Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony
Encyclopedia
Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony is a 2002 documentary film
depicting the struggles of black South Africans against the injustices of Apartheid through the use of music. The film takes its name from the Nguni word amandla
, which means power.
The film was Produced by Sherry Simpson Dean and Lee Hirsch
. Simpson Dean and Hirsch also produced the film's soundtrack of the same name. The collection of authentic South African "Freedom Songs" was Executive Produced by Dave Mathews' and his label ATO Records.
s, playwright
s, poets and activists recall the struggle against Apartheid from the 1940s to the 1990s that stripped black citizens of South Africa of basic human rights, and the important role that music played in that struggle. The documentary uses a mixture of interview
s, musical performances and historical film footage. Among the South Africans who take part are Miriam Makeba
, Abdullah Ibrahim
, Hugh Masakela, Vusi Mahlasela
and others.
The freedom songs heard in the film have an important historical context. Particularly in the United States, freedom songs have referred to protest songs of the abolitionist, civil rights, and labor movements. Yet, in South Africa, the songs take on a different meaning, referring to a unique collection of songs tied to the struggle for racial equality during the twentieth century. Stylistically, freedom songs originated in choir as a unifying and prevalent genre that combined southern African signing traditions with Christian hymns. Most of the songs have simple melodies and are sung a cappella. More importantly, they are composed and sung in groups, and often reflect changing political circumstances and attitudes.1
, where it was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. It also won awards at several other film festivals including those in Telluride, Colorado
, Durban International Film Festival
, South Africa and Sydney, Australia.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
depicting the struggles of black South Africans against the injustices of Apartheid through the use of music. The film takes its name from the Nguni word amandla
Amandla (power)
Amandla is a Xhosa and Zulu word meaning "power". The word was a popular rallying cry in the days of resistance against Apartheid, used by the African National Congress and its allies. The leader of a group would call out "Amandla!" and the crowd would respond with "Awethu" or "Ngawethu!" ,...
, which means power.
The film was Produced by Sherry Simpson Dean and Lee Hirsch
Lee Hirsch
Lee Hirsch is a documentary filmmaker. Hirsch is a graduate of The Putney School in Vermont. He wrote and directed the documentary Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony....
. Simpson Dean and Hirsch also produced the film's soundtrack of the same name. The collection of authentic South African "Freedom Songs" was Executive Produced by Dave Mathews' and his label ATO Records.
Plot
In the film, South African musicianMusician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
s, poets and activists recall the struggle against Apartheid from the 1940s to the 1990s that stripped black citizens of South Africa of basic human rights, and the important role that music played in that struggle. The documentary uses a mixture of interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
s, musical performances and historical film footage. Among the South Africans who take part are Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
, Abdullah Ibrahim
Abdullah Ibrahim
Abdullah Ibrahim , born Adolph Johannes Brand, 9 October 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa, and formerly known as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer...
, Hugh Masakela, Vusi Mahlasela
Vusi Mahlasela
Vusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane is a Sotho South African singer-songwriter.His music is generally described as "African folk". His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement. His themes include the struggle for freedom, and forgiveness and reconciliation with enemies...
and others.
The freedom songs heard in the film have an important historical context. Particularly in the United States, freedom songs have referred to protest songs of the abolitionist, civil rights, and labor movements. Yet, in South Africa, the songs take on a different meaning, referring to a unique collection of songs tied to the struggle for racial equality during the twentieth century. Stylistically, freedom songs originated in choir as a unifying and prevalent genre that combined southern African signing traditions with Christian hymns. Most of the songs have simple melodies and are sung a cappella. More importantly, they are composed and sung in groups, and often reflect changing political circumstances and attitudes.1
Awards
The film won the Audience Award and the Freedom of Expression Award at the 2002 Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, where it was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. It also won awards at several other film festivals including those in Telluride, Colorado
Telluride, Colorado
The town of Telluride is the county seat and most populous town of San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Colorado. The town is a former silver mining camp on the San Miguel River in the western San Juan Mountains...
, Durban International Film Festival
Durban International Film Festival
The Durban International Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. It is one of the oldest and largest film festival in Southern African and presents over 200 screenings celebrating the best in South African, African and...
, South Africa and Sydney, Australia.
Soundtrack
- AMANDLA! Protest meeting, JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
- When You Come Back Vusi MahlaselaVusi MahlaselaVusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane is a Sotho South African singer-songwriter.His music is generally described as "African folk". His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement. His themes include the struggle for freedom, and forgiveness and reconciliation with enemies...
- Lizobuya Mbongeni Ngema
- Meadowlands Nancy Jacobs and sisters
- Sad Times, Bad Times The Original Cast of King Kong
- Senzeni Na?Senzeni Na?“Senzeni Na?” is a South African anti‐apartheid folk song. The Xhosa/Zulu language song is commonly sung at funerals, demonstrations and in churches...
Vusi Mahlasela & Harmonious Serenade Choir - Beware Verwoerd (Naants’ Indod’ Emnyama) Miriam MakebaMiriam MakebaMiriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
- Y’zinga Robben-Island Prison Singers
- Stimela Hugh MasekelaHugh MasekelaHugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
- Injamblo/Hambani Kunye Ne – Vangeli Pretoria Central Prison
- Manneberg Abdullah IbrahimAbdullah IbrahimAbdullah Ibrahim , born Adolph Johannes Brand, 9 October 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa, and formerly known as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer...
- Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrikaNkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" , was originally composed as a hymn by a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg teacher, Enoch Sontonga in 1897, to the tune 'Aberystwyth' by Joseph Parry...
Soweto Community Hall - Thina Lomhlaba Siwugezi Vusi Mahlasela
- Mayibuye Vusi Mahlasela
- Thina Sizwe SABC Choir
- Folk Vibe # 1 Tananas
- Dabula Ngesi'bam Soweto Community Hall
- Sobahiya Abazali Ekhaya Amandla Group
- Bring Him Back Home (Nelson MandelaNelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
) Hugh Masekela - Did You Hear That Sound? (Dreamtime Improv) Abdullah Ibrahim
- S'bali Joe Nina
- Makuliwe Soweto Community Hall
- Bahleli Bonke Miriam Makeba
- Kuzobenjani Na? Vusi Mahlasela
- "You Strike The Rock..." Sophie Mgcina and Dolly Rathebe
- The Untold Story Sibongile Khumalo with Themba Mkhize
- Iyo Harmonious Serenade Choir
- Usilethela Uxolo (Nelson Mandela Brings Us Peace) The African National Congress Choir
- Toyi - Toyi Introduction/Kramat Abdullah Ibrahim