Misozi
Mokoomba Lyrics

The lyrics of Mokoomba's song Misozi are in Tonga, a Bantu language spoken by the Tonga people in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. The chorus, "Misozi misozi gelo yanga Nina lembakalata inakandilwa nimayi bako Baka wuza wuza tate bako kuzankalankani Nichite bwanji ine," translates to "Oh, tears, tears that I cry, oh Nina, my dear friend, you were taken by your parents, and now your father dances a dance of mourning. How can I forget you?" The song is a lament, mourning the loss of a dear friend or loved one, and expressing the pain and grief of their absence.

The verses are more cryptic, with lines like "Tambuletambule e ya eeh, tambule likishi lamwanobe," which translates to "dance, dance, oh yes, dance, dance the dance of the spirits." This could be a reference to traditional Tongan spiritual beliefs and practices surrounding death and mourning, or simply a call for release and expression of emotion through dance. The repetition of names - "Misozi," "Irene" - could perhaps be seen as a way of conjuring or calling out to the spirits of the departed, keeping their memory and presence alive.