Third World Child
Savuka Lyrics

Bits of songs and broken drums
Memories of music and percussion are all that remain in his mind

Are all he could recall
He cannot remember much else from earlier in his life

So he spoke to me
He communicated with me despite the language barrier we faced

In a bastard tongue
He spoke a mix of languages due to his cultural background

Carried on the silence of the guns
The violence and trauma he has experienced linger in his speech and mannerisms

It's been a long long time
Many years have passed since the outsiders arrived

Since they first came
The arrival of the outsiders had a significant impact on his life.

And marched through the village
They came into his community aggressively

Oh they taught me to forget my past
They encouraged him to abandon his cultural heritage and identity

And live the future in their image
They wanted him to assimilate to their culture and way of life

They said
The outsiders taught him

I should learn to speak a little bit of English
He was taught to speak the language of the outsiders

Don't be scared of a suit and tie
They told him to dress and act like the outsiders

Learn to walk in the dreams of the foreigner
He was expected to adopt the outsiders' aspirations and ideals

I am a third world child
He is a product of a third world country and culture

The outworld's dreams are the currency
The aspirations and goals of the outsiders are the norm in the city

That grip the city streets
The influence of the outsiders is palpable in day-to-day life

Oh I live them out
He follows the outsiders' dreams and consequent lifestyle

But I have my own
He maintains his own values and aspirations

Hidden somewhere deep inside of me
His own goals and ambitions are buried within himself

In between my father's fields
The space between his land and the outsiders' domain is where he resides

And the citadels of the rule
The centers of power and control are where the outsiders reign

Lies a no-man's land which I must cross
He must overcome the barriers between these two domains to reach his true potential

To find my stolen jewel
To rediscover his own culture and values that were taken from him

Wo ilanga lobunzima nalo liyashona
The difficult sun is setting

Ukuthini asazi
We do not know what to do

Mus'ukukhala mntanami
Do not cry my child

The future calls his name out loud
The future has high expectations for him.

Echoed on the violence of the guns
His future is shaped by the trauma and violence he has witnessed

I am a seed, I have survived
He is a product of survival and perseverance

I am the fire that has been molded
He is shaped by his experiences and environment

I am the world child
He is a product of the world and all its influences