Santiago
Brenda Mtambo Lyrics

The repetition of the word Santiago in Brenda Mtambo's song creates a powerful and almost hypnotic effect. The lyrics, however, are not immediately obvious in meaning, and require some interpretation. The first part of the song talks about the "Isilo sengubo," which roughly translates to the "King of culture": a term used to describe those who have the ability to preserve and promote culture. The repetition of this phrase, combined with the repetition of Santiago, seems to be calling out to the people of Santiago to embrace and celebrate their cultural heritage.

The verses that follow talk about love, and how the singer has given all their love to someone. The repetition of the phrase "wadlala ngothando lwami" emphasizes this point, and shows how much the singer has given of themselves. The final verse returns to the theme of culture, with the repetition of "Umandl'eyiphephetha" (a traditional South African Zulu dance) and "Uphamban'ingqondo" (a philosophical concept similar to mindfulness). This seems to be a call to the people of Santiago to not only embrace their cultural history, but also to be mindful and aware of the traditions and concepts that have brought them to where they are now.

Overall, "Santiago" is a song that is both celebratory and reflective, calling upon the people of Santiago to embrace and honor their culture and history, while also not forgetting the importance of love and mindfulness.