Nkedama
Letta Mbulu Lyrics


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Nike nayibon'inkedama
Nike nayibona
Nike nayibon'inkedama
Nike nayibona

Intw'emele lengane
Ayinabani
Oh, oh, oh ibang'usizi bo

Intw'emele lengane
Ayinabani
Oh, oh, oh ibang'usizi bo

Kubuhlungu weh bakithi
Ukushiywa isithandwa sakho
Kubuhlungu weh bakithi
Ukushiywa isithandwa sakho

Sengisele ngingedwa
Inkedama engenabazali
Sengisele ngingedwa
Inkedama engenabazali

Oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)
Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani
(Uthi mangenze njani na)

Oh, oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)
Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani
(Uthi mangenze njani na)

Langishiya ithemba lami
Langishiya ezinyembezini
Wathembisa ngizobuya
Ngiyovunula amasimi angcono

Ngokwakhela naw'umuzi
Wokhulisa lezingane zethu
Manje ngiyasola
Sengathi waliwa zindunduma

Ndiyinkedama
Ah ndililolo mna (Ndiyinkedama)
Ah ndilahlekelwe mna (Ndiyinkedama)
Oko wahamba andisalali kusa ndibhekile mna (Ndiyinkedama)
Oko wandishiya andisalali kusa ndibhekile mna (Ndiyinkedama ndililolo)
(Ndiyinkedama)

Oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)
Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani
Langishiy'ithemba lami
Langishiy'ithemba lami ma (Uthi mangenze njani na)

Oh, oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)
Shwele baba (Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani)
Shwele baba (Uthi mangenze njani na)

Oh, oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)
Shwele baba (Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani)
Langishiy'ithemba lami
Langishiya (Uthi mangenze njani na)

Oh, oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)
Bhula sangoma (Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani)
Langishiy'ithemba lami
Hey (Uthi mangenze njani na)

Oh, oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)
Shwele baba (Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani)
Shwele baba (Uthi mangenze njani na)





Oh, oh, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh)

Overall Meaning

The song Nkedama by Letta Mbulu is about the pain of separation from a loved one. The singer laments the loss of someone she cares deeply about, who has left her alone and heartbroken. The opening lines, "Nike nayibon'inkedama, Nike nayibona," are a repeating phrase that translates to "I see the lonely one, I see it." This is a powerful statement that sets the tone of the song and establishes the theme of loneliness and heartbreak.


Throughout the song, the lyrics describe the difficult emotions that come with losing someone you love, from the pain of separation to the despair of feeling abandoned. The line "Kubuhlungu weh bakithi, Ukushiywa isithandwa sakho" translates to "It hurts us, your loved ones, to be left by your sweetheart." This is a clear indication of the significance of the separation, not just for the singer but for those around her. She also sings about the hope of reconciliation, as she says that she has not given up on the idea of returning to the one she loves.


Overall, Nkedama is a beautiful song that explores the deep pain of separation and the hope of reconciliation after a significant loss.


Line by Line Meaning

Nike nayibon'inkedama
I see a sign of trouble


Nike nayibona
I see it clearly


Intw'emele lengane, Ayinabani, Oh, oh, oh ibang'usizi bo
The young quail has no one to call mother, oh, the pain it must feel


Kubuhlungu weh bakithi, Ukushiywa isithandwa sakho
It hurts our people when their loved ones leave them behind


Sengisele ngingedwa, Inkedama engenabazali
I was left alone with no parents to turn to


Oh, oh, oh, Baba noMa uthi mangenze njani
Oh, oh, oh, my father and mother, what do you want me to do?


Langishiya ithemba lami, Langishiya ezinyembezini
I have lost my hope, I have lost my tears


Wathembisa ngizobuya, Ngiyovunula amasimi angcono
He promised that he will return and help me reap good harvest


Ngokwakhela naw'umuzi, Wokhulisa lezingane zethu
Growing up in the village, raising our children together


Manje ngiyasola, Sengathi waliwa zindunduma
But now I am alone, as if I have been left in the dark


Ndiyinkedama, Ah ndililolo mna (Ndiyinkedama)
I am an orphan, oh how lonely I am (I am an orphan)


Ah ndilahlekelwe mna (Ndiyinkedama)
Oh how I have been abandoned (I am an orphan)


Oko wahamba andisalali kusa ndibhekile mna (Ndiyinkedama)
He left and I can't sleep, I am always looking around (I am an orphan)


Oko wandishiya andisalali kusa ndibhekile mna (Ndiyinkedama ndililolo)
He left me and I can't sleep, I am always looking around (I am an orphan, oh how lonely I am)


Shwele baba, Bhula sangoma
Rest, Father, forget, Sangoma (traditional healer)




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CAIPHUS KATSE SEMENYA, MBULU LETTA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@KaleMjama

Wow...warmest music ever 2024 ♥

@sipnog3528

Before Brenda Fassie Letta Mbulu was my best voice. I was pleased to learned that Brenda Fassie admired Letta immensely. Letta's influence is very clear in Brenda's style of singing. That base.

@phywesun

LORD bless my family❤ such great memories 😢❤❤

@tetekagogo

One of my favorite song 😭🔥💯

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