Toyi-toyi
Encyclopedia
Toyi-toyi is a Southern Africa
n dance
originally from Zimbabwe
that has long been used in political protests
in South Africa
.
Toyi-toyi could begin as the stomping of feet and spontaneous chanting during protests that could include political slogans or songs, either improvised or previously created. Some sources claim that South Africans learned it from Zimbabweans.
. The toyi-toyi was also used with chants such as the African National Congress
's "Amandla
" ("power") and "Awethu" ("ours") or the Pan African Congress's "One Settler, One Bullet
".
After the 1976 Soweto massacre, the movement
became more militant in the struggle for liberation. The toyi-toyi, a military march dance and song style became commonplace in massive street demonstrations. As one activist puts it, "The toyi-toyi was our weapon. We did not have the technology of warfare, the tear gas and tanks, but we had this weapon."
, and some South Africans have used it in violent attacks against refugees
. The country's independent social movements such as Abahlali baseMjondolo
and the Anti-Eviction Campaign have begun using toyi-toyi and other liberation protest strategies for their anti-government protests.
The Anti-Privatisation Forum has come out with a CD that they see as a compilation of music specially for toyi-toying.
, incorporated the "Amandla, Awethu" chant into Sing Our Own Song from the 1986 album Rat In The Kitchen
.
In October 2004 Robert Mugabe
of Zimbabwe banned toyi-toyi even indoors because of its use as a protest.
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
n dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
originally from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
that has long been used in political protests
Protest in South Africa
South Africa has been dubbed "the protest capital of the world" and has one of the highest rates of public protest in the world. During the 2004/05 financial year about 6,000 protests were officially recorded, an unknown number of protests went unrecorded, and about 1,000 protests were illegally...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Toyi-toyi could begin as the stomping of feet and spontaneous chanting during protests that could include political slogans or songs, either improvised or previously created. Some sources claim that South Africans learned it from Zimbabweans.
Use during Apartheid
Toyi-toyi was often very successful in intimidating the South African troopsSouth African Defence Force
The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
. The toyi-toyi was also used with chants such as the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
's "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!" ,...
" ("power") and "Awethu" ("ours") or the Pan African Congress's "One Settler, One Bullet
One Settler, One Bullet
One Settler, One Bullet was a rallying cry and slogan originated by the Azanian People's Liberation Army - the armed wing of the Pan Africanist Congress - during the struggle of the 1980s against apartheid in South Africa....
".
After the 1976 Soweto massacre, the movement
Internal resistance to South African apartheid
Internal resistance to the apartheid system in South Africa came from several sectors of society and saw the creation of organisations dedicated variously to peaceful protests, passive resistance and armed insurrection. It came from both black activists like Steve Biko and Desmond Tutu as well as...
became more militant in the struggle for liberation. The toyi-toyi, a military march dance and song style became commonplace in massive street demonstrations. As one activist puts it, "The toyi-toyi was our weapon. We did not have the technology of warfare, the tear gas and tanks, but we had this weapon."
Current use in South Africa
After Apartheid ended, people have used toyi-toyi to express their grievances against current government policies. Use of the dance has become very popular during recent service delivery protests and among trade unionsTrade unions in South Africa
Trade unions in South Africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the country, with the earliest unions being predominantly for white workers...
, and some South Africans have used it in violent attacks against refugees
Xenophobia in South Africa
Prior to 1994 immigrants from elsewhere in Africa faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa, though much of that risk stemmed from the institutionalised racism of the time due to apartheid. Post 1994 and democratisation, and contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased...
. The country's independent social movements such as Abahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
and the Anti-Eviction Campaign have begun using toyi-toyi and other liberation protest strategies for their anti-government protests.
The Anti-Privatisation Forum has come out with a CD that they see as a compilation of music specially for toyi-toying.
General
The UK band, UB40UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
, incorporated the "Amandla, Awethu" chant into Sing Our Own Song from the 1986 album Rat In The Kitchen
Rat in the Kitchen
Rat in the Kitchen is an album by UB40 released in July 1986. This album contained two UK hits, "Sing Our Own Song" and "Rat in Mi Kitchen" .- Track listing :All tracks composed by UB40#"All I Want to Do" - 5:33...
.
In October 2004 Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
of Zimbabwe banned toyi-toyi even indoors because of its use as a protest.
See also
- Toyi Toyi Artz Kollektive
- What’s the Deal With Toyi-toyi?, Lisa Nevit, Cape Town Magazine