Ndakuvara
Oliver Lyrics


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Shedza mai vemwana ndakuvara
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)
Kana mai vemwana ndakuvara ini
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)

Ndaiti tichatoredzera vakuru
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)
Namatai pfuratira vakuru
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)

Ndaiti eh vachiri mumakura (ah ha)
Ndaiti mangwana tinkazokupa wo (ah ah)
Tichatirimira chichazokura (ah ha)
Pitigu mai vemwana chandifura (pitip pitip)

Shedza mai vemwana ndakuvara
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)
Tanai mai vemwana ndakuvara kuno
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)

Ndaiti tichatoredzera vakuru vacho
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)
Nyanga tai pfuratira vakuru vaya
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)

Ndaiti eh vachiri mumakura (ah ha)
Ndaiti mangwana tinkazokupa wo (ah ah)
Tichatirimira chichazokura (ah ha)
Pitigu mai vemwana chandikunda (pitip pitip)

Ndaiti eh vachiri mumakura (ah ha)
Ndaiti mangwana tinkazokupa wo (ah ah)
Tichatirimira chichazokura (ah ha)
Pitigu mai vemwana chandikunda (pitip pitip)

Shedza mai vemwana ndakuvara
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)
Tana mai vemwana ndakuvara ini
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)

Ndaiti tichatoredzera vakuru vacho
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)
Nyanga tai pfuratira vakuru vacho
Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)

Ndaiti eh vachiri mumakura (ah ha)
Ndaiti mangwana tinkazokupa wo (ah ah)
Tichatirimira chichazokura (ah ha)
Pitigu mai vemwana chandikunda (pitip pitip)

Ndaiti eh vachiri mumakura (ah ha)
Ndaiti mangwana tinkazokupa wo (ah ah)
Tichatirimira chichazokura (ah ha)
Pitigu mai vemwana chandikunda (pitip pitip)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Ndakuvara by Oliver Mtukudzi address the issue of poverty and the struggles that come with it. The song tells a story of a woman who is crying out for help because she is struggling to provide for her child. She is saying that life has become difficult and unbearable, and she is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of taking care of her child. The woman is also distressed because she has tried to seek help from the elders, but they have not been able to provide any assistance. She, therefore, believes that the only way out of her predicament is to work hard and persevere in her struggles.


The song also seems to suggest that hard work is the only way out of poverty. In some African cultures, cows are considered to be a sign of wealth, and the lyrics, "Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara" - which means "milking cows has become difficult for me" - reflects this belief. The woman is essentially saying that she is struggling to even provide for her basic needs. The song is a call to action for people to work hard and support each other through difficult times.


Line by Line Meaning

Shedza mai vemwana ndakuvara
The mother of the child has placed too heavy a burden on me


Pakupinkudza mombe ndakuvara (ndakuvara)
Even her livestock seems too much for me to handle


Kana mai vemwana ndakuvara ini
If the mother of the child is a burden to me


Ndaiti tichatoredzera vakuru
I thought we would consult the elders


Namatai pfuratira vakuru
We should listen to their advice


Ndaiti eh vachiri mumakura (ah ha)
I said, when you are old


Ndaiti mangwana tinkazokupa wo (ah ah)
I said, we'll give you to someone else tomorrow


Tichatirimira chichazokura (ah ha)
We'll leave nothing for you to inherit


Pitigu mai vemwana chandifura (pitip pitip)
The child's mother keeps asking for more and more


Tanai mai vemwana ndakuvara kuno
The child's mother is still a burden to me here


Ndaiti tichatoredzera vakuru vacho
I said we would consult those elders


Nyanga tai pfuratira vakuru vaya
We should listen to those bright minds


Pitigu mai vemwana chandikunda (pitip pitip)
The child's mother keeps being demanding




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OLIVER MTUKUDZI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@TMarz89

This beautiful song was sung in metaphors. Literally he is singing about taming oxen so that they help the owner with ploughing the fields. The title of the song 'Ndakuvara' translates to 'I was physically hurt'. Those who grew up in rural Africa know how dangerous it is to tame oxen (they can knock you down with their sharp horns, breaking your limbs.) That is why he sings 'pakupingudza mombe ndakuvara' meaning I was physically hurt while taming my oxen. The song says when herding my cattle, I had hope that my oxen will help me one day obviously with ploughing and performing other agricultural duties hauling carts etc. Metaphorically, taming oxen translates to how parents put hope in their children making sacrifices so that they will help them when they become successful in life, but sadly some lose their cultural values & forget their parents when they make it in life, hence 'Ndakuvara' which now translates to psycho-emotional breakdown. That's why the old man in the video looks very concerned with his only son who has gone wild abusing drugs, alcohol & gambling. ***The song reminds us not to forget our parents and guardians who put their hope in us as we grow up.

@frankdzimba817

I just knew the meaning of Ndakuvara told by a fellow Zimbabwean colleague at work. Now i've just got one more with you, that's nice

@delightchewe3496

Succinctly put. You should do this more often. Even those who understand shona might not know the deeper meaning unless explained in simpler terms

@pililachongo552

Wow ok in one Zambian language Ngoni we say 'paku pinduz'ya ngombe' meaning wen turning the cow. thanks for the translation love this song

@TMarz89

​@@pililachongo552 true, there are some phrases/words that are common in Southern Africa which point out that we are one people.

@shaniashava900

What a beautiful explanation

61 More Replies...

@yorlimtonic

Still here in 2024, listening from Maryland, Washington DC

@kudakwashevictorthepoetryb4520

2024, April to be precise. Still a masterpiece ❤

@AlbertMeela

Same here on april lets meet 2050 in God willing see you brother am from Tanzania🤝

@hollymore4904

late ...but here 2025. march,also from Tanzania ❤🎉

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