This week I learned about a viral South African song that has got people around the world taking up the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge.
Tshego Motaung Gateway News columnist and national coordinator of the Hope, Healing and Restoration campaign led by Chief Justice Mogoeng told me that the song Jerusalema became a global hit during the time that the Hope, Healing and Restoration campaign has been praying for the peace of Jerusalem every week — together with many other SA believers who are praying likewise — and Chief Justice Mogoeng himself came under fire for saying he prays for the peace of Jerusalem.
“This [the sudden fame of the song] is an answer to prayer; South Africans are now making Jerusalem to be a praise in all the earth in accordance with Isaiah 62:7,” she said.
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“It’s a sign of South Africa turning to Israel,” she quipped. But her tone — reinforced by her subsequent comments about being sensitive to what the Lord is doing in these times — left space for considering the possibility that God, who has an unrivalled sense of humour, may just be releasing such a sign of hope from a nation whose government has unfortunately adopted a biased position against the Jewish state.
Whatever the truth, it is amazing that the first music video of a version of a Gospel song made in South Africa by producer, DJ and artist Master KG featuring singer Nomcebo has recorded over 46 million views on Youtube in seven months and a remix, featuring Nigerian musician Burna Boy and Nomcebo has had more than 2.3 million views in a month.
Watch a video of the “Katlehong Kids” taking up the dance challenge:
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In a report on the Jerusalema phenomenon this week, Africa News writes: “From hospital hallways in France and Sweden, to rooftops, public places in Italy, Romania, the UK and Canada, the beaches of Cape Verde, in a Jamaican compound, somewhere in Tanzania; on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge has hundreds posting videos of themselves or others dancing to the song.”
The report says that last Saturday, MasterKG himself tweeted: “The World Is Dancing #JerusalemaDanceChallenge. When we created this song I never thought it will do this!!!GOD is amazing.”
An amazing thing about the song is that although its lyrics are in Xhosa the song is transcending language, cultural, racial, national and religious barriers across the world.
The lyrics in Xhosa are:
Jerusalema ikhaya lami
Ngilondoloze
Uhambe nami
Zungangishiyi lana
Jerusalema ikhaya lami
Ngilondoloze
Uhambe nami
Zungangishiyi lana
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Zungangishiyi lana
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Zungangishiyi lana
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
Jerusalema ikhaya lami
Ngilondoloze
Uhambe nami
Zungangishiyi lana
Jerusalema ikhaya lami
Ngilondoloze
Uhambe nami
Zungangishiyi lana
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Zungangishiyi lana
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Ngilondoloze
Zungangishiyi lana
Jerusalema ikhaya lami
Ngilondoloze
Uhambe nami
Zungangishiyi lana
Jerusalema ikhaya lami
Ngilondoloze
Uhambe nami
Zungangishiyi lana
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
Ndawo yami ayikho lana
Mbuso wami awukho lana
Ngilondoloze
Zuhambe nami
And the lyrics translated into English are:
Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with You
Do not leave me here
Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with you
Do not leave me here
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You
Guide me
Guide me
Guide me
Do not leave me here
What a wonderful tribute. Thank you
Whow it pulls on your heart strings
Blessing and praying for His Shalom peace over Jerusalem..for always!!!
My country South Africa FOR Israel is a miracle of God ?Our Chief Justice maligned by ANC is involved with this song. WAKE UP ANC !!
Chief Justice’s “opinion” NOT his own. IT IS A BIBKE VERSE. PSALM 122 verse 6. ANC does not read Bible. They believe the Palestinian “fairytale”. Palestinians are the occupiers NOT Israel. ALSO IN THE BIBLE. READ GENESIS.
Chief Justice speaks Bible. Its TRUTH, its GOD.
I love the voice singing the song, I love the beat and I love these young one’s rythm.
Can someone please translate the complete song for us.
God bless x
Wow! Wow! Wow!!!! Our God is moving! HalleluYah!!!!
Africa is taking The Lead in pointing the way to the True Deliverer of the world, Jesus Christ of Nazareth
Lovely article, inspiring hope, confidence in Our God and Joy!
Glory to the King of King an the Lord of Lord… Watching these young children dancing to thz song fills my heart wth joy an hope… Whts so amazing to me is tht God will make a way where the seems to be no way ??Hallelujah… Father God open the eyes of the ANC to scripture.. We support Israel 100%.. We support Chief Justice 100%in support ISREAL.THE BATTLE IS NOT OUR ITS THE LORDS. ALL HE SAY IS STAND STILL AN SEE THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD YAHWEH… AMEN
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Wow!!! This article and this song put a huge smile on my face and brought joy to my heart!!! Tpraise be to God, there’s hope for South Africa yet!!
This is amazing Praise God. South Africa will serve God the Anc will bow its knees before God.
Hallelujah Praise Our lord Elohim in the name of Our Lord Jesus, for as the Word Says, all who Bless Israel will be Blessed Amen.
My name is Andrew from Somerset West and I want to say how proud I am of you Katlehong Kids for putting “Jerusalema” out there. I am a born again Christian and will be praying for your increasing success! I love the words of the song and am a long time supporter of Israel! May the Lord make His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you, and give you all His shalom!
Hi Andrew. Lovely to read your comment. Edith Sher ex Atlantic Christian Assembly Sea Point.
What a beautiful and prophetic song. Well done to all including the dancers.
And the lyrics translated into English are:
Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with You
Do not leave me here
Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with you
Do not leave me here
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You
Guide me
Guide me
Guide me
Do not leave me here
I just love this song! Well done everyone involved ?????? G-d bless our beautiful South Africa!
What a blessing it is to hear this song again in such trying times of corvid it gives us hope and peace. Our home is heaven, blessings to them too
Praise the Lord!!!!! Amazing song! May Abba keep on blessing all involved in this song
Great song!!! Vibrant energy for young and old. Jerusalem will be heard through out the World. Lets rejoice and be glad in it! Thank you to all musicians, songwriters, producers you are highly appreciated…. Lets dance and change the World ?….. ??❤️?
Unbelievable inspirational moving words are all I can use to describe how uplifted I felt. Wow Wow!!! Thank you for this tribute to Israel
AWESOME THANK YOU to the musicians, dancers, singers and all involved in this wonderful event. Also a tribute to Michael Jackson’s song “Heal the World”… I AM a Hebrew and this is an amazing witness to our people.
The lyrics, music and dance are so prophetic…. Shalom Baruch ata Adonai HaShem malech ha Olam…. May the LICHT OF GOD THAT NEVER FAILS RADIATE A DOUBLE PORTION OF LIFE INTO THE VICTORY OF YESHUAH HAMASHIACH’S LOVE IN ALL HIS DISCIPLES…. and great success and abundance to the youth of the Earth and the “Katlehong Kids”…. & their whole team… Thank you Andre Viljoen for Gateway News…. BLESSINGS AND LOVE to ALL living in the I AM PRESENCE OF GOD. SHALOM BELOVED JERUSALEM AND ISRAEL AND OUR EARTH.
Rapture Loading……
Prophetic beautiful inspiring
Thank you to each & every one involved in this splendid song & video.
Thank you LORD for this active, creative group….may they dance and inspire us back to
JOY and LIFE IN JESUS…TIME TO ARISE,,SING AND JUMP FOR JOY…HE REIGNS and
EVERY THING IS IN THE HANDS OF OUR LORD….Thank you that many SONS OF ISRAEL are finding their MESSIAH in these days..
Wonderful, well done! You make us all so proud of this great country and all it’s lovely people! We are truly blessed .Thank you .
God is raising up a generation that will lift up Jerusalem, HIS City, for Nations around the world to set their feet to dancing. God never makes mistakes, He is always right, never late ways on time. May God bless South Africa!
So amazing!! Just love it and what a blessing to know it has Jerusalem at its centre! Am living in Wales but love my country South Africa and am always praying for South Africa and Israel!! Thank you so much for this wonderful video!! Tears are flowing!!??❤️❤️?????