You probably must have heard or listened to the song, ‘Jerusalema’ by South African musician, Kgaogelo Moagi, known professionally as Master KG.
No song in the recent past has elicited such a flurry of glorious excitement, infectious fervency and spiritual spontaneity. None would, at least in decades to come.
Originally a gospel song, Master KG said he only set out to do a song that would inspire people spiritually and morally. He was almost done with the recording then the key word ‘Jerusalema’ shot up like a rocket from nowhere. There it was. The message.
After the release, a rustic, comical group from Angola posted their own choreography to the beat of the song. That was all needed and the song went viral.
Today, ‘Jerusalema’ is the most searched song in the world. With over 250 million searches. On youtube and Shopify it has been streamed over 150 million times.
No song has ever been choreographed more than Jeruselema for some centuries now. Presidents and Premiers, Queens and Kings; corporate institutions and conglomerates, the rich and the poor, nobody is spared of the wave of tsunami of this song.
What makes this song special, why has it such a compelling and contagious force? Let’s first look at the lyrics.
“Jerusalema ikhaya lami(Jerusalem is my home)
Ngilondoloze(Guard me)
Uhambe nami(Walk with me)
Zungangishiyi lana(Do not leave me here)
Ndawo yami ayikho lana(My place is not here);
Mbuso wami awukho lana(My kingdom is not here)
Jerusalema ikhaya lami(Jerusalem is my home).”
The major force in this song is in the title and in the word Jerusalem. This is what gives the song a spiritual fervidness and ardency. Jerusalem, a holy city, meaning the “city of peace,” is also called Zion. Mount Zion is the hill on which the castle of the city was built. It was here that Solomon built the temple of God and its relics are today the wailing walls of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem has a sweeping significance in Christendom.
Jerusalem is mentioned 660 times in the Old Testament and occurs 146 times in the New Testament , while the synonym Zion occurs 158 times in the old testament and seven times in the new testament.
In wars and conquests, Jerusalem has been attacked 52 times, captured and recaptured 44 times; besieged 23 times, and destroyed two times, yet a city known as peace knows no peace.
It is not strange that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born in Jerusalem. He died in Jerusalem. He was buried in Jerusalem. He resurrected in Jerusalem. Moslems also claim that Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, died and ascended to heaven in Jerusalem.
For decades, Jeruselem has been a hotspot for global tensions, being the nexus of three Abrahamic religions- Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Every true and faithful Christian knows that ‘Mbuso wami awukho lana(My kingdom is not here).” He should know that “Jerusalema ikhaya lami(Jerusalem is my home).”
In Psalms 122: 6, we are enjoined to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Prosperity awaits everybody that loves and prays for Jerusalem. When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem we pray for the peace and prosperity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now do you understand why this song prospered beyond measure?
You may say the song is ‘wordly’ and it’s lyrics and intention corrupted by the various choreographies we have witnessed.
But the central message is clear and unambiguous: Jerusalem is the Kingdom of God; our home is not here. We are on a pilgrimage.
“And now the LORD says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem.” Zechariah 8:3
God will surely walk with us. God will continue to guide and guard us. God will not leave us here that is not our home. He surely will take us to ‘Jerusalema’, his Kingdom above.
NOTE: This piece is not in anyway an endorsement of the weird, immoral dance steps many have made while choreographing the song. It is also not an endorsement of the song as a full gospel song.
– Nwakanma is a respected journalist