Inspiring music for the Colonials fan

[Plynkes]

I am currently listening to the 1973 album "The Warrior." It's a rather enjoyable slice of South African singing courtesy of Margaret Singana, and I'd thought I'd share it with you.

Front of sleeve


Back of sleeve

A fearsome warrior brandishing what looks from this angle for all the world  like a Stanley knife.

How to describe this album? Well, let's see what the sleeve notes say...

This is Africa! Her Pulse! Her People! Her Music!
Calm down, man. It's just a record. You'll do yourself a mischief. It has some great African choral singing going on, as well as other kinds of music, but with a slight underlying 70s funky vibe. Now some stuffy world music types might scoff at that and call it inauthentic but I say tosh! It's authentic 70s Zulu chanting, even if it's 1970s instead of 1870s. I still think it is good "atmosphere music" for African wargames nights, not to mention a damn good foot-tapping listen in its own right. I think the vibe would also make it a great choice if one were gaming more modern "Wild Geese"-style African adventures too.



Now, Ipi 'Ntombi is Zulu for "Where are the Girls?" (direct and to the point, good name, I like it). Well, in answer to that question, here they are:


Now this is the kind of thing to put on the inside of your gatefold LP if you want to get in Plynkes' good books. Perfect.



Some of the tracks warrant specific mention, I think. First the title track "The Warrior."

Given that the subject matter, the battle of Blood River, where thousands of Zulus were slaughtered without so much as them getting to kick a Boer dog in return, you'd think this would be a mournful wailing dirge filled with bitterness and regret. Nothing of the sort! It's the most catchy, cheerful and foot-stompyist track on the album. In fact it makes me want to put my wellies on and do some Gumboot Dancing right here and now. But I won't, as I don't want to kick my computer tower over by accident.



Ipi 'Ntombi
This one has certain nostalgia appeal with me, as it was used in the 70s and 80s to advertise my local safari park on TV. We used to sing it as little 'uns whenever we drove past the place in the car. Happy memories.


Hiya! Hiya!
Hiya Ho 'Ntombi um!
Ipi 'Ntombi um!
'Ntombi um!

Remember it? No? Oh well, perhaps it was just me, then.



Finally there's Soweto By Night, which is the LP at its most Seventies. It is actually what Abba would sound like if they were black. It's a good thing, honestly!



"Just in case you have forgotten this is the 70s, check out my motherfuckin' 'fro!"

Incidentally, it was Margaret Singana who sang "We are Growing", the theme to the TV series "Shaka Zulu."



I love this record, and am going to listen to it until I am thoroughly sick of it. I hesitate to recommend it to other members though, as musical taste is such a personal affair. By that I mean I have seen the kind of thing you people listen to, and it's bloody rubbish! (Just kidding, folks  )

[Shikari Sahib]

the choir of the Zulu impi and the bariton of the SWB on the movie ZULU are unbeatable.
honestly I like to listen some music before a battle , my favourite (of course if involved the British soldiers on table) where Soldiers of the Queen and Pump And Circumstance.

[Ignatieff]

I agree.  Can you get these anywhere?  The official Zulu soundtrack is mostly the orchestral stuff, not the sounds of warriors???

[Shikari Sahib]

I agree.  Can you get these anywhere?  The official Zulu soundtrack is mostly the orchestral stuff, not the sounds of warriors???

on youtube you could find the part of the movies with the songs

[Shikari Sahib]

here the link Ignatieff


a wonderful registration enjoy it.
Piero

[Ignatieff]

Piero

Many thanks!

[Shikari Sahib]

Piero

Many thanks!

a pleasure ,and if you like also from Breaker Morant SotQ

[carlos marighela]

Hmmm. I now have a new description of my son's hair style and a good excuse for not cutting it : 'as worn by Margaret Singana, the famous South African singer'.

[Shikari Sahib]

Hmmm. I now have a new description of my son's hair style and a good excuse for not cutting it : 'as worn by Margaret Singana, the famous South African singer'.

typical 70s Afro cut 

[marianas_gamer]

For a more modern take you might consider some of Johnny Clegg and Savuku's stuff including Impi, Woza Friday (a great song about looking forward to the end of the work week - but in Zulu and very rousing),  and many others.  His song "Bullets for Befazane" would be great for a wild geese game.  Finally, Ladysmith Black Mombazo has plenty of great acapella tunes.
LB

[carlos marighela]

typical 70s Afro cut 

In Brazil the style is referred to as a 'Black Power', my wife has a wig in this style.

[Plynkes]

Seeing as we've already got into the bad habit of posting Youtube videos, here are a few from me:

Well, I think "amazing" is stretching things a bit, but I like it. The cluelessness of the little chap about what moves he's supposed to be doing is rather endearing, too.


This one mostly for the high-kicking dance in the second half of the clip. I dig that stuff.



This one's just beautiful (you'll have to click on it, though, embedding is disabled on this clip and the LAF embeds automatically).

[The_Beast]

Okay, it's been too long since I saw Zulu, but the South Wales Borderers do break into a version Men of Harlech, right?

I know THAT would get the blood up in me!

Doug

[Plynkes]

Okay, it's been too long since I saw Zulu, but the South Wales Borderers do break into a version Men of Harlech, right?

Er, Shikari Sahib posted that very scene further up the page. Wakey wakey!

[Captain Blood]

the choir of the Zulu impi and the bariton of the SWB on the movie ZULU are unbeatable.

Ridley Scott liked it so much that he stole it for 'Gladiator'.
Listen to the soundtrack of the opening 'battle in the forest' and you will note that those rascally ancient Germans are actually singing in Zulu - complete with the banging on the shields and everything...
Whether Scott literally lifted parts of the soundtrack from 'Zulu' or simply mimicked it, I don't know, but it is a blatant rip-off of a piece of coup de cinema...

Back of sleeve

Yes that really screams 1970's doesn't it?