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We learned Mrs Galo from the students of Siyabulela Primary School in Langa Township outside
of Cape Town. The students performed this song in honor of their beloved principal, Mrs. Galo.

The traditional South African praise song was a poetic form describing a leader’s lineage, worthy deeds, and victories in battle. During the anti-apartheid movement black South Africans created praise renditions of traditional church hymns, singing “Nelson Mandela will save us” instead of “God will save us.” The names of oppressors, like apartheid government leaders Hendrik Verwoerd and John Vorster, were likewise incorporated into songs originally about the devil. In more recent times the Treatment Action Campaign, an organization that advocates for people with HIV, adapted the old praise songs to laud those who fought for the rights of HIV-positive South Africans—and adapted the old protest songs to denounce those members of the government who resisted providing access to treatment.

When singing Mrs. Galo, you may sing her name, or you can adapt the song with another name.

We like to sing it once through using Mrs. Galo’s name, and then substitute the name of someone we’re honoring when we return to the A section of the song. In South African choir competitions, choirs often substitute the name of their own school or choir into such songs.

This is a wonderful song to perform at a celebration, a ceremony, or even at a wedding. None of the Xhosa text is gendered, so you don’t have to change any of the words to sing the song about a man: just change Mrs. to Mr.

lyrics

Mrs. Galo, you have earned your praise.
We say, “hooray!”

credits

from Raising the Bar: Traditional South African Choral Music I, released April 15, 2015

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