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.
Stimela Sase Zola
Mbongeni Ngema Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wangbambel' eduze (Isthandwa sami)
Wangkhumbuz' eGoli mama
EZola (Stimela sam saseZola)
Wangbek' esifubeni we mama
(Yelele mama, njengengan' encane)
Thambo lam lekhentaki
Sambulela sam selanga
Sthuthuthu sami
Sokujika emadrayini ah we mama
Welcome dova baby
Stofu sam samalahle
Ngikthanda nom' uvutha baby
IyhoIyho! Iyho!
Sengihamba ngo Commisioner
Ngigqok' u-arrow shirt
Aw'bhek' ezansi florsheim shoes baby
Ngyobona wena baby eZola
Ngigibel' iE20 eCarlton center
Esdididini mama
Ngelhandi lami, ngeshumi lami wemama
Ngyophumula kuwe baby edairy
Welcome dova baby
Stofu sam samalahle
Ngikthanda nom' uvutha baby
we lavi wami bo, we mama
Wangthinta ngakhukhumala
Ngafana ne self raising
Nam ngagcwal' strati
Ngafana nomabhalane
Wemama, welavi we baby
The lyrics of Mbongeni Ngema's "Stimela SaseZola" portray the hardships and struggles of black mine workers during apartheid South Africa. The song tells the story of a young man who leaves his home in a rural area to work in a gold mine in Johannesburg. The first verse describes how the young man said goodbye to his loved ones and traveled to the city, highlighting his feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. The mention of the train ("stimela") represents the journey that many black people took to get to the city.
The second verse delves into the harsh working conditions in the mine. The mention of the young man's "Sthuthuthu" represents his pickaxe, and the imagery of him working in the dark and dangerous tunnels evokes a sense of fear and danger. The lyrics also mention the oppressive nature of the workplace, with the young man needing to fawn over his bosses to keep his job despite his hard work. The final verse mentions the young man's aspirations for a better life, including his desire for a sugar mama ("we lavi wami bo"), but ultimately features a resigned acceptance of his circumstances.
Overall, "Stimela SaseZola" is a poignant commentary on the exploitation and difficulties faced by black mine workers in apartheid South Africa. It serves as an important reminder of the harsh realities of life at the time, and the struggles of the people who fought against oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
Wangbamba kwamancane
You held me tightly by my hands
Wangbambel' eduze (Isthandwa sami)
You held me close to you (My beloved)
Wangkhumbuz' eGoli mama
You remembered Johannesburg, mother
EZola (Stimela sam saseZola)
In Zola (My train is from Zola)
Wangbek' esifubeni we mama
You put me in your arms, mother
(Yelele mama, njengengan' encane)
(Crying, mother, like a little child)
Thambo lam lekhentaki
My bone is made of metal
Sambulela sam
My whistle
Sambulela sam selanga
My whistle in the moonlight
Sthuthuthu sami
My hum
Sokujika emadrayini ah we mama
To be blown at crossroads, oh mother
Welcome dova baby
Welcome, my dear
Stofu sam samalahle
My body is thin and weak
Ngikthanda nom' uvutha baby
I love you, wake up my dear
IyhoIyho! Iyho!
Wow, wow! Wow!
Sengihamba ngo Commisioner
I was walking with the Commissioner
Ngigqok' u-arrow shirt
I was wearing an arrow shirt
Aw'bhek' ezansi florsheim shoes baby
Don't look at my Florsheim shoes, baby
Ngyobona wena baby eZola
I see you, baby, in Zola
Ngigibel' iE20 eCarlton center
I got on E20 at Carlton Center
Esdididini mama
With ringing in my ears, mother
Ngelhandi lami, ngeshumi lami wemama
With my belongings, with my clothes, oh mother
Ngyophumula kuwe baby edairy
I'm coming to rest with you, baby, at the dairy
we lavi wami bo, we mama
My dear friend, oh mother
Wangthinta ngakhukhumala
You touched me when I was high
Ngafana ne self raising
I am like self-raising flour
Nam ngagcwal' strati
And I finished school
Ngafana nomabhalane
I am like a novel
Wemama, welavi we baby
Oh mother, my dear friend, my baby
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Eddie5-ep5hv
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@thabomamabolo2669
RIP Mr Ngema. thanks for the great contribution to the music industry.
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Rest in peace the legend