voicing: TTBB | catalog number: SBMP 1499 | price: $2.10
accompaniment: a cappella

Here we have a medley of two upbeat songs. San’bonani is a traditional greeting song in the Zulu Culture and Namhla Kudibene is a war song from the Xhosa culture. They pair nicely, both dramatic in their impact.


performance by: Missouri State University Men's Glee club - Cameron LaBarr, conductor [© all rights reserved]

CLICK HERE: See and Hear the Complete Score or download a perusal copy: HERE

CLICK HERE: Read the Text or Poem

San’bonani
San’bonani – Good morning/Hello
Nonke – all of (you) – everybody
Nisaphila nje? – Are you well?
Hololo – no meaning
Translation
Hello everybody, are you well? Hololo hololo – are you well?

Nengonyama – (and) lion
Namhla kudibene – today, jointly
Ingwe – tiger
Nengonyama – (and) lion
Wen’uyabizwa – we must respond/retaliate
Sabela – we will react
Translation
Today we are together
(Like) the Lion and the Tiger
We have to respond (to the threat of war)
We will react

CLICK HERE: Choral Tracks (Practice made simple)

San’bonani/Namhla Kudibene choral track bundle contains a part dominant track for each voice part, a balanced voices track, and an accompaniment track if the work is not a cappella (the accompaniment is also included with the part dominant and balanced voices track). Get more information and listen to samples HERE. Please note that the choral score is not included in the bundle and needs to be ordered separately.

Price: $49.99 (Each bundle is licensed to be used by up to 50 users)
Please adjust the quantity accordingly if you have more than 50 users.

CLICK HERE: Michael Barrett performance notes

San’bonani Performance Notes
A typical greeting in the Zulu culture, San’bonani is written with the call-and-response technique so strongly associated with traditional South African music. The soloists can be male or female and can take their time when performing their parts. This song can be used as an introduction to a program. It is intended to welcome the audience. The response from the choir “Hololo hololo” is jubilant and may contain ululating and other traditional African noises. Simple hand gestures and waving towards the audience are appropriate. The choir may choose to walk onto stage while singing this piece. Simplicity is key here – no fancy dynamics and tempo changes are needed. San’bonani for mixed voices was the opening of a medley of traditional pieces performed by the Tuks Camerata at the 8th World Choir Games held in Riga, Latvia. It can be used as an introduction to other traditional African pieces.

Pronunciation Guide
All vowels are pure as in Latin.
The “h” in nisaphila is silent – thus it is pronounced nisapila nje


Namhla Kudibene Performance Notes
In many of the Nguni cultures (Xhosa and Zulu), singing and dancing were used before war-times to motivate the troops to battle. The typical call and response style is used where the soloists act as the tribal leaders motivating the tribal fighters. The piece should be performed loud and can be accompanied by foot stomps and beating of chests and throwing of fists. For an authentic performance, watch the Tuks Camerata video.

Pronunciation Guide
All vowels are pure as in Latin.
The “hl” in namhla is pronounced as “thla” – the sound is created on the side of the mouth and is similar to the Welsh word “Llangollen.” Thus “namhla” is pronounced “nam – thla.”.
“G” is always pronounced as in the English word “guy” (Ingwe; nengonyama)
“Z” in yabizwa is pronounced like the English word “zap”

This score is available in Printed or ePrint format at checkout (More Information)

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Featured on the following reading sessions
2025 | OMEA Professional Development Conference
2024 | Northwestern ACDA Region Conference
2022 | Western - Arizona ACDA Summer Conference 2022 Music for the Contemporary Choral Classroom Reading Session
2020 | ACDA Western - March 4-8
2019 | Arkansas ACDA Summer Conference
2019 | Rodney Eichenberger Summer Choral Workshop