Africa
Sipho Mchunu Lyrics
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E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Hlala
Hlala
He was born in the African dawn
So gentle in the eye he was
As any woman's child
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Hlala
Hlala
As he grew people told him son
Don't you trust anyone
You learn how to trust a stone
This is not gentle and then it breaks those
Who never learned how to be alone
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Hlala
Hlala
And so he walked in the fashion of his lands
Until at last he cried out
Can anybody hear me, hear me
Hear the song in my heart
There's a song to be sung that can heal these broken men
Let us sing and we'll walk through the dark
Hand in hand
Hand in hand
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Hlala
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
The lyrics of Sipho Mchunu's Africa speak to the pain and struggles of the African continent. The repetition of "Afrika kukhala abangcwele" translates to "Africa, the holy cry," emphasizing the raw and intense emotions that come along with the rich and complex history of the continent. The first verse speaks about a boy born in the African dawn, orphaned to the land. The use of "gentle in the eye" to describe him suggests innocence and vulnerability often lost in the harsh reality of life in Africa.
The second verse speaks to the harsh lessons learned by the boy as he grows older. People advise him to trust no one and learn to trust a stone, emphasizing the dangers and mistrust that exist in African society. The chorus reiterates the cry for Africa and the holy status of the pain and struggle the continent endures. The final verse speaks about the boy's cry for someone to hear him, to hear the song in his heart. This song, according to the lyrics, can heal broken men and unite people in solidarity. The image of hand in hand speaks to this unity, with "dark" being the struggles and pain of the continent, and the song being the light to guide people out of it.
Overall, the lyrics of Africa speak to the complexity of Africa, with lyrics bearing the weight of collective pain and struggle endured over centuries. The song is a cry for help, for understanding, and for solidarity in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Africa cries out for the righteous ones
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Africa cries out for the righteous ones, yes you
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Africa cries out for the righteous ones
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Africa cries out for the righteous ones, yes you
Hlala
Stay (in the struggle)
Hlala
Stay (in the struggle)
As he grew people told him son
As he grew up, people warned him
Don't you trust anyone
Not to trust anyone
You learn how to trust a stone
Instead, he learned to trust inanimate objects like stones
This is not gentle and then it breaks those
This approach is not gentle and can cause harm to those who never learned how to be alone
Who never learned how to be alone
Those who never learned how to be independent
And so he walked in the fashion of his lands
He continued to follow the traditions of his culture
Until at last he cried out
Until he couldn't bear it any longer and broke down
Can anybody hear me, hear me
He asked for someone to hear him
Hear the song in my heart
To hear the passion he has
There's a song to be sung that can heal these broken men
There is a song that can heal those who have been broken
Let us sing and we'll walk through the dark
Let us sing together, and we will find our way through difficult times
Hand in hand
Together
Hand in hand
Together
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Africa cries out for the righteous ones
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Africa cries out for the righteous ones, yes you
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Africa cries out for the righteous ones
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Africa cries out for the righteous ones, yes you
Hlala
Stay (in the struggle)
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Africa cries out for the righteous ones
E Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Africa cries out for the righteous ones, yes you
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Africa cries out for the righteous ones
Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Africa cries out for the righteous ones, yes you
Afrika kukhala abangcwele
Africa cries out for the righteous ones
Afrika kukhala abangcwele wena
Africa cries out for the righteous ones, yes you
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Calixto Antonio Ochoa Ocampo, Wilfrido Carmelo Martinez Mattos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind