Every little detail counts in an isicathamiya competition: the harmony, the choreography, the costumes, the entrance on stage, the exit and, of course, the singing. On Saturday night at a Durban ...

Every Saturday night in a gritty YMCA in the South African city of Durban, men put on finely-pressed suits, drink cheap beer and compete in an a cappella Zulu choir competition called isicathamiya ...

Ayanda, from the Open Ten choir in Ananda in the Kwa-Zulu Natal poses for a portrait ahead of their group performance during the 2023 edition of the Isicathamiya Festival in Durban.

Zulu men dominate isicathamiya, though Zulu women are entering the ranks. A troupe often represents a district from one of the former apartheid reserves administered by tribal chiefs.

Isicathamiya also drew inspiration from American gospel and minstrel singing, which became popular in South Africa in the early parts of the 20th century. Even today, the songs have a gospel feel ...

Thee Legacy-yes it’s spelled correctly- is made up of five members, namely: Jabulani Mthembu, Khanyisani Mazibuko, Philani Duma, Emille Ngcobo and Simphiwe Sikhakhane.

Fifty Isicathamiya choirs will be thronging the Durban Harbour this morning where the 3rd Caltex Isicathamiya High Schools Choir Competition is taking place at the BAT Centre hall.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is the most famous practitioner of the a cappella singing style derived from traditional South African isicathamiya music. A quarter-century after its formation, the group ...

The event was born of a dream by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the powerhouse of isicathamiya and mbube music. The theme for the three-day celebration was "mayibuye emasisweni - return to the core". Black ...

Don't miss the Xolo Home Boys, Top 20 winners in 2012, at this year's Isicathamiya Competition at The Playhouse. Immerse yourself in the uniquely South African harmonies of isicathamiya music at ...

When you think of isicathamiya, the last thing you might expect is for the youth to latch on to this sound. Times have changed and youngsters are embracing our more traditional sounds as is the case ...

The isicathamiya style developed when young Zulu men left home to look for work, often in mines, then at night in their dormitories, would sing and step lightly, or stalk, so as to not alarm the ...