'60s Africa found the Zulu and Sotho beginning to incorporate the influences of African American R&B, jazz, and blues into their traditional, indigenous music. New styles such as township jazz, pennywhistle street music, Kwela, and marabi were formed. Eventually, these myriad styles coalesced to create a new hybrid pop music that came to be known as mbaqanga. Though mbaqanga employs the traditional instrumentation of Western pop (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals), the approach to song structure and rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic phrasing is uniquely African.
Recorded between 1981 and 1984, THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT OF SOWETO is the first (and arguably the best) of a slew of South African pop recordings that soon followed. Characterized by insistent, rhythmically complex beats, elastic, burbling basslines, tight, ska-sounding guitar accompaniment, and thick, multi-part vocals, this music is as intriguing as it is appealing. Groups with such names as Udokotela Shange Namajaha and Amaswazi Emvelo serve up bright, infectious melodies and percussively insistent tracks that are clearly intended for dancing. Though this "pop" may at first seem strange to Western ears, repeated listens reveal its true nature: rich, individual, joyous, and simply wonderful music.
Thul'Ulalele
Amaswazi Emvelo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thul'ulalele ngikutshele
Thul'ulalele mngani wami
Thul'ulalele ngikutshele
Thul'ulalele mngani wami
Thul'ulalele ngikutshele
Mawukhuluma ngam'ezintombini zami
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Mawukhuluma ngam'ezintombini zami
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Mawukhuluma ngam'ezintombini zami
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Mawukhuluma ngam'ezintombini zami
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Utshel'uNomasonto
Ukuthi makangale
Ngoba nginomfazi mina
Angazi noma ngamulotsholelwa nguwe na
Utshel'uNomasonto
Ukuthi makangale
Ngoba nginomfazi mina
Angazi noma ngamulotsholelwa nguwe na
Utshel'uNomasonto
Ukuthi makangale
Ngoba nginomfazi mina
Angazi noma ngamulotsholelwa nguwe na
Ekuseni nantambama
Ngikuthol'emakhoneni
Ekuseni nantambama
Ngikuthol'emakhoneni
Ukhuluma ngegama lami
Ukhuluma ngegama lami
Ekuseni nantambama
Ngikuthol'emakhoneni
Ekuseni nantambama
Ngikuthol'emakhoneni
Ukhuluma ngegama lami
Ukhuluma ngegama lami
Awu mina nawe
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Awu mina nawe
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Mina nawe
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Awu mina nawe
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
Noma sihlangana endleleni
The lyrics of the song Thul'ulalele by Amaswazi Emvelo are in Zulu, a Bantu language spoken in South Africa. The title of the song translates to "Be quiet, my friend" or "Whisper, my friend." The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes the need for the friend to listen and pay attention to what is being said. The singer is seeking a listening ear from their friend, telling them to be quiet so they can speak and reveal their thoughts and feelings.
The verses reveal a story of a person who is being talked about by others, specifically by their friends' girlfriends. The singer is hurt and frustrated by this, as they feel that they cannot trust their friends anymore. They mention a woman named Nomasonto, who warns them to be careful and not trust anyone. The singer emphasizes that they are a woman, suggesting that they may be facing additional societal pressure and discrimination.
Overall, the song is about the importance of having someone to confide in and the hurt caused by being talked about behind one's back. The repetitive chorus serves as a plea for a listening ear and a reminder that sometimes the best thing a friend can do is simply be there to listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Thul'ulalele mngani wami
Speak softly my friend
Thul'ulalele ngikutshele
Speak softly and listen to me
Mawukhuluma ngam'ezintombini zami
He spoke about my girlfriends
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
We can never be together again
Utshel'uNomasonto
Nomasonto said to me
Ukuthi makangale
To be careful
Ngoba nginomfazi mina
Because I am a woman
Angazi noma ngamulotsholelwa nguwe na
I don't know if you cheated on me
Ekuseni nantambama
In the morning
Ngikuthol'emakhoneni
I found you on the doorstep
Ukhuluma ngegama lami
You were talking about me
Awu mina nawe
Oh me and you
Angeke siphinde futhi sizwane
We can never be together again
Noma sihlangana endleleni
Even if we meet on the road
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@phethokuhledlamini6297
Yhooooooooooo back when i was a young girl. Missing my grandparents. Gone are those years!
@alfredmatumba572
I remember my brother's because of this song😢😢
@XolelaMfinyongo-ow2vc
Music for the old school
@englibertmdumbenidube6185
It reminds me one Ajay motorways bus numbe 3 driver who used play it in the early 80s gone are the days yoh.
@neogwafila-bulayani7358
My father's spirit lives thru such music. Its been a long time since he departed this world. Gone but not forgotten. I grew up to this.
@KevinHeaven9
i occasionally get comments like yours, and they make me really happy. i'm just a 19 year old white kid from the united states, but I love this kind of music.
@mrp6459
kdub33 ... there is a very different kind of sound that can be described as an African signature. I love music and studying South African history leads inevitably to the music. Beautiful sounds of hope and freedom and kindness and love In a time that many could not imagine.
I too am a white man (British) and it is music that connects all no matter what. A medicinal application at its finest. A release of love from the heart that music has the power to produce.
Whether you understand the words, it is not important. The sound and feeling is there.
@user-wf5uj5ly6o
I love old skull music bt am too young bt nxa ngizdlala ngyaz ngyabe ngikhuluma labakithi abangasekho
@andywalo5289
This is Pure Music Straight from the Heart, straight from Love, Happiness, Struggle, Sadness and Joy!.. and God is with this musical message every step of the way
@ndingisanonfazo
Eish I remember my father's omega radio in 90s playing this song hanged from a tree at the fields. Eish what a memory