Growing up in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in Sou… Read Full Bio ↴Judith Sephuma
Growing up in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Judith knew that she wanted to be a singer from an early age. After matriculating at Khagiso High School, she attended Johannesburg's legendary FUBA Academy music school in 1993, where she received her Grade 5 Music Diploma. One of her fellow students was an ambitious young guitarist who she knew from Polokwane, one Selaelo Selota, a man who would play a major role in her career. Other achievements included reaching the finals of the Shell Road to Fame contest in 1994, and the finals in SABC's Jam Alley Search For Talent that year. In 1994 she made a significant move to Cape Town to study music at the University of Cape Town, graduating in 1997 with a Performer's Diploma in Jazz. Judith then gained her Honours Degree in Jazz Performance, majoring in Jazz Singing, under the supervision of Prof. Mike Campbell, in 1999. While studying Jazz singing, she was also classically trained by Virginia Davids for five years.
During her years in the Cape, Judith's reputation as a vocalist blossomed, and she had the opportunity to work in bands like (fellow UCT music student) Selaelo Selota's Taola, Meropa, UCT's Big Band, The C-Base Collective and The Cape Symphonic Orchestra. She also performed with Jimmy Dludlu, Loading Zone and Ian Smith's Virtual Jazz Reality, as well as alongside musicians such as Jack van Poll and Gerry Spencer, and sang at many a cocktail party and private functions. In 1996 JUDITH SEPHUMA was invited by Spencer to travel on the Symphony cruise ship for two months, visiting exotic places like Bazaruto, Mauritious, Zanzibar, Mombasa, and Reunion. Later the same year she performed, with the band Meropa, in Nantes, France at the Fin de Siecle Festival - her first overseas visit 1998/1999 with the assistance of pianist van Poll, Judith gained much experience performing in Europe, and among her gigs was being invited by the South African government to perform in Holland for the Mandela's Children Trust Fund.
Judith was invited by Jimmy Dludlu to perform at Thabo Mbeki's presidential inauguration in Pretoria, June 1999. In that year she also had the honour of meeting former president Nelson Mandela and sang a special song to him and his wife, Graca Machel, at the Cape Sun hotel. Another highlight of that year was singing at the Miss SA beauty pageant in Sun City. The young singer was certainly paying her music industry dues, developing skills like confidence, versatility, patience and professionalism, and all the while laying the secure foundations for her future success.
Having previously entered a number of music competitions, a pivotal moment came when Judith was awarded first prize for Best Jazz Vocalist at the Old Mutual Jazz Into The Future competition in June 1999 and she was signed to (then) BMG Africa’s imprint, Giant Steps, shortly afterwards. At the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town in 2000, Judith formed her own backing band and performed under her own name and in 2001 she recorded her debut, A Smile, A Cry, A Dance.
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I Remember
Judith Sephuma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Growing up in the village
We used to sing a song (A song)
So simple, yet so beautiful
Playing games of hide and seek
Boys would sneak you around the corner (To steal a kiss or two)
When we said we wouldn't do it
Then we'd do it in the corner
Those were good times when boys were boys
(When playing innocent games)
Those were good times when girls were girls
(When dreams were seen in clear colours)
Those were good times when boys were boys
(When life was full of wonders)
Those were good times when girls were girls
(Before we knew a heart could be broken)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala gentleman
Adam two (Peke peke mabulane)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala gentleman
Adam Two
I remember when I was a little girl
Growing up in the village
We used to sing a song (A song)
So simple, yet so beautiful
Playing games of hide and seek
Boys would sneak you around the corner (To steal a kiss or two)
When we said we wouldn't do it
Then we'd do it in the corner
Those were good times when boys were boys
(When playing innocent games)
Those were good times when girls were girls
(Before we knew a heart could be broken)
Those were good times when boys were boys
(When life was full of wonders)
Those were good times when girls were girls
(When dreams were seen in clear colours)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala gentleman
Adam two (Peke peke mabulane)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala gentleman
Adam Two (Sala sala gentleman)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala sala
Sala sala gentleman
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala sala
Those were the times
Those were good times when boys were boys
(When playing innocent games)
Those were good times when girls were girls
(Before we knew a heart could be broken)
Those were good times when boys were boys
(When life was full of wonders)
Those were good times when girls were girls
(When dreams were seen in clear colours)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala
Sala sala gentleman
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala sala
Peke peke mabulane (mabulane)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala, sala (I remember yeah the games we used to play)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala. sala
Sala sala gentlemen
Peke peke (I remember)
Peke peke mabulane
Sala sala. sala
The song "I Remember" by Judith Sephuma is a nostalgic reflection on the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The lyrics describe growing up in a village, playing games of hide and seek with friends, and experiencing the excitement and curiosity of young love. Sephuma sings about the joy of innocent exploration and experimentation, even as she recognizes that those carefree days have passed.
The repeated refrain, "Peke peke mabulane, sala sala gentleman, Adam Two," adds to the sense of nostalgia and playfulness. These lines are likely part of the childhood song that Sephuma recalls, even if their meaning is unclear to the listener. The melody and rhythm of the lines evoke a sense of childlike whimsy, further emphasizing the song's theme of nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when I was a little girl
Reflecting on childhood memories as a woman
Growing up in the village
Recalling the upbringing in rural Africa
We used to sing a song (A song)
Engaging in communal singing as a form of African culture
So simple, yet so beautiful
Embracing the simplicity of childhood joys
Playing games of hide and seek
Enjoying innocent, playful games
Boys would sneak you around the corner (To steal a kiss or two)
Recalling the youthful thrill of flirting and stolen kisses
When we said we wouldn't do it
Acknowledging the promise to resist the temptation of love
Then we'd do it in the corner
Revealing the sneaky nature of adolescent romance
Those were good times when boys were boys
Nostalgic expression of simpler times when boys were uncomplicated
(When playing innocent games)
Highlighting the simple nature of childhood fun
Those were good times when girls were girls
Reflecting on a time when girls were innocent and free
(When dreams were seen in clear colours)
Evoking a sense of hope and optimism for the future
Those were good times when boys were boys
Admiring the simpler nature of masculinity
(When life was full of wonders)
Recounting the excitement of discovering the world
Those were good times when girls were girls
Yearning for the freedom and innocence of girlhood
(Before we knew a heart could be broken)
Reflecting on the naivety of youth and the absence of heartbreak
Peke peke mabulane
Exemplifying a traditional African song or dance
Sala sala gentleman
Invoking the chivalry of traditional masculinity
Adam Two (Peke peke mabulane)
Possibly referencing a specific dance in African culture
Peke peke mabulane
Continuing the African song or dance
Those were the times
Reflecting on a time long gone
Peke peke mabulane (mabulane)
Repeating the traditional song or dance
Sala sala, sala (I remember yeah the games we used to play)
Recounting the lyrics and recalling childhood memories
Sala sala gentlemen
Echoing the nobility and respectability of men in traditional African culture
Peke peke (I remember)
Reiterating the sentiment of reminiscence
Sala sala. sala
Repeating the traditional song or dance
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SELAELO SELOTA, JUDITH SEPHUMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@corneliaafrica7047
True South African jazz tune.. Memories 💐💐I love it..
@nkanyisozulu3835
My late mother used to play this lady’s songs. The joy, good times and laughter😁
@tawandanyoni1960
Sorry for your loss brother 🕊🙏🏾
@borneo_
❤
@saziwiseman278
I would always listen to P4 Radio everyday in 2001 because I knew they'll play this song. I always reminded me of my long lost girlfriend!
@lulamarikhotso5392
If you listening to this 2022 I wish love light peace prosperity
@Baby-zy8hb
I Am a Fan from the USA..Judith YOU are a Beautiful Woman with many Blessings..wow..
@anabelamassingue9424
So cute and memorable for any adult who once was a kid. Hugs J.S
@turnedout6247
this song just reminds me about my childhood 😍simple times
@anabelamassingue9424
I really enjoy this song