#JerusalemaDanceChallenge - The African Mirror

May

2021

The #JerusalemaDanceChallenge showed how Pan African styles can be forged

A year has passed since an Angolan dance troupe called Fenómenos do Semba released a video of themselves dancing in a courtyard in Luanda to the South African hit song Jerusalema by Master KG. FRANCESCA NEGRO, Associate research scientist, Universidade de Lisboa With over 16 million YouTube clicks, the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge swept the planet as social media users posted their own versions of the dance. Its success has inspired me to offer some further reflections on the importance of the cultural meaning of this dance and its contribution to the creation of a Pan African aesthetic. How Angolans celebrate The dance…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Master KG wins ‘Best International Song’ award in France

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO SOUTH AFRICAN hitmaker Master KG has added another award to his trophy case. Master KG has won the ‘Best International Song’ award at France’s NRJ Music Awards for his viral hit song ‘Jerusalema’. He beat out the USA’s Nicki Minaj, Jason Derulo, Black Eyed Peas and Britain’s Dua Lipa for the French award. The Limpopo-born South African DJ made the announcement on his Twitter account, thanking his fans and the NRJ for the achievement. https://twitter.com/masterkgsa/status/1335489212590796800 On the same weekend he also walked away with the Founder’s Recognition award at the 2020 South African Traditional Music Awards, for his…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

How viral song Jerusalema joined the ranks of South Africa’s greatest hits

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AKHONA NDZUTA, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Fort Hare THERE'S something seemingly novel about a song from South Africa going viral to the extent that the 2019 house music song Jerusalema has done in 2020. The song is performed by musician and producer Master KG and vocalist Nomcebo Zikode. Apart from the song’s omnipresence on the sound systems of a cross-section of socio-economic neighbourhoods across South Africa, it has become a viral dance phenomenon, drawing in a diverse global audience. Internationally, politicians, sports stars, priests, nuns and monks, shop attendants, healthcare workers and infinite other global citizens have posted countless videos…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

South African hit ‘Jerusalema’ inspires people worldwide to shake off COVID-19 blues

NEWS

FROM Sao Paulo to Sweden, thousands of people around the world, including priests, police, ministers and frontline workers, have posted clips of themselves dancing to South African house song "Jerusalema". With confirmed global coronavirus deaths nearing a grim milestone of one million, a vaccine still some time away and lockdowns and social distancing measures to curb the pandemic's spread weighing on public life, the up-tempo gospel groove has provided a moment's relief across borders and language barriers. Yet 150 million YouTube views later, the song's producer is still not sure why. Master KG told Reuters on Thursday he was in…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

S-Africa responds to call by President Cyril Ramaphosa to take up #JerusalemaChallenge

MULTIMEDIA

Celebrating our Living Heritage #JerusalemaChallenge https://twitter.com/CyrilRamaphosa/status/1309072008139935744 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309067503033872384 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309062563729207299 https://twitter.com/mr_mokgoroane/status/1309043794831179780 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309056792308187138 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309056466763108352 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309055412218540032 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309032461750407169 https://twitter.com/PleasurePeta/status/1309050448779915268 https://twitter.com/YOMZANSI/status/1309054477161422851 https://twitter.com/Ntwanakazi4/status/1309051569653133313 https://twitter.com/YOMZANSI/status/1309053028922781696 https://twitter.com/AeyshaKnoop/status/1309050176334712832 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309036749067350018 https://twitter.com/thandomahlangu_/status/1307703914289078275 https://twitter.com/LaurisReiniks/status/1308442763642441735 https://twitter.com/mtileniTombifu1/status/1309060042914779139 https://twitter.com/Miss_Davi15/status/1308348375234998272 https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1309055082294661120

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo grooves to #Jerusalema

NEWS

MPHO RANTAO THE joy that #Jerusalema brings continues to spread across the world, this time catching the attention of Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. The popular song produced by South African dj Master KG was featured in Ronaldo’s Instagram reel which he posted on Instagram feed on Tuesday evening. The footage featured a social gathering that Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez hosted with their close friends and family. Although the footage does not clearly show the group or the footballer performing the popular choreography from the trending Jerusalema challenge, fans were still overjoyed by the use of the song in…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

#Jerusalema cheer for S.A COVID-19 frontline workers

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African health workers have used the global music and dance hit #Jerusalema to provide cheer as they battle to save the lives of those infected by the deadly COVID-19 virus. Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, audiologists, speech therapists and dieticians at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria joined the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge. So did their colleagues at Mount Frere Hospital in East London. Health workers at Steve Biko Academic Hospital join the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge. The Mama ululating makes me want to be at a wedding in Limpopo and the fried chicken is highly contested. ??@MasterKGsa @GautengHealth pic.twitter.com/bVFnvv0N6Q— Kwara Kekana (@KwaraKekana)…