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.
Ndakuvara
Oliver Mtukudzi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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)
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 © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@djphephie4284
Oliver Mtukudzi - Ndakuvara original lyrics (tuku music from Africa
Shevedzai mai vemwana,
ndakuvara Pakupingudza mombe,
ndakuvara Dana mai vemwana,
ndakuvara Pakupingudza mombe,
ndakuvara Ndaiti chichatevedzera
vakuru Pakupingudza mombe,
ndakuvara Nyamba chaifuratira vakuru
Pakupingudza mombe, ndakuvara
Ndaichiyeva chiri mumakura
Pakupingudza mombe, ndakuvara
Ndaiti mangwana tingazobopawo
Pakupingudza mombe ndakuvara
Chichatirimira chazokura
Pakupingudza mombe ndakuvara
Pidigu mai vemwana chandipfura Pidigu,
pidigu Pidigu mai vemwana chandikunda
Pidigu pidigu
Oliver Mtukudzi Ndakuvara Lyrics (English Translation)
Call the mother of my children; I am hurt
I was injured while training the ox
Call the mother of my children; I am hurt
I was injured while training the ox
I thought this young ox would be like
its elders
And yet it ignored its elders'
(good examples)
I used to admire it as it fed in the pastures
Thinking that in future we would harness it
Hoping that it will do the ploughing for us
Everything has gone upside down
The young oxen has kicked me
Everything has gone upside down
The young oxen has over-powered me
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@TawazMarara
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 am physically hurt/injured'. 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