Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse was born in Johannesburg on 2 November 1951. Mabuse … Read Full Bio ↴Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse was born in Johannesburg on 2 November 1951. Mabuse got his start in the African soul group the Beaters in the mid-1970s. After a successful tour of Zimbabwe they changed the group's name to Harari. When they returned to their homeland in South Africa they began to draw almost exclusively on American-style funk, soul, and pop music, sung in Zulu and Sotho as well as English. He has also recorded and produced for, amongst others, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri and Sibongile Khumalo.

Mabuse is responsible for "Burn Out" in the early 1980s which sold over 500,000 copies, and the giant (Disco Shangaan) hit of the late 1980s, "Jive Soweto".

His daughter is the singer Mpho Skeef.

Chant
Sipho Mabuse Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I remember the day when I heard the sound of the marching in from the distance
Rising all the way
From the sound of the stomping feet to the sound of resistance

Then there was fire
And insurrection
Rocks and stones and action

Bullets and pellets
From every direction
Sirens and silence
Unnatural oppression

People chanting
People rising

You know someday when it's part of our history children will learn of our past
Someday when we tell our story children will learn from our past
Teach our children

Human life sacrificed security fortified
Authority satisfied in a brutal state of anger

Someone is dead
With a hole in his head
And mother is crying
Another is trying to explain why a nation is dying

Someday when it's part of our history children will learn of our past (Yes they will)
Someday when we tell our story children will learn from our past

Nkosi sikelela

Overall Meaning

The song "Chant of the Marching" by Sipho Mabuse is a powerful reflection on the struggle for freedom and equality during the apartheid era in South Africa. The lyrics evoke the experience of hearing the chanting and stomping of a mass of people marching in protest. The sense of urgency and defiance is palpable in the opening lines as the sound of the march grows closer and louder. The phrase "sound of resistance" captures the spirit of the people as they stood up against the repressive regime that sought to silence their voices.

The second verse speaks to the violent nature of the struggle, with the imagery of bullets, stones, and sirens. The repetition of "people chanting, people rising" emphasizes the collective effort of the movement and the rising momentum of a people's revolution. The line "human life sacrificed security fortified" highlights the stark reality of the costs of resistance, with lives lost and families torn apart.

The final verse focuses on the importance of passing on the lessons of this struggle to future generations. The phrase "teach our children" underscores the need for education and remembrance in the face of systems of oppression. The inclusion of the phrase "Nkosi sikelela" at the end of the song, which translates to "God bless Africa," serves as a prayer for a better future and a reminder of the power of community and faith in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

I remember the day when I heard the sound of the marching in from the distance
I recall the day when I first heard the noise of a distant march approaching

Rising all the way
The sound increased as it got closer

From the sound of the stomping feet to the sound of resistance
From the rhythmic thumping of feet to the sound of opposition

Then there was fire
It turned violent

And insurrection
Fueled by rebellion

Rocks and stones and action
Physical aggression with projectiles

Bullets and pellets
Gunfire from all sides

From every direction
Coming from all angles

Sirens and silence
Emergency alarms mixed with eerie stillness

Unnatural oppression
Forced cruelty and inhumanity

People chanting
The sound of united voices calling out

People rising
People standing up for their cause

You know someday when it's part of our history children will learn of our past
One day our kids will learn about our struggle when it becomes history