Toe die wêreld hier nog jong was en die horison wyd en oop
Was dit groen hier in die halfrond, suid van die ewenaar
En in die skemer as die son sak en die beeste huis toe loop
Klink die roepstem van die vrouwe oor die heuvels van die land:
Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami,
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm

Toe kom die skepe uit die weste, wit seile oor die see
Om te vra vir kos en water en te bly vir so veel meer.
En die land wat een tyd oop was, die land het ons verruil
Vir die ghetto's van die stede is ons koperdraad gegee.
Halala, ewig is ons Afrika
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami,
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm

Daar was rykdom in die maag van ons moeder Afrika
Diamante en ook steenkool, goud, edel metaal
En die mense word die slawe hier want die mense word betaal
Om te tonnel in die aarde elke greintjie uit te haal
En die groot en oop grasvlaktes span dit toe met doringdraad
En van die olifant tot die gemsbok al die diere moes kom buig
Voor die mag van die grootwildjagter voor die mag van sy groot geweer
Totdat net die stilte oorbly, totdat net die stilte heers.

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Sasidjapolutjoloythina
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika

Overall Meaning

Johannes Kerkorrel's song Halala Afrika explores the history of Africa before colonialism and the impact of colonization on its people and environment. The song begins with a description of Africa as it once was - a lush, green continent with open horizons and roaming wildlife. The women could be heard calling out across the hills in the evenings as the sun set and the cattle returned home. In the following verse, Kerkorrel describes the arrival of European ships seeking food and water, and the gradual takeover of the land by the colonial powers. The people were forced into ghettos and used as cheap labor to extract the continent's riches - diamonds, gold, and other precious metals.

The lyrics of Halala Afrika are both nostalgic and mournful. Kerkorrel does not shy away from discussing the horrors of colonialism and the loss of African culture and heritage. However, he also celebrates the resilience of the African people and their ability to find joy and beauty even in the face of oppression. The song's refrain - "Halala, ewig is ons Afrika" - translates to "Hail, forever is our Africa" and serves as a reminder of the continent's rich history and culture.

Line by Line Meaning

Toe die wêreld hier nog jong was en die horison wyd en oop
Back when the world was young and the horizon wide open

Was dit groen hier in die halfrond, suid van die ewenaar
This hemisphere south of the equator was green

En in die skemer as die son sak en die beeste huis toe loop
And in the twilight when the sun sets and the animals go home

Klink die roepstem van die vrouwe oor die heuvels van die land:
The woman's call echoes over the hills of the land:

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Hail, eternal is our Africa.

Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami, Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm
Sleep, sleep my child, sleep, sleep my dear friend, sleep, sleep my child, Father will return and we'll all live together, Hmmm-Hmmm

Toe kom die skepe uit die weste, wit seile oor die see
Then came the ships from the West, white sails over the sea

Om te vra vir kos en water en te bly vir so veel meer.
Seeking food and water and staying for so much more.

En die land wat een tyd oop was, die land het ons verruil
And the land that was once open, we have traded for

Vir die ghetto's van die stede is ons koperdraad gegee.
The ghettos of the cities, where we were given copper wire.

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Hail, eternal is our Africa.

Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Hail, we are living well, hail, let Africa return.

Daar was rykdom in die maag van ons moeder Afrika
There was wealth in the womb of our mother Africa

Diamante en ook steenkool, goud, edel metaal
Diamonds and coal, gold and precious metals

En die mense word die slawe hier want die mense word betaal
And the people have become slaves because they are paid

Om te tonnel in die aarde elke greintjie uit te haal
To dig deep in the earth to extract every grain.

En die groot en oop grasvlaktes span dit toe met doringdraad
And the vast open grasslands are fenced off with barbed wire

En van die olifant tot die gemsbok al die diere moes kom buig
And from the elephant to the antelope, all the animals had to bow down

Voor die mag van die grootwildjagter voor die mag van sy groot geweer
Before the power of the big game hunter, before the power of his big gun.

Totdat net die stilte oorbly, totdat net die stilte heers.
Until only silence remains, until only silence reigns.

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Hail, eternal is our Africa.

Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Hail, we are living well, hail, let Africa return

Sasidjapolutjoloythina
Sasidjapolutjoloythina

Contributed by Micah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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jaco

19w

Toe die wêreld hier nog jonk was en die horison wyd en oop
Back when the world was young and the horizon wide open

Was dit groen hier in die halfrond, suid van die ewenaar
This hemisphere south of the equator was green

En in die skemer as die son sak en die beeste huis toe loop
And in the twilight when the sun sets and the animals go home

Klink die roepstem van die vrouwe oor die heuvels van die land:
The women's calls echo over the hills of the land:

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Hail, eternal is our Africa.

Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami, Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm
Sleep, sleep my child, sleep, sleep my dear friend, sleep, sleep my child, Father will return and we'll all live together, Hmmm-Hmmm

Toe kom die skepe uit die weste, wit seile oor die see
Then came the ships from the West, white sails over the sea

Om te vra vir kos en water en te bly vir so veel meer.
Seeking food and water and staying for so much more.

En die land wat een tyd oop was, die land het ons verruil
And the land that was once open, we have traded for

Vir die ghetto's van die stede is ons koperdraad gegee.
The ghettos of the cities, where we were given copper wire.

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Hail, eternal is our Africa.

Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Hail, we are living well, hail, let Africa return.

Daar was rykdom in die maag van ons moeder Afrika
There was wealth in the womb of our mother Africa

Diamante en ook steenkool, goud, edel metaal
Diamonds and coal, gold and precious metals

En die mense word die slawe hier want die mense word betaal
And the people have become slaves because they are paid

Om te tonnel in die aarde elke greintjie uit te haal
To dig deep in the earth to extract every grain.

En die groot en oop grasvlaktes span dit toe met doringdraad
And the vast open grasslands are fenced off with barbed wire

En van die olifant tot die gemsbok al die diere moes kom buig
And from the elephant to the antelope, all the animals had to bow down

Voor die mag van die grootwildjagter voor die mag van sy groot geweer
Before the power of the big game hunter, before the power of his big gun.

Totdat net die stilte oorbly, totdat net die stilte heers.
Until only silence remains, until only silence reigns.

Halala, ewig is ons Afrika.
Hail, eternal is our Africa.

Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Hail, we are living well, hail, let Africa return

Sasidjapolutjoloythina
Sasidjapolutjoloythina