Letting freedom ring
December 13, 2013 6:16 AM Subscribe
The Soweto Gospel Choir pays beautiful tribute to Nelson Mandela by staging a flash mob event in a Woolworths in South Africa.
I've never been to Soweto, I've never been to South Africa, I've never been to Africa. I'm a white guy with culturally influenced images in my head of what Africa is like, how people look, act, and how races interact.
That video was wonderfully moving and has probably changed most of my thoughts about that city, country, and continent, and the people that live there.
Sometimes it amazes me how living in ignorance for 65 years is so easy, and how a simple, short video can turn the light bulb on.
And, although I know it is the standard usage of the phrase, "Flash Mob" doesn't describe this with the proper level of power and emotion.
For those that are curious, the translation is:
Asimbonanga (We have not seen him)
Asimbonang' uMandela thina (We have not seen Mandela)
Laph'ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph'ehleli khona (In the place where he is kept)
Oh the sea is cold and the sky is grey
Look across the Island into the Bay
We are all islands till comes the day
We cross the burning water
Chorus....
A seagull wings across the sea
Broken silence is what I dream
Who has the words to close the distance
Between you and me
Chorus....
Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge
Neil Aggett
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang 'umfowethu thina (we have not seen our brother)
Laph'ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph'wafela khona (In the place where he died)
Hey wena (Hey you!)
Hey wena nawe (Hey you and you as well)
Siyofika nini la' siyakhona (When will we arrive at our destination)
posted by HuronBob at 6:47 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
That video was wonderfully moving and has probably changed most of my thoughts about that city, country, and continent, and the people that live there.
Sometimes it amazes me how living in ignorance for 65 years is so easy, and how a simple, short video can turn the light bulb on.
And, although I know it is the standard usage of the phrase, "Flash Mob" doesn't describe this with the proper level of power and emotion.
For those that are curious, the translation is:
Asimbonanga (We have not seen him)
Asimbonang' uMandela thina (We have not seen Mandela)
Laph'ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph'ehleli khona (In the place where he is kept)
Oh the sea is cold and the sky is grey
Look across the Island into the Bay
We are all islands till comes the day
We cross the burning water
Chorus....
A seagull wings across the sea
Broken silence is what I dream
Who has the words to close the distance
Between you and me
Chorus....
Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge
Neil Aggett
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang 'umfowethu thina (we have not seen our brother)
Laph'ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph'wafela khona (In the place where he died)
Hey wena (Hey you!)
Hey wena nawe (Hey you and you as well)
Siyofika nini la' siyakhona (When will we arrive at our destination)
posted by HuronBob at 6:47 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
The lyrics in question (and their translation) are thus:
Asimbonanga (we have not seen him)
Asimbonang' umandela thina (we have not seen mandela)
Laph'ekhona (in the place where he is)
Laph'ehleli khona (in the place where he is kept)
Asimbonang 'umfowethu thina (we have not seen our brother)
Laph'ekhona (in the place where he is)
Laph'wafela khona (in the place where he died)
Hey wena (hey you!)
Hey wena nawe (hey you and you as well)
Siyofika nini la' siyakhona (when will we arrive at our destination)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:47 AM on December 13, 2013
Asimbonanga (we have not seen him)
Asimbonang' umandela thina (we have not seen mandela)
Laph'ekhona (in the place where he is)
Laph'ehleli khona (in the place where he is kept)
Asimbonang 'umfowethu thina (we have not seen our brother)
Laph'ekhona (in the place where he is)
Laph'wafela khona (in the place where he died)
Hey wena (hey you!)
Hey wena nawe (hey you and you as well)
Siyofika nini la' siyakhona (when will we arrive at our destination)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:47 AM on December 13, 2013
Beautiful.
posted by Diablevert at 6:48 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Diablevert at 6:48 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
This was moving and beautiful. I used to shop in that Woolies. One of my most treasured memories in Africa is sitting on the grass outside the brick building where the SGC practiced, just listening. Soweto is truly a special place filled with a special people. Fitting they should have such special voices, and fitting those voices should sing him on his way.
I think what moved me most was seeing the joy in the faces of young and old, black and white, in South Africa. That doesn't happen every day there, but it is a country that is still changing for the better, because of Madiba's example to us all.
Everything about this is fitting.
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:09 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
I think what moved me most was seeing the joy in the faces of young and old, black and white, in South Africa. That doesn't happen every day there, but it is a country that is still changing for the better, because of Madiba's example to us all.
Everything about this is fitting.
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:09 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
I am struggling with this video. It looks like a public relations event staged by Woolworths. So it seems like appropriation of Mandela's struggle to advertise for a corporation.
Given Woolworth's role in the history of the Civil Rights struggle, it is especially fraught.
On the other hand, maybe it's a sign of how far things have come.
posted by natteringnabob at 7:10 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Given Woolworth's role in the history of the Civil Rights struggle, it is especially fraught.
On the other hand, maybe it's a sign of how far things have come.
posted by natteringnabob at 7:10 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
The song, incidentally, was written by Johnny Clegg back in the 80s. Amazing how far we've come; a gorgeous protest song now used as an ad for a posh Pretoria supermarket.
posted by Flashman at 7:10 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Flashman at 7:10 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
natteringnabob - Woolworths in South Africa isn't the same company as Woolworths in the US and never has been (although it was named after F.W Woolworth Company - there are probably some legal wranglings to be had as to how that worked/works, I am sure).
Which is not to say that it has a clear conscience re: civil rights at all but just to make the difference clear for anyone else who was wondering.
(in fact, since the second world war, it was effectively Marks and Spencers in the South Africa - St. Michael's clothing line, make-up, bath products etc - so you can imagine my confusion when I came to the UK and came across their Woolworths, which was more in the line of the US Woolworths)
posted by halcyonday at 7:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Which is not to say that it has a clear conscience re: civil rights at all but just to make the difference clear for anyone else who was wondering.
(in fact, since the second world war, it was effectively Marks and Spencers in the South Africa - St. Michael's clothing line, make-up, bath products etc - so you can imagine my confusion when I came to the UK and came across their Woolworths, which was more in the line of the US Woolworths)
posted by halcyonday at 7:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Woolworth's explains how the performance came about in that YouTube page's comments thread:
"On Saturday, 7 December 2013, Woolworths had planned a performance at our Parkview store in Pretoria to support our Operation Smile Christmas campaign. The Soweto Gospel Choir's planned a rendition of James Brown's I Feel Good. But, after Madiba's passing the choir decided on a tribute instead. They chose Johnny Clegg's Asimbonanga."
posted by Paul Slade at 7:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
"On Saturday, 7 December 2013, Woolworths had planned a performance at our Parkview store in Pretoria to support our Operation Smile Christmas campaign. The Soweto Gospel Choir's planned a rendition of James Brown's I Feel Good. But, after Madiba's passing the choir decided on a tribute instead. They chose Johnny Clegg's Asimbonanga."
posted by Paul Slade at 7:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
You know, I've kind of felt like what we're seeing now in South Africa must have been kind of like the national response in the US when George Washington died.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:45 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:45 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I do not believe in angels. But if I did, I am quite sure they would sound like this.
posted by kinnakeet at 8:41 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by kinnakeet at 8:41 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sometimes it amazes me how living in ignorance for 65 years is so easy, and how a simple, short video can turn the light bulb on.
Yep. It wasn't until I watched Searching for Sugar Man recently that I really got it that apartheid wasn't just a system of vicious racism that oppressed the black majority but also a police state that oppressed everyone.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:17 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yep. It wasn't until I watched Searching for Sugar Man recently that I really got it that apartheid wasn't just a system of vicious racism that oppressed the black majority but also a police state that oppressed everyone.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:17 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
My first impulse was cynicism about a company appropriating Mandela's legacy, but I don't know, watching the video, and the clear emotion on the faces of the singers and many of the customers, it's impossible not to feel moved.
The fact that the choir chose the song makes it feel less exploitative. It feels like a very heartfelt honoring of their nation's greatest hero.
posted by lunasol at 11:20 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
The fact that the choir chose the song makes it feel less exploitative. It feels like a very heartfelt honoring of their nation's greatest hero.
posted by lunasol at 11:20 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I cried watching this video. I think what strikes me is -- it is not just the loss of Mandela, but also the distance that we all need to travel to reach equality and justice. Including in South Africa but everywhere.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 3:15 PM on December 13, 2013
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 3:15 PM on December 13, 2013
I don't CARE about what store this took place in or the store's background in civil rights or what corporation the store is connected to or whether the whole thing was an ad for the store - please ....
This was so beautiful I just didn't want it to end. The place was right, the people were right, the time was right.
Thank you.
posted by aryma at 9:17 PM on December 13, 2013
This was so beautiful I just didn't want it to end. The place was right, the people were right, the time was right.
Thank you.
posted by aryma at 9:17 PM on December 13, 2013
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