The Jerusalema song and dance challenge has become a worldwide phenomenon and it's just what we all need.
Photo: Archyde.com
Who can forget the images of Italians singing from their balconies in March as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across the world and heavily impact Italy? The sentiment, andrà tutto bene, (everything will be all right) lifted all of our spirits.
Yet, as the months went on, the music eventually stopped.
In April, the Clap for our Carers campaign took over as people from London, to New York, to Cape Town showered healthcare workers on the frontlines with applause. The campaign also ran its course in about 10 weeks and was stopped.
As we entered the six month of this pandemic it’s easy to see why we needed a new rally cry. That’s exactly what we got with Jerusalema and the Jerusalema Dance Challenge, and it’s just what the world needs.
A song by South African artists, Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode, Jerusalema has captured the imagination of people around the globe bringing hope from Africa to the world. Already a hit in South Africa in 2019, people saw its message and mesmerizing beat as a way to cope with the tragedies of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
From priests and nuns in Italy, to healthcare workers in France, and airline workers in South Africa, the Jerusalema Challenge has gained global popularity. South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, even encouraged fellow South Africans to join in the dance as part of the country’s Heritage Day.
The timing of this viral phenomenon is perfect. Most parts of the world have been experiencing various stages of this pandemic for at least six months and longer and the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel seems dim at best.
Professor Aisha Ahmad of the University of Toronto can relate. She has lived and worked through multiple long-haul crises conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mali, Kenya, and Somalia. She recently shared,
“The six-month mark in any sustained crisis is always difficult. We have all adjusted to this “new normal,” but might now feel like we’re running out of steam. Yet at best, we are only one third of the way through this marathon. How can we keep going? First, in my experience, this is a very normal time to struggle or slump. I always hit a wall six months into a tough assignment in a disaster zone. The desire to “get away” or “make it stop” is intense. I’ve done this many times, and at six months, it’s like clockwork.”
She goes on to say, “Frankly, even though we cannot physically leave this disaster zone, try to give yourself a mental or figurative “shore leave”. Short mental escape can offer respite and distance from the everyday struggle. Take more mental “leave” until you clear the wall.”
It could be that the Jerusalema Challenge is just the mental escape we all need.
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