thulasizwe

Thula Sizwe! (Hush, and listen!) The sound of the veldt is calling you. Hush, and listen to the voice of Zulu South Africa. Hush and listen, as we sing of Africa, of hope, of reconciliation and peace. Hush and listen, and feel the world draw in a little bit closer.

Thula Sizwe is an a capella singing group composed of eleven voices ranging from the deepest bass to the highest of tenors. They sing in the traditional Zulu call-and-response style. And while they sing, they dance. They dance to the drum, to clapping hands, and to the sounds of their own voices. And while they dance, the audience can never sit still.

Thula Sizwe was established just before the end of the apartheid era. The group’s origins are in the poverty-stricken Black Townships of South Africa, yet their music reaches across racial and class divisions to share their intricate rhythms and harmonies with all audiences. The musical style of Thula Sizwe is based in ancient Zulu cultural traditions. Abel Dlamini, the group’s leader, learned many of the dances from his father, who learned them from his father, and so on, back for many generations. Read More…