Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shosholoza

The Zulu word Shosholoza means go forward or make way for the next man, and is also reminiscent of the sound made by the steam train (stimela) described in the song. "Shosholoza" is a Ndebele folk song that originated in what is now Zimbabwe but was popularized in South Africa. The song is a traditional South African folk song that was sung by Ndebele all-male migrant workers that were working in the South African mines in a call and response style. The song is so popular in South African culture that it is often referred to as South Africa's second national anthem.

 

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African male choral group that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland, and have won multiple awards, including four Grammy Awards. They were formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960 and later became one of South Africa's most prolific recording artists, with their releases receiving gold and platinum disc honors. The group has now become a mobile academy, teaching people about South Africa and its culture.

SHOSHOLOZA LYRICS IN ZULU (Mostly in Zulu):

Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

CHORUS:

Shosholoza
Shosholoza
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' eSouth Africa

Shosholoza
Shosholoza
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' eSouth Africa

VERSE 1:

Wen' uyabaleka
Wen' uyabaleka
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' eSouth Africa

Wen' uyabaleka
Wen' uyabaleka
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' eSouth Africa

CHORUS:

Shosholoza
Shosholoza
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' eSouth Africa

Sithwele kanzima, sithwele kanzima (ooh aah!)
Sithwele kanzima, sithwele kanzima (ooh aah!)
Sithwele kanzima, sithwele kanzima (ooh aah!)
Sithwele kanzima, sithwele kanzima (ooh aah!)
Sithwele kanzima, sithwele kanzima (ooh aah!)
Etshe!
Shosholoza

SHOSHOLOZA LYRICS TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH:

Lord bless us, we her offspring (of Africa)
Lord bless us, we her offspring (of Africa)

CHORUS:

Move fast
Move fast
on those mountains
train from South Africa.

Move fast
Move fast
on those mountains
train from South Africa.

VERSE 1:

You are accelerating
You are accelerating
on those mountains
train from South Africa.

You are accelerating
You are accelerating
on those mountains
train from South Africa.

CHORUS:

Move fast
Move fast
on those mountains
train from South Africa.