Innodo - Course of Events [XII]: South African Heritage Day

Innodo - Course of Events [XII]: South African Heritage Day

 

 

Display of Swaziland, South African Freedom Day, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

In its simplest term “Heritage Day” means a day where we remember the practices handed down from the past by tradition. In South Africa this is a day where we wear traditionally and gather with family, friends and lovers and so on. What do those who are South Africans abroad do? I do not know, perhaps they do the same but I personally listen to Traditional Music as always. Nevertheless we are all in different places around the globe for different reasons. Today is the day I compiled music from home. On the playlist I have;

African Renaissance Volume 1:Zulu

African Renaissance Volume 2:Venda

African Renaissance Volume 3:South Sotho & Tswana

African Renaissance Volume 4:Xhosa & Swazi

African Renaissance Volume 5:Ndebele & North Sotho

African Renaissance Volume 6:Tsonga & Maskandi

African Renaissance Volume 7:Mbube

African Renaissance Volume 8:Traditional Dances, Wedding & Courtship Songs

African Renaissance Volume 9:Nguni Choral & Mbhaqanga

African Renaissance Volume 10:Ngoma & Indigenous Instruments

So you can imagine that the songs are going to be playing the whole day. With that in mind I would love to wish everyone in South Africa a Happy Heritage Day!





Innodo – Course of Events [XI]: Poetry within Traditional Music

Innodo – Course of Events [XI]: Poetry within Traditional Music

Ndebele Men & Son, Extracted from Nothembi Mkhwebane's Video and Edited

 

I am certain that many of us are aware of the poetry among the South African people and the whole African Continent, from the ZULU, XHOSA, SWATI, NDEBELE, PEDI, SOTHO, TSWANA, VENDA, TSONGA and other ethnics, a lot has been said on African poetry and this time I thought perhaps it will be a good thing to do to share some poetry from various Singers within Traditional Music. The interesting thing about this is what is termed IDENTITY or IDENTIFICATION, many as they recite their praise poems in their songs they tell us about themselves and their life experiences. We know well that a person is given praises for who they are or what they have achieved in their lifetime. That ends up becoming an identity or recognition for that particular individual. I am going to begin with the most famous Artist from the Maskandi Genre and then go to the Innodo Genre and Diakgela Genre. It should be noted that I am not good with the SOTHO language but will try my best to write what I understand when it comes to the Diakgela Genre.

 

In the Maskandi Genre it is always best to begin with the Father of the Zulu people’s music. Let me begin with PHUZUSHUKELA in his song entitiled “Impi KaBhambatha” [War of Bhambatha]. According to my understanding Phuzushukela sings about the War of Bhambatha saying that they (the Zulu people) do not care about this war because they are the “Izitha” or enemies. That is what the song is about but since our interest is in his poetry, let us listen to what He says,

 

“Eueee..! Uyiziwile na? Zibambe Phuzushukela mud’ uMlungu, mud’ uBhungane [Inadiable] demede! Kade ngangisho Madoda. Bagoxe Mfo kaMajezi omnyama. Noma bangithini, noma ngingafa nje mina kuyosala igama lami ngaphezulu akekho oyokufika kilesi sami isandla. Yimi ngedwa engiphethe lesisandla la KwaZulu eNkandla. Eeee…! Phansi kweGolodo intaba yami enengi eyakhe leyo umfula engiwuphuzayo yiNsundu. Zibambe nsenseni Mfazan’ omnyama lokhanda …ebuhlungiwini [Inaduble]. Zibambe uwubhuwubhu kaBhejane, awu Madoda sashintsha isandla sikaMajezi Madoda!”

Deep and profound Phuzushukela here says, did you hear it? Hold on to it Phuzushukela, a White man is so tall and so is Bhungane damn! It’s been long I said it to you men. Fold them Brother of Black Majezi. No matter what they can say even though I will die my name will remain above theirs. None will be above this hand of mine. It is I alone holding this hand here in KwaZulu at Nkandla. Eeee…! Below at Golokodo my Mountain and many theirs, the river I drink from is Nsundu. Hold on to it Nsenseni Black woman who makes…, in pain [Inaudible]. Hold on to it ‘uwubhuwubhu’ of a Rhinoceros, hey men, Majezi’s hand changes you men!

Even though in some sentences it is hard to hear what He says but the rest tells us a story. He brags a bit and says He is the only one in this Genre and in my opinion He is so right. He remains the best to this day. All his songs are very deep and all I can say about him is that He was and still remains the Father of Maskandi and an extra-ordinarily Legend.

 

Even so there are many Artists who are the best and, the next one in my opinion is UDOKOTELA SHANGE NAMAJAHA in their song, “Amathole Amnyama”  In all of his songs you will hear the taste of Zulu language, He speaks deep Zulu in a tasty way. For instance after reciting his poem He talks to another man which I am going to refer to as ‘The other man’ and they exchange words in the following manner;

The other man: Awu, ya Sweetie

Dokotela Shange: Yebo

The other man: Awu konje uMfo kabani wena?

Dokotela Shange: NginguMfo kaShange, uMfo kaMkhize khona eMzinto eMthwalofu

The other man: Awu…!

Dokotela Shange: Konje wena uMfo kabani?

The other man: Awu nginguMfo ka…, [Inaudible]

Dokotela Shange: Laphi nendawo?

The other man: Khona eMthwalofu impela eMzondweni

Dokotela Shange: Yebo…!

The other man: Ungasutshele abantu Wethu ukuthi yini eyenzeke la ekhaya namhlanje?

Dokotela Shange: Sibamb’ iQhude namhlanje

 

As for the poem in the song it is so deep and He speaks about a Giraffe and mentions something being poured and flashed about his Father. It seems to me that Dokotela Shange is a very tall man and identifies himself as a Giraffe. His poem is clearer in the song entitled “Awungilobolele” where He sings about Lobolo which is the Bride’s Wealth. Since this requires a very good listener I will just extract one sentence from the poem which is about the Giraffe. He says;

 

“…, zibambe Ndlulamithi esukamakhanda”

 

The sentence says, Hold on to it Giraffe whose head/s is/are removed. What does that mean? Honestly I do not know but it seems like this Giraffe fights a lot with its long neck and small head.

 

Another great Artist from the Maskandi Genre is PHILEMON ZULU in his song entitled “Jesu Wami” I have to mention that this man’s voice is bold and He is very strong. This song’s title says Jesus My Father and He says, My Father please have mercy on me. You are the One who gives me the power and I love you. You are the One who holds the stars. Have mercy on me my God. I walk with you my Father, my God. After that He recites his poem and says,

 

“Wayibamba sithombe sikaTokoloshi Mkhovu oshaya amaphiko enhla komuzi kaBhekeni ntombi zimthanda ebusuku emini ziyambalekela. Khuluma nazo miqondo kaMisi khisi uMademu weno’ ophuza ngesiyo sayo emhlangeni mbazo enganamphini… [Inaudible] ntombi eyimthanda kaNene…

Uyayizwa intambo Maskandi, yengathi awuzwa nje kahle? Yizoke iyikhukhula lezi Ubhasobhe ungaweli ngezansi. Wayihlaba intambo uMfo kaZulu Madoda wayihlaba waphuma phansi umBhishop wagcoka ijazi lakhe elimhlophe elineyiphambano ezihlaza emhlane! Wasithatha isikhali sakhe wasichela ngesiwasho uyobheka iyikhukhula ziyoceda abantu zabathatha zabaphonsa phansi elwandle”

Man! Do you hear Philemon Zulu? This man is very deep! He is very deep, very deep! Just listen to the track and you will hear what He says. This is very much interesting. In his poem He says;

You held it picture of ‘Tokoloshi, Mkhovu’ (An ugly Mythical African Creature believed to be used by the Witches) who flaps the wings on top of the house of Bhekeni, girls love him at night but during daylight they ran away from him. Speak to them legs of a White Madam who kisses her, you who drinks with its ‘siyo’ at Mhlangeni (Reed Dance). An axe which does not have a shaft… [Inaudble] girl who loves Nene… [Inaudible] Do you hear the thread/string Maskandi, it is as if you do not hear it good? These are floods, be aware not to fall below. Men! Brother of Zulu is stabbing the thread/string! He stabs the thread/string until the Bishop got out of his way and worn his white jacket with green crosses on its shoulders! He took his weapon and poured the magic water to look for the floods when they were flooding people and flushed them in the ocean.

 

Even though it is quite difficult for me to translate the exact words but I am certain any person with an understanding will grasp what I am trying to say. Here Zulu pictures himself as someone who looks ugly like the scary creature He mentioned. I have to say He is the best, a genius to be precise. This song can be found in his Album entitled “How Long”/ Kuyoze Kube Nini.

 

Up to this far I have mentioned Artists from the old times. Now I will move forward and talk about the recent Maskandi Artists. In so doing I will begin with BHEKUMUZI LUTHULI. In his song entitled “Uzoyidela Inkani” which is about his cry for people who are trying to destroy him He says,

 

“Thula...! Wabadudula phela uphutha liyenzeka umhlaba ukujikela uwuphethe Madoda awuzwa phela ukukhuluma kwalezizinsizwa kuyangidina ngoba ziyavumelana zonke zithi mncane uMfo kaMolo aMab'luku akamlingani bathi aze agcokwa wuNina umaMhlongo Wethu. Kusenzansi Baba kwaMaphumulo la engiphuma khona izinkomo zakithi ziphuza phansi eMaphisi. Wena kudala ngisalele phansi namhlanje ngime ngezinyawo zombili phezulu kwesikamBhishop ucobo lwakhe Abanye bathi iyakhukhumala lendoda kodwa mina ngithi ayakhala aMathambo iSikelethoni, khala Mathambo! Lagcoma ishumi phezu kwelinye uMgcibelo neSonto, uyazizwa izindaba, ubalekelani wena? Mana! Wawukhuluma kanjani wena?”

 

The most famous line here is “…uphutha liyenzeka umhlaba ukujikela uwuphethe…” We can see that the Artist is identifying himself as a person who knows from his experience that in life things will not always go smooth, challenges will be there and so on and hence He says mistakes do happen and the world will turn against you while you have it in your own hands. In other songs you hear him identifying himself as,

 

“I-crrent yakoMolo eyabonwa zintombi zamomotheka kancane kwehlabeka bonke oLova”

The latter when translated He says that He is an electrical current seen by ladies and they blushed while guys had pain in their hearts.

Another Artist is IKHANSELA NOJBC known famously for his jokes in almost all his songs. In a song entitled “Phepha Lami” He says,

 “Khuluma nazo Hlala bemzonda abafazi baMadoda bethi uyofa nini Mfo kaMkhize?”

It seems to me here that Khansela identifies himself as that person who is being hated by other men’s wives who are asking when is He going to die. This is quite deep, it may mean a lot of things for many people but directed to the one who is always loved and hated by married women and so on. There are indeed many Artists in all Genres who speak beautiful poems and stories within their music.

Allow me now go to the Innodo Genre. I will begin with the Father of Ndebele music UMAPHOPHOTHA in his song “Kortman” which means Short Man in Afrikaans language. This is not about poetry so to speak but what He is saying. He is known as the Father of Ingadla which is a typical Ndebele Traditional Dance. Listen to him;

 

“Ailililililili…! Mlilinghwana, uMaphophotha wenzani manje?  Uyabona nawuzibiza nje ungikhumbuza eKhethemkhulu phasi eSidakeni. Zibanjwa ngubani nazingabanjwa ngumswa wako Ntsibizwi. Kortman, yeyi mara Mfana wafuza eKhenemkhulu Mfana kwaMahlangu. Phasi eMkobola eRosenekal S’tiki, yeyi Buti newungakwazi ukugida utjhide mani, uvulele IIngwenya! Yedlu’ iNgwenya Kortman. Aaaah! Aaaah! Aaaah ! Aaaah! Aaaah! Kwadlul’ iNgwenya kwahlengezla amaQhegu, eSidakeni. Sibawa uzok’bona phasi eMthambothini kwaMabusa. Bababe! Maye mna! Ekhethu newujabulileko kwakunje…! Bubuhle bekhethu lobu! Awuzwa! Awuzwa! Awuzwa Awuzwa! Ohoooooo! uDade uyalotjolwa Buti sizokudla Amatjhatjhatjha! Kade singanakudla. Buti. Awuzwa! Awuzwa! Awuzwa! Uyazi ama…Yeyi, ngiliRhasa Buti, kade ngizibamba man’ ngizibamba namaDhugu aboNstwibizi. Stiki..! Stiki...! Stiki…! Bethani amaRhasa, nawiselwa ngithi Bafana maDhugu noma ningenzani. Siyalazi ikwipiri Mfana besisagwaba! Stiki..! Maye! Maye! Maye! Maye! AmaTlawu ayaziwela nedi nangim’calako uMntazana. Ye bathi ngiluphele musi mina, ubani? Fak’ iDzeredzere Mntwanami. Tse..! Tse..! Tse..! Tse..! Hehe! Ye mara Mngani uyangitlhuwisa mani. Uyabona ngifuna isimanje ilanga liphuma nje, siya ngemva-kwedina siy’ eP’lasini siyokusenga kwanje. J’rarhey’di, ungasengi ikomo ungakayibophi isipantewu mani. Uzakuhlekwa babantu bathi ubuya eD’robheni.

It goes on and on just like that though some words are hard to catch. He was and still remains the Best isiNdebele Traditional Music Artist, the Father of Ndebele music to be precise. The song is about the joy during the Ndebele ceremony and He mentions everything even making some jokes in between. Listen to Two Gunman & Ndebele Queens you will also hear him mentioning words such as KwaMabusa, J’rarhey’di and AmaTlawu. Mabusa was the King of AmaNdebele and known as Mabusa Mabhoko II. Such songs will take you back to the times and hence we refer to them as the Pride of The Ndebele Nation.  

 

Since poetry is tastier with a beautiful language, I want to share a very long Ndebele praise poem from a group called INSIMBI ZIKANYABELA in their song entitled “ZikaMphezulu” They are also very deep in using the Ndebele language. I won’t be able to translate everything to English but will extract that which I believe is meaningful and educative in learning the Ndebele language. I have to mention that these guys are excellent in playing a Guitar the Ndebele way. Listen to this;

“Zangen' Insimbi zikaNyabela

NgezikaMphezulu, ngezikaNyabel' ongehlulwako.

NgezikaGijamphezeni kaMabhoko

Mabhoko sindeni umhlab' unethuli

mhlana kunganathuli kumhlana kuyokuliwa.

NgezikaSobabuthene lezo, ngezikaMphezulu

uMphezulu lisinya likaMaphepha

NgelikaMaphepha ngotjani,

baphepha ngomlilo baphepha

ngamanzi baphepha ngomoya

eendaweni ezib'disi eB'dlakadlani

NgusoBabuthene loyo, wabuth' uManala

wabuth' uNdzundza babakelo,

wabuth' isitjhaba sika-Sekhukhune nesikaMampuru ‘I yoo na yo’.

Wathi yenibaleke niyokubhaqa KwaDlawulale

nap' abomehlwal'hlaza aboNdlebe Zikhany' ilanga

bagega neNdubazi, bagega neBhalule bagega neTjhatjhatjha

bafun' uneba bayokuberega ngan' imali.

Insimbi ZikaNyabela zaphum'eRholweni

zagadang' eSidakeni kesiMatjhis' isigodi

angusoliy' abantu noMap’lankana kwaMthimunye

zagadang’ eGagadwini kesikaJostay' Mahlangu isigodi,

zagadang’ eMhlabaneni kesikaSomdiyelwa isigodi,

ngusiNghalela uMorozi Mahlangu.

Zenyuka kwaTomu, zatjhing' eMawulaneni

zathi ziseMawulaneni bazitjhugulula

baziqalis’ ePitori kwesika De Clerk isigodi

sagcina sithethwe nguMadiba uNelson Mandela.

Insimbi zikaNyabela madoda, madoda eyamako

ayisibo abesegwabo.

Bantazana, bentazana abadlulisako

ayisibo amatjhuburu.

Besana bami labo ngebemalamuleni

amanengi khulu

Ngebemabhutateni, ngebenkurwaneni eenengi khulu

iinkurwana zona ungazibala ngeSkhuwa ngeze waziqeda

ungazibala ngesiNdebele ungaziqeda.

 

Ungazibala ngesiNdebele uthi;

Ngutsetserwana

Nguzirwayana,

Nguphakatjhana,

Ngukhombabantu,

Nguthubhakghuru,

Zithandathu,

Zikhomba,

Zibunane,

Ziyathoba,

Lisumi

 

Besana bami labo ngabalunywa zinkalakala

batjhuguluka yaba bentazana

balunywa zinkalakala batjhuguluka yaba esana

Bentazana bami labo balunywa zinkalakala

batjhuguluka yababentazana balunywa zinkalala

Besana bami labo ngababumba iinkomo zomdaka

bayazibumba bayaziqeda bazithatha bayakulobola ngazo

Balobola abentazana abahlakaniphileko abangavunuli amab’rugu

abavunul’amarhabi  abavunul’ imphephethu bavunul’ iinthimba

bakar’ inarha yoke bakara ngitjho namaKhuwa amaKhuwa abalingisa.”

 

Very deep! This is very deep if you understand it but I want to compare something, the way in which the Ndebele people count. Generally they count numbers in the following manner;

1 - One - Kunye

2 - Two - Kubili

3 - Three - Kuthathu

4 - Four - Kune

5 - Five - Kuhlanu

6 - Six - Sithandathu

7 - Seven - Likhomba

8 - Eight - Bunane

9 - Nine - Lithoba

10 - Ten - Litjhumi

Now, let us go back to the song from Insimbi ZikaNyabela and see how they count;

1 – One - Ngutsetserwana

2 – Two - Nguzirwayana

3 – Three - Nguphakatjhana

4 – Four - Ngukhombabantu

5 – Five - Nguthubhakghuru

6 – Six - Zithandathu

7 – Seven - Zikhomba

8 – Eight - Zibunane

9 – Nine - Ziyathoba

10 – Ten - Lisumi

Now do you notice the difference? This is the same but in different ways. Indeed for someone like me who never learnt my Ndebele language at school I will at first find it difficult to understand what they are talking about. In the latter they are counting ‘IInkurwana’. The rest of the song is just praise poetry describing their journey in different villages of the KwaDlawulale region.

Now let me share something very interesting, this time from the Queen of Ndebele Music, NOTHEMBI MKHWEBANE. In her song entitled “Zitjhideleni Zibulalane” Indeed it will be wrong of me not to mention her, She is the Best! In her praise poem she says,

“Ngiphuma kwaGogo unaMgwezane iRhotjha elimnyama amanye ayakhanya Kwamfazi ogayela umhlalanyoni, kwanalithi kamehlo kwamqamula umlomo Watjho uGogo unaMngwezane wathi, Mntwanomntwami nakuyingoma uyithathe ngezwane, Nakuyindaba uyithathe ngendlebe, Nawulwa ubaleke! Watjho uGogo unaMgwezane wathi, Mntwanomntwanami kwatjhatjh’ akuliwa!”

 

Very deep and informative, here Nothembi Mkhwebane is reciting advice from her Grandmother, naMgwezane who told her that in musical war She must take it easy as in with a finger tip. If people talk bad about her She must take it easy as well as in with an ear but if there is any physical fight She must run away because where there are such who fear war, there is no crying or death.  Even the title of songs says it very well, it means stay away so that they kill each other.

Now my last discussion will be from the Diakgela Genre, the music of the SOTHO people. There are know very well for their bass beats and deep poems. I will immediately recite some poetry from Legends. Though I started to listen to their music few years ago I have to mention that this ethnic group is blessed in music among other things. The Son’s of King Moshoeshoe.

Let me begin with the Legend, LETSEMA MATSELA in his song entitled “Waka Waka”. Just as I started with the Innodo Genre, the song is straightforward with a repetition of a sentence but it speaks about something very painful. Listen to this,

“Oh waka waka, banna bjwale Mma waloya…!”

 

This song is about someone crying about his Mother who is practising witchcraft. So, the painful thing here is a fact of knowing that your Mother is doing such especially if you have the knowledge about how bad it is. He mentions so many things even saying that He does not have anything at all from his Mother and cannot go home because of her actions. He says, Oh waka waka, men now my Mother is a witch…!

 

A very deep Artist in this Genre especially about poems is APOLLO NTABANYANE. There is a song among others entitled “Ea Khaola”

 

“Tswibibibibibibibi…! [Whistling] Motswale ngoanaka Apollo Eee…! Welewele meleko! Motswale ngoanaka Moshanyana ke boa ka pelo ye bohloko Ga ke rate … [Inaudible]”

Basically from my understanding the Artist is talking about someone who has been through a lot of challenges but managed to escape. He mentions something that they shot him and that their mothers are practicing witchcraft very painfully.

Another great Artist among others is FAMOLE, in his song entitled “Le Ntekane” There is a line where He talks about his Grandfather who tried to kill him. He asked this Grandfather as to why He is trying to kill him and the Grandfather responded by saying that the root of witchcraft is for one to kill that whom He/She loves the most. Famole’s songs are too deep, even these messages may mean something else and not literal as we might think.

Last but not least I have to mention another Legend, TAU EA MATSEKHA in his song entitled “Hata Fela” In this song they are saying press on Manyetse in the world even though it is difficult. In another song entitled “Lefo Leholo” they mention deep proverbs such as “Lefu leholo ke ditsheho” which means something that is so painful and not laughable. Also, there is another one entitled “Lirosari” and here they speak of something very deep. They are talking about people who are pretentious in their believes and so on and so fourth and staff like that.

 

I can write and write until my fingers are stretched like guitar strings but this is where I will stop for now. Artists and poets are very deep in their music. Let us listen to them and learn at the same time. S’thokoze! [Thank You!]