What is the Jerusalema Challenge? South African president Cyril Ramaphosa urged his citizens to take part in the dance challenge “to reflect on the difficult journey we have all travelled, to remember those who have lost their lives, and to quietly rejoice in the remarkable and diverse heritage of our nation”. The upbeat gospel-influenced gqom song was initially released on 29 November 2019 after it garnered positive response online, with a music video following on 21 December. "Jerusalema" is a song by South African DJ and record producer Master KG featuring South African vocalist Nomcebo. Related Stories Oct. 14, 2020 COVID-19 Is Having a Serious Toll on South Africans’ Mental Health: Study The gospel-influenced song has seen health workers, construction workers, nuns and priests in Italy, police officers in uniforms and flash mobs in different parts of the world participate in the dance challenge, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Master KG (centre) and singer Nomcebo Zikode (left) sing and dance to Jerusalema in Johannesburg, on September 24. A still from the video (An Garda Siochana) The music track and dance steps has gone viral around the world. Clips of dancers across the globe now include nuns, construction workers, police officers, waiters and fuel attendants. The song by Kgaogelo Moagi, better known as DJ Master KG, featuring woman vocalist Nocembo Zikode, was released in October 2019 and became an instant hit. here to join our channel (@indianexpress), Flash floods: A warning, but there is scope to plan & prepare, Gujarat’s two-child policy: Why 3 civic candidates were disqualified, China restaurant outbreak: role of ventilation and ACs, Azad replacement: Many names in Congress’ balancing game, Have blocked ‘a portion’ of accounts identified by govt: Twitter blogpost, Oscars 2021: Bittu makes it to Live Action Short Film shortlist, Kangana Ranaut: I snubbed Filmfare just how Marlon Brando snubbed Oscars, Netizens cheer as UAE’s Hope probe successfully enters Mars orbit, Child in China sent flying after he drops live firecracker inside manhole, netizens express worry, Munita, daughter of construction labourer, breaks under-20 race walk record, Back to earth with a rude jolt: England humbles India with a 227-run win, Zorawar Kalra: Smaller restaurants are the future, Twitter says it has blocked 'a portion' of accounts identified by govt, Incredible story of Jack Leach: How the boy with nerdy glasses turned into a cult hero, Redmi Note 10 series to launch in India in March, Parliament must ask itself whether it rigorously scrutinises constitutionality of bills before it, For Pakistan, India’s past must serve as a guide. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines. As the Jerusalema spreads across Africa, in Zimbabwe, the wildlife is joining in. We are not in competition, we are one Africa, we are united,” the 2020 BET award best international act winner said. People from all over the world have joined in. The simple dance routine to the 2019 hit Jerusalema by Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode has provided an uplifting soundtrack for difficult times and has now been streamed more than 60m times on Spotify. Another Now: Why the “Jerusalema” Dance Challenge Reveals a Longing to Re-Imagine the World 5 min read. We knew that, if indeed our nation has to rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of division and conflict, we had to acknowledge those whose selfless efforts and talents were dedicated to this goal of non-racial democracy.”. After the Swiss Police challenged them to step up and do the 'Jerusalema Challenge' last month, where Swiss policemen and women performed a mass, socially distanced dance routine to Master KG's Jerusalema, and the Gardaí have responded. The Jerusalema dance challenge is an example of how dance enables convivencia (living together). Speaking on the country’s Heritage Day he said: “And there can be no better celebration of our South African-ness than joining the global phenomenon that is the Jerusalema dance challenge. This was soon dubbed the #Jerusalemachallenge or #Jerusalemadancechallenge after similar videos surfaced from parts of Europe, North America and South America. Click here to join our channel (@ieexplained) and stay updated with the latest, We did so knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national identity; they are part of our culture. Performed in countless videos and viral campaigns around the world, the Jerusalema Dance Challenge has become the world dance phenomenon of … The dance challenge took off in February 2020, as Covid-19 caused lockdowns in African countries like in most parts of the world. Last week the Jerusalema dance challenge was endorsed by President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the country’s plan to open up to tourism on 1 October. Our performers have demonstrated to the world that we’ve got good music, good dance and good moves. But what better place to do the challenge than Jerusalem? The Gospel-influenced House fusion got elevated further when a dance challenge under the hashtag #JerusalemaDanceChallenge was started by a … South African President Cyril Ramaphosa encouraged all South Africans to perform the dance challenge on Heritage Day. Thursday, 4th February 2021, 9:47 am. So quietly, let us celebrate our heritage,” the President said. “It is a dance that was done by people from Angola, then Portugal followed and it just went viral from that point,” Master KG said in an interview with South African newspaper Sowetan. Ramaphosa also asked South Africans “to remember those who have lost their lives” to Covid-19. The Jerusalema dance challenge has become a worldwide viral sensation with law enforcement and other emergency workers showcasing their dance skills across the globe. “Police in Switzerland recently started the viral Jerusalema Challenge to lift people’s moods during some of the hardest moments of the pandemic. His song became a worldwide hit after a viral TikTok dance challenge. It was one of the most enchanting and interesting challenges of this COVID 19 Pandemic year. “There can be no better celebration of our South African-ness than joining the global phenomenon that is spreading across the world and that is the Jerusalema dance challenge. Nursing home residents and staff take on the Jerusalema Dance Challenge. The Federal Office of Police in Switzerland kicked off the challenge, posting a montage of police officers dancing in different locations to the well known 2020 dance floor filler. In the world of social media, another challenge became a trend named ‘Jerusalema Dance Challenge’. (Photo: AP), RLD takes a dig at PM, says he’s a stoic when it comes to farmers, Porn movies racket: Mumbai police lodge second FIR; eight arrested so far, As donations dwindle, women farmers from Punjab hope to revive Singhu site, Bombay HC adjourns hearing on bail plea of ex-BARC CEO to Feb 15, Bhandara fire: Maharashtra hospital gets Rs 1.53 cr to rebuild gutted newborn unit, Uttarakhand flash flood: Amit Shah apprises House of situation, UP govt forms 3-member panel to coordinate relief ops with Uttarakhand, https://images.indianexpress.com/2020/08/1x1.png. No idea where this is but it involves food and I love it. 37:38. The song talks about Jerusalem as a “place of unity and home for all.” Watching people from different backgrounds come together in song and dance truly exhibits what the song is talking about. And not by simply turning to another great power as America’s ready replacement—China is not the world’s savior—but one that like the dance challenge itself believes in the possibility of collective subjectivity. Businesses have also taken advantage of the dance challenge to advertise their products as demand remains suppressed due to the lockdown. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa encouraged all South Africans to perform the dance challenge on Heritage Day. The Ealga Lodge nursing home in Birr, County Offaly was inspired by the recent Garda dancing video which has gone viral across the world with over one million views, and staff and residents got together to give it a try. It was followed by another video from Portugal, setting the tone for how international the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge would prove to be. Heritage Day is a celebration of South Africa’s multiple cultures, South African Tourism India said in its statement. The challenge sees Swiss officers dancing along to the song Jerusalema by South African DJ Master KG in various locations across the country. The Swiss Federal Office of Police challenged the Irish Garda Síochána to the Jerusalema dance challenge, which they accepted. The song scaled new heights this month when it was named the most popular track on Shazam. Why, you get one masterclass in the Jerusalema challenge dance craze of course. Thursday, 4th February 2021, 9:47 am. Watch: The basic steps for the ‘Jerusalema’ dance challenge [video] The 'Jerusalema' challenge created by SA’s very own, Master KG continues to … “My hope is that it unites us through our divisions and misunderstandings and dance together. The Ealga Lodge nursing home in Birr, County Offaly was inspired by the recent Garda dancing video which has gone viral across the world with over one million views, and staff and residents got together to give it a try. The Jerusalema Dance Challenge, a South African internet craze, is sweeping the African continent. Kloster Untermarchtal - Jerusalema Dance Challenge | Facebook This was followed by a video release in December 2019. A still from the video (An Garda Siochana) This dance challenge has gone global. Not to be outdone are newly married couples who have used the dance to celebrate their love while the sight of Catholic priests dancing to Jerusalema raised eyebrows among spectators. The Federal Office of Police in Switzerland kicked off the challenge, posting a montage of police officers dancing in different locations to the well known 2020 dance floor filler. WATCH: Leslie Jordan does 'Jerusalema' Dance Challenge with a twist. It went viral over the internet during the hard times of the COVID 19 Pandemic. WATCH: Durban Solid Waste workers take on Jerusalema Dance Challenge. It ruled the streets and people created memories of the song,” he said in the interview with Sowetan. RTE Viewers have said that the opening of The Late Late Show was "uplifting" as frontline workers did the Jerusalema Challenge. The Jerusalema song that I love so much,” he said in a video message released last week. Related Stories Oct. 14, 2020 COVID-19 Is Having a Serious Toll on South Africans’ Mental Health: Study The government determines a theme for each year’s celebrations. The force today released a video with members from across the country dancing to the South African song ‘Jerusalema', after being challenged by their Swiss counterparts. Police in Switzerland have started a viral dance trend called the Jerusalema Challenge to raise spirits during the pandemic. Last modified on Tue 22 Dec 2020 15.29 GMT. Sowetan reported earlier this month that with Jerusalema, Master KG became the first African artist to top the global charts on Shazam, the American music-identification App. Performed in countless videos and viral campaigns around the world, the Jerusalema Dance Challenge has become the world dance phenomenon of … #Jerusalemachallenge pic.twitter.com/HuRCpchqk9, — Minister of Transport |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) September 24, 2020. According to the South African newspaper Sowetan, the song gained international traction when a remix version was released in May with Nigerian megastar Burna Boy. The Jerusalema dance challenge is a dance routine done over a song from South Africa with the title “Jersusalema”. January 17. In the world of social media, another challenge became a trend named ‘Jerusalema Dance Challenge’. Nursing home residents and staff take on the Jerusalema Dance Challenge. Speaking on the country’s Heritage Day he said: “And there can be no better celebration of our South African-ness than joining the global phenomenon that is the Jerusalema dance challenge. AN IRISH nursing homes have stepped up to the Jerusalema challenge-- and is daring others to do the same. What is the significance of Heritage Day in South Africa? The song did amazing at home. “Jerusalema” dance challenge. The Jerusalema dance challenge has become a worldwide viral sensation with law enforcement and other emergency workers showcasing their dance skills across the globe. Watch the video below of the CFAO Management and Staff doing the “Jerusalema Dance Challenge… The official video of “Jerusalema” has pulled in more than 146 million views on social media since its premiere on YouTube in December. Heritage Day’s significance rests in recognising aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, historical inheritance, language, the food, and land, according to the South African government. According to the country’s website listing its national holidays, in an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, former President Nelson Mandela had stated: “When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation. The upbeat song is a lamentation for God to take the singer to the heavenly city. Form Sweden to Angola, the song has been covered by various groups as part of the Jerusalema dance challenge. The track topped the South African charts in December but in February, as lockdowns began to seem like a possibility, it was a group of friends in Angola who shot a video dancing to the song that sparked the global trend. It was one of the most enchanting and interesting challenges of this COVID 19 Pandemic year. So I urge all of you to take up this challenge on Heritage Day and show the world what we are capable of.”. The Jerusalema dance challenge has been welcomed as a source of brightness in a difficult time and has managed to lift moods in spite of pandemic-related emotional stress. The force today released a video with members from across the country dancing to the South African song ‘Jerusalema', after being challenged by their Swiss counterparts. Clinic employees from Hamm have just caused a stir when they danced to the song "Jerusalema" by the South African artist Master KG (24) and posted the result online. On the beat: Gardaí show off dance moves after Swiss challenge. February 2, 2021 Garda video shows members of force dancing to Jerusalema around Ireland in response to Swiss police callout The offering from Co Offaly has been described as inspirational and heartwarming on social media . Emotional videos of healthcare workers in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Italy, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the US, Australia and Puerto Rico have become an uplifting source of hope for patients fighting Covid-19, as some countries experience a second wave. Jerusalema has become an international anthem. February 2, 2021 Garda video shows members of force dancing to Jerusalema around Ireland in response to Swiss police callout The Jerusalema dance challenge was started in recognition of the the song which has amassed over 45 million views on YouTube. The "Jerusalema Dance Challenge" is the viral hit in the Corona era. Your support powers our independent journalism, Available for everyone, funded by readers. But what better place to do the challenge than Jerusalem? JERUSALEMA DANCE CHALLENGE CYPRUS COMING SOON! AN IRISH nursing homes have stepped up to the Jerusalema challenge-- and is daring others to do the same. A few videos have stood out showing the Jerusalema Dance Challenge. On the beat: Gardaí show off dance moves after Swiss challenge Garda video shows members of force dancing to Jerusalema around Ireland in … September 24 is celebrated in South Africa as Heritage Day, and ahead of it, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged his people to “take up this challenge and show the world what we are capable of”. Why, you get one masterclass in the Jerusalema challenge dance craze of course. Fale Maama service with Pastor Heilala ‘Ahio Sunday January 17,2021. Ein Zeichen der Solidarität und Sicherheit - über Masken, Mauern und Gitter hinweg #gemeinsamdurchdiezeit The challenge, according to Nigerian musician Burna Boy, who featured on the Jerusalema remix, should be a unifying force for Africa. The Jerusalema dance challenge has been welcomed as a source of brightness in a difficult time and has managed to lift moods in spite of pandemic-related emotional stress. What is #CancelNetflix, and why is it trending? It was later included on Master KG's second album of the same title, released in January 2020. For all the latest Explained News, download Indian Express App. Through bushfires, cyclones, floods and drought, for … South African music track and dance steps created in Angola have caught the imagination of politicians, priests and millions more, Thu 24 Sep 2020 09.20 BST Brut America 32.6K subscribers "I never thought people would be dancing to my song in the United States of America." “Jerusalema” dance challenge. National Coast Guard management has issued a statement this evening in which it has updated its position in relation to volunteers participating in the viral Jerusalema dance challenge. Officers began posting the videos online and they instantly went viral. Saturday's dance challenge was one of those free opportunities as approximately 20 people, a mix of races and gender, took part in learning the dance steps. In Germany, workers paid tribute to Berlin’s Tegel Airport by dancing to Jerusalema on the tarmac and in the now-shuttered terminal. What did President Ramaphosa say in his address to the nation ahead of Heritage Day? People from all over the world have joined in. © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. This dance challenge has gone global. A song from South Africa that has gone around the world and been endorsed by presidents and priests has become the sound of the pandemic for millions across southern Africa. So, how did the #Jerusalemachallenge get so popular and why is it linked to South Africa’s Heritage Day? Zikode’s haunting rendition has over 150 million views on YouTube and is the most ‘Shazamed’ song in the world, South African Tourism India said in a statement. By Brendan McDaid. On the beat: Gardaí show off dance moves after Swiss challenge. It was a group of six friends – four men and two women – in Angola who made a video of themselves dancing to the foot-tapping number, while taking bites of food from plates in one hand. Choreographers around the world have posted tutorials online while celebrities such as footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and singer Janet Jackson have posted shout outs to the song, which has already garnered 140m views on YouTube. The Jerusalema dance challenge is an example of how dance enables convivencia (living together). Master KG has been elated by his creation’s global success. "Jerusalema" has become a worldwide phenomenon and inspired a global dance challenge that's uplifting people when they need it the most. Tell us a bit about yourself and we'll tell you where you are in the queue for the COVID-19 jab. Jerusalema Challenge: Why have South Africans been urged to take it? South African DJ and musician Master KG tells us the origins of "Jerusalema. Bei all dem Stress, den Belastungen und Strapazen – es muss auch Zeit für Hoffnung und Unbeschwertheit geben! The offering from Co Offaly has been described as inspirational and heartwarming on social media . Speaking on the country’s Heritage Day he said: “And there can be no better celebration of our South African-ness than joining the global phenomenon that is the Jerusalema dance challenge. The viral challenge requires participants to perform a routine to the song Jerusalema by South African DJ Master KG and to say the Gardaí knocked it out of the park would be doing them a disservice. * The moderation of comments is automated and not cleared manually by, Copyright © 2021 The Indian Express [P] Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The song, in IsiZulu, one of South Africa’s 11 national languages, is a prayer to God to take the singer to the holy city of Jerusalem. An internet rage during the Covid-19 lockdown has been the #Jerusalemachallenge, with people from across countries uploading videos dancing to Jerusalema, a song by South African DJ and record producer Master KG. South African police officers have joined in while army personnel in Ghana also strutted their stuff in their camouflage. “It’s so beautiful to see how Jerusalema has taken over the world, to see how far it has gone. Also in Explained | What is #CancelNetflix, and why is it trending? National Coast Guard management has issued a statement this evening in which it has updated its position in relation to volunteers participating in the viral Jerusalema dance challenge. It has been streamed over 66 million times on music App Spotify. Well, I tried – this after our work at Cape Town International Airport.