Word of the day – Isicathamiya

Isicathamiya is a South African form of traditional music which developed in the mines in the mid 1900s associated primarily with Zulu culture. Also known as Mbube, the best way to describe the music would be that it’s an African form of acapella. Black workers were taken from their homes and families by rail to work in the mines far away. Poorly housed and badly paid, the miners would entertain themselves after a 6 day week and sing till the wee hours of Sunday morning. When the miners came back home this musical tradition returned with them. Groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Dlamini King Brothers, King Star Brothers and many more have taken this part of their culture and made a successful musical career from it.