origin of campfire song "Zulu Warrior"

Graham Holland

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Jun 13, 2001, 1:35:32 PM6/13/01

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origin of campfire song "Zulu Warrior"
===============================

I was sent the following question via email and was wondering if
anyone here could shed any light on it.

"Do you perhaps know the origin of the song "Zulu Warrior"?
Is it copyrighted?"

I doubt very much if it is copyrighted at all (it seems to have been
around Scouting and campfires for generations) but the origin is
unclear. In a 1963 edition of the Hackney Scout Song Book the song is
down as Swazi Warrior and described as Scout Traditional.

Yours

--
GRAHAM HOLLAND <za...@enterprise.net> Liverpool, England
uk.rec.scouting FAQ http://www.scoutnet.org.uk/uk_rec.htm

Master of Infinity

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Jun 13, 2001, 11:43:19 PM6/13/01

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There is a Zulu warchant in my original edition of "Scouting for Boys", as
normal its in the bedroom and 'er in doors is already asleep so I can't grab
it now.

--
Stephen Rainsbury
SL 8th Gillingham, Kent UK.

Portsmouthdists Scouts

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Jun 13, 2001, 6:08:08 PM6/13/01

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"Graham Holland" <za...@enterprise.netREMOVE> wrote
in message
news:3b27a454...@news.freeserve.net...

> origin of campfire song "Zulu Warrior"
> ===============================
>
> I was sent the following question via email and
was wondering if
> anyone here could shed any light on it.
>
> "Do you perhaps know the origin of the song
"Zulu Warrior"?
> Is it copyrighted?"
>
> I doubt very much if it is copyrighted at all
(it seems to have been
> around Scouting and campfires for generations)
but the origin is
> unclear. In a 1963 edition of the Hackney Scout
Song Book the song is
> down as Swazi Warrior and described as Scout
Traditional.
>

In the Oxford Song Book vol 2, 1931, it states,
"this prince of marching songs (The Swazi Warrior)
appears to be a relic of the Zulu War"

Lewis Winstock, however, in "Songs of the
Redcoats", 1970, says "nothing is known of the
songs of this (1879) campaign."

Personally, I'd be inclined to go with the Oxford
Song Book, because in 1931 there would still have
been plenty of veterans of the Zulu War, to
confirm or deny the comment, and the Zulu War in
question might have been the 1888 campaign, in
which B-P served, rather than the better known
1879 war.

Jeremy

Portsmouthdists Scouts

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Jun 14, 2001, 6:58:15 AM6/14/01

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"Master of Infinity"
<ste...@rainsbury.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
message
news:9g8mrf$3b3$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk...

> There is a Zulu warchant in my original edition
of "Scouting for Boys",

That's the Een Gonyama chorus.

J

Pink Gorrila

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Jun 14, 2001, 8:38:51 PM6/14/01

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"Portsmouthdists Scouts" <portsmouthd...@virgin.net> wrote in
message news:eL0W6.12509$9t5.6...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...

That's the kiddie, presumably that's not the one you want?

Graham Holland

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Jun 15, 2001, 6:56:31 PM6/15/01

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In this newsgroup.."Pink Gorrila" <ste...@rainsbury.freeserve.co.uk>
said:

Dear Pink Gorrila (!)

>
>> That's the Een Gonyama chorus.
>
>That's the kiddie, presumably that's not the one you want?
>

No, it's the I Zigga Zumba, Hold him down you Zulu warrior song I'm
looking for information about.

Graham

Stephen Rainsbury

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Jun 16, 2001, 11:20:37 AM6/16/01

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http://www.localdial.com/users/paked/XYZsongs.htm

ZULU WARRIOR

I ziga zumba zumba zumba,
I ziga zumba zumba zai.
I ziga zumba zumba zumba,
I ziga zumba zumba zai.

Hold him down, you Zulu warrior,
Hold him down, you Zulu chief.
Hold him down, you Zulu warrior,
Hold him down, you Zulu chief, chief, chief...

Whilst half the group chant 'Chief, Chief. Chief.....
the other half start the song over.

or http://www.scouting.org.za/songs/rounds.html

I ZICKA ZIMBA
I zicka zimba, zimba, zimba
I zicka zimba, zimba, hey
I zicka zimba, zimba, zimba
I zicka zimba, zimba, hey
Hold him down, you Zulu Warrior
Hold him down, you Zulu chief
Chief chief chief...

Personally I would go with the latter, its from South Africa.

Graham Holland

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Jun 16, 2001, 9:27:32 AM6/16/01

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In this newsgroup.."Stephen Rainsbury"
<ste...@rainsbury.freeserve.co.uk> said:

>http://www.localdial.com/users/paked/XYZsongs.htm
>
>ZULU WARRIOR

>
>Personally I would go with the latter, its from South Africa.

Hi Steve,

It is not the words I was looking for. I have got more versions than
you can shake a cow at. It is help in tracking down the origin. I tend
to agree with those who have said that it was probably from South
Africa, but did B-P introduce it?

Stephen Rainsbury

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Jun 16, 2001, 4:51:27 PM6/16/01

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Graham,

> It is not the words I was looking for. I have got more versions than
> you can shake a cow at. It is help in tracking down the origin. I tend
> to agree with those who have said that it was probably from South
> Africa, but did B-P introduce it?

Sorry I have changed news server and lost the earlier thread in trying to be
too smart alec.

You could try the South African website above, there is a contact address
and even one of BP's cartoons of himself, they might know a man who knows a
man...

Derek Biddle

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Jun 14, 2001, 5:49:15 PM6/14/01

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In article <9g8mrf$3b3$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk>, Master of Infinity
<ste...@rainsbury.freeserve.co.uk> writes

>There is a Zulu warchant in my original edition of "Scouting for Boys", as
>normal its in the bedroom and 'er in doors is already asleep so I can't grab
>it now.
>

You post something at 0400 and say she is 'already' asleep

I am often up at that time, but wouldn't describe my boss as already
asleep. Indeed, I would be listening out for her to start surfacing at
any time and demanding tea.

>--
>Stephen Rainsbury
>SL 8th Gillingham, Kent UK.
>
>
>

--
Derek Biddle

Stephen Rainsbury

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Jun 17, 2001, 12:34:25 PM6/17/01

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"Derek Biddle" <De...@pinnacleprojects.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:nBUgILAb...@pinnacleprojects.demon.co.uk...

> You post something at 0400 and say she is 'already' asleep

It wasn't me!

I have just changed to this server (doesn't miss messages like freeserve
BTW) but it does time a time for messages to escape sometimes.

Graham Drabble

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Jun 17, 2001, 7:03:08 AM6/17/01

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"Stephen Rainsbury" <ste...@rainsbury.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
news:9gi15e$no0$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk:

>
> "Derek Biddle" <De...@pinnacleprojects.demon.co.uk> wrote in
> message news:nBUgILAb...@pinnacleprojects.demon.co.uk...
>
>> You post something at 0400 and say she is 'already' asleep
> It wasn't me!
>

When do you think you posted this? The date: header reads Sun, 17 Jun
2001 11:34:25 -0500 yet I supect you actually posted it at Sun, 17 Jun
2001 11:34:25 +0100 because I've been on most of the morning and it
doesn't normally take 5 hours for a post to get accross the UK. Check
your system clock is set to the right timezone.

--
Graham Drabble
QM / Cub Helper 1st Hassocks

Stephen Rainsbury

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Jun 17, 2001, 8:29:52 PM6/17/01

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<snip>

> doesn't normally take 5 hours for a post to get accross the UK. Check
> your system clock is set to the right timezone.

Well spotted, I was set up for Tijuana!

Perhaps eldest son has found another little prank to play !!

Stephen Rainsbury

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Jun 17, 2001, 8:31:42 PM6/17/01

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"Stephen Rainsbury" <ste...@rainsbury.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9gji3q$9kg$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk...

>
> <snip>
>
> > doesn't normally take 5 hours for a post to get accross the UK. Check
> > your system clock is set to the right timezone.
>
> Well spotted, I was set up for Tijuana!
>
> Perhaps eldest son has found another little prank to play !!

In fact I have two more words for him "WINDOWS 2000", that will stop him
messing about with the PC!

It will also mean that my Graphics card and sound card won't work properly,
as last time I looked neither had native W2K drivers.. :-(

Nick Varney

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Jun 18, 2001, 7:28:28 AM6/18/01

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>> Perhaps eldest son has found another little prank to play !!
>
>In fact I have two more words for him "WINDOWS 2000", that will stop him
>messing about with the PC!
>
>It will also mean that my Graphics card and sound card won't work properly,
>as last time I looked neither had native W2K drivers.. :-(
>

Snap his fingers! - Easier and cheaper than replacing the graphics card.
--
Nick Varney
CSL (Mellor Cubs)
1st Mellor and Marple Bridge Scout Group

He who argues with me in private call him a fool. He who argue with me in
public
call him an ambulance. - The League Against Tedium

Stephen Rainsbury

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Jun 18, 2001, 12:30:07 PM6/18/01

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<snip>

> Snap his fingers! - Easier and cheaper than replacing the graphics card.

That would be playing into his hands (so to speak) as he wouldn't be able to
wash up!

GordonBParker

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Jul 8, 2001, 8:20:20 AM7/8/01

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In article <9gfrrb$12k$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk>, "Stephen Rainsbury"
<ste...@rainsbury.freeserve.co.uk> writes:

>> It is not the words I was looking for. I have got more versions than
>> you can shake a cow at. It is help in tracking down the origin. I tend
>> to agree with those who have said that it was probably from South
>> Africa, but did B-P introduce it?
>

Its a Royal Engineer Song and does indeed date from the Zulu War, but also in
its full version (Hold'em down etc is only the last "verse") mentions training
at Aldershot, and various "hards" where boating was done.

Cheers

Gordon
Late 34 Fd Sqn RE and
Very Late 227 Bristol

ddpd...@gmail.com

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Jun 24, 2013, 4:15:12 PM6/24/13

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This song was very popular at Williams College when the veterans returned after WW II. We sang it as a drinking song (naturally) using the Swazi Warrior version.
D. Denny
Norfolk, CT

yaelshe...@gmail.com

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Dec 13, 2015, 4:01:40 AM12/13/15

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I see this post is from many years ago(was there even Internet in 2001?)
But anyway, the Zulu war chant 'zumba'
Has many versions, I personally know of 4:
"Izik Zumba zumba zumba
Izik zumba zumba hay"
"Izik zimba.."
"Izik zumba...zay"
And "aka Zumba ...zumba hay"
The last one Is sang in israeli children groups, like classes who go on field trips or scouts. I know it came here through the Machal soldiers who used to sing it in ww2 in the first version I wrote. Somehow it evolved into akazumba, and the part "hold him down.." And so on, is not sang because israeli kids probably didnt understand it and probably dropped this part. I would like to know the origin of the original war chant and who composed it.
Thanks

number1...@gmail.com

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Apr 21, 2016, 12:57:44 AM4/21/16

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We sang it first period every second Friday in the 1950s and 60s while the college Masters (teachers) had their fortnightly meeting. For the college it was something that, along with many other English and Scottish songs could be used to keep 1100 boys happy (in varying degrees), occupied and controlled with just two, yes two, masters. Yes The Scots College Sydney Australia in the 1950s and 60s had discipline, and maybe after that, but I wasn't there then.
On one occasion there was a rebellion, however the college Sargeant Major, Ronald Murray, stopped it in his inimitable style. He just quietly entered the hall from the back behind the boys and just as quietly walked down the aisle toeard the front with his hands grasped behind his back without saying a word. The hall had 1100 boys remember. As each row of boys realised that "Sarg" was there it was instant silence in that row. As he walked toward the front of the hall passing each row they too fell silent. It was like this for row after row. He said not a word. He walked in the same manner cross the front of the hall and then back up the hall in a different aisle and out. The rebellion did not return. You see if he canned you, you didn't go back for seconds.
We sang:
Hold him down the swazy warrier,
Hold down the Swazy king,
Hold him down the swazy warrier,
Hold down the Swazy king,
Hicana zema zema rika
hicana zema zema zee
Hicana zema zema rika
hicana zema zema zee
Hicana zema ....... and on and on getting quieter and quieter until we could hardly hear the words. The master would then signal and we would scream
Hold him down the Swazy warrier, etc, etc
We would do this till the master had had enough.

miken man

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Apr 11, 2018, 6:26:34 PM4/11/18

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