Mtukudzi released his debut single, "Stop After Orange," in 1975. Two years later, he began performing with the Wagon Wheels, a group who also featured Thomas Mapfumo. By 1979, he had left to pursue a solo career. Taking several of the band's musicians with him, he formed a new group, the Black Spirits. Their debut single, "Dzandimomotera," sold enough copies to qualify for gold record status. As a solo artist, Mtukudzi had his first successes shortly after Zimbabwe declared its independence in 1980. His debut solo album, Africa, included two hits: "Zimbabwe" and "Mazongonyedze." Mtukudzi has consistently balanced his musical career with his passion for film and drama. In addition to appearing in several documentaries on Zimbabwean music, including the BBC-produced Under African Skies and The Soul of the Mbira, he starred in Jit, the first film featuring an all-Zimbabwean cast. He also played a prominent role in, as well as composed and arranged the soundtrack for, Zimbabwe's second film, Neria. His work earned him a M'Net award for Best Soundtrack of 1992. Mtukudzi subsequently wrote and directed the musical production Was My Child (Plight of Street Children). With the accompaniment of the Black Spirits or the 12-piece supergroup Mahube, Mtukuduzi continued to tour and record.
The album Mahube was released in October 1998. The album Tuku Music, spent 11 weeks at the top of the CMJ New World Music charts. After the album's release, Mutukudzi toured the United States and Canada, along with Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabate and Baaba Maal, as part of Africa Fête 1999. The album Paivepo reached the top position on Zimbabwe's music charts the first week after its release in November 1999.
Mabasa
Oliver Mtukudzi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoyiwa hayiwa yiwa
Ndozwiwudza ani ko
Kuti kwaita mabasa pano
Tumirai mhere kuvakuru kuno kwaita mabasa
Ndozwiwudza ani ko (kufukudzika vakuru we)
Kwaita mabasa kuno
Misodzi yapera apana vachachema
Zwakurwadzira mumoyo chinyararire (chinyararire)
Iko kubata mawoko akuchina chiremerera
Kwafumuka uko zwichabatsirei ko (kwafumuka)
Awuzi wuchengeri kusara taka rarama varume
Kana kurikungwara uko tichavigwa naniko (nani)
Ah ha ndozwiwudza ani ko
Kuti kwaita mabasa pano
Tumirai mhere kuvakuru kuno kwaita mabasa
Ndozwiwudza ani ko (kufukudzika vakuru we)
(kwaita mabasa kuno)
Ayiwa yiwa yiwa yiwa (kwaita mabasa)
Misodzi yapera apana vachachema
Zwakurwadzira mumoyo chinyararire (chinyararire)
Iko kubata mawoko akuchina chiremerera
Kwafumuka uko zwichabatsirei ko (kwafumuka)
Awuzi wuchengeri kusara taka rarama varume
Kana kurikungwara isu (tichavigwa naniko)
Achachema mumwe ndiani
Achanyaradza mumwe ndiani
Achabata mawoko mumwe ndiani
(iwe wafirwa neni ndafirwa)
Zwino achachema mumwe ndiani ko
Vakuru we
Firo yavapo makore ano
Kana ndiyo mhedzisiro yenyika
Achachema mumwe ndiyani
Achanyaradza mumwe ndiyani
Achabata mawoko mumwe ndiyani
Nai vakuruwe vakuru we
Ho vakuruwe vakuru we
Inga paita mabasa pano
Tumirai mhere kuvakuru kuno kwaita mabasa
Ndozwiwudza ani ko (kufukudzika vakuru we)
Vakuru we (kwaita mabasa kuno)
Ayiwa yiwa yiwa yiwa (kwaita mabasa)
Pwere dzotungamira
Mushandi otungamira
Kusare chembere ne harawa
Zwino achaviga mumwe ndiyani
Achabata mawoko mumwe ndiyani
Achachema mumwe ndiyani
Iwe wafirwa neni ndafirwa
Zwino achachema mumwe ndiani ko
Nai vakuruwe bakuru we
Ho vakuruwe vakuru we
Nai vakuruwe vakuru we
Inga paita mabasa pano
Tumirai mhere kuvakuru kuno kwaita mabasa
Ndozwiwudza ani ko (kufukudzika vakuru we)
Vakuru we (kwaita mabasa kuno)
Ayiwa yiwa yiwa yiwa (kwaita mabasa)
Misodzi yapera apana vachachema
Zwakurwadzira mumoyo chinyararire (chinyararire)
Iko kubata mawoko akuchina chiremerera
Kwafumuka uko zwichayamburei ko (kwafumuka)
Awuzi wuchengeri kusara taka rarama varume
Kana kurikungwara isu tichavigwa naniko (nani)
Ndozwiwudza ani ko
Kuti kwaita mabasa pano
Tumirai mhere kuvakuru kuno kwaita mabasa
Kufukudzika vakuru we
Kwaita mabasa kuno
Kwaita mabasa
Kwaita mabasa
Kwaita mabasa
Kwaita mabasa
The song “Mabasa” by Oliver Mtukudzi speaks to the listener about the importance of hard work and dedication in achieving success. The repetition of “Hayiwa hayiwa yiwa” and “kwaita mabasa kuno” emphasizes the urgency and necessity of working hard in the present. Mtukudzi urges the elders to pass on knowledge and skills to the younger generation in order to promote productivity and progress.
As the song progresses, Mtukudzi mentions the struggles and obstacles that come with hard work. The verse “Misodzi yapera apana vachachema” translates to “Tears have dried up, no one is crying.” This line speaks to the idea that tears and emotional turmoil may come with hard work, but eventually, the struggles will fade away. Mtukudzi inspires listeners to persevere through tough times and not to lose hope.
Overall, “Mabasa” is a heartfelt tribute to hard work and dedication to achieving success. It emphasizes passing knowledge down from one generation to the next and persevering through tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
Hayiwa hayiwa yiwa
Come on, come on, let's go
Hoyiwa hayiwa yiwa
Come on, come on, let's go
Ndozwiwudza ani ko
Do you know who I'm going to inform
Kuti kwaita mabasa pano
That work is being done here
Tumirai mhere kuvakuru kuno kwaita mabasa
Send word to the elders that work is being done here
Ndozwiwudza ani ko (kufukudzika vakuru we)
Do you know who I'm going to inform (to come quickly)
Kwaita mabasa kuno
Work is being done here
Ayiwa yiwa yiwa yiwa (kwaita mabasa)
Come on, come on, work is being done
Misodzi yapera apana vachachema
Tears have run out, no one is crying
Zwakurwadzira mumoyo chinyararire (chinyararire)
Healing the broken heart (healing)
Iko kubata mawoko akuchina chiremerera
And holding hands while smiling
Kwafumuka uko zwichabatsirei ko (kwafumuka)
When it rises, what will it bring with it?
Awuzi wuchengeri kusara taka rarama varume
If you don't have skills, what will be left for us men?
Kana kurikungwara uko tichavigwa naniko (nani)
If we get sick, who will take care of us?
Ah ha ndozwiwudza ani ko
Ah ha, do you know who I'm going to inform
Tumirai mhere kuvakuru kuno kwaita mabasa
Send word to the elders that work is being done here
(kwaita mabasa kuno)
(work is being done here)
Misodzi yapera apana vachachema
Tears have run out, no one is crying
Zwakurwadzira mumoyo chinyararire (chinyararire)
Healing the broken heart (healing)
Iko kubata mawoko akuchina chiremerera
And holding hands while smiling
Kwafumuka uko zwichabatsirei ko (kwafumuka)
When it rises, what will it bring with it?
Awuzi wuchengeri kusara taka rarama varume
If you don't have skills, what will be left for us men?
Kana kurikungwara isu (tichavigwa naniko)
If we get sick (where will we be taken care of)
Achachema mumwe ndiani
Who is crying alone?
Achanyaradza mumwe ndiani
Who is healing alone?
Achabata mawoko mumwe ndiani
Who is holding hands alone?
(iwe wafirwa neni ndafirwa)
(you mourn with me and I mourn with you)
Zwino achachema mumwe ndiani ko
Now who is crying alone?
Vakuru we
The elders
Firo yavapo makore ano
Their strength is still alive these days
Kana ndiyo mhedzisiro yenyika
Or is this the state of the nation?
Nai vakuruwe vakuru we
Yes, the elders
Ho vakuruwe vakuru we
Yes, the elders
Inga paita mabasa pano
Because we are working here
Pwere dzotungamira
Antelopes that pursue their target
Mushandi otungamira
The worker that pursues his work
Kusare chembere ne harawa
Combining strength and cleverness
Zwino achaviga mumwe ndiyani
Now who is holding back alone?
Achabata mawoko mumwe ndiyani
Who is holding hands alone?
Achachema mumwe ndiyani
Who is crying alone?
(iwe wafirwa neni ndafirwa)
(you mourn with me and I mourn with you)
Zwino achachema mumwe ndiani ko
Now who is crying alone?
Nai vakuruwe bakuru we
Yes, the elders
Ho vakuruwe vakuru we
Yes, the elders
Nai vakuruwe vakuru we
Yes, the elders
Inga paita mabasa pano
Because we are working here
Kwaita mabasa
Work is being done
Kwaita mabasa
Work is being done
Kwaita mabasa
Work is being done
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Saxton
on Ziwere
I’m Shona and these lyrics are totally wrong. This song has no reference to intimacy. Tiki never sang along those lines
MuLUMICHIMPI MUYANDA
on Raki
you miss leading people about the meaning of the song raki..... Oliver was wandering how lucky some are and where luck comes from and who gives luck basically... not about the traditional beer no no!
Masibae Shumbaress
on Nyanga Yenzou (Munoshusha)
Lol the person who translated this is definitely not native. FYI Zim used to use English money (ma Pondo) pounds prior to independence. Basically the singer (a son-in-law) who paid bride price in full is complaining that his Father-in-law (tezvara) keeps trying to extort him (Nyanga ye nzou and chipembere, elephant tusk and rhino horn respectively are illegal so how can the son-in-law meet the unreasonable demands?)
Ransom M
on Mbiri hurimbo
I'm afraid the translation is off by quite a margin. This song is about being famous and the consequences of fame. He basically implies that if he had known the consequences of being famous he might not have pursued the career he pursued. He speaks of how God gave some talents or gifts that allow them to enjoy success peacefully. He likens fame to "hurimbo", a sticky substance used to trap birds. He also, in the first verse uses the metaphor of an owl, saying "If I'd recognized an owl while it was still a chick, I would have said 'No way', because rearing it has consequences." Owls are viewed as bad omens, creatures used in witchcraft, bad luck like a black cat. So yeah, the translation is way off.
Ransom M
on Mbiri hurimbo
Fame is a trap
Ransom M
on Mbiri hurimbo
I would have said no in the first place
Ransom M
on Mbiri hurimbo
Some you gave gifts, gifts with no fame
Tman
on Mbiri hurimbo
Any one can give the meaning of Jehova une Masimba
Juliet David
on Hakuna Zita
Lots of love from Port Harcourt Nigeria. I love his all his music too much
Kalala
on Vachakunonokera
Great song , especially the jazz kick