Isicathamiya

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Isicathamiya is an a cappella singing style that originated from the South African Zulus. The word means "on tip-toes" or "in a stalking approach", which contrasts with an earlier name for Zulu a cappella singing, mbube, meaning "lion". The change in name marks a transition in the style of the music: traditionally, music described as "mbube" is sung loudly and powerfully, while isicathamiya focuses more on achieving a harmonious blend between the voices. The name also refers to the style's tightly-choreographed dance moves that keep the singers on their toes.

South African singing groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo demonstrate this style. Isicathamiya choirs are traditionally all male. Its roots reach back before the turn of the 20th century, when numerous men left the homelands in order to search for work in the cities. As many of the tribesmen became urbanized, the style was forgotten through much of the 20th century.

The breakthrough for this style was Paul Simon's album Graceland, which featured such tracks as "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes", in which Simon was backed by the haunting voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Ladysmith themselves have since gone on to have many major successes, including songs such as "Homeless", "Hello My Baby" and also recordings of classics such as Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", the Rugby World Cup theme "The World in Union", and "Mbube" (a song composed in 1939 by Zulu worker Solomon Linda - The song, with additional lyrics, is also known as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight") — this last having given its name, meaning lion, to the genre. Mambazo are also born again Christians and frequently demonstrate the close relationship between isicathamiya and gospel music with recordings of songs such as Amazing Grace and various other Zulu hymns.

Today, isicathamiya competitions in Johannesburg and Durban take place on Saturday nights, with up to 30 choirs performing from 8pm to 8am the following morning.

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