I really enjoyed watching. I'm proud of being a south african and this warms my heart seeing south african coming together as a nation and doing gumboot dancing
For the one comment below and whoever else may think the same thing..about American Fraternities that do stepping ..the African Gumboot dance came FIRST! African American culture has its roots in Africa..jazz dance and hiphop dance also have roots in Africa as well as much of the music and dance from South and Central America bc the slaves were brought from Africa to the Americas and brought their culture with them and over time it was adapted and altered to suit the new living situations but the roots are still African.
What African Americans created, we created while under oppression and we created within our own culture for our own people. These dancers are modern dancers and they don’t state where they got there skills. Naturally we have some things in common. Haters need to enjoy and shut up!
Contrary to what people think, gumboot dancing originated in Africa. South Africa to be exact. No, This is not Zimbabwe. My cousin is part of this group so I know. (To be honest, there's too many Caucasians in the audience for it to be Zimbabwe anyway.) kernelpanic1215: American stepping by fraternities (for fun or whatever) was a modification of gumboot dancing. Not the other way around. They are called AFRICAN Americans so stop thinking you guys invented everything. Some things your African ancestors just brought with them.
here here...yes I teach in my dance history lessons that American stepping is the offspring of the African Gumboot dancing just like American Jazz and hiphop dance are offspring of African dance...The African stuff came first! :)
+Richard Lawson ...I feel like there's still quite a lot of white people in Zimbabwe. And it did originate in SA, but it's pretty popular in Zimbabwe as well
As an African American community folklorist who is a (long inactive) member of a historically Black Greek sorority, I'm interested in learning about the history of stepping and how it relates to South African isicathulo (gumboot dancing). I've learned that -in spite of it being a widely held belief (among people who teach or read about these subjects), and in spite of their close performance similarities, South African gumboot dancing isn't actually the source of (or the only source of) stepping. In fact, it may be that gumboot dancing was originally influenced by tap dancing and/or other footwork that was performed in South African in the 19th century by Black performers and White performers in American minstrel shows which were held in South Africa. quoted in [my cultural blog] pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-origins-of-south-african-gumboot.html From South African Music: A Century of Traditions in Transformation, Volume 1 by Carol Ann Muller (Google book), p. 161, and 163 (162 isn't available in the Google Book version). "Carol Ann Muller writes that gumboot dancing (South African term isicathulo) first began in the Christian missions that were established for Black South Africans. The gumboot dancing in the mines is a significant development of that dance but not the only form of that dance. Here are some quotes from that book: "Isicathulo means shoe, boot, or sandal; it also refers to the boot dance performed by young boys since the first contact with Europeans. It is defined as “a modern rhythmic dance adopted by certain Christian natives, in which dancing is both individual and in groups. (Cockrell 1987, 422).... p. 163 "The other cultural influence that shaped gumboot dancing was the minstrel shows, performed in Durban by American and English troupes beginning in the nineteenth century. Jonney Hadebe, one of the members of Blanket Mkhize's gumboot team explains the early history of gumboot dance in a program note written for the South African Railway's gumboot dancers: In 1896, subsequent to watching white men tap dancing and clapping their hands, the amaBaca* decided to make a dance of their own. They called it the gumboot dance. The dance was a rhythmically performed act of dancing, clapping hands, and slapping the calve muscles-the calf muscles being protected by rubber gumboots. In the year 1896, the group consisted of eight members, six dancers, and two playing musical instruments. In those days the soles of the gumboots were cut off and the dancers wore shoes.... I have been a gumboot dancer for the past twenty-three years. (Jonny Hadebe, ca. 1978) Also, [among other reading on this subject], click www.howard.edu/library/reference/bob_edgar_site/maintext.html African American Historical Linkages With South Africa, ca 1890-1965: "In the arts African Americans made notable contributions to South African African music. Between 1890 and 1898, Orpheus McAdoo's Jubilee Singers spent five years on three separate trips touring South Africa. These troupe's performances of spirituals, folk songs, minstrel shows and dances left an indelible impression on African choirs, social clubs, and music styles as well as independent church leaders"...
One will notice how closely connected to good health African dance is. There is art and skills employed in responding to rhythm in a style responding to body movement as well as muscle work out and good breathing moments. these dances were done during relaxing times, at funerals and during the war times. Music permeates every aspect of African life. this is a Southern African style. however way African dance is done it has plenty of body movement and helps blood circulation. While today people pay for gym time, in Africa music and dance were part of enjoyment and relaxation. It had its time of serious considerations. Nkosi Sikeleli Africa!
Very nice moment!!! Can you send the lyrics and the signification in english of the first song please. Is to share with the children who like very much this style. Thank you very much!!!
These song says in English..... I miss my parents, my Father and My mother... Haaaaaa aaah haaaa my Parents,,,,, is been couple of years not seeing them,,,,,,, I miss them
You gotta be kidding me.. Black Fraternities across the globe do this on a regular basis... sometimes just for fun... Same way Rap started... And white folks practically stole both from us (don't get me wrong others did too). I'm just sayin... It's a beautiful art that like everything else, is exploited by the wrong people.
