Hamba Nontsokolo a.k.a. Nontsokolo
Dorothy Masuka Lyrics

The lyrics to Dorothy Masuka’s song “Hamba Nontsokolo” are mainly repetitive, with the chorus “Hamba, hamba Nontsokolo, Goli, Goli, Kuyayiwa Kapa, Kapa sozingela” being the dominant feature of the song. The meaning behind the lyrics, however, is not very clear or specific, as they appear to suggest a joyful urging for Nontsokolo to travel or move on. The word “Goli” means “to go” in Nguni languages, so it seems to be a call to action for Nontsokolo to leave and go somewhere, possibly for a new adventure or to pursue a new opportunity. The song also features scattered lines such as “Hayi iyeyi,” and “Ey Nontsokolo wam,” which could be interpreted as encouragement and support for the person being addressed.

The meaning behind the lyrics is quite enigmatic, but they are likely making use of language that would be familiar to Zulu- and Xhosa-speaking listeners, with Nontsokolo perhaps being a Zulu name. The song was released in 1961 and became an instant success, propelling Dorothy Masuka, a Zimbabwean-born South African singer and songwriter, to national fame. It was part of a wave of music that emerged in South Africa in the 1950s, known as “Mbaqanga,” which blended traditional Zulu melodies with western instrumentation. This style of music emerged as an outlet for urban Black South African musicians, who were designing a new musical language out of the interplay of indigenous and foreign musical influences.