Queen's iconic song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' gets a fresh rendition in Zulu language

The Ndlovu Youth Choir, a South African choir that gained fame on America's Got Talent in 2019, has released a unique interpretation of Queen's iconic rock anthem, Bohemian Rhapsody. This is the first commercially authorized Zulu version of the song, marking a significant milestone in music history.

The idea for an African version of Bohemian Rhapsody emerged while the group was working in Tanzania. Ralf Schmitt, the artistic director of the choir, expressed hope that they have done justice to the piece. He stated that the band's surviving members and the Mercury Phoenix Trust gave their blessing for the project.

The translation process for the Zulu-language Bohemian Rhapsody was a challenging task due to the length of Zulu words and the need to preserve the original message. Sandile Majola, a member of the Ndlovu Youth Choir, played a significant role in this translation. Some surreal lyrics from the original song, such as "Galileo, Galileo!", remain in English in the Zulu version.

The new version incorporates African musical traditions, including township styles like isicathamiya and Congolese swing (kwassa kwassa). The call-and-response sections in the new version are rooted in African performance styles. The music video for the Zulu-language Bohemian Rhapsody features the choir members in vibrant traditional dress, celebrating a uniquely African interpretation of the iconic rock song.

Lungelo Masango, the lead singer of the choir, had never heard of Queen or Bohemian Rhapsody before the project. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, was born in Zanzibar, Africa, but his family later moved from Zanzibar to Britain, and he never returned to the African island of his birth.

The release of the Zulu-language Bohemian Rhapsody coincides with the 50th anniversary of the original song. Ralf Schmitt emphasizes the African influences in the new version of the song, and the choir hopes to pay tribute to Mercury's African roots while also showcasing the beauty and power of African music. The music video for the Zulu-language Bohemian Rhapsody is now available on YouTube.