Dorothy Masuka (3 September 1935 - 23 February 2019) was a South African ja… Read Full Bio ↴Dorothy Masuka (3 September 1935 - 23 February 2019) was a South African jazz singer.

She was born in Bulawayo, (Southern Rhodesia, nowadays Zimbabwe), the fourth of seven children, and her mother was Zulu while her father was a Zambian hotel chef. Still, she attended a Catholic school deemed good by the standards of education allowed blacks. Her family moved to South Africa when she was 12 due to her health. By the time she was 19 she was touring in South Africa with singers she had admired as a girl.

Masuka's music was popular in South Africa throughout the 1950s, but when her songs became more serious, the government began questioning her. Her song "Dr. Malan," mentioning difficult laws, was banned and in 1961 she sang a song for Patrice Lumumba, which led to her exile. This exile lasted 31 years in total during which she lived in Zambia and worked as a flight attendant. She returned to Zimbabwe in 1980 after independence. Many of her songs are in the Ndebele language or Sindebele languages.

In August 2011, Dorothy Masuka and Mfundi Vundla, creator of the popular South African soap opera Generations, confirmed plans to make a film of Masuka's life. The film would concentrate on the years 1952 to 1957.

On 27 April 2017 she featured in the concert "The Jazz Epistles featuring Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya" at The Town Hall, New York City, opening the show and delivering "one passionate performance after another, warming up and winning over the crowd".

Ei Yow Phata Phata
Dorothy Masuka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha yho iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm iyo
Phatha-Phatha (Iyo)
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm iyo

Phatha-Phatha (Iyo)

Ndijonga ngale (Iyo Phatha-Phatha iyo)
YiPhatha-Phatha
Ndijikele ngale (Iyo Phatha-Phatha iyo)
YiPhatha-Phatha

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha yho iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm hmm iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha yho iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm hmm iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm iyo
Phatha-Phatha (Iyo)
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm iyo
Phatha-Phatha (Iyo)

Ndijonga ngale Iyo (Iyo Phatha-Phatha iyo)
YiPhatha-Phatha
Ndijikele ngale (Iyo Phatha-Phatha iyo)
YiPhatha-Phatha

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha yho iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm iyo

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo
Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dorothy Masuka's song "El Yow" consist mainly of the repeated phrase "iyo iPhatha-Phatha," with some variations and additions throughout. This phrase can be interpreted as an encouragement or rallying cry to "press on" or "persevere" in the face of challenges. The repetition of the phrase, coupled with the energetic and upbeat music, creates a sense of momentum and urgency. The verses add additional detail and description, such as "ndijonga ngale," meaning "I'm holding onto this," and "ndijikele ngale," meaning "I'm getting closer to this." Overall, the song seems to be a message of resilience and determination, urging the listener to keep going and not give up.

Line by Line Meaning

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha hmm iyo
The song begins with an excited repetition of the phrase 'Iyo iPhatha-Phatha' which is used as an expression of enthusiasm or encouragement

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha yho iyo
The singer continues to repeat the phrase 'Iyo iPhatha-Phatha' with an added exclamation of 'yho', which can be interpreted as a shout of joy or approval

Iyo iPhatha-Phatha iyo
Once again, the singer repeats the phrase 'Iyo iPhatha-Phatha', emphasizing the enthusiastic tone of the song

Phatha-Phatha (Iyo)
The singer encourages the listener to 'Phatha-Phatha' which can be interpreted as dancing, moving or grooving, while still repeating the phrase 'Iyo iPhatha-Phatha'

Ndijonga ngale (Iyo Phatha-Phatha iyo) YiPhatha-Phatha
The singer urges the listener to join her in 'Ndijonga ngale' which can be interpreted as moving or dancing to the beat of the song, while repeating the phrases 'Iyo Phatha-Phatha iyo' and 'YiPhatha-Phatha'

Ndijikele ngale (Iyo Phatha-Phatha iyo) YiPhatha-Phatha
The singer repeats the sentiment of the previous line, urging the listener once again to join in on the dancing and movement to the beat of the song

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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