All You Need to Know About Isicathamiya - A Brief Overview of History

Isicathamiya is an intriguing blend of several cultures, including regional music, Christian congregational crooning, and negro minstrelsy, a popular form of entertainment in the mid to late 19th century in America and England. This unique style is performed by male choral groups ranging from four to more than twenty singers in a call-and-response format. Let’s delve deeper into this fascinating music style.

What Is Isicathamiya?

Isicathamiya is a popular singing style within the Zulu music community in South Africa. It’s renowned for its tight harmonies and meticulously choreographed dance routines. Traditionally, isicathamiya choirs are composed solely of men.

Paul Simon introduced the Joseph Shabalala-led isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo to the American audience in 1986 with his album “Graceland,” helping to popularize isicathamiya during a time when apartheid severely restricted the rights of Black South Africans.

The captivating harmonies of songs like “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” and “Homeless” by Ladysmith Black Mambazo brought isicathamiya to the attention of audiences worldwide.

A Synopsis of Isicathamiya’s Past

Although isicathamiya took its current form in the 20th century, its origins are a topic of significant debate.

International Influences

In 1860, South African cities hosted various ragtime, vaudeville, and minstrel shows that originated in New York. Later, in 1890, the American Black minstrel star Orpheus McAdoo had a highly praised tour of South Africa.

Music historians suggest that these 19th-century musical genres influenced South African culture, which in turn shaped the development of isicathamiya choir singing in the 20th century. Isicathamiya emerged as a genre for Zulu migrant laborers in South Africa , where Zulu culture is predominantly concentrated in the eastern region, particularly KwaZulu-Natal.

The term “isicathamiya " may originate from the Zulu word “cathama,” which means “to walk delicately or tread lightly.” Zulu migrant laborers developed a unique form of entertainment, choral singing, in the early to mid-20th century that distinguished itself from the more popular mbube genre. Isicathamiya’s singing was more subdued and harmonious compared to Mbube’s harsher and more exuberant style.

Introduction to International Audiences

In the 1950s and 1960s, isicathamiya choral music began gaining international attention. Solomon Linda’s 1939 South African song “Mbube” and the Amazing Evening Birds became globally known, inspiring cover versions like Pete Seeger’s “Wimoweh” in 1951 and the Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” in 1961.

Though “Mbube” belongs to the mbube genre, these songs helped elevate both musical subgenres in the minds of Western listeners.

Years later, a new generation of global listeners discovered isicathamiya when folk-pop artist Paul Simon invited Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a successful South African band in the 1970s and 1980s, to contribute chorus vocals for his 1986 album “Graceland.”

In Zulu culture, regular Saturday night isicathamiya contests are an ongoing tradition. These events feature performing groups competing from late evening until early morning in central African cities like Pretoria and Durban, both of which have large Zulu communities.

Despite Joseph Shabalala’s passing in 2020, Ladysmith Black Mambazo remains a popular touring act worldwide, more than 60 years after its inception.

Popular Features of Isicathamiya Music

These essential components give isicathamiya music its unique sound and style.

Close Choral Melodies

Isicathamiya divides the voices into soprano, alto, tenor, and bass parts in the traditional four-part a cappella arrangement. A tenor leads with the main vocal, supported by an alto as a soprano (sung falsetto by a male), while the other group members sing bass.

While isicathamiya emphasizes blended harmonies and equal calls and responses between the lead singers and the ensemble, its close relative, Mbube, focuses on powerful, forceful lead vocals.

Ensembles Made Up Entirely of Men

The traditional isicathamiya ensemble is composed entirely of men. The alto part is sung by the group member with the highest natural voice, while another vocalist uses his falsetto range for the soprano part.

Performance of Step Choreography

Step choreography is performed by isicathamiya vocalists in tandem with their singing. This choreography is also judged in isicathamiya contests.

Lyrics that are Socially Conscious

Isicathamiya frequently addresses political and social unrest while promoting communalism and social peace. Additionally, the lyrics often emphasize a connection with nature, using animals as symbolic representations of resilience and strength.

What are Competition Protocols and Requirements?

All-night choral competitions in Johannesburg and Durban form the heart of isicathamiya, often held over the weekends. Due to the large number of choirs signing up at the start of the evening, competitions extend into the day.

Each choir has a leader responsible for registering the group and collecting entry fees, which contribute to the cash prize awarded at the event’s conclusion.

Clothing Guidelines

Isicathamiya groups wear suits, complete with red stockings, shining black shoes, white gloves, and sparkling white shirts. The group’s leader wears clothing contrasting in color.

Creation of the Band

Before taking the stage, the group assembles in a circle for a brief pre- performance prayer session, seeking spiritual guidance. This circle arrangement is similar to the cow circle of a Zulu settlement, a sacred place where men can feel the closeness of their ancestors and offer prayers to them.

Once on the podium for competition, isicathamiya groups form a semicircle with a leader at the front, facing the audience and judges. The first song is typically sung in a makwaya (choir) setting, with the entire group standing still at the leader’s command.

The Bottom Line!

Rooted in Zulu music, Isicathamiya is a distinctive singing style known for its harmonies and dance. Popularized globally by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, it blends Zulu traditions, Christian singing, and international influences. From attire to prayers before performances, Isicathamiya’s cultural richness transcends borders, making it a globally resonant musical form.