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.
Lomhlaba Kawunoni
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooooh baby basi hujui tu mi kitandani ka Schumacher,
It's Diamond (Mr flavour) ifunememo aah
baby (oh nanana) baby oh (oh Nana Nana) baby oh (oh nanana oh nanana nanana) ×2
Kwanza Monti Monti Monti sikiaaa
Mwenzio unanshitua kijoti naumiaaa
Moyo wangu ti-ti-ti unakimbiaa
Wagawa manotinoti nahofiaa
I can't deny I can't deny your love baby eeehh afurumginanyaa I no believe I no believe a mo baby eeehh
Eji-za mna olu lailai I no go Break your heart o I no go make you cry (eeehh lailai) I no go do you bad o!! (do you bad o) I'll always put the smile upon your face.
Kama nguna tutakulaga tukipata burger tukikosa dagaa njaa tutalala nayo
Mirungi kwa kusaga mbege kwa wachaga na mbuzi wa kutaga. Habari wanayo
OSa twende sankoro sankororo sankoro sankororo (Tanzanian) sankoro sankororo (oyorima)
Kama Ronaldo
Nigerian sankoro sankororo (umu nwanyi) sankoro sankororo (everybody) sankoro sankororo kama Ronaldo eeh
Sankoro sankororo (oh nanana)
Sankoro sankororo (oh Nana Nana)
Sankoro sankororo (oh nanana)
Sankoro sankororo (oh nanana nanana)
Mmmmh mh
Mmmmh mh (rr-robber dem)
Mmmmh mh oh Nana Nana
Sankoro sankororo
Sankoro sankororo
Sankoro sankororo
Kama Ronaldo
Sankoro sankororo
Sankoro sankororo
Sankoro sankororo
Kama Ronaldo
The lyrics to "Lomhlaba Kawunoni" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo are predominantly in Zulu, with some words and lines in English and Swahili. The song is about love, commitment, and the challenges that come with relationships. The lyrics describe the singer's devotion to their partner, promising not to break their heart, make them cry, or cause them any pain. The chorus that repeats throughout the song, "oh Nana oh Nana Nana," adds a playful and catchy element to the song.
The verses of the song paint a picture of the challenges that the singer faces in their relationship. One verse talks about feeling hurt and confused by their partner's actions, while another describes their fear of being left alone. However, despite these challenges, the singer remains committed to their partner and promises to always bring a smile to their face. The use of various languages in the song adds to the universality of the message and the wide appeal of Ladysmith Black Mambazo's music.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Nana oh Nana Nana
Repeating the name Nana with enthusiasm
Ooooh baby basi hujui tu mi kitandani ka Schumacher
Asking a baby if they know how to wrestle in bed like a famous race car driver, Schumacher
It's Diamond (Mr flavour) ifunememo aah
Introducing Diamond and Mr Flavour with excitement
baby (oh nanana) baby oh (oh Nana Nana) baby oh (oh nanana oh nanana nanana) ×2
Calling a baby and repeating their name
Kwanza Monti Monti Monti sikiaaa
Emphasizing the listener's attention with the repeated name Monti
Mwenzio unanshitua kijoti naumiaaa
Expressing pain from feeling hurt by a companion's actions
Moyo wangu ti-ti-ti unakimbiaa
Heart racing with fear or excitement
Wagawa manotinoti nahofiaa
Fearful of unknown consequences
Woo woo wooh so usije niacha ka nanii ntaumia Sanaa oh mi yanii utaniumiza na ntachekwa mitaani Ntalia mama Kwingine Tena Sina ooh... jeneke osa twende
Begging not to be left alone or hurt, and making plans to avoid shame and disappointment
I can't deny I can't deny your love baby eeehh afurumginanyaa I no believe I no believe a mo baby eeehh
Admitting to the irresistible nature of a baby's love and expressing disbelief at their affection
Eji-za mna olu lailai I no go Break your heart o I no go make you cry (eeehh lailai) I no go do you bad o!! (do you bad o) I'll always put the smile upon your face.
Promising to treat the baby with care and make them happy
Kama nguna tutakulaga tukipata burger tukikosa dagaa njaa tutalala nayo
Sharing the sentiment that whether eating good or bad food, hunger will always be present
Mirungi kwa kusaga mbege kwa wachaga na mbuzi wa kutaga. Habari wanayo
Referring to different local products and asking about their availability
OSa twende sankoro sankororo sankoro sankororo (Tanzanian) sankoro sankororo (oyorima)
Inviting someone to dance in the Tanzanian and Oyorima style
Kama Ronaldo Nigerian sankoro sankororo (umu nwanyi) sankoro sankororo (everybody) sankoro sankororo kama Ronaldo eeh
Comparing the dance moves to those of Ronaldo and dancing like him
Sankoro sankororo (oh nanana)
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Sankoro sankororo (oh Nana Nana)
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm and adding Nana's name
Sankoro sankororo (oh nanana)
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Sankoro sankororo (oh nanana nanana)
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm and adding more Nana's name
Mmmmh mh
A sound of satisfaction or agreement
Mmmmh mh (rr-robber dem)
Agreeing with someone while adding a reference to robbers
Mmmmh mh oh Nana Nana
Repeating Nana's name with delight
Sankoro sankororo
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Sankoro sankororo
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Sankoro sankororo
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Kama Ronaldo
Comparing the dance moves to those of Ronaldo
Sankoro sankororo
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Sankoro sankororo
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Sankoro sankororo
Repeating the word Sankoro with enthusiasm
Kama Ronaldo
Comparing the dance moves to those of Ronaldo
Writer(s): Joseph Shabalala
Contributed by Wyatt D. 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