Mixing African gospel with traditional hymns, Jamaican reggae, American pop… Read Full Bio ↴Mixing African gospel with traditional hymns, Jamaican reggae, American pop, and spiritually themed secular songs, the Soweto Gospel Choir are an impressive performing unit. Formed in Soweto, South Africa, in 2002 by choir directors David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, the group includes 30-some members and the show they produce is a powerful expression of hope and joy full of gorgeous South African vocal harmonies.

The choir was the surprise hit of the 2003 Edinburgh Festival: they were the fourth-highest selling act out of 1,600 acts booked for the festival, putting on extra shows to meet the demand and eventually performing 29 concerts in the space of a month - delighting the reviewers as much as the audiences.

The choir's debut album, Voices from Heaven, appeared in 2005 from Shanachie Records, followed that same year by Blessed, also on Shanachie. African Spirit was released two years later in 2007 on the same imprint.

Shosholoza
Soweto Gospel Choir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shosholoza
Shosholoza
Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)
Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)
Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)
Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)
Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)
Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)

Shosholoza (Shosholoza) Uyeyeeee
Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Shosholoza (Shosholoza) Uyeyeeee
Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Wen'uyabaleka (Wen'uyabaleka) Uyeyeeee
Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Wen'uyabaleka (Wen'uyabaleka) Uyeyeeee
Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Shosholoza ma
Kulezontaba

(Shosholoza) Shosholoza mama
Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) kulezontaba
Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) Aw shosholoza mama
Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) Uyeye kulezontaba mama
Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) Aw shosholoza mama
Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) Uyeye kulezontaba mama
Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)

Shosholoza (Shosholoza) Uyeyeee
Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Shosholoza (Shosholoza)
Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Shosholoza (Shosholoza) Uyeyeee
(Shosholoza)Qham thushu stimela samalahle (kulezontaba)
Yashosholoz'inqola emasondosondo (Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa)
Ibuy'eMzans'Africa
Igudl'izintaba (Shosholoza ma, shosholoza)
Igudl'amawa
Ipheth'abamhlophe nabamnyama (kulezontaba)
Iyapheka iyathulula
Uyadela wen'osulapho (Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa)
LIlizela mlilizeli (Shosholoza ma, shosholoza)
LIlizela ngane yeAfrica
Yashosholoz'inqola emasondosondo (kulezontaba)
Yashosholoz'inqola yeAfrica
Sashosholoz'inqola stimela samalahle (Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa)
Shosholoza baba Shosholoza (shosholoza)
Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Shosholoza (Shosholoza) Uyeyeee

Kulezontaba
Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa

Overall Meaning

The song "Shosholoza" is a traditional African work song. The word "shosholoza" itself translates to "go forward" or "make a way" in Nguni, a Bantu language spoken in Southern Africa. The song is a call to action to encourage workers to keep up their spirits and push through difficult times. Throughout the song, the singer encourages the listener to keep going and not give up, even when the going gets tough.

The first few lines of "Shosholoza" establish the main call and response theme of the song. The lead singer calls out "Shosholoza," and the choir responds, "Wen'uyabaleka," which roughly translates to "you're running away." This call and response is repeated several times throughout the song, with the addition of different phrases that all convey the same meaning of pushing forward.

The song's imagery speaks to the South African experience of apartheid and forced labor. The lyrics reference trains leaving South Africa's mines and carrying the workers back to their homes, and encourage the workers to keep singing as they ride the train. The repetition of phrases like "Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa" ("the train is leaving South Africa") and "kulezontaba" ("over those mountains") was likely intended as a way to keep spirits high and promote solidarity among workers.

In terms of its history and cultural significance, "Shosholoza" is a well-known song in South Africa and has been performed by numerous artists over the years. It has also been sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir during their international tours. The song was notably featured in the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held in South Africa.

Line by Line Meaning

Shosholoza
Come on move forward

Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)
Come on, move fast (run away)

Shosholoza (Shosholoza) Uyeyeeee Kulezontaba Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa
Come on move forward, you are climbing mountains, the train is leaving South Africa

Wen'uyabaleka (Wen'uyabaleka) Uyeyeeee Kulezontaba Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa
You are running (escaping), climbing mountains, the train is leaving South Africa

Shosholoza ma Kulezontaba
Come on move forward, you are climbing mountains

Shosholoza mama Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) kulezontaba Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) Aw shosholoza mama Ai shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka) Uyeye kulezontaba mama Shosholoza (Wen'uyabaleka)
Come on move forward mother, come on, move fast (run away), you are climbing mountains, come on move forward mother, come on, move fast (run away), you are climbing mountains

(Shosholoza)Qham thushu stimela samalahle (kulezontaba) Yashosholoz'inqola emasondosondo (Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa) Ibuy'eMzans'Africa Igudl'izintaba (Shosholoza ma, shosholoza) Igudl'amawa Ipheth'abamhlophe nabamnyama (kulezontaba) Iyapheka iyathulula Uyadela wen'osulapho (Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa) LIlizela mlilizeli (Shosholoza ma, shosholoza) LIlizela ngane yeAfrica Yashosholoz'inqola emasondosondo (kulezontaba) Yashosholoz'inqola yeAfrica Sashosholoz'inqola stimela samalahle (Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa) Shosholoza baba Shosholoza (shosholoza)
Get up, hurry up, here comes the train (climbing mountains), it's shaking the ground, it's leaving South Africa, the train is going to Mzansi Africa, it's crossing mountains and rivers, it's going through the white and black communities (climbing mountains), it's crossing it all, it's entering the land of Africans, it's shaking the ground, the train is leaving South Africa, come on move forward father, come on move forward

Shosholoza (Shosholoza) Uyeyeee Kulezontaba Stimela siphum'eSouth Africa
Come on move forward, you are climbing mountains, the train is leaving South Africa

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUCAS BOK, VELILE MSIMANGO, LUCAS DEON BOK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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