District Six
Hugh Masekela Lyrics


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Kudala silala emaweni wema
Singena makhaya sijikelez' umhlaba
Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
Izingane zethu zikhulele emakhoneni
(emikhukhwini nasemigodini)

Ikhaya lethu lephakathi kwalapha
Vulani amasango nenkululeko
(sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema)

Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six

Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema

Sibuyele district six
Sesibuyile base sophia (sibuyele district six)
E Alexandra kusakonya thina (sibuyele district six)
Akush' ukuthi silele asiboni (sibuyele district six)
Sithi nayi inkululeko sisalind' impumelelo

Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six

Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema

Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six

Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six




Sibuyele district six
Sibuyele district six

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hugh Masekela's song "District Six" tell the story of a community that has been forcibly removed from their homes and their yearning to return to their beloved District Six. The first verse establishes that the community has been displaced for a long time and that they yearn to return to their former home. The second verse addresses the fact that their current living conditions are not ideal and that their current home is not equivalent to their former home in District Six. The chorus is a rallying cry for the community to return to District Six and to reclaim their freedom and independence.


The repetition of the line "sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema" emphasizes the community's strong desire to return to their former home. The use of the Zulu and Xhosa languages in the lyrics speaks to the diversity of the people affected by the forced removals in District Six. The lyrics also reference other communities, such as Sophia Town and Alexandra, who have also suffered similar fates.


Overall, the lyrics of "District Six" mourn the loss of a vibrant community and speak to the larger issue of forced removals that occurred during apartheid in South Africa.


Line by Line Meaning

Kudala silala emaweni wema
We have been sleeping in the valleys


Singena makhaya sijikelez' umhlaba
We enter the cities and contemplate the earth


Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
We want to return to District Six my friends


Izingane zethu zikhulele emakhoneni (emikhukhwini nasemigodini)
Our children grew up in corners (in the valleys and in the suburbs)


Ikhaya lethu lephakathi kwalapha
Our home is in here


Vulani amasango nenkululeko
Open the gates to freedom


Sibuyele district six
Let's go back to District Six


Sesibuyile base sophia (sibuyele district six)
We have already gone back to Sophia Town (let's go back to District Six)


E Alexandra kusakonya thina (sibuyele district six)
In Alexandra we are suffering (let's go back to District Six)


Akush' ukuthi silele asiboni (sibuyele district six)
It's not that we want to sleep, we can't see (let's go back to District Six)


Sithi nayi inkululeko sisalind' impumelelo
We say here is freedom, we are waiting for success


Sifun' ukubuyela e district six wema
We want to return to District Six my friends




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ABDULLAH IBRAHIM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@cebolenkosindulini2920

People say im too young for this type of music but its too beautiful to ignore. I love Africa

@djcheezesa3437

Gentlemen y'all are not alone we together old souls🤞🤞🤞

@scelominenhle4705

You can say that again, I'm also listening to this music khona ngiyi 2k...

@marvinmathebula6857

🙋

@nandiphamasuku8901

me too🙈

@keemenaokololo1383

Me too 😊

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@jaymadeitright

grootman ❤️🤘🏾proud to see you in books now. revolutionary sounds. thank you soo much! I am blessed 'cause you all were here!

@mantsolefa7608

Eish the band😍😍It connects me to my soul. I love the rhythm

@michaelmzenjezulu-wz2ex

This music was on another level ❤❤❤. Bass guitar🙏🙏🙏. Proudly to be an African. The vocals it's self explains everything how Africa is.

@omphileselaledi4049

Botswana represented UNCLE JOHN SELOLWANE🇧🇼🇧🇼🇧🇼🔥🔥

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