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.
One Blood
Mbongeni Ngema Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wafika kimi umbhemi wakwaMadlokovu egijima
Wakhomba indlela eya ngaphesheya kolwandle
Ngamhleka usulu
Ngoba
Ngoba
Usuk'uy'emabhasini khona la
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)
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
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M. Gaddy
on Madlokovu
These Lyrics don't match my copy of this song