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President Cyril Ramaphosa this month invited all South Africans to take on the “Jerusalem Dance Challenge” as part of Heritage Day, a public holiday that celebrates culture and diversity.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and members of his team took on the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge on Heritage Day. Image: supplied
JOHANNESBURG – Construction workers, rangers, fuel assistants, judges and even the South African rugby team hit the web Thursday dancing to the 2019 pop song Jerusalem which has lifted global spirits during the pandemic.
President Cyril Ramaphosa this month invited all South Africans to take on the “Jerusalem Dance Challenge” as part of Heritage Day, a public holiday that celebrates culture and diversity.
The gospel-influenced song, recorded by South African producer Master KG with Nomcebo’s Zulu lyrics, began as a local hit during the holiday season last December.
It made waves globally in February when an Angolan dance studio posted a video of artists dancing to the song over lunch, plates of food in hand.
Another video from Portugal snowballed into the now international #JerusalemaDanceChallenge, with people from all over the world sharing clips of the choreography in various settings.
Health workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreaks have also joined the frenzy, bringing messages of hope to a world overshadowed by the pandemic.
“In the midst of a crisis, we found a space to love, be compassionate, have fun and encourage and comfort ourselves,” South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said Thursday.
“That’s what this song means to us.”
In their own version of the dance, Mkhize and her team strut to Jerusalem in a botanical garden in Johannesburg with signs saying “We did it” and “Disinfect.”
South Africa was particularly affected by the virus, accounting for around half of the recorded cases on the continent.
More than 665,000 infections and 16,000 deaths have been confirmed since March, although the spread has stalled significantly in recent weeks.
Despite tough lockdown measures, workers in all industries heeded Ramaphosa’s call to celebrate.
Staff at a safari lodge danced around a swimming pool, beauticians in masks jumped in their salons, and young truckers moved impressively between vehicles.
University students, embassies, babies and dogs also participated.
Many of the videos were posted again on the President’s Twitter account.
[WATCH]: @UNICEF_SA answer the president’s call @CyrilRamaphosa to take the #JerusalemaChallenge 🇿🇦 # HeritageDay2020 #JerusalemaDanceChallenge #MyHeritageYourHeritage pic.twitter.com/anTosEyGu5
– Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 25, 2020
[WATCH]: South Africa responds to the president’s call @CyrilRamaphosa to take the #JerusalemaChallenge 🇿🇦 # HeritageDay2020 #JerusalemaDanceChallenge #MyHeritageYourHeritage pic.twitter.com/lro7tGxRx7
– Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 24, 2020
[WATCH]: @College answer the president’s call @CyrilRamaphosa to take the #JerusalemaChallenge 🇿🇦 # HeritageDay2020 #JerusalemaDanceChallenge #MyHeritageYourHeritage pic.twitter.com/0JkwmmqY4d
– Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 24, 2020
“We are the nation that is taking the world by storm with the #JerusalemaChallenge,” Ramaphosa said in his Heritage Day speech.
“Young and old in France, the United Kingdom, Jamaica, Angola and even Palestinian East Jerusalem itself are joining the madness.”
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