Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Coenie was educated at University of the Free State in Bloemfontein majoring in media studies where he later on lectured in the Communications faculty. He has always viewed his musical career as his second vocation. He is also a classically trained pianist. Coenie is the anchor presenter in popular South African kykNET journal program "Kwela".
During the late 1980s, Coenie spent a few years in self-imposed exile in Cyprus. Coenie has also performed in New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
Coenie signed with Mountain Records in 1983, and recorded his debut album, Skoppensboer, working with producer, Patrick Lee-Thorp and engineer, Kevin Shirley, in the same year. He subsequently recorded 4 albums for the label many of which won industry awards. In addition he contributed to label compilations of his work. Since leaving Mountain Records he has recorded a number of one off projects for different labels.
Coenie lived on the island of Cyprus during the eighties and nineties. He wrote, recorded and produced the album Amper Alleen in Cyprus and in Athens, Greece. Amper Alleen was the second SA album to be released on CD. Coenie and his family returned to South Africa after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC. He released Hartland, an album which included a vocal performance by Lesley Rae Dowling.
Zanzibar
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En sy wonder of my pa dalk van iemand anders hou?
Aan haar vinger blink die trouband waar sy borde staan en was
En terwyl sy saggies neurie, pak sy drome uit haar kas
Sy’s skielik jare jonger en sy dra ‘n rok van groen tafsein
Sy eet ‘n ryp papaja langs die nate oopgesny
Die maan sit soos ‘n Buddha in die lug bo Zanzibar
Mmmh, maar ma se droom verbrokkel, dis nog ‘n doodgewone dag
Met my pa se kos wat eenkant in die louoond staan en wag
Ma se droom verbrokkel, dis nog ‘n doodgewone dag
Met my pa se kos wat eenkant soos my ma moet staan en wag
Om tien-uur skink sy koffie, sit die koppie eenkant neer
Sy luister na die radio om die eensaamheid te keer
Die huis is stil en donker, die servette opgevou
Dis dan wanneer my ma kan reis deur bloot haar oë toe te hou
Sy’s eensklaps drie-en-twintig en sy ruik na wit jasmyn
Die oseaan by Zanzibar word die kleur van donker wyn
‘n Man leun oor haar skouer, daar’s ‘n touband om sy kop
Dis tyd om te gaan slaap sê hy en loop die marmer trappe op
Mmmh, maar ma se droom verbrokkel, dis nog ‘n doodgewone dag
Met my pa se kos wat eenkant in die louoond staan en wag
Ma se droom verbrokkel, dis nog ‘n doodgewone dag
Met my pa se kos wat eenkant soos my ma moet staan en wag
The lyrics to Coenie De Villiers's song "Zanzibar" depict a woman named Ma, who stands by the window in her kitchen, surrounded by white and blue. She wonders if her husband, my pa, might be interested in someone else. Her troubled thoughts are reflected in the sparkling wedding band on her finger, which serves as a constant reminder of her domestic responsibilities. As she softly hums to herself, she unpacks her dreams from a hidden drawer, longing for an escape from her mundane existence.
In Ma's dreams, she suddenly becomes younger, adorned in a green silk dress. She indulges in a ripe papaya, sensually sliced open, while the moon hangs in the sky above Zanzibar, resembling an enlightened Buddha. In this blissful fantasy, she hears distant voices and the enchanting sound of a guitar, adding a touch of mystery and allure to her reverie. However, the dream abruptly shatters, returning her to the reality of a typical day, with my pa's food left untouched in the lukewarm stove, waiting for his arrival. Ma's dream serves as a stark contrast to the monotonous routine of her life.
At ten o'clock, Ma pours herself a cup of coffee and sets it aside. She turns on the radio, hoping to alleviate her loneliness. The house remains silent and dark, with neatly folded napkins. It is during these moments of quiet solitude that Ma is able to escape through the power of her imagination. Suddenly, she is transformed into a vibrant twenty-three-year-old woman, surrounded by the intoxicating scent of white jasmine. The ocean in Zanzibar takes on the color of dark wine, and a man leans over her shoulder, his head adorned with a turban. He tells her it's time to sleep and ascends the marble stairs.
Once again, Ma's dream is shattered, and she realizes it's just another ordinary day. My pa's food remains untouched, waiting on the side as Ma stands and waits, just as she always does. This repetition of her daily routine magnifies the disappointment and resignation she feels. Despite her longing for escape, Ma is bound by her domestic responsibilities, forced to live vicariously through her dreams as she waits for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
Ma staan by die venster, haar kombuis is wit en blou
Mother stands by the window, her kitchen is white and blue
En sy wonder of my pa dalk van iemand anders hou?
And she wonders if my father perhaps loves someone else?
Aan haar vinger blink die trouband waar sy borde staan en was
On her finger shines the wedding band where she washes dishes
En terwyl sy saggies neurie, pak sy drome uit haar kas
And while she softly hums, she unpacks her dreams from her cupboard
Sy’s skielik jare jonger en sy dra ‘n rok van groen tafsein
Suddenly, she's years younger and she wears a skirt of green tablecloth
Sy eet ‘n ryp papaja langs die nate oopgesny
She eats a ripe papaya, sliced open with a knife
Die maan sit soos ‘n Buddha in die lug bo Zanzibar
The moon sits like a Buddha in the sky above Zanzibar
Iewers hoor sy stemme en die klank van ‘n kitaar
Somewhere she hears voices and the sound of a guitar
Mmmh, maar ma se droom verbrokkel, dis nog ‘n doodgewone dag
But mother's dream crumbles, it's just another ordinary day
Met my pa se kos wat eenkant in die louoond staan en wag
With my father's food standing aside in the microwave, waiting
Om tien-uur skink sy koffie, sit die koppie eenkant neer
At ten o'clock she pours coffee, sets the cup aside
Sy luister na die radio om die eensaamheid te keer
She listens to the radio to ward off loneliness
Die huis is stil en donker, die servette opgevou
The house is quiet and dark, the napkins neatly folded
Dis dan wanneer my ma kan reis deur bloot haar oë toe te hou
That's when my mother can travel just by closing her eyes
Sy’s eensklaps drie-en-twintig en sy ruik na wit jasmyn
Suddenly, she's twenty-three and she smells like white jasmine
Die oseaan by Zanzibar word die kleur van donker wyn
The ocean at Zanzibar becomes the color of dark wine
‘n Man leun oor haar skouer, daar’s ‘n touband om sy kop
A man leans over her shoulder, there's a bandage around his head
Dis tyd om te gaan slaap sê hy en loop die marmer trappe op
It's time to go to sleep, he says, and walks up the marble stairs
Mmmh, maar ma se droom verbrokkel, dis nog ‘n doodgewone dag
But mother's dream crumbles, it's just another ordinary day
Met my pa se kos wat eenkant in die louoond staan en wag
With my father's food standing aside in the microwave, waiting
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind