Ancient Voices
Chiwoniso Lyrics


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Haaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa
Yehhhhhhhh ohhhhhhhh
Haaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa
Pasipamire was just another young man In the vilage
Living a simple life
Of Peace and harmony
No troubles on his mind
For he was a simple man
And then chaminyuka came
And pasipamire was changed
And then the spirit came
Chaminyuka was its name
And everywhere there was jubilation
A leader had been found
Chosen by the ancestors
And people came from afar
To see him for themselves
He was chosen by the ancestors
And he said children beware
Strangers want this land
Soon they shall arive
From the west across the ocean
And you will have to fight children to survive
You must be brave you must be strong x 2
So the people fought with spirit in their hearts
Many years the people fought
With spirit in their hearts
And they sang songs of praise
To the man that gave them truth they would survive
And they sang his name in praise
The man that told them truth they would have life
You must be brave you must be strong x 2
Chaminyuka ndimambo(shumba inogara yega musango)x3
Chaminyuka ndimambo (feel the spirit)




Feel the spirit x3
END

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chiwoniso's "Ancient Voices" narrate the story of Pasipamire, a young man living a simple and peaceful life in his village until Chaminyuka came and changed everything. Chaminyuka brings the spirit with him and becomes the chosen leader, selected by the ancestors. He warns the children of the village that strangers from the west across the ocean will come and wage war in the land. So, the people of the village fight with spirit in their hearts for many years, singing praises to the man who gave them the truth they needed to survive. Throughout the entire song, there is a strong sense of community and unity as the people come together to fight off any threats to their land and people.


The lyrics also show a deep connection to traditional African spirituality as the references to Chaminyuka being chosen by the ancestors and the emphasis on the power of the spirit are prevalent throughout the song. It is also notable that the song warns of the impending arrival of outsiders and the need to defend the land. This theme of protecting one's land and culture from external forces is a recurring one in African history, and this song reminds us of the importance of holding onto one's roots and fighting for what we believe in.


Line by Line Meaning

Haaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa
The song begins with a vocalization of sounds that don't have a specific meaning, providing a spirit of freedom and untamed energy.


Yehhhhhhhh ohhhhhhhh
Another expression of free vocals that create an atmosphere of unity and togetherness that defines the song.


Haaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa
A third vocalization that sets the stage for the rest of the song, acting as a transition from the tribal, unspoken sound of the beginning of the track.


Pasipamire was just another young man In the vilage
The song tells the story of Pasipamire, a young man who lived in a small village, living a peaceful and contented life.


Living a simple life
Pasipamire had a simple and uncomplicated existence, without any troubles to concern himself with.


Of Peace and harmony
The village and its inhabitants lived in a state of peacefulness and mutual respect.


No troubles on his mind
Pasipamire's life was without worry, doubt, or conflict.


For he was a simple man
Pasipamire was a straightforward individual who received no attention, nor did he seek it.


And then chaminyuka came
The arrival of chaminyuka as the town's new leader was the start of a significant shift in the village's peace and harmony.


And pasipamire was changed
Pasipamire's life took a turn when chaminyuka came into power, leading him and many others to a new future.


And then the spirit came
The story tells of the arrival of a spirit that was named Chaminyuka.


Chaminyuka was its name
Chaminyuka was the name given for the spirit that arrived and changed everything forever.


And everywhere there was jubilation
The arrival of Chaminyuka brought joy and celebration throughout the village.


A leader had been found
Chaminyuka was considered a leader, someone to guide the village through difficult times.


Chosen by the ancestors
According to tribal belief, Chaminyuka was chosen by the elders, long-dead ancestors of the village.


And people came from afar
Word of Chaminyuka's arrival spread, and many people traveled from far off to catch a glimpse of the great leader.


To see him for themselves
The people who came from far away wanted to meet Chaminyuka in person and see for themselves what he would do next.


He was chosen by the ancestors
Chaminyuka was believed to have been endorsed by the ancestors who ruled over the tribe before his arrival.


And he said children beware
Chaminyuka issued a warning to the village's children, cautioning them to be wary of strangers who may arrive from the west across the ocean.


Strangers want this land
Chaminyuka suspected that the newcomers might harbor greedy intentions, coveting the village's land and resources.


Soon they shall arive
Chaminyuka anticipated that the strangers would arrive soon, without much warning or fanfare.


From the west across the ocean
The direction of the new arrivals would be from the west, over the ocean.


And you will have to fight children to survive
Chaminyuka warned that the village would have to be prepared to fight for its land and way of life if it wanted to survive the newcomers' arrival.


You must be brave you must be strong x 2
Chaminyuka's warning was a rallying cry to the people of the village to stand firm, be brave, and be ready to fight for their survival.


So the people fought with spirit in their hearts
The villagers rallied, bolstered by Chaminyuka's words, and fought with bravery and determination in their hearts.


Many years the people fought
The struggle lasted for many years, during which the people of the village fought fiercely to protect their land and way of life.


With spirit in their hearts
The villagers were driven by their commitment and belief in the cause they were fighting for, believing that they could triumph with strength and spirit.


And they sang songs of praise
The villagers expressed their joy and gratitude through song, singing in reverence to the man who had shown them the way to survive.


To the man that gave them truth they would survive
The people looked up to Chaminyuka and credited him with giving them the truth they needed to endure the challenges they faced.


And they sang his name in praise
The villagers honored Chaminyuka's leadership by singing songs in his honor and praising his name.


Chaminyuka ndimambo(shumba inogara yega musango)x3
This phrase roughly translates to: 'Chaminyuka the king (the lone lion in the woods)'. It is an expression of love and respect towards Chaminyuka's leadership and his commitment to the village's survival.


Chaminyuka ndimambo (feel the spirit)
The song ends with a repetition of the phrase above, emphasizing the idea of Chaminyuka's enduring spirit and the importance of his contributions to the village's survival.


Feel the spirit x3
The song concludes with one final exhortation to 'feel the spirit,' urging the people to remember and honor the lessons they had learned from their beloved leader, Chaminyuka.




Contributed by Ellie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@tawandadenvermangwarara6129

This voice is the only proof I need to believe that Angels do exist

@cedricymcmb

Chiwoniso's music gets me so calm more than anything else, like its some kinda therapy

@Stocks-Crypto

RIP❤ This has always been one of my favorite songs!! Here in 2023 amd until my last breath beats. Blessings All!!!!

@teridzino4886

a true Yahweeress ... how amazing you were Chiwoneso .. I remember I bought this CD when I was in high school i think 2008 there and was instantly hooked to the mbiras

@denniszenda6622

When geniuses collided Chi and Andy Brown, R.I.P greatly missed!!!

@thokozanizwane6188

First time hearing this song and loved it. The truth in the message it carries.

@happymbele1663

Rest In Power African Voices

@marlvinhakunavanhu

she always touch my heart when i hear her music

@taffyfortune8264

Our culture and history in a song...#chaminuka👏👏👏✊

@aderitoalberto384

Someone delighting, from one of the best voices in Africa (2023)

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