Common Ground song 7 ‘Amen Siyakudumisa’
Words / Music: South African traditional, arranged Stephen Cuthbert Molefe © copyright control
YouTube recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE28uLKaEAA
Featured image: Chorale Universitaire de Rouen performing this piece.

This is one of those apparently simple chants, with few words and a memorable tune, which with a good harmonisation can nevertheless produce a moving act of worship. I have chosen to link a performance by an admittedly mostly white French choir, but their enthusiasm would, I am sure, do justice to any African church service. Just wait for the ending!

The repeated word ‘siyakudumisa’ apparently means ‘we praise your name, O God’, and the call of ‘Masithi’ heard on this recording (but not in the Common Ground book) apparently just means ‘Sing!’. It is a reminder that praising God should be not only with our minds but with our voices and bodies, too. I wrote a sermon about this last year, which is worth looking up if you don’t mind a long read.