He is married to actress Leleti Khumalo. Leleti who received a 1988 Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for Sarafina; as well as starring as the leading role in South Africa's first Oscar-nominated film/move, Yesterday.
In some sectors of South African society, Ngema is considered a racist because of his controversial song, AmaNdiya (about racism that Blacks in KwaZulu-Natal have suffered at the hands of Indians). It was banned in the country soon after it was released in 2002, and even Nelson Mandela had asked Ngema to apologize but Ngema refused.
Madlokovu
Mbongeni Ngema Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni ahhh kwenzenjani
nsizwa
nsizwa
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
bath uvelemagqumeni
The lyrics to Mbongeni Ngema's "Madlokovu" are repetitive in nature, with the phrase "ahhh kwenzenjani nsizwa nsizwa yangakithi vele bayakwazi bath uvelemagqumeni" being repeated several times throughout the song. The phrase roughly translates to "what are you doing, young man, young man? Do they know what you are doing, those from Uvele magqumeni?" The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the theme of societal pressure and the expectations placed on young men in African communities.
The song speaks to the pressure that young men face to conform to societal standards and expectations, even if it means sacrificing their own desires and dreams. The reference to Uvele Magqumeni, a location in South Africa, adds a specific cultural context to the lyrics. The repetition of the phrase also creates a hypnotic quality to the song, drawing the listener in and forcing them to focus on the message being conveyed.
Overall, "Madlokovu" is a commentary on the cultural and societal pressures that young men face in African communities, and encourages them to pursue their own dreams and aspirations, rather than conforming to the expectations of others.
Line by Line Meaning
ahhh kwenzenjani
Expressing confusion or disbelief, asking for clarification of a situation
nsizwa
Hey young man
yangakithi vele bayakwazi
Our peers actually know
bath uvelemagqumeni
They say he is cunning
Contributed by Hudson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
M. Gaddy
These Lyrics don't match my copy of this song