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Joyful songs about a painful history

LAKEVILLE — Indian Mountain School students learned about the harsh realities of life in South Africa when a group of 11 men from the Zulu tribe visited their school last week.

But the visit was anything but somber as the members of  Thula Sizwe performed songs and dances with a message of hope, reconciliation and peace.

The 11 men of Thula Sizwe, who hail from South Africa, offered a new perspective on life and perseverance throughout their performance.

Led by Abel Dlamini, the group’s songs and dances are rooted in the Zulu tradition and have been passed down for generations within their culture.

The performance began with traditional songs and dances, then transitioned into song-and-dance evocations of life in a Zulu mining camp.

They celebrated the Zulu miners’ lives and told of the hazards and hardships their ancestors endured there.

The performance ended with the South African national anthem, performed in six different languages.

Lakeville Journal

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