Thread by @mfjlewis, I gave myself a crash course on the video featured in this [...]

I gave myself a crash course on the video featured in this tweet that has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.

1st, I repudiate this racist tweet and wish to express my solidarity w/ Catholics & all who appreciate the diverse manifestations of the Faith around the world. 1/ https://twitter.com/livmccall_/status/1311736713304330240

https://twitter.com/livmccall_/status/1311736713304330240

On the video: I have seen people say that this video was taken in a Catholic Church in Uganda. For those unfamiliar with seeing dancing and exuberant behavior in a Catholic Church, this is quite common and acceptable in the African Church. 2/

The song they are dancing to, #Jerusalema, was written and recorded by South African DJ @MasterKGsa. It was released in 2019, but has become something of a global phenomenon in recent months, as an anthem of hope in the midst of the pandemic. 3/ https://qz.com/africa/1905743/how-south-africas-jerusalema-became-an-african-hit-then-global/

How South Africa’s “Jerusalema” became a pan-African hit, then a global dance favorite

On Spotify, Master KG's Jerusalema has been streamed more than 66 million times while on YouTube it's topped 140 million views

https://qz.com/africa/1905743/how-south-africas-jerusalema-became-an-african-hit-then-global/

The dance is part of a viral global phenomenon that spread via TikTok, the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge. The song's composer was caught off guard by the spread of its message: "I never thought people would be dancing to my song in the United States." 4/

The original lyrics are in the South African Khelobedu language. Its lyrics are rooted in biblical spirituality:

Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with You
Do not leave me here
Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with you
Do not leave me here
5/

My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You

6/

Source: https://genius.com/Genius-south-africa-translations-master-kg-ft-nomcebo-zikode-jerusalem-english-translation-lyrics

To date the official YouTube Video sits at over 167 Million views. 7/

Meanwhile the #JerusalemaChallenge continues to take over the world, and lots of Catholics have joined in. 8/ https://www.newframe.com/diary-of-a-hit-how-master-kg-took-over-the-world/

Diary of a Hit | How Master KG took over the world

What happens when a South African hit takes over the world and becomes a source of joy during a pandemic? This is the story of how Master KG’s Jerusalema made the world dance.

https://www.newframe.com/diary-of-a-hit-how-master-kg-took-over-the-world/

A remix featuring Nigerian singer/songwriter @burnaboy was released on YouTube in June. 9/

I recommend Euro-centric Catholics read #QueridaAmazonia

"We can take up into the liturgy many elements proper to the experience of indigenous peoples in their contact with nature, and respect native forms of expression in song, dance, rituals, gestures and symbols."

10/10

You can follow @mfjlewis.

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