Ngobamakhosi
Mbongeni Ngema Lyrics

Wenduna kaNdaba wenduna yesizwe
We are defeated, the nation is defeated

Wendun'uzungibokele induku ma (Eyam')
They have taken away my power, my spear

Uzungibokele umboko bo (Eyami ngayithenga ngemali)
They have taken away my hand, I buy a new spear with my money

Wendun'uzungibokele induku leyo (Unaso sitolo sokuthenga induku)
They have taken away that spear, I buy a new one from the store

Wendun'uzungibokele induku bo (Eyam')
They have taken away another spear of mine

Ngeliny'ilanga (Eyam')
In broad daylight

Ngoluny'usuku (Eyami ngayithenga ngemali)
In the darkness of the night, I buy a new spear with my money

Siphelil'isizwe (Eyam')
The nation is destroyed

Aphel'amaqhawe (Eyami ngayithenga ngemali)
My heroes are gone, I buy new ones with my money

Ufil'uBotha (Ufil'uBotha)
Botha is dead

Ufile (Ufile samdiliza)
He is dead, my heart is heavy

Ngamthint'esweni (Ngamthint'esweni)
I am wounded

Esweni (Esweni samdiliza)
In battle, my heart is heavy

Ufil'usuphelile
He is dead, it's finished

Eswen'usuphelile
The battle is finished

Shields and spears versus guns
The traditional weapons of our people are no match for modern guns

In board daylight
The violence and bloodshed is happening out in the open, in full view of the public

In modern downtown Johannesburg
The setting of the violence is in the heart of the country's most modern city

Many people lay dead
The loss of life is extensive and devastating

For their efforts to defend their rights
The violence is a result of people standing up for what they believe in and fighting for their rights

The strike goes on
The people are continuing their strike, refusing to back down

The riots continue
The violence and chaos haven't stopped, they are ongoing

Friends are dead
The people who we fought alongside and considered friends are now deceased

Husbands are dead
The wives of the fallen heroes have lost their husbands

Fathers and sons are dead
We have lost our fathers and sons in the fighting

The streets are red with blood
The streets are a gruesome site of the violence we have experienced

Hhe nizwe
Oh nation

Ngob'amakhosi ma zinyanya zinkulu zakulelizwe mama
With the power of the chiefs, the great warriors of this nation

Ngob'amakhosi ma hho
With the power of the chiefs

Hho ngob'amakhosi mama
Yes, with the power of the chiefs

Zinhlupheko zethu lokho lathathw'eNcome
The trouble we are facing started in Ncome

ECetshwayo Mphandek'ekhona mama
King Cetshwayo is here with us

Hhe nizwe, akenizwe
Oh nation, hear me

Ngikhulumela abantwana bakaSenzangakhona, bakaShaka, bakaDingane
I speak for the children of Senzangakhona, Shaka, and Dingane

Sikhukhuni, Makamadini, Zulu mama
We are strong, we are proud, we are Zulu

Iyelele (Wathint'idloz'elikhulu)
Iyelele (The great elephant has fallen)

Wathint'oMakama
Wathint'oMakama

Wathint'idloz'elikhulu
The great elephant has fallen

Wathint'oMakama maye (Wathint'oMakama)
Wathint'oMakama maye (Wathint'oMakama)

Abantwana bakaShaka noSenzangakhona mama bo
The children of Shaka and Senzangakhona are here

Ngithi kwenzenjan'emzini kaSigagayi noKhandemphepho mama
What happened at the battlefields of Sigagayi and Khandemphepho?

Emzini kaSiziba sinzonzo sinzonzobele mama
At Siziba's place, there was a commotion

(Ilonde ileqe mama bo) Ilonde mama
(Respect) Respect, mother

(Iyokuhlonipha) Ilonde mama ho ilonde mama yoh
(It's about showing respect) Show respect, mother, show respect, yoh

(Ushaka) Iyoh
(Shaka) Oh yeah

(UmtakaSenzangakhona) Wo
(Senzangakhona's spear) Yes

Hhe nizwe, kenizwe kenizwe haya hha
Oh nation, hear me, hear me

(Wathint'idloz'elikhulu) Hawu yelele
(The great elephant has fallen) Oh wail

(Wathint'oMakama) Yelele mama yoh
(Wathint'oMakama) Oh wail, mother, yoh

(Wathint'idloz'elikhulu) Yelele
(The great elephant has fallen) Oh wail

(Wathint'oMakama) Yelele ho yo yo mama yo yo
(Wathint'oMakama) Oh wail, ho yo yo mother, yo yo