Welcome

Sounds of Southern Africa
Welcome to our new website. Founded in 2001 SOSA-XA! explores the music of multiple Southern African languages. Sheffield reflects much of its diversity through the choir having had members from diverse countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Reunion, France, Germany, Greece, USA, Italy , Portugal and even local Yorkshire people.

It was set up as an empowerment and linking project between Sheffield and Sunduza Dance Theatre Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It has been led for five years by Mandla Sibanda a founding member of Sunduza. Much of its repertoire is traditional music but its most original songs are by Simon Banda, certainly Bulawayo’s master of imbube music.

SOSA -XA! is the first intercultural choir in the UK to explore the complexities of the imbube and isicathamiya performing styles. Made famous by the song imbube, or incorrectly ‘wimoweh’ it has been reworked many times from its original by different artists. Imbube, which means lion, was composed in the 1930s by Solomon Linda for his Durban based ‘Evening Birds’. The style of music and its linked choreography became better known after Paul Simon collaborated with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on the Graceland album in the 1980s.

Imbube means literally ‘lion’ and the style of syncopated steps in ‘a cappella’ harmony reflects the fact that the choir literally tip toes forwards and backwards in imitation of that feline.

SOSA-XA! is linguistically neutral, a mere expletive captivating the intricacy and complexities of the many languages in the region that have influenced the music making.

SOSA-XA!