One Blood
Mbongeni Ngema Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ufikile kimi lombhemi
Wafika kimi umbhemi wakwaMadlokovu egijima
Wakhomba indlela eya ngaphesheya kolwandle
Ngamhleka usulu

Ngoba
Ngoba
Usuk'uy'emabhasini khona la
Bes'uth'ubuya phesheya kolwandle
Ngamhleka usulu

Kodw'awusho mfo kaMshengu
Uyinqoba ngani zonke lezizwe

Saguqa sathandaza
Sanqoba thina
Saguqa sathandaza
(Sanqoba thina) Wo sanqoba thina

(Saguqa sathandaza) Wo
Sanqoba thina
Saguqa sathandaza
Sanqoba thina

Saguqa sathandaza
Sanqoba thina
Saguqa sathandaza
(Sanqoba thina) Wo ngik'tshela nje

Saguqa sathandaza
Sanqoba thina
Saguqa sathandaza
(Sanqoba thina) Khon'umunt'owayeme ngaphambili

(Saguqa sathandaza) Gezwa besho bethi igama lakhe
(Sanqoba thina) Umoy'omubi, elinye leskolo bathi udevil
(Saguqa sathandaza) Baphinde bamnik'elinye futhi
(Sanqoba thina) Bathi umqambi wamanga

(Saguqa sathandaza) Bamnik'elinye futhi bathi umxabanisi, kodwa
Sanqoba thina
Saguqa sathandaza
Sanqoba thina

Wemfo kaMadlokovu awungitshele iqiniso lonke eliphelele
Wen'uyiliphi ke wena nje
Ushuba phi noma umhlobo muni
Ngumhlobo muni mina
Ngizinhlobo zonke mina
Aw'zweke

Venda
Venda
Venda
SingamaVenda

Venda
Venda
Venda
(SingamaVenda) Wo mama

Swazi
Swazi
Swazi
(SingamaSwazi) Wo wathinta abamnyama

Swazi
Swazi
Swazi
(SingamaSwazi) Wo wathint'abanye wathint'amaSwazi

Shangane
Shangane
Shangane
(SingamaShangane) Wathint'amaShangane

Shangane
Shangane
Shangane
(SingamaShangane) Wathint'amaShangane

Suthu
Suthu
Suthu
(SingabeSuthu) Wathinta amaSuthu

Suthu
Suthu
Suthu
(SingabeSuthu) Hho mina nawe mfo kaShawe

Xhosa
Xhosa
Xhosa
SingamaXhosa

Xhosa
Xhosa
Xhosa
(SingamaXhosa) Mawufun'ukwazi mina nawe

Mpondo
Mpondo
Mpondo
SingamaMpondo

Mpondo
Mpondo
Mpondo
(SingamaMpondo) Wo wathinta abamnyama

Zulu
Zulu
Zulu
(SingamaZulu) Wathinta amaZulu

Zulu
Zulu
Zulu
(SingamaZulu) Kodwa sohlukaniswa yini

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
(Singabamnyama) Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
(Singabamnyama) Wathint'abamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
(Singabamnyama) Mawufuna mina

(Mnyama) Uzong'thola eXhosa section
Mnyama
Mnyama
(Singabamnyama) Mawufuna mina

(Mnyama) Uzong'thola eSwazi section
Mnyama
Mnyama
(Singabamnyama) Mawufuna mina

(Mnyama) Uzong'thola eShangane section
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama

Mnyama
Mnyama
Mnyama
Singabamnyama





Hayi (Hhe)
Kumnandi (Kumnandi uk'wela kith'eMnambithi)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mbongeni Ngema’s “One Blood” speak to the idea that all people are one, regardless of ethnicity or race. The title itself is significant as it implies that all humans are united in blood, that they share a common humanity. The opening lines, Ufikile kimi lombhemi, wafika kimi umbhemi wakwaMadlokovu egijima, convey a sense of arrival: someone has arrived, bringing with them a message from the people of Madlokovu. The person’s arrival is noted by others who laugh (Ngamhleka usulu) as they see him or her coming.


The second verse and chorus explore the idea of unity through diversity. It references different ethnic groups (Venda, Swazi, Shangane, Suthu, Xhosa, Mpondo, Zulu, and Mnyama) and their unique identities. However, the song’s message is that these differences don’t make individuals less human, less important, or less deserving of respect. Instead, all people are one and must come together in a spirit of love and unity to triumph over hatred and division. The repetition of Saguqa sathandaza, sanqoba thina throughout the chorus reinforces this idea.


Line by Line Meaning

Ufikile kimi lombhemi
A visitor has arrived to me at my homeland


Wafika kimi umbhemi wakwaMadlokovu egijima
He arrived to me with the message from Madlokovu, who strides forward


Wakhomba indlela eya ngaphesheya kolwandle
Showing me the way that leads across the ocean


Ngamhleka usulu
Laughing at the difficulties


Ngoba Usuk'uy'emabhasini khona la
Because you are climbing up the mountains over there


Bes'uth'ubuya phesheya kolwandle
While we are still stuck beyond the ocean


Kodw'awusho mfo kaMshengu
But tell me, brother of Mshengu


Uyinqoba ngani zonke lezizwe
What do you conquer in all these nations?


Saguqa sathandaza
We fell and prayed


Sanqoba thina
Then we conquered


(Sanqoba thina) Wo sanqoba thina
(We conquered) Yes, we conquered


(Saguqa sathandaza) Wo
(We fell and prayed) Yes


(Sanqoba thina) Wo ngik'tshela nje
(We conquered) I just tell you


(Sanqoba thina) Khon'umunt'owayeme ngaphambili
(We conquered) But there is someone who walks ahead


(Saguqa sathandaza) Gezwa besho bethi igama lakhe
(We fell and prayed) Listen, they say his name


(Sanqoba thina) Umoy'omubi, elinye leskolo bathi udevil
(We conquered) A wicked spirit, some say he's the devil


(Saguqa sathandaza) Baphinde bamnik'elinye futhi
(We fell and prayed) They kept giving me another name


(Sanqoba thina) Bathi umqambi wamanga
(We conquered) They say the prophet is lying


(Saguqa sathandaza) Bamnik'elinye futhi bathi umxabanisi, kodwa
(We fell and prayed) They gave me another name, they say he's a separator, but


Wemfo kaMadlokovu awungitshele iqiniso lonke eliphelele
The brother of Madlokovu didn't tell me the whole and complete truth


Wen'uyiliphi ke wena nje
What tribe do you belong to?


Ushuba phi noma umhlobo muni
What are you thinking, or what is your friend's name?


Ngumhlobo muni mina
I am your friend


Ngizinhlobo zonke mina
I am all kinds


Aw'zweke
Don't refuse


Venda
I am Venda


SingamaVenda
We are Venda


(SingamaVenda) Wo mama
(We are Venda) Yes, mother


Swazi
I am Swazi


(SingamaSwazi) Wo wathinta abamnyama
(We are Swazi) You hit the black people


(SingamaSwazi) Wo wathint'abanye wathint'amaSwazi
(We are Swazi) You hit some and then hit Swazis


Shangane
I am Shangane


(SingamaShangane) Wathint'amaShangane
(We are Shangane) You hit Shanganes


Suthu
I am Suthu


(SingabeSuthu) Wathinta amaSuthu
(We are Suthu) You hit Suthus


(SingabeSuthu) Hho mina nawe mfo kaShawe
(We are Suthu) Hey, me and you, brother of Shawe


Xhosa
I am Xhosa


SingamaXhosa
We are Xhosa


(SingamaXhosa) Mawufun'ukwazi mina nawe
(We are Xhosa) Do you want to know about me and you?


Mpondo
I am Mpondo


SingamaMpondo
We are Mpondo


(SingamaMpondo) Wo wathinta abamnyama
(We are Mpondo) You hit the black people


Zulu
I am Zulu


(SingamaZulu) Wathinta amaZulu
(We are Zulu) You hit Zulus


(SingamaZulu) Kodwa sohlukaniswa yini
(We are Zulu) But are we not all separated?


Mnyama
I am black


(Singabamnyama) Singabamnyama
(We are black) We are black


(Singabamnyama) Wathint'abamnyama
(We are black) You hit black people


(Singabamnyama) Mawufuna mina
(We are black) Do you want me?


(Mnyama) Uzong'thola eXhosa section
(Black person) You will find me in the Xhosa section


(Mnyama) Uzong'thola eSwazi section
(Black person) You will find me in the Swazi section


(Mnyama) Uzong'thola eShangane section
(Black person) You will find me in the Shangane section


Singabamnyama
We are black


Hayi (Hhe)
No (Yes)


Kumnandi (Kumnandi uk'wela kith'eMnambithi)
It is sweet to ride in Mnambithi




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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M. Gaddy


on Madlokovu

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