Songs from and about South Africa | 1

Vusi Mahlasela, “Red Song” from The Voice Ilivi lebantfu (c. 2003)

from the liner notes “It is a poem written by Mr. Willy Kgositsile and is about those comrades who lef the country to go and pick up the addrmed struggle, enlisting the fight against Apartheid.

Need I remind anyone again that armed struggle is an act of love? Yes, need I remind anyone again that armed struggle is an act of love?

I might break into song a like a bluesman or troubadour heading from a long distance, in no blues club I might say baby baby

Should I now stop singing of love now that my memory is surrounded by blood? Sister, why oh why do we at times mistake a pimple for a cancer?

So who are they who say no more love poems now? I want to sing a song of love to that woman who jumped fences pregnant and still gave birth to a healthy child

Softly I walk into the embrace of this fire that will ignite my love song, my song of life Love song, my song of life

When I try to run away from song I hear a voice more persistent than the enemy bombs Demanding the song that bathes our lives in the rain of our blood Love song, my song of life

Red song | Keorapetse “Willy” Kgositsile

Need I remind Anyone again that Armed struggle Is an act of love

I might break into song Like the bluesman or troubadour And from long distance In no blues club I might say Baby baby baby There is no point in crying Just because just because I'm not at home

When I try to run away from song Walking softly in the night A persistent voice More powerful than the enemy bombs Grabs me by the elbow of my heart Demanding the song That bathes our lives In the rain of our blood Stretched taut in the streets As Moloise gasps the last breath Of one solitary life

Should I now stop singing of love Now that 'my memory is surrounded by blood'

Songs from and about South Africa | 2 Sister why oh why Do we at times mistake A pimple for cancer And you brother Who knows our tough tale Who has been through the tunnel On this long road Who has seen the night winking and whispering Who possesses the worldwide hands Of the worker Who has created This house these clothes this bed This street I walk in the night This light to shatter the darkness of this despair Tell me why I must not sing of love

Horror and terror are not strangers When Duma no older than six years Looks at shoeprints in the yard And says: Papa who has been here Rrangwane Uncle Thami Uncle Tim Uncle George And you do not have shoes like this Mama why did you leave The window open The child knows and tells Something about the life We live

So who are they who say No more love poems

I want to sing a song of love For the woman who blasted the boers Out of that yard across the border And lived long enough to tell it I want to sing a song of love For that woman who jumped fences And gave birth to a healthy child I want to sing a song of love For that old woman who in fearful nights Still gave refuge to comrades I want to sing a song of love For the peasant who shared His meagre supper with comrades Without 'returns for services rendered'

So now with my hands Clasping guns grenades bombs Embracing the warmth of my woman's breast Moving to the rhythm of a mother's love And the sadsad eye of a father Embraced in the fixed demands Of a troubled and expectant people From the stench of history And the fragrance of desire and purpose Softly I walk into the embrace Of this fire that will ignite My song of love My song of life Songs from and about South Africa | 3

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a teacher at a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg. It was one of many songs he composed, and he was apparently a keen singer who composed the songs for his pupils. The words of the first stanza were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn. In 1927 seven additional Xhosa stanzas were later added by Samuel Mqhayi, a poet.

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Lord Bless Africa Current Xhosa Version Current English Version

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Lord, bless Africa Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo May her spirit rise high up Yiva imathandazo yethu Hear thou our prayers Nkosi Sikelela Nkosi Sikelela Lord bless us. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika Lord, bless Africa Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo May her spirit rise high up Yiva imathandazo yethu Hear thou our prayers Nkosi Sikelela Lord bless us, Thina lusapho lwayo. Your family.

Chorus Chorus Yihla moya, yihla moya Descend, O Spirit Yihla moya oyingcwele Descend, O Holy Spirit Nkosi Sikelela Lord bless us Thina lusapho lwayo. Your family. (Repeat) (Repeat)

Shosholoza go forward; endeavor; keep trying; make way for the next man

This folk song originated with migrant laborers who took steam trains, “isi-stimela” from their homes to the gold mines near Johannesburg. The legacy of stimela is mixed; migrant labor was a source of cash in a monetizing economy, but the labor recruiters and their trains separated families and disrupted communities in ways still visible in South Africa.

Shosholoza was a song of resistance to Apartheid, a song of the armed struggle, and a song of celebration when South Africa, re-admitted to international sports competition, won the rugby world cup in 1995.

Shosholoza Shosholoza Ku lezontaba You are meandering on those mountains Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa The train is from South Africa

Wen u ya baleka You accelerate Wen u ya baleka You accelerate Ku lezontaba On those mountains Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa The train is from South Africa

Songs from and about South Africa | 4

Die Stem Cornelius Jacob Langenhoven, 1918 [1873-1932] This song replaced God Save the Queen as South Africa’s National Anthem in 1957

Uit die blou van onse hemel, Ringing out from out blue heavens, Vit die diepte van ons see. From our deep seas breaking round; Oor ons ewige gebergtes waar Over everlasting mountains Die kranse antwoord gee, Where the echoing crags resound; Deur ons ver-verlate vlaktes From our plains where creaking wagons Met die kreun van ossewa Cut their trails into the earth Ruis die stem van ons geliefde, Calls the spirit of our Country, Van ons land Suid-Afrika Of the land that gave us birth. Ons sal antwoord op jou roepstem, At thy call we shall not falter, Ons sal offer wat jy vra: Firm and steadfast we shall stand. Ons sal lewe, ons sal sterwe At thy will to live or perish, Ons vir jou, Suid-Afrika. O South Africa, dear land.

In die merg van ons gebeente, In our body and our spirit, In ons hart en siel en gees, In our inmost heart held fast; In ons roem op ons verlede, In the promise of our future In ons hoop op wat sal wees, and the glory of our past; In ons wil en werk en wandel, In our will, our work, our striving, Van on wieg tot aan ons graf From the cradle to the grave - Deel geen ander land ons liefde, There's no land that shares our loving, Trek geen ander trou ons af. And no bond that can enslave. Vaderland! ons sal die adel Thou hast borne us and we know thee. Van jou naam met ere dra: May our deeds to all proclaim Waar en trou as Afrikaners Our enduring love and service Kinders van Suid-Afrika. To thy honour and thy name.

In die songloed van ons somer, In the golden warmth of summer, In ons winternag se kou, In the chill of winter's air, In die lente van ons liefde, In the surging life of springtime, In die lanfer van ons rou. In the autumn of despair; By die klink van huw'liks-klokkies, When the wedding bells are chiming, By die kluitklap op die kis Or when those we love depart, Streel jou stem ons nooit verniet nie, Thou dost know us for thy children Weet jy waar jou kinders is. And dost take us to thy heart. Op jou roep se ons nooit nee nie, Loudly peals the answering chorus; Se ons altyd, altyd ja: We are thine, and we shall stand, Om te lewe, om te sterwe Be it life or death, to answer Ja ons kom, Suid-Afrika. Thy call, beloved land.

Op U Almag vas vertrouend, In thy power Almighty, trusting, Het ons vadere gebou: Did our fathers build of old; Skenk ook ons die krag, o Here! Strengthen then, O Lord, their children Om te handhaaf en te hou To defend, to love, to hold Dat die erwe van ons vaad're That the heritage they gave us Vir ons kinders wrwe bly: For our children yet may be: Knegte van die Allerhoogste, Bondsmen only to the Highest Teen die hele wereld vry. And before the whole world free. Soos ons vadere vertrou het, As our fathers trusted humbly, Leer ook ons vertrou o Heer Teach us, Lord, to trust Thee still: Met ons land en met ons nasie Guard our land and guide our people Sal dit wel wees, God regeer. In Thy way to do Thy will. Songs from and about South Africa | 5

Sun City Steven Van Zandt (Blue Midnight Music, 1985)

We're rockers and rappers united and strong We're here to talk about South Africa we don't like what's going on It's time for some justice it's time for the truth We've realized there's only one thing we can do

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Relocation to phony homelands Separation of families I can't understand 23 million can't vote because they're black We're stabbing our brothers and sisters in the back

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Our government tells us we're doing all we can Constructive Engagement is Ronald Reagan's plan Meanwhile people are dying and giving up hope This quiet diplomacy ain't nothing but a joke

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Boputhuswana is far away But we know it's in South Africa no matter what they say You can't buy me I don't care what you pay Don't ask me Sun City because I ain't gonna play

I ain't gonna play Sun City

It's time to accept our responsibility Freedom is a privilege nobody rides for free Look around the world baby it can't be denied Why are we always on the wrong side

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Relocation to phony homelands Separation of families I can't understand 23 million can't vote because they're black We're stabbing our brothers and sisters in the back