It has been years since Paul Simon made his initial trip to South Africa and met Joseph Shabalala, and the other members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, in a recording studio in Johannesburg. Having listened to a cassette of their music sent by a DJ based in Los Angeles, Simon was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies. Simon incorporated the traditional sounds of black South Africa into the Graceland album, a project regarded by many as seminal to today's explosive interest in World music
'60s Africa found the Zulu and Sotho beginning to incorporate the influences of African American R&B, jazz, and blues into their traditional, indigenous music. New styles such as township jazz, pennywhistle street music, Kwela, and marabi were formed. Eventually, these myriad styles coalesced to create a new hybrid pop music that came to be known as mbaqanga. Though mbaqanga employs the traditional instrumentation of Western pop (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals), the approach to song structure and rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic phrasing is uniquely African.
Recorded between 1981 and 1984, THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT OF SOWETO is the first (and arguably the best) of a slew of South African pop recordings that soon followed. Characterized by insistent, rhythmically complex beats, elastic, burbling basslines, tight, ska-sounding guitar accompaniment, and thick, multi-part vocals, this music is as intriguing as it is appealing. Groups with such names as Udokotela Shange Namajaha and Amaswazi Emvelo serve up bright, infectious melodies and percussively insistent tracks that are clearly intended for dancing.
Izithembiso Zenkosi
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Wawu qinisa ngegazi asithembisa khona
Undlula bonke (undlul′ izulu nomhlaba)
(Kuze-ncibikal' izintaba khepha akyokwesaba omethembay′ uJesu)
Yenza (yenza njego Abraham bekangase Zulwini uzilibal' izethembiso uqine eNkosini)
(Themban' ukuba kumnyama nxa lungasekh′ uNyezi)
Ngoba (ngoba ngaphez′ ukwamafu zikhon' iziNkanyezi)
Ngoba (esithandweni somlilo unawe uThixo wakho)
Themba (thamban' uma uyashiywa awbathandayo ngoba niyakushiya kuJesu uyena uyanqoba0
Themba (themban′ umasekuthini uzowushiya' umhlaba umthemb′ uJesu elapha yena akay' ujabha)
Kundlula (kudlul' iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal′ izintaba kepha akayokwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
Kundlula konke (kudlul′ iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal' izintaba)
(Kephakay′ okwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
Kundlula konke (kudlul' iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal′ izintaba)
(Kepha akayokwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
Themban' ukuba kumnyama nxa lungasekh′ uNyezi)
Ngoba (ngoba ngaphez' ukwamafu zikhon' iziNkanyezi)
Yenza (yenza njengo Abraham)
(Bekangase Zulwini uzibal′ izethembiso uqine eNkosini
Kundlula konke (kudlul′ iZulu no mhlaba sekuze kuncibikal' izintaba)
(Kepha akayokwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
Kundlula konke (kudlul′ iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal' izintaba)
(Kepha akayokwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
Kundlula konke (kudlul′ iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal' izintaba)
(Kepha akayokwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
(Amen hallelujah hallelujah!)
The lyrics of Ladysmith Black Mambazo's song "Izithembiso Zenkosi" are a testament to the power of faith and hope in times of adversity. The song starts by describing the singer's unwavering trust in God's promises, even as they face uncertainty and doubt. The repetition of the phrase "izithembiso zenkosi" (meaning "the promises of the Lord") underscores the singer's conviction that God's promises will come to fruition, and the vivid imagery of passing through mountains and valleys underlines the hardships they face in their journey.
However, the singer draws strength and courage from their faith, likening it to that of Abraham's, who was also unwavering in his belief in God's promises. The song also speaks to the importance of community and love, urging listeners to stay faithful to God and to each other even in the face of personal hardships.
Overall, "Izithembiso Zenkosi" serves as a reminder of the enduring power of faith and hope, and the importance of finding strength in one's beliefs, community, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Izithembiso zeNkosi zimi phakathi zona
The promises of God are within me
Wawu qinisa ngegazi asithembisa khona
Strengthened by the blood that assures us
Undlula bonke (undlul′ izulu nomhlaba)
Overcoming all (overcome sky and earth)
Kuze-ncibikal' izintaba khepha akyokwesaba omethembay′ uJesu
Until the mountains crumble and the hills roll down, the one who trusts in Jesus will not fear
Yenza (yenza njego Abraham bekangase Zulwini uzilibal' izethembiso uqine eNkosini)
Do (do like Abraham did when he had no promise from God, but had faith and believed in the Lord)
(Themban' ukuba kumnyama nxa lungasekh′ uNyezi)
(Have faith even in the darkness, when you can't see the light)
Ngoba (ngoba ngaphez′ ukwamafu zikhon' iziNkanyezi)
Because (because beyond the clouds shine the stars)
Themba (themban′ unxawuzingelwa kungenxa yenkolo yakho)
Believe (believe, don't be discouraged because of your sins)
Ngoba (esithandweni somlilo unawe uThixo wakho)
Because (in the fiery furnace, your God is with you)
Themba (thamban' uma uyashiywa awbathandayo ngoba niyakushiya kuJesu uyena uyanqoba
Believe (hold on, even if you are abandoned by those who love you, because Jesus will never leave you, he will conquer)
Themba (themban′ umasekuthini uzowushiya' umhlaba umthemb′ uJesu elapha yena akay' ujabha)
Believe (believe, even in troubles, trust in Jesus, lean on him, he will never fail)
Kundlula (kudlul' iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal′ izintaba kepha akayokwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
Overcome (overcome sky and earth until the mountains crumble, but the one who trusts in Jesus will not fear)
Kundlula konke (kudlul′ iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal' izintaba)
Overcome everything (overcome sky and earth until the mountains crumble)
(Kephakay′ okwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
(For there is no fear in the one who trusts in Jesus)
Themban' ukuba kumnyama nxa lungasekh′ uNyezi)
Believe (have faith even in the darkness, when you can't see the light)
Yenza (yenza njengo Abraham)
Do (do like Abraham did)
(Bekangase Zulwini uzibal′ izethembiso uqine eNkosini
(He had no promise from God but had faith and believed in the Lord)
Kundlula konke (kudlul′ iZulu no mhlaba sekuze kuncibikal' izintaba)
Overcome everything (overcome sky and earth until the mountains crumble)
(Kepha akayokwesaba omethembayo uJesu)
(For the one who trusts in Jesus will not fear)
Kundlula konke (kudlul′ iZulu no mhlaba kuze kuncibikal' izintaba)
Overcome everything (overcome sky and earth until the mountains crumble)
(Amen hallelujah hallelujah!)
(Amen hallelujah hallelujah!)
Writer(s): Shabalala Bekizizwe Joseph
Contributed by Claire G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matlhonyana
on Mhlangidinwa Ngikhathele
Last 6months with dad we would listen to this track little did I know he was communicating
Sonke Mabanga
on Isimanga Salomhlaba (The Wonder of This World)
For the Love of Black Mambazo