She is also trained as an opera singer and brought that vibe to these recordings. On one of the tracks on the album she switched from vocals to violin; the result sounded celtic. It is what the Afro Celt Sound System would sound like if they were invited to play at Buckingham Palace.
Mayihlome
Sibongile Khumalo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Safa saphela
Hii hii
Safa saphela
Mina ngizw' isililo
Siphuma le
Mina ngizwa
Isikhalo
Siphuma le ngaphesheya kweNciba
Mina ngizw' isikhalo
Siphuma le
Ngaphesheya kweThukela
Mina ngizw' isikhalo
Siphume le ngaphesheya kweLimpopo
Baphela abantu
Hii hii safa saphela
Hii hii safa saphela
Mayihlome mayihlome
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Mayihlome dokotela
Ihlasel' ingculaza
(Mayihlome)
(Mayihlom' ihlasele)
Mayihlome, mayihlome ihlasele
Ihlasel' ingculaza
Mina ngizw' ubumaye maye
Buphuma le emagumbin' amane alomhlaba
Mina ngizw' ubumaye maye
Baphela abantu ezweni yelele awuhhyelele
Thina sizwa ubumayemaye
Baphela abantu ezweni
Bafa baphela
Hii hii safa saphela
Hii hii safa saphela
Mayihlome
Mayihlome bo
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Shumayela weMfundisi
Shumayel' ubatshele
Behlasel' ingculaza
Mayihlome
Mayihlome bo
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Lethani amakhambi ezanusi
Sihlasele ingculaza
Awu hhe ahhhe
Saphela isizwe sonke
Awu hhe
Izigidi nezigidi
Zilele emigodini (Awu hhe)
Wensizwa wentombi ulalele na ?
Saphela isizwe sonke
Saphela isizwe sonke
Hi hi safa saphela (saphela thina)
Hi hi safa saphela
Mayihlome mayihlome
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Awu mayihlome bo
Mayihlome dokotela
Ihlasel' ingculaza
Mayihlome, mayihlome bo
Mayihlome ihlasele
Shumayela wemfundisi
Shumayela ubatshele
Bahlasele ingculaza
Mina ngizwa
Isikhalo
Ubumaye maye
The song "Mayihlome" by Sibongile Khumalo is a deeply emotional, spiritual and socially conscious song that focuses on the pain and suffering of people, with a particular emphasis on the African continent. The song starts with the repeated line "Hii hii Safa saphela," which can be translated as "We are dying, we are fading." This line sets the mood for the rest of the song, which is characterized by lamentations and cries for help.
The first verse of the song paints a picture of a person who hears the cries of mourning and grief coming from various parts of the country. The lyrics say that the person is hearing the sorrowful sounds from over the mountains of Khahlamba, over the Nciba river, over the Thukela river, and over Limpopo. The use of different rivers and mountains is a poetic way of expressing the vastness of the problem.
The chorus of the song, "Mayihlome mayihlome, Mayihlom' ihlasele, Mayihlome dokotela, Ihlasel' ingculaza" repeats a call for Mayihlome, which can be translated as "The healer has arrived." The song is a prayer for the healer to come and heal the sick and dying.
The second verse of the song talks about the pain and suffering caused by war and violence. The lyrics say that people are dying everywhere, and there is no escape from it. The verse ends with the repeating line "Thina sizwa ubumayemaye, Baphela abantu ezweni, Bafa baphela," which means "We hear the mournful cries of the dying people on this land, they are dying." The repetition of the line emphasizes the gravity of the situation.
The song ends with a final call for Mayihlome to heal the sick and suffering people. The lyrics say that the people are tired of dying and that they need help. The use of the word "we" throughout the song creates a sense of community and solidarity in the face of these hardships.
Line by Line Meaning
Hii hii
Sound effect of a mournful tone
Safa saphela
Everyone is dying
Mina ngizw' isililo
Siphuma le
Ngaphesheya kwentaba zoKhahlamba
I hear the cry of mourning,
It comes from beyond the mountains of Khahlamba
Mina ngizwa
Isikhalo
Siphuma le ngaphesheya kweNciba
I hear a lamentation,
It comes from beyond the hills of Nciba
Mina ngizw' isikhalo
Siphuma le
Ngaphesheya kweThukela
I hear a lamentation,
It comes from beyond the Thukela river
Mina ngizw' isikhalo
Siphume le ngaphesheya kweLimpopo
Baphela abantu
I hear a lamentation,
It comes from beyond the Limpopo river,
People are dying
Mayihlome mayihlome
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Mayihlome dokotela
Ihlasel' ingculaza
(Mayihlome)
(Mayihlom' ihlasele)
Mayihlome, mayihlome ihlasele
Ihlasel' ingculaza
Mayihlome, mayihlome,
May the one who heals save us
Doctor, heal the diseases
Heal the sickness (Mayihlome)
(Mayihlome, heal)
Mayihlome, mayihlome, heal us
Heal the sickness
Mina ngizw' ubumaye maye
Buphuma le emagumbin' amane alomhlaba
I hear the roar of thunder,
It comes from the four corners of the world
Mina ngizw' ubumaye maye
Baphela abantu ezweni yelele awuhhyelele
I hear the roar of thunder,
People are dying in a world that is wailing without ceasing
Thina sizwa ubumayemaye
Baphela abantu ezweni
Bafa baphela
We hear the roar of thunder,
People are dying in the world,
They are dying, they are dying
Mayihlome
Mayihlome bo
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Shumayela weMfundisi
Shumayel' ubatshele
Behlasel' ingculaza
Mayihlome, mayihlome,
May the one who heals save us
Sing, Pastor,
Preach and heal the sickness
Mayihlome
Mayihlome bo
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Lethani amakhambi ezanusi
Sihlasele ingculaza
Mayihlome, mayihlome,
May the one who heals save us
Bring the bones of the ancestors
So we can cure the sickness
Awu hhe ahhhe
Saphela isizwe sonke
Awu hhe
Izigidi nezigidi
Zilele emigodini (Awu hhe)
Wensizwa wentombi ulalele na ?
Saphela isizwe sonke
Saphela isizwe sonke
Ah, ah,
The whole nation is dying
Ah, ah,
The drums are silent
They are left in the caves (Ah, ah)
Hey young girl, are you sleeping?
The whole nation is dying
The whole nation is dying
Hi hi safa saphela (saphela thina)
Hi hi safa saphela
Hi hi, everyone is dying (we are dying)
Hi hi everyone is dying
Mayihlome mayihlome
Mayihlom' ihlasele
Awu mayihlome bo
Mayihlome dokotela
Ihlasel' ingculaza
Mayihlome, mayihlome,
May the one who heals save us
Ah, heal us
Doctor, heal the sickness
Mayihlome, mayihlome bo
Mayihlome ihlasele
Shumayela wemfundisi
Shumayela ubatshele
Bahlasele ingculaza
Mayihlome, mayihlome,
May the one who heals save us
Sing, Pastor,
Preach and heal the sickness
Mina ngizwa
Isikhalo
Ubumaye maye
I hear a lamentation,
The roar of thunder
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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