What is shoshaloza?

Shosholoza is a traditional South African song that originated among miners in the Witwatersrand Gold Fields in the late 19th century. The song is sung in the Ndebele language and is known for its powerful vocal harmonies and rhythmic percussion accompaniment.

Shosholoza was adopted as a rallying cry by the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and has since become an unofficial national anthem of sorts. It is often sung at sporting events and political rallies, and was even performed by Nelson Mandela at his presidential inauguration in 1994.

The lyrics of Shosholoza celebrate the camaraderie and resilience of the miners who sang it in the face of dangerous and often oppressive working conditions. The word "shosholoza" itself means "go forward" or "make way for the next man" in Ndebele, and the song's lyrics encourage listeners to keep pushing forward and never give up.