLY
7. Imah Otejiri
"@noZA67 what is your definition of Godly fearing women covering....nothing wrong with what they are wearing you need deliverance from ur own seduction....joyous celebration you have been an inspiration to me and my choir over here in ukraine don't let those who criticize u bring u down cos if they can do what you are doing now we should have been watching them right now on youtube"

**
8. tebza20
"nothing wrong with what they are wearing, they are singing in shangaan my mother tongue. the song simply says in God we live a free life, we conquer freely by just kneeling down and praying."

****
2013 [Song's Lyrics]
9. Albert Macharia
"Here are the lyrics to the song: This song is a blessing to the body of christ

Hi Hanya Mahala (We are Living For Free) by Mercy Ndlovu (Joyous Celebration 16)

1:(Solo:) Ka Jeso wamahala na waku xava ulava wini?
(Between a Jesus you can buy and one that’s free which do you want?)
(All:) Ndzi lava mahala (I want the free one)
(Solo:) Ai angana yini? (What does He have?)
(All:) Angana vutomi, bya kuhanya na kuhanyisa, alokose
(He has life, life to live and to heal)
(repeat)
2: Jeso wa mafohloza, Iyo Aaah (Jesus cannot be defeated)
Hayi i Jeso wa mafohloza Iyo Aaah (Yes, Jesus cannot be defeated)
(repeat)
3: Hina hi hanya mahala ka Jesu (we are living for free through Jesus)
Hi hanya mahala, Hi hanya mahala
(We are living for free, We are living for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi (Inside this evangelism)
(repeat)
4:Loko sathani a ku karata (when Satan troubles you)
Hita khinsama hansi hi khongela (kneel and pray and you will conquer)
Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)
(repeat)
5:Loko miringo yiku karhata (When trials are overwhelming)
Unga heli matimba (Do not be weary)
Khisama hansi u khongela (Get down on your knees and pray)
Hikuva yena utaku hlulela (Because He will come through for you)
Hambi switika swivava (No matter how difficult your situation)
Unga heli matimba (He can save you)
Hikuva yena yena ntsena utaku hlulela (Because he alone can save)
Abyi xaviwi vutomi ka Jeso (We do not buy life in Christ)
Hi hanya mahala endzeni ka ivangeli leyi (We live for free inside this evangelism)
Chorus:
Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)
Hi tahlula mahala (we shall win for free)
Endzeni ka evangeli leyi. (Inside this evangelism)"

****
2014
9. Oretha Nimley
"I love all the songs on this "Joyous Celebration". I don't understand most of the songs, but you can tell from the performers and the artists that they are happily worshiping and praising God . Thanks for posting. It is wonderful to see how other people worship God. When it comes to worship we are one. "

****
2015
10. MARIASHOW
"What is its language"

**
REPLY
11. imbabazane
"+maria botuli Xitsonga, spoken in East of South Africa and Southern Mozambique"

**
12. Meechy Met
"My favourite Xitsonga song of all times!!!!!"

****
2016
13. Nyiko
"Its Xitsonga song, which is talking about Jesus who is free, and by living for free with Jesus(YESO). Hanya mahala (live for free) in the temple of God."

****
2017

****
2018
14. debo adediran
"i have been listening to this songs for years. its hasnt gone dry in my ears. GOD was truly in the concert. pls whats the yellow thing they used to clap called and any suggestions where i can get it pls? thank you"

**
REPLY
15. Mr R
"debo adediran
Traditionally, the Methodist Church which has influenced the gospel music and dancing in the RSA has been using cushions to bring out a beat when singing. Such beats were sometimes done without musical instruments. It is therefore upon such background that the popular Methodist feel is brought into the Joyous Celebration concerts."

****
This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post is Part II of a two part series on South Africa's Joyous Celebration choir and the Xitsonga (Shangaan) song "Hi Hanya Mahala.

This post showcases a video of Joyous Celebration singing "Hi Hanya Mahala". This post also features examples of comments from this YouTube video's discussion thread which document the global reach of this song and highlight the appreciation that people around the world feel for this song and for other Joyous Celebration songs.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/south-africas-joyous-celebration-choir_28.html for Part I of this series showcases a video of a Joyous Celebration choir (South Africa) featuring soloist Mercy Ndlovu singing her composition "Hi Hanya Mahala".

Part I also provides information about Joyous Celebration and information about Shangaan (Xitsonga) language.

Part I also includes selected comments from this video's discussion thread about the Joyous Celebration choir, that song and soloist, and/or that performance. The lyrics to that song in Xitsonga (Shangaan) is also included in these comments along with these lyrics'English translation.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Joyous Celebration and Mercy Ndlovu for their music.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
Click the "Joyous Celebration" tag below for more pancocojams posts about this South African choir.

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE Joyous Celebration - Hi Hanya Mahala (We are Living For Free) by Mercy Ndlovu (Joyous Celebration 16)



Sony Music Africa, Published on Mar 16, 2012

Hi Hanya Mahala features on the new Joyous Celebration 16 DVD - Live at Carnival City.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.

These comments about this song are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

Usually only one comment per nation is featured in this compilation, but I included a couple of comments from a few countries.

2012
1. Tonganpianist
"can someone translate the chorus into english?
bcos i want to rewrite the song into english..... the pacific islanders love this african groove! bless"

**
2. Imah Otejiri
"@noZA67 what is your definition of Godly fearing women covering....nothing wrong with what they are wearing you need deliverance from ur own seduction....joyous celebration you have been an inspiration to me and my choir over here in ukraine don't let those who criticize u bring u down cos if they can do what you are doing now we should have been watching them right now on youtube"
-snip-
This comment was written in response to commenters who criticized the way that some of the female choir members dressed.

****
2013
3. Charity Dell
"AMEN, ma soeur de Ayiti! I am African-american and I LOVE the South African choral sound in praise music. All African people--including their New World cousins--praise God with ALL our might! PRAISE GOD for pouring out His Spirit upon ALL nations! HALLELUJAH!"
-snip-
"Ma soeur de Ayiti" means "my sister from Haiti. The commenter may have mistakenly believed that the soloist is from Haiti, but she is from South Africa.

**
REPLY
4. TheLoxionKasie
"Hey Charity. The language is Xitsonga (Shee-Tso-nga). South Africa."

**
5. Wynnefern Thenor
"I am Haitian- American and really have no idea of the meaning of the words however being part of the Body of Christ ,i.e being a Christian, I can feel the power of this song. The gospel knows no boundaries (which is why we might not understand the words but still be moved by these wonderful expression of praise and worship)...the Holy Spirit ministers to ALL and reveal itself throughout all nations"

**
6. jolly chick
"I'm from Trinidad and Tobago so I def am not understanding a word!!! Buttt I'm always blessed by this song, to the point I'm singing it in my own way~~~lool~~ I prefer a free Jesus over one I have to pay for~~~ Hallelujahhhhhhh......"

****
2014

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2015
7. Michelle Clayton
"I'm Jamaican. Don't know a word of the song but loving it!!!"

**
REPLY
8. IsaiahRaymondShares
"+Michelle Clayton HAHAHA My Mum is Jamaican and i feel the same! I LOVE IT and play it suh till LOL!"

**
REPLY
9. Michelle Clayton
"Thumbs up! We know a good thing when we hear it!"

**
REPLY
10. IsaiahRaymondShares
"+Michelle Clayton 100% Tru ting!! :D"

****
2016
11. Bongisa Mzilikazi
"I am south African and am loving this song super"

**
12. dora miracle17
"love it so much from Uganda"

**
13. Irene Ezine
"this song is beatifful I love but I don't enderstend because I am french glory of god and god bless you"

**
14. peace Agbonba
"Am a Nigerian but I hear did song like 20 Times a day"

**
15. shanique williams
"am from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and i love this song even though it is not english"

**
16. DAVID GACHANJA
"David from Kenya Nairobi and i love the song ,though words not known"

**
17. Alexandre Jose
"Listening DIrectily From Mozambique.....All i can find from Joyous celebration"

Living for free in JESUS... Glory

**
18. Valerie mashoko
"I love this song so much , much love from Zimbabwe"

**
19. donnafatbaby
"enjoying this music all the way in Grenada in the Caribbean. i cant get enough of it!!!! i cannot understand the song but i love it"

**
20. blessing inyang
"Am also a praise and worship leader here in South Korea but a Nigerian. My heart is filled with so much joy and my spirit is so much elevated by this ministration and I believe that the Heavens are happy too"

**
21. Baby Love [written in response to one of the commenters who added the lyrics to this song in that YouTube discussion thread]
"+Mahlatse Mashala Amen to these lyrics of truth! May God Bless his servants in Africa!! Much Love from New Zealand!! #NeedToDoAnEnglishVersionItWouldSoundBomb!!!"

**
22. Kiva Karmen
"I am American and I don't understand the words but I just want to cry when I hear this song! They sound like my family when we use to work in the fields in South."

**
23. Bishaar Ali
"am from Sudan l don't know this word but I like that song and God bless them"

**
24. Donald Gyimah
"I am a Ghanaian and have never been to Zimbabwe but i know Joyous Celebration and love their songs. God bless you and keep the fire burning"

**
REPLY
25. CHESTER MUDZIMUWAONA
"joyous celebration is South African based"

****
2017
26. Wanyenze
"This sounds so much like Runyakole (west Uganda) especially "na kuhanyisa" and "alokose""

**
27. Elizabeth Severino
"am from Tanzania I don't know this word but I like that song for the first time and I love these Song"

**
28. kefas John
"Though I don't understand the lyrics but what a swt song for sure! Love from Nigeria"

**
29. Mutoni Dorothy
"Bless you . From Rwanda ."

**
30. Magano Eendunge Ingo
"Loving the song from the very first I heard it even when I had not seen the English translation of it. God bless...from Namibia"

**
31. Anna Bree
"I am from Mauritius and i dont understand à single words but still dansing and praising God"

**
32. Theresia Joku
"I'm west papuan and I love the way Africans praise.. I even find music from that area lifts me up off my feet.. the way they praise reminds me of my people back home in Papua, Indonesia.. 👍☺😊"

**
33. Yaoutiomene Dieudonne
"My soul is uplifted with the inspiring songs of praise and worship from South Africa, to God be the glory. Dieudonne from Cameroon"

**
34. Yerevan Naypyidaw
"God bless from Canada"

**
35. WENISCH EJ CINEMATOGRAPHER
"Am from Sierra Leone , Though i don't understand the words but i love the song so much, how i wish understand the language, but i don't mind still in the spirit"

**
36. Jz Jamin
"I am a Barbadian And Africans are our descendants but I can’t under a word but I love the song and the beat"

**
37. REPLY
Mwafrika Mkenya
"Jz Jamin We are your ancestors not descendants, you descend from us, not the other way round"

**
REPLY
38. Jz Jamin, 2018
"I know."

**
39. Karen Alapati
"Wow this is so uplifting and makes me wanna join in praising with them super inspired and so refreshing. Love how God calls everyone to worship him! A am a Samoa and we love being inspired by other people's worship and learning their genre and tempo 😍 God bless you all and keep on lifting the name of Jesus in your worship!! ❤"

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2018
40. Oula Lauria
"Am from ivory coast ,am so happy when i hear this song .GOD blessé you"

**
41. Colince Hapra
"I am a cameroonian but i love all the songs they are singing i like to become sud african"

****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents an excerpt from "Articles from the 1997 Festival of American Folklife
Program Book. That article is entitled "Songs of the Night: Isicathamiya Choral Music from KwaZulu Natal
by Angela Impey.

The Addendum to this article showcases a YouTube video of an isicathamiya competition.

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

I present excerpts of online articles on this blog to raise awareness of those articles. Pancocojams visitors are encouraged to read the entire article and those article's source material.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all members of isicathamiya choirs. Thanks also to Angela Impey, and all others who are quoted in this post. Also, thanks to the choirs that are featured in this embedded YouTube video and thanks to the publisher of that video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click the isicathamiya tag below to find more pancocojams post about this South African music genre.

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EXCERPT: SONGS OF THE NIGHT: ISICATHAMIYA CHORAL MUSIC FROM KWAZULU NATAL
by Angela Impey

https://folklife.si.edu/resources/Festival1997/songsof.htm
..."STYLISTIC HISTORY OF ISICATHAMIYA

The origins of isicathamiya are rooted in American minstrelsy and ragtime. U.S. vaudeville troupes such as Orpheus McAdoo and his Virginia Jubilee Singers toured South Africa extensively from 1890, inspiring the formation of numerous Black South African groups whose imitation of crude black-face troupes, song repertoire, and musical instruments signaled notions of cultural progress and self-improvement.

Even earlier, the educated, landed Black elite, or amakholwa (believers), whose Christian missionary education instilled in them the desire to imitate all things British, performed choral singing (imusic) - one of the main symbols of identification with Victorian values. Sankey and Moody urban revival hymns learned from the hymnal of the American Board Missions were central to the repertoire.

The Native Lands Act (1913) prohibited Black property ownership and forced thousands of indigenous peoples from their ancestral land. This devastating piece of legislation led to increasing political repression of all Black South Africans, regardless of educational, religious, and class status. In response, religious hymns were replaced with minstrelsy and other forms of African-American music and dance, as these performance models were considered better suited to emerging discourses of Black social and political dissent. The combination of four-part hymnody (imusic) and minstrelsy (and, later, "traditional" Zulu music) thus became the basis of much subsequent Black popular music in South Africa.

One individual who made a significant contribution toward exploring expressive forms able to satisfy an emerging nationalist, Black identity was Reuben Caluza. A choral composer who emerged from a Presbyterian mission background in KwaZulu Natal, his musical education spanned the whole spectrum of Black performance (Erlmann 1991:118). Although not an overtly political man, Caluza lived with strong commitment to Christian values and was sensitive to social injustice. His convictions became the main inspirational source for his songs. His first composition, "Silusapho Lwase Africa" (We Are the Children of Africa), was adopted in 1913 as the first theme of the South African Native National Congress, the precursor of today's African National Congress. Caluza's use of four-part harmonies and melodies taken from European and American hymn tunes, coupled with Zulu lyrics, did not simply imitate White choral music but "expressed the new relationships and values of urban groups, who expected fuller participation in the social and political life of the community into which they had been drawn economically" (Blacking 1980:198 in Erlmann 1991:121).

Caluza directed the Ohlange Institute Choir, which he toured extensively and which people of all classes and identities came to hear. His concerts, considered one of the earliest forms of variety shows for Black performers, combined imusic, brass bands, film shows, ballroom dancing, traditional drum-and-reed ensembles, and back-to-back dances (Erlmann 1991:122). Significantly, Caluza introduced ragtime into his repertoire. Although black-face minstrelsy groups had existed for a number of years and had come to be known as coons (isikhunsi), Caluza's ragtime renditions, which combined slick dance action with Zulu topical lyrics, more vigorously represented nationalist sentiments through their positive images of the ideal Black urbanite (Erlmann 1991:159).

RURAL-URBAN COMMUNITIES

By the 1920s, minstrel shows had gained widespread popularity throughout South Africa, extending deep into remote parts of the countryside, where traditional performance practices remained relatively unaltered. These shows particularly impressed Zulu migrant workers from the KwaZulu Natal regions, who combined stylistic elements of minstrelsy performance with ingoma (dance characterized by forward-stretching hands and high-kicking footwork) and izingoma zomtshado (Zulu wedding songs closely related in structure to ingoma songs) to form the prototype of present-day isicathamiya song and dance.

The vast number of Zulu men who entered the migrant labor system were made to occupy the marginal spaces of the cities: squalid, single-sex hostels, compounds, and impoverished locations. City dwelling demanded creative responses to the dislocation from home and family and to the new experiences of everyday life. With urban development in South Africa, Blacks formed trade unions, sports organizations, and entertainment clubs. Zulu isicathamiya groups developed a complex network of weekly competitions; they were prescribed and stately occasions, organized around set pieces, as had been the convention of school and mission competitions. Choral groups comprised men who shared regional and kinship ties. While isicathamiya competitions may have originated in Durban and KwaZulu Natal, they soon emerged among Zulu migrants in Johannesburg, where performances took on subtle stylistic differences.

The organization of choirs and the repertoire of actions, dance, and songs which characterized isicathamiya performance did not merely represent creative adaption and straddling of rural and urban, traditional and Western worlds. Rather, choirs and the web of competitions which held them in place became an important survival strategy for migrants in an increasingly fragmented and alienated existence.

"We're here and suffering," sing the Nthuthuko Brothers, "just as we come from difficulties in Zululand.... we're going up and down, between town and homeland.... We're going here and there, riding the train, see you later my sweetheart" (Meintjes 1993:4).

THE SACRED DIMENSIONS OF ISICATHAMIYA

Isicathamiya song repertoire spans a wide range of styles and orientations, ranging from Zulu wedding songs to renditions of Beach Boys hits. However, basic to the performance genre is an underlying Christian commitment - expressed not only in frequent references to biblical texts and Christian hymn texture but also in the ritual action which patterns the competition. Choir members will customarily congregate in tight circles prior to a competition and pray for spiritual direction during their upcoming performance. (The gathering of men into tight circles with the leader in their midst also recalls isihaya, the cattle enclosure in a traditional village. Being the most sacred space in the homestead, it is considered a powerful, male domain where men likewise request guidance and spiritual strength from ancestors prior to going to war [Erlmann 1996:190]."...

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ADDENDUM: YOUTUBE VIDEO ABOUT ISICATHIMIYA

Amazing Zulu ISICATHAMIYA choirs




VIVIDPRO, Published on Feb 27, 2009

Zulu Isicathamiya choirs
-snip-
Here are a few comments exchange from this video's discussion thread:

Mabonga Khumalo, 2010
"i'm so glad this sacred music have been protected to survive the attack of modern day
vultures. as a proud Zulu, it is a privilege & honour to finally see this old traditional
music being airwaved on the internet for the whole world to enjoy. i use to go YMCA, during my time in Johannesburg to watch real men competing on a saturday night. well dressed, caring a lot of respect with them. may this legacy be protected for the next generation. thanks for posting.

**
Peter Gibbs, 2013
"I had a chance to see one of these competitions in Durban... it lasted all night and included a fashion show. I think I sitll have some of it filmed, but I had the sense during my time in Durban that the culture (especially the musical culture) was on the verge of being swalled up by modernity... I heard some of the older kids sing in one of the schools there as well. You just can't not smile. :)"

**
REPLY

VIVIDPRO, 2013
"Hey Peter, Thanks for the comment. Yeah! thats why I did this video, unfortunately this cappella style of singing is quietly dis-intergrating with all the Kwaito, Afro beat and House taking over in the dance halls but at least at this stage, there is still a national competition held once a year where these back room basement choirs gather for competition to prove who the best choir is.....going to try to film that this year."

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about the 2018 American movie Black Panther and suggest possible es origins and meanings for the names of various characters from that Marvel comic book series and that movie.

Because so many of the "African" names in the Black Panther comic book series and movie include an apostrophe, this post also includes an excerpt from an online article about apostrophes in science fiction and fantasy books.

The content of this post is presented for etymological and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are affiliated with the Black Panther comic books and the Black Panther movie. Also, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE ABOUT APOSTROPHES IN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY BOOKS
From https://www.tor.com/2013/08/27/apostrophes-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy-names/ Apostrophes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Names" by Mignon Fogarty, Tue Aug 27, 2013
...."Who Started Using Apostrophes in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Names?

Apostrophes in science fiction and fantasy names are often attributed to Anne McCaffrey, whose popular Dragonriders of Pern series included character names such as F’lar. Dragonflight, the first book in the series was published in 1968, but appeared in short story form in Analog science fiction magazine in late 1967. Although McCaffrey may have been extraordinarily influential in popularizing this use of the apostrophe, I did find a few earlier examples:

1955—J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter), character introduced in Detective Comics #225

[...]

1965—Muad’Dib, creature and constellation in Frank Herbert’s Dune
1967—T’Pau and T’Pring, characters in Star Trek episode “Amok Time” by Theodore Sturgeon

[...]

Even though McCaffrey wasn’t the first author to use apostrophes to give her characters an exotic feel, the popularity of her books did seem to boost the idea. A few years later, in 1969, Roger Zelazny (another popular author who probably helped solidify the trend) wrote about a race of people called the Pei’ans and a place called D’donori.

Note: Commenters have pointed out and I have confirmed that H.P. Lovecraft used apostrophes in names much earlier. The earliest character name I found with an apostrophe was Pth’thya-l’ya in his 1936 novella The Shadow over Innsmouth. The earliest general name I found with an apostrophe was the city R’yleh in his short story “The Call of Cthullhu.”

[...]

In fact, although my search wasn’t exhaustive, the earliest example I could find of a character in science fiction or fantasy whose name had an apostrophe was the Frenchman Paul D’Arnot in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ book Tarzan of the Apes, which was first published in a magazine in 1912.3

Maybe American authors such as McCaffrey and Zelazny thought European or Arabic names were a little more exotic and drew on that for their characters’ names, and it’s also worth noting that McCaffrey was of Irish descent and had such strong ties that she actually moved to Ireland later in life, so perhaps she was influenced by all those O’Sullivans and O’Connors.”...
-snip-
This author also speculates that the new American state of Hawaii in 1959 with locations that included apostrophe spellings ("including the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, O‘ahy, Kaho‘olawe, Lana‘i, Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, and Ni‘ihau") also influenced the use of apostrophe in names for science fiction and fantasy writings to denote exotic characters.

As Mignon Fogarty mentioned in this article, a number of Arabic given names include apostrophes. And, from my admittedly limited research, it seems to me that Irish, French, and Arabic names include more apostrophes than traditional African language names.

With regard to this pancocojams post about the "African names" from the 2018 Black Panther movie, except for the name T'Shaka, I've disregarded the consonent + apostrophe beginning of those names, and focused on "sussing" out the remaining part of those names.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2018 BLACK PANTHER MOVIE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_(film)
"Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the eighteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Ryan Coogler from a screenplay by him and Joe Robert Cole, and stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serkis. In Black Panther, T'Challa returns home as king of Wakanda but finds his sovereignty challenged by a long-time adversary in a conflict that has global consequences.:...

[...]

Premise
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to Wakanda. But when two enemies conspire to bring down the kingdom, T’Challa must team up, as the Black Panther, with CIA agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje—Wakanda's special forces—to prevent a world war.[3]....

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE ETYMOLOGY OF AFRICAN OR AFRICAN SOUNDING NAMES FROM THE BLACK PANTHER MOVIE
This pancocojams post provides possible origins & meanings for the African names or African sounding names of the main characters in the 2018 Black Panther movie.

This selected list of character names is from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1825683/fullcredits.

For information about these characters, read the Wikipedia article about the Black Panther movie whose link is given above.

I've numbered these names for referencing purposes only.

Some of these names are actual names from certain traditional African languages or are clips (a portion) of names from certain traditional African languages. Given in no particular order, those languages and those names are:

Swahili ("Zuri")

Zulu ("T'Shaka")

Igbo ("Okoye")

Yoruba ("Ayo")

Xhosa/Ndebele ("Xoliswa")

I believe that all of the African names or African sounding names from the Black Panther comic book series and movie were given to these characters because they "sound" African (to Black Americans, to other Americans, and to many other people worldwide) regardless of the fact that these names might not actually be "real" names from traditional African languages.

In addition to that overarching reason, here are some other reasons and sources for some of these African names or African sounding names from the Black Panther comic book series/movie (given in no particular order)

-the long standing custom by science fiction and fantasy writers of giving "apostrophe names" to signal exoticism ("T'Challa", "T'Shaka", "M'Baku", "and "W'Kabi")

- an Arabic language name and a clip of an Arabic name* ("Nakia" and "Kabi" from "Kabir")
*Note that Arabic has been spoken in North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa for centuries before European colonization of those regions. As such, Arabic could be considered a "traditional" African language.

-the African American preference for the sound "sh" or "ch"*
*Three of the twelve names on this list of African names or African sounding names from the 2018 Black Panther movie begin with "sh" or "ch" or include that sound after a consonant + apostrophe beginning; ("T'Challa", "T' Shaka", and "Shuri")

It's my position that contemporary (1960s to date) African Americans have a preference for the "sh"/"ch" prefix in given names, and this sound preference is probably much older than the 1960s. Knowledge of that sound preference -coupled with the high esteem that many African Americans and many other Black people worldwide (particularly afrocentric Black people) hold for the historical figure Shaka Zulu (whose name is also given as T'Shaka or T'Chaka)- probably influenced the use of or creation of the "sh" or "ch" names in the Black Panther movie.

-a variant form of a East African geographical name; the name of a Nigeria ethnic group, and/or the name of a historical king in Angola (also given as "Western Africa), and/or name of a lake in Tanzania/Kenya - ("Challa" as in the name "T'Challa)

- a variant name that was created by rhyming an a "real" (already existing) name ("Shuri" rhymes with "Zuri")

-a clip of a Hebrew (Biblical) name ("Zuri-el" for the name "Zuri")

-a name that "sounds like" an African American variant form of a Spanish female name or is actually an African American variant name ("Ramonda"); also consider the name that was given to this fictional African nation - "Wakanda". That name is similar to "Luanda", the name of the capital and largest city in Angola. There are also a number of other "anda" and "da" ending Africa names such as the currently popular Igbo female name "Chimamanda" whose nickname is "Amanda".

-a variant form of a nickname for a South African city ("Joburg" ["Johannesburg"] as the source of the name "N'Jobu")

- a variant form of a Voodoo doll figurine from the 1989 movie Major League (N'Jobu)

-a Japanese language name ("Baku" for M'Baku)

-the name of an Azerbaijan city ("M'Baku")

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POSSIBLE ORIGINS & MEANINGS OF VARIOUS NAMES FROM THE 2018 BLACK PANTHER COMIC BOOK SERIES AND MOVIE
1. Chadwick Boseman - T'Challa / Black Panther
I'm not sure what the name "T'Challa" means. However, I've found the following examples of "Challa" in Africa:
a) The name "T'Challa" may have been based on the actual name of a late 19th century "lesser king" in Angola as documented in the 1861 book Six Years of a Traveller's Life in Western Africa by Francisco Travassos Valdez

https://books.google.com/books?id=jewMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA172&lpg=PA172&dq=challa+tribe+africa&source=bl&ots=K7Z6KjzPc6&sig=6A793jD4tmnsfZWClT9Q_bRMqyU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt9pGFxYDZAhVC7FMKHaiDBO04ChDoAQg6MAY#v=onepage&q=challa%20tribe%20africa&f=false

Read pages 192-211 online (Google Books) about King Challa and the people he ruled.

King Challa is also mentioned in the more widely known book The Golden Bough:
Google Books Result
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=162558251X
James Frazer - 2013 - ‎History
"The Matiamvo is a great king or emperor in the interior of Angola. One of the inferior kings of the country, by name Challa, gave to a Portuguese expedition the following account of the manner in which the Matiamvo comes by his end”...
-snip-
"In the context of this quote "inferior kings " means "lesser kings" who owed submission to the great king" (in that region).

b) "Lake Chala, also known as Dschalla,[1] is a crater lake in a caldera[2] on the borders of Kenya and Tanzania on the eastern edge of Mount Kilimanjaro"...
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Chala
-snip-
"Lake Chala" is also given as "Lake Challa"

c) name of an ethnic group in Nigeria's Plateau State
From http://allafrica.com/stories/201306210697.html 21 JUNE 2013
Daily Trust (Abuja)
"Nigeria: Plateau - Fulani, Challa to Form Vigilante Group
Jos — Fulani, Challa and other tribes in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State have resolved to form a joint vigilante group to help restore peace to the area.

This was contained in a communique presented at the end of a stakeholders meeting between the joint security committee and relevant stakeholders from Bokkos Local Government Area in Jos yesterday. The meeting which was chaired by the commander of the Special Task Force (STF), Major General Henry Ayoola, resolved that measures must be put in place to regulate the influx of illegal immigrants into the state for peace to be sustained."...

****
2. Lupita Nyong'o - Nakia
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakia_(name)
"Nakia is a unisex given name of Arabic origin, meaning "pure" and "faithful."[1]"

From http://www.muslimnames.info/name/nakia
"Nakia

The meaning of the name Nakia is Pure, faithful
-snip-
Note that a lot of contemporary African American female names are from Arabic, or Swahili, or from other language sources, including newly coined African American names end with "a" (pronounced "ah").

****
3. Danai Gurira - Okoye
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okoye
"Okoye is a family name (surname) originating in Nigeria. It is an Anambra dialect derived from the central Igbo name Okorie (meaning someone born on orie market day).
Okoye
Pronunciation uh-KOY-ay
Origin
Region of origin: Nigeria
Language(s) Igbo"...

****
4. Daniel Kaluuya - W'Kabi
It's possible that the name "Kabi" is a clip of the Arabic male name "Kabir" (prefaced by a "W" + an apostrophe.
Here's information about the name "Kabir" from http://quranicnames.com/kabir/
"Meaning of Kabir
Kabir is an Arabic name for boys that means “great”, “powerful”, “leader”. It is used 40 times in the Quran."
-snip-
The Arabic male name "Kabir" is also spelled "Kabeer".

****
5. Angela Bassett - Ramonda
Ramonda is a variant form of the female name "Ramona". Inserting a "d" in the name "Ramona" gives this name a contemporary African American feel (as adding a "d" or a "da" [pronounced "dah"] suffix to a name is one way that African Americans coin names; example "Towanda" [instead of "Towana"] and "Shalonda".

Here's information about the name "Ramona" from https://nameberry.com/babyname/Ramona
"Gender: F Meaning of Ramona: "wise protector" Origin of Ramona: Spanish, feminine variation of Ramon"
-snip-
Also, it occurs to me that the name "Ramonda" is similar to the currently popular Igbo female name
Chimamanda", meaning "God knows" (nickname "Amanda"). A famous Nigerian with this name is novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

****
6. Forest Whitaker - Zuri
a) From http://www.ohbabynames.com/meaning/name/zuri/2350#.WnDziqinHcs
"Zuri - Baby Girl Name Meaning and Origin | Oh Baby! Names
Zuri is a name used among African-Americans as a way of celebrating their heritage; Zuri is the Swahili name for “beautiful”. After consulting a Swahili dictionary, we also came upon other following definitions: good, nice, pretty, lovely, cute and attractive."
-snip-
Although the name "Zuri" is usually used among African American as a female name, it also has been given to African American males.

b) From https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/zuri-el/
"Zuri-el
Zuri-el [N] [E] [H]
(my rock is God ) son of Abihail, and chief of the Merarite Levites at the time of the exodus. ( Numbers 3:35 )"

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7. Letitia Wright - Shuri
a) This name may have been coined by rhyming the Swahili name "Zuri". The etymology of the name "Shuri"

b) https://www.behindthename.com/name/shuri/submitted
Given Name SHURI
GENDER: Feminine & Masculine
USAGE: Japanese

[..]

Meaning & History
From Japanese 秋 (shu) meaning "autumn" combined with 里 (ri) meaning "village". Other kanji combinations are possible."

****
8. Winston Duke - M'Baku
Here are some possible sources for the name "M'Baku" (minus that name's beginning consonant and apostrophe)
a) http://babynames.merschat.com/name-meaning.cgi?bn_key=32606
"Baku is a Japanese name for boys meaning “A good spirit known as the eater of dreams”

b) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannesburg
"Johannesburg … also known as Jozi, Joburg and Egoli) is the largest city in South Africa and is one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world.[8] It is the provincial capital and largest city in Gauteng, which is the wealthiest province in South Africa.[9] While Johannesburg is not one of South Africa's three capital cities, it is the seat of the Constitutional Court. The city is located in the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills and is the centre of large-scale gold and diamond trade."...

b) From https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/11/theres-a-company-exclusively-selling-licensed-jobu-figurines-from-major-league
"Jobu is of course the voodoo doll of big-hitting Cuban refugee Pedro Cerrano in the 1989 film, [Major League](played by Dennis Haysber"...

****
10. John Kani -King T'Chaka
a) From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka
"Shaka kaSenzangakhona (c. 1787 – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka[a] Zulu..., was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom.

[...]

The figure of Shaka still sparks interest among not only the contemporary Zulu but many worldwide who have encountered the tribe and its history. The current tendency appears to be to lionise him; popular film and other media have certainly contributed to his appeal. Certain aspects of traditional Zulu culture still revere the dead monarch, as the typical praise song below attests. The praise song is one of the most widely used poetic forms in Africa, applying not only to spirits but to men, animals, plants and even towns.[42]

Other Zulu sources are sometimes critical of Shaka, and numerous negative images abound in Zulu oral history. When Shaka's mother Nandi died for example, the monarch ordered a massive outpouring of grief including mass executions, forbidding the planting of crops or the use of milk, and the killing of all pregnant women and their husbands. Oral sources record that in this period of devastation, a singular Zulu, a man named Gala, eventually stood up to Shaka and objected to these measures, pointing out that Nandi was not the first person to die in Zululand. Taken aback by such candid talk, the Zulu king is supposed to have called off the destructive edicts, rewarding the blunt teller-of-truths with a gift of cattle.[10]

The figure of Shaka thus remains an ambiguous one in African oral tradition, defying simplistic depictions of the Zulu king as a heroic, protean nation builder on one hand, or a depraved monster on the other. This ambiguity continues to lend the image of Shaka its continued power and influence, almost two centuries after his death.[25]

He is Shaka the unshakeable,
Thunderer-while-sitting, son of Menzi
He is the bird that preys on other birds,
The battle-axe that excels over other battle-axes in sharpness,
He is the long-strided pursuer, son of Ndaba,
Who pursued the sun and the moon.
He is the great hubbub like the rocks of Nkandla
Where elephants take shelter
When the heavens frown...

Traditional Zulu praise song, English translation by Ezekiel Mphahlele"...

b) From https://www.behindthename.com/name/shaka/submitted
"Given Name SHAKA
GENDER: Masculine
USAGE: History
PRONOUNCED: SHAH-kah
OTHER FORMS: Tshaka, Tchaka, Chaka

[...]

Meaning & History
Allegedly derived from Zulu iShaka or uShaka, the name of an intestinal beetle that causes abdominal bloating and menstrual irregularities. Shaka is the name of the most influential Zulu warrior king, supposedly given because his unmarried mother blamed her pregnancy symptoms on the iShaka beetle. (Zulu names often refer to the situation of the bearer's family when he or she was born.)"
-snip-
"TShaka" is also spelled "T'Shaka".

****
11. Florence Kasumba -Ayo
"Ayo" is a Yoruba (Nigeria) unisex name element meaning “joy”
Here are some examples of this name element from http://www.allthingsnigeria.com/2011/male-yoruba-baby-names-beginning-with-a/
"Ayo-Joy
Ayoade - The Blessed Crown
Ayobami - Wealth Meet Me
Ayobamidele - My Joy Follow Me Home
Ayobamiji -Joy Wakes Up With Me
Ayodeji - Twice The Joy / My Joy Is Doubled
Ayodele - Joy Arrives Home
Ayokunle -Joy Has Filled The Home
Ayokunumi -I Am Overwhelmed With Wealth
Ayomide - My Joy Has Arrived
Ayomikunninuoluwa -My Joy Is Full In The Lord
Ayomisioluwakonitan -The Joy Of The Lord Will Never Be Diminished In My Life
Ayotola -Joy Is Enough Wealth"...

****
12. Sydelle Noel - Dora #1 / Xoliswa
"Xoliswa" is a female name from the nation of South Africa and the nation of Zimbabwe (and perhaps other nations in the Southern Africa region).
Here's some information about that name or examples of that name
a) From http://www.thisismybabyname.com/listings/xoliswa-ndebele-zimbabwe-baby-girl-name/
"Name-xoliswa
Origin-Ndebele
Country-Zimbabwe
Meaning-forgiveness
Gender-Girl
xoliswa is a Baby Girl name of Ndebele origin meaning forgiveness."

b) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OciLYkisNW4
"Xoliswa Ndoyiya - Nelson Mandelas Personal Chef since 1992"
Steve Kokor, Published on Mar 9, 2013

C) From https://www.names.org/n/xoliswa/about
“A user from South Africa says the name Xoliswa is of Xhosa-African origin and means "Peace".”
-snip-
"Dora #1" refers to the fictional "Dora Milajes"
From http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Dora_Milaje_(Earth-616), "The Dora Milaje (pronounced "dora-meh-LAH-shay")[2] are the personal bodyguards of the Black Panther, recruited from every tribe of Wakanda. In addition with their protective function, they are also a pool of superior Wakandan women. An ancient tribal tradition, the Dora Milaje were assembled as potential queens for an unmarried king, maintaining the peace in Wakanda by ensuring that every tribe has the opportunity to put forward one of their daughters for the crown. Dora Milaje traditionally speak only in the Hausa dialect, and only to the king or each other. The practice of employing Dora Milaje was discontinued until recent years."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a rendition of the African American Spiritual "Hold On" by DEM.

The lyrics to this arrangement and selected comments from this video's discussion thread are included in this post along with a few brief editorial comments.

The content of this post is presented for religious, inspirational, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to DEM for this rendition of "Hold On". Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post..
-snip-
Unfortunately, the full names of all of the members of this trio aren't given in this video's discussion thread. I hope that DEM or others will share the full names of members of this trio either here or in that discussion thread. I'd love to include their names in this post in gratitude for this wonderful rendition and for the historical record.

**
I prefer the updated term "African American Spirituals" instead of "Negro Spirituals".

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO "Hold On" (Negro Spiritual)



CheckDEMout, Published on Mar 11, 2012
-snip-
The summary of this video includes a link to Facebook page. That link is no longer active at the time of this post's publication.

****
LYRICS- HOLD ON
(as sung by the trio "DEM" in their YouTube video, March 11, 2012).

Noah, Noah let me come in.
Doors all fastened and the windows pinned.
Keep your hand on that plow. Hold on.

Noah said: "You done lost your track. Can't plow straight and keep a-lookin back".
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

[Refrain]
Hold on.
(Hold on.)
Hold on.
(Hold on.)
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

Hold on.
(Hold on.)
Ho-o-o-old on.
(Hold on.)
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.


Mary had a golden chain, every link spelt with Jesus name.
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

All that chain had never been tied, every round goes higher and higher.
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

[Refrain]

woo woo

If you wanna get to Heaven, now I'll tell you how.
Keep your hand on the Gospel plow.
Keep your hand on that plow. Just hold on.
All that chain had never tied. Every round goes higher and higher.
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

[Refrain]
Hold on.
(Hold on.)
Hold on.
(Hold on.)
Keep your hand on that plow . Just hold on.

Hold on.
(Hold On.)
Ho-o-o-old on.
(Hold on.)
Keep your hand on that plow.
Keep your hand on that plow.
Keep your hand on that plow.
And hold on.
-snip-
According to one of the members of this trio, "The arrangement was heavily inspired by Stevie Mackey".

Most of this transcription was posted in the discussion thread of this video by Gigi Erba in 2013. I added to that transcription. The words in the refrain that are given in parenthesis are the response to the call.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
These comments are given in chronological order by year with the oldest dated videos given first, except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

2012
1. CheckDEMout
"What's up! Thanks for watching! Eric [the one on your right, solid gray scarf] is the "in-house vocal coach" for us. Check out his personal youtube page - he's a phenomenal coach! He's trained me [in the middle, solid red scarf] since 2006, and has worked with Dierre [on your left, multi-colored scarf] within the past year.

We haven't been singing together for that long...officially, it's been in the past few months. Unofficially, in the past year. Individually, it varies!"

**
2. FREDENA MOORE
"OMG I AM CRYING & SHAKING! TO GOD BE THE GLORY! I was looking for spirituals, hymns, anthems, etc. to put together for a concert - THIS is one that will be included in all concerts from now on, especially in this time...Thanks SO much for blessing my heart!"

**
3. Garrell Woods
"YOU BETTA SANG DEMARCUS SAAAAAAANG!!!!!!!"
-snip-
In the context of this comment "sang" is an African American Vernacular English present tense form of the word "sing" which means "to sing very well, especially to sing soulfully very well".

"Betta" = "better". Usually "You better [do something] is a command that means that there will be negative consequences if you don't do that thing. However, in the context of this example of African American Vernacular English, "You better sang!" is a high compliment that means "You better continue singing very well".

**
4. tinabsounds
"SANG!"

**
5. symphonymagic
"Such beautiful voices. Thank you for uplifting us with your mesmerizing voices. With love from a sister in London, England."

**
6. RanchaX
"This truly is your best performance to date, no doubt.
I like how you don't overdo the riffs and runs, just innocent blends here and there in the low register part of the song, that really made this performance outstanding! Truly outstanding!

Keep up the good work guys, bless ya'll!"

**
7. CheckDEMout
"Hello Everyone! We THANK all of you for the wonderful comments! It's not taken for granted but sincerely appreciated! Thanks for sharing our work with your friends and families :-) [Michael]"

**
8. Mark Ferry
"Why "Negro Spiritual"? Spirituality has no color, love has no color, but....If this "Negro spiritual" leads you to make a wonderful job like this, I wanna follow the "Negro spiritual" too ;). I really don't know how you can sing this well. For me it's something "over the rainbow" ;).. And....as I am not American and I am ignorant about American culture (unfortunately), can you tell me what do you mean by "Negro spiritual"?"

**
REPLY
9. CheckDEMout
"@MarkFerry1976 Hey Mark! Thank u! ...Unfortunately, one dark side of American history is that, for hundreds of years, black people - "negroes" - were enslaved. They were victim to cruel atrocities: brutally whipped, raped, and sold as property... treated like animals. The "Negro Spiritual" is a form of expression, born of this horrendous period. These songs acted as a means emotional release and encouragement, as well as often being coded messages used to guide slaves to freedom. [Eric]"

****
2013
10. David McDuffie
"Beautifully done! I love your arrangement. Did you guys write it yourself?"

**
REPLY
11. CheckDEMout
Thanks a lot, David!! We didn't write it. The arrangement was heavily inspired by Stevie Mackey."

**
12. Tam-Ann Barclay Swaby
"Nice.....this group DEM what does the name mean?"

**
REPLY
13. CheckDEMout
"What's up, MsTamarb?! "DEM" is an acronym for our names: Dierre, Eric, Michael"

**
14. mesly100
"oh Lord Jesus. those voices are so graceful. the melody just fills that empty space in u. love it xx"

**
15. LeJuan Williams
"I'm not sure how I landed on this but I will say...WOW!! I want to say more but would lack the vocabulary after the way this moved me!"

**
16. AakwardAardvark
"an excellent version. sung this with the gospel choir at my jazz camp. powerful"

**
17. phiri20
"Wuowwwwwwwww hermosoooooo hermosa voz chicos :)"

**
18. Britt
"My grandmother use to sing this to me. I love this song! Yall got talent! <3" ** 19. CheckDEMout "Shoot! Accidentally hit the "remove" button instead of "approve" for the following comment: Adikism has made a comment on "Hold On" (Negro Spiritual) "Wow, we sang this in high school and I loved our version, but this one right here is the best rendition I've ever heard. INSANE. I live in DC and if I evvverrrrr see any one of you on the streets, I'm requesting this song on site and I tip..." Then it cuts off :-/ So sorry about that Adikism! THANKS for the support though!" ** 20. Murine Lusakweno "Y'all need to sing more of these kinds of songs!!!! I AM ABSOLUTELY LOVIN EVERY SECOND OF THIS CLIP!!!!" ** 21. gomabxi "Very good vocals my young Brothers!" **** 2014 22. pantaloom4u "I can feel the richness of emotion and validity in this song. The roots of slave America is absolutely tied like chains to this song. May the Lord bless you three young men. The entire piece is epic and priceless. I hope you all will be encouraged to sing other songs from this timeless era." ** 23. Lois Andersen "Who are these guys? They are great?" ** REPLY 24. Nathan thompson "The first one at the mike is Eric Arcenaux a great vocal coach" ** REPLY 25. iLive MyMusic, 2016 "All the way to our right is Eric Arceneaux, he's a vocal instructor, I know of him via YouTube, you can search him on here—he's the 💣☺️ -snip- That emoji = "the bomb" (meaning "the greatest") ** 26. Fankster Fankhauser "We sang this song in Mississippi's Parchman Penitentiary when imprisoned as Freedom Riders in the Spring and Summer of 1961. Singing gave us the strength to endure and remember the value of our sacrifice." ** 27. 139pomje "Wouaoooo Magnifique !!!!!!!!!!" ** 28. Takisha Sanneh "we held on and are still holding on" ** 29. Fred Destang "hauntingly beautiful singing..and great piano accompaniment !" ** 30. Rachel Thompson "Powerful voices" ** 31. Daniel Oloyede "thanks i needed this i will hold on" ** 32. Meredith Scott "Fabulous arrangement." ** 33. Mary Ridings Guarino "used to singing this much faster... but this is beautiful. so haunting!" **** 2015 34. Filipi Smyslov Oliveira "Perfeita interpretação!, adoro o grupo ;)" ** 35. Daniel Kraus "Outstanding rendition of a beautiful song." ** 36. Steven M. Allen "Nicely Done, Gentlemen!" ** 37. Marcos Theo "Brothers sorry my English, Im Brazilian but I loved the performers. Its wolderful the way with you treated this songs. Congratulations. Im turned admirer this group. Theo" ** 38. robert Davis "Outstanding vocals and amazing rendition of a Negro Spiritual. I really enjoyed the transitions." **** 2016 39. "My soul looks back and knows how we got over..." -snip- This comment is an adaptation of a repeated line from an African American Gospel song "How I Got Over": "My soul looks back and wonders/How I got over". In the context of that song "got over" means "survived extreme difficulties". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/clara-ward-singers-mahalia-jackson-how.html for a pancocojams post on "How I Got Over"

**
40. Vivia Kieswetter
"Beautiful! I am encouraged--bless you."

**
41. Gerardo Gerardo
"Wow! Very powerful! :D G - London"

**
42. Tinkhani Ushe White
"This is so powerful. I cosponsor a middle school girls praise dance group and the just ministered to this song on Sunday and there was not a dry eye in the church."

**
43. Corinne Rivero
"Unbelievable talent like I have never seen before! Totally blown away. These guys are so gifted and the song is timeless. It is inspirational to anyone of any demographic while simultaneously transporting your heart back to the plight of the people who endured and survived slavery. Bravo. These three tenors rock!"

**
44. Hazel Griffin
"In times like these....we need inspiration.That's what I felt. Thx God"

**
45. Mephibosheth Azizi
"All three men are equally beautiful singers. However, DeMarcus voice has a profound effect on me."

**
46. MsQueenPattiTv
"YessSSSsss Sing Children Sing!""

**
47. JP França
"Great voices! Keep rockin´, guys!"

****
2017
48. Penny Brooks
"beautifully performed by beautiful brothers"

**
49. Tanna Preston
"This made me feel the pain of my great grandparents who were enslaved in SC and my dad's parents who enslaved in Mississippi. Your voices are inspiring!!!"

**
50. Anna Greene
"My dear brothers....going through post traumatic syndrome symptoms after a shocking, scary, disrespectful and threatening racial profiling altercation(3/7/2017) with Swiss Border Patrol in Basel. (One tossed my passport and driver's license to the ground). ...I have an attorney, but more importantly, I have God. Your offering of "Hold On" pierced right through to my soul. Often, I sing gospel in the streets of Basel. I will definitely offer this one up for the ears of passersby. I'm holding on! God bless you all. Anna Greene Dell'Era www.anna-dell-era.com"

**
51. Tiffani Nash
"During my uncles illness he played this song and found strength. As he was preparing for his place in heaven, we played this song. He was so at peace"

**
52. K Robertson
"I don't think I have heard a more stunning version of this spiritual. Thank you!"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a filmed rendition of a late 1960s African American prison work song entitled "Jody".

The lyrics to this version of this work song are included in this post along with a few selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

This post is part of pancocojams' ongoing series on African American songs and military cadences that include the male name "Jody". Click the "jodies" tag that is found below for other posts in this series.

Thanks to the composer/s of this song and thanks to Benny Richardson and others who sung this song. Thanks also to Bruce Jackson, the collector of this song in the late 1960s and thanks to the publisher of this song file on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO "Jody" (Prison work song)



Jody Rosen, Published on Jan 28, 2016

-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's YouTube discussion thread

Performed by Benny Richardson & fellow inmates

Recorded at Ellis Unit Prison, Huntsville, Texas, March 24, 1966

DeMarcus jones, 2017
this is truth this is our past . We are strong

**
Jane Doe, 2017
"The no b.s. origin of military cadence."

****
LYRICS
(Sung by Benny Richardson)

I've been working all day long,
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
Pickin' this stuff called cotton and corn,
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

We raise cotton, cane and a-corn.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
'Taters and tomatoes and a-that ain't all,
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

Back is weak and I done got tired,
Got to tighten up just to save my hide.

Boss on a hoss and he's watchin' us all,
Better tighten up, (if we) don't we'll catch the hall.

Wonder if the Major will go my bail.
(Or) give me twelve hours standing on the rail.

BRIDGE:
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

I see the Captain sittin' in the shade.
He don't do nothin' but-a he get paid.

We work seven long days in a row.
Two sacks of Bull and a picture show.

In the wintertime we get no lay,
Cuttin' cane and makin' syrup every day.

When it gets wet in the cane field.
All the squads work around the old syrup mill.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Two more months and it won't be long.
Gonna catch the chain 'cause I'm goin' home.

Goin' back home to my old gal, Sue,
My buddy's wife and his sister, too.

Ain't no need of you writin' home.
Jody's got your girl and gone.

Ain't no need of you feelin' blue,
Jody's got your sister, too.

First thing I'll do when I get-a home.
Call my woman on the telephone.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Gonna settle down for the rest of my life.
Get myself a job and get myself a wife.

Six long years I've been in the pen.
Don't want to come to this place again.

Captain and the boss is drivin' us on.
Makin' us wish we'd-a stayed at home.

If we had listened what our mama say,
We wouln't be cuttin' wood here today.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.

Captain and the boss is drivin' us on,
Makin' us wish we'd-a stayed at home.

We had listened what our mama say,
We wouldn't (be) droppin' big timber here today.

Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.
Yeah, yeah.
YEAH, YEAH.


Online Source: http://www.worksongs.org/blog/2015/4/28/jody

From Wake Up Dead Man CD recorded by Bruce Jackson at Texas prisons in the mid-'60's.

Jody was sung by Benny Richardson in Ellis Unit, part of the Texas penitentiary system in Hendersonville, Texas in the 1960s. It was collected by Bruce Jackson and his scholarship matches the remarkable nature of the song itself."...
-snip-
Notice these verses that are also found in some form or another in "Jody" military cadences:
"Ain't no need of you writin' home.
Jody's got your girl and gone.

Ain't no need of you feelin' blue,
Jody's got your sister, too."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases versions of these three military cadences about "Jody":

Background information and comments about the character "Jody" in military cadences are also included in this post along with my transcriptions of the lyrics to these versions of these cadences and a few selected comments from one of these sound files' discussion threads.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

This post is part of pancocojams' ongoing series on African American songs and military cadences that include the male name "Jody". Click the "jodies" tag that is found below for other posts in this series.

Thanks to all the composers of theses song and thanks to Benny Richardson and others who sung this song. Thanks also to Bruce Jackson, the collector of this song in the late 1960s, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publisher of this song file on YouTube.

****
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE CHARACTER "JODY" IN MILITARY CADENCES
Here's a May 14, 2012 comment that was posted by David Whiteis on my [no longer active] cocojams cultural website's page about military cadences:
"Greetings --

I came across your website by accident -- it's wonderful, and when I have a LOT of time, I'll be exploring it much more deeply!

One or two thoughts on "Jody"/"Joe the Grinder" -- "Jody," of course, has come up in a lot of blues and soul-blues songs since Johnnie Taylor's hit (there's even a "Ms. Jody" performing on the Southern circuit these days). Johnnie Taylor himself confirmed that he got the idea for his song from the military cadence, "Ain't no use in going home / Jody's got your girl and gone." He also said he recorded it knowing that Afrcan-American soldiers during the Vietnam era would be familiar with it, and would immediately identify with it. I've heard it suggested that "Jody," in this case, may actually have been a kind of shortand for "Job Deferment" -- Jody, in other words, was that lucky guy who didn't get drafted because his job was considered essential to national defense or the economy . . . or simply because he had a "bossman" who could pull strings and keep him out of the army. The reference to "Joe the Grinder" might have been implied, but it might not have been the literal translation of the name.

No doubt the "Jody" cadence was used primarily by African-American drill sergeants for Black soldiers in the days of the segregated miitary. But If author Richard Yates is to be believed, the "Jody" cadence was known to some white soldiers as well. Yates' short story "Jody Rolled the Bones," set in the '50s during the Korean War era, is about a redneck drill sergeant who led his [white] troops in boot camp with various versions of that same "Jody" cadence.

Probably the best-known blues song after Johnnie Taylor's to invoke "Jody" is the late Marvin Sease's "I'm Mr. Jody"m from 2006. But I also know of at least one song by a white singer where "Joe the Grinder" comes up-- it's Merle Haggard's "The Old Man From the Mountain" -- he admonishes his woman to "get rid of Joe the Grinder, you'd better be there alone / The old man from the mountain's comin' home" . . .

Again, I really like the website . . ."

David Whiteis

Chicago
May 14, 2012
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note:
David Whiteis is the author of Chicago Blues: Portraits and Stories and Southern Soul-Blues, both published by University of Illinois Press. (Southern Soul-Blues, by the way, has a full-length chapter profile of the singer Ms. Jody.)

**
Here's my response to David Whiteis' email (written in May 2012 and added to that cocojams website) :
"Greetings, David!

... I appreciate learning about Richard Yates's short story "Jody Rolled the Bones" that included a reference to White soldiers chanting Jody cadences.

I've read on other websites such as the Mudcat Folk & Blues forum that "Jodies" were known to some White soldiers as well as Black soldiers. One commenter on this particular Mudcat thread http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2915#467279 whose name happened to be Jody
gave an example of a "Jody got your girl and gone" cadence and wrote that it was "the only one I remember that had my name in it was from basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Tex in the winter of 1947-48"...

I was a very active blogger on that forum & I know that blogger is White as are the other bloggers who are members of that forum who shared their rememberances of Jodies.

Then again that blogger didn't say that he chanted that cadence. He said that he remembered that cadence and he also shared another example of a cadence that he remembered hearing Black soldiers chant. But ther bloggers on that discussion thread and on other Mudcat discussion threads also shared examples of various Jodies that they either heard or chanted. It would be interesting to know if Jodies are still being chanted in todays integrated armed services.

Thanks also David for the information about Jody in Merle Haggard's "The Old Man From the Mountain".

With regard to the idea that Jody might have stood for "Job Deferment", the earliest examples of stories that feature that character, the name "Joe The Grinder" was given as "Joe De Grinder", with "de" being a way of pronouncing and spelling "the". However, I agree that over time there may have been a characterization of Jody as "that lucky guy who didn't get drafted because his job was considered essential to national defense or the economy . . . or simply because he had a "bossman" who could pull strings and keep him out of the army." Therefore the meaning "Job Deferment" could have been grafted onto the name "Jody".

Thanks again David, for your comments and your compliment about my cocojams website."
-snip-
I also added this comment exchange to this 2013 pancocojams post about "Jodies"http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/jodys-got-your-girl-and-gone-why.html Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone - Why Military Cadences Are Known As Jodies

****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILES
(given in no particular order)

Example #1: Jody - Military Running Cadence [Ain’t No Sense In Goin Home]



Armed Fitness USA, Published on Oct 18, 2013
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
Corey Kid, 2013
"Badass just like all cadences"

**
Eto Hige Gamer Culture, 2013
4 years ago
but there marching

**
REPLY
Hunter Hediger, 2015
"all they have to do is speed it down some for a marching cadence, which is what they did. tons of jodies and cadences can do that"

**
edmund mcmahon, 2016
"Need more JODIE CALLS!, ! Guess all those women who make Ranger's schoolwill have to be one of the Guy's. Salute Tammy Duckworth"
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth
"Ladda Tammy Duckworth (born March 12, 1968) is an American politician and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, serving as the junior United States Senator for Illinois since 2017

[...]

Duckworth was the first Asian American woman elected to Congress in Illinois, the first disabled woman to be elected to Congress, and the first member of Congress born in Thailand. Her father, an American, and her Thai mother were working and living there at the time. Duckworth is the second Asian-American woman serving in the U.S. Senate after Mazie Hirono and next to Kamala Harris."...
-snip-
Tammy Duckworth may not be related to Willie Duckworth who is credited with composing the military cadence "Sound Off" (also known as "The Duckworth chant". Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_cadence#The_Duckworth_Chant_(or_Sound_Off!) the Duckworth chant.

**
LYRICS (for this version of that cadence)

[The troops repeat every line after the leader chants it, except for the "Sound Off" portion.]

Ain’t no sense in goin home
Jody’s got your girl and gone
Ain’t no sense in feelin blue
Jody’s got your sista too

Sound off
(1, 2)
Sound off
(3, 4)
Break it on down
(1, 2, 3,4
1, 2
3, 4!)

Hey-eh Sergeant Hardy
If everybody party like you party*
???
Make us clean it up again

Sound off [leader]
(1, 2) [troops]
Sound off [leader]
(3, 4) [troops]
Break it on down [leader]
(1, 2, 3, 4 [troops]
1, 2
3, 4!)

I don’t know but it’s been said
Navy wings are made of lead
I don’t know but I’ve been told
Airforce wings are made of gold

Sound off
(1, 2)
Sound off
(3, 4)
Break it on down
(1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2
3, 4!)
-snip-
*I'm not sure if this transcription is correct, and I can't understand the next line. Additions and corrections are welcome.

The line "I don't know but I've been told/Airforce wings are made of gold" is an adaptation of these lyrics from an African American Spiritual: "I don't know but I've been told/streets of Heaven are paved with gold."

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Example #2: Jody Boy



U.S. Army Airborne - Topic, Published on Sep 12, 2015

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises

Jody Boy · The U.S. Army Airborne
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:

**
LYRICS: (for this version of that cadence)

[The troops repeat each line after the leader chants it.]

Oh-oh Jodie Boy,
Rough, Tough Jodie Boy.

Jodie Boy’s a real cool cat,
Wears a camo* hat

Oh-oh Jodie boy,
Rough, Tough Jodie boy.

If ole Jodie’s 5′ 4,
I’ll be grabbin a 2-by-4.
Oh-oh Jodie Boy
Rough, Tough Jodie Boy.

If ole Jodie’s 6′ 4,
I’ll be packing my .44

If ole Jody’s 7’4
I won’t be messin with him at all

Your left, your left
Your left , righta left
Your military left
Your left, your right
now pick up the step
Your left your right your le--eh -eft
-snip-
* "Camo" probably means "camouflage". However, I'm not sure if this transcription is correct. Corrections are welcome.

A children's camp song entitled "All You Knuckleheads" uses an adapted form of the last verse of this military cadence. The version of those lines in that call & response camp song that I learned (via my daughter) is:
Your left, your left
Your left, right, left
Your left, your right
Go pick up the sticks
Your left your right, your left.
T
-snip-
Lyrics for another version of "Jody Boy" can be found at http://musc291projectfewelld.web.unc.edu/2015/11/27/19/
Here's a quote from that page:
"For further context, within the military, individuals consider any guy whom purposely flirts with the significant other of a Marine/Sailor?soldier who is deployed, a Jodie. This is the name given to any guy whom fits the role. The female version of this type of person is referred to as “Felicia”.
-snip-
Note: I’ve never heard that "Felicia" is the female version of “Jody” is “Felicia”. If this is true, I wonder if it predates the “Bye Felicia” meme that has its source in the 1995 African American comedy/drama movie Friday.

****
Example #3: Jody's Got Your Cadillac



The U.S. Marine Corps – Topic, Published on Sep 4, 2015

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises

Jody's Got Your Cadillac · The U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance

Workout to the Running Cadences U.S. Recon Marines

℗ 1998 Documentary Recordings

Released on: 2002-02-05

**
LYRICS: (for this version of that cadence)

[The troops repeat every line after the leader chants it

Lo right lay o
lefty right lay o

Ain’t no sense in lookin down
Ain’t no six pack on the ground
Ain’t no sense in lookin back
Jody’s got your Cadillac.

lo right lay o
lefty right lay o
Lo right lo right layo
Rolly rolly rolly shake my booty

Lo right lay o
lefty right lay o
Lo right lo right layo
Rolly rolly rolly shake my booty
-snip-
I think that "lo right lay o" means "left right left".

"Cadillac" is a brand of American cars. "Cadillacs" used to be considered expensive cars, and therefore were status symbols.

A form of the line "Rolly rolly rolly shake my booty" from this military cadence is found as the hook of the 1988 Hip Hop song "Rollin With Kid N Play".
https://genius.com/Kid-n-play-rollin-with-kid-n-play-lyrics

[Hook]
"Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Rolling rolling roll
With Kid 'n Play now
Rolling rolling roll
With Kid 'n Play now

Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Ho-la, ho-la, hey
Rolling rolling roll
With Kid 'n Play now
Rolling rolling roll"
-snip-
I'm not sure whether the "rolly rolly rolly shake my booty" line in the military cadence is the source of the Kid N Play lyrics or vice versa.

The historically Black Greek letter fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc. uses the line "Rollin rollin rollin with Que Psi Phi" in one of their chants. I've no doubt that that line came from the Kid N Play song.

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