Shosholoza 99%

It was originally used as a call-and-response work song. Miners would sing in time with the rhythmic swinging of their pickaxes to coordinate their movements and alleviate the stress of grueling labor. Cultural Evolution

During the anti-apartheid movement, the "train" in the song began to represent the unstoppable momentum of the liberation struggle and the hope for a free South Africa. Shosholoza

Over decades, the song's meaning transitioned from a laborer's lament to a symbol of political and social struggle. It was originally used as a call-and-response work song

The song originated among miners traveling from Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) to work in South Africa's gold and diamond mines. Shosholoza