Singer-songwriter Stef Bos was born 1961 in Veenendaal (Netherlands) and mo… Read Full Bio ↴Singer-songwriter Stef Bos was born 1961 in Veenendaal (Netherlands) and moved to Belgium in 1984. He has been active in multiple artistic disciplines: beside cabaret and theatre he is best known for his music. He both writes for others as well as for himself, mostly in Dutch.
In Dutch speaking countries he is best known for his 1991 hit record ‘Papa’ - about a father/son relation. Since then he has made several albums and has also become quite popular amongst the Afrikaner population of South-Africa where he recorded several songs with crossovers between his European style and the tribal sounds of Southern Africa.
In 2004 he published as a poet. He is still performing and developing new material.

Ndisina Iwe
Stef Bos Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rivieren
Rivieren zouden niet meer stromen
En mijn ogen
Mijn ogen zouden niet meer zien
De winter
Zou niet meer wijken voor de zomer
En mijn hart
Zou niet meer slaan misschien

Dinoka noka dikasephale
Mahlo aka akwalehe
Pelo yaka ha e otli
Dinonyane ha di bini
Ha ... ke sena le wena
Ndoita sei (ndoita sei)
Ndoita sei (ndoita sei)
Ndoita sei (ndoita sei)
Ndisina iwe ... Ndisina iwe
Ndisina iwe ... Ndisina iwe
Ndinoti dai tiri tose, iwe neni
Mdyo wangu uno rwadza
Ndinotadza nekurara
Ndichifunga iwe
Ngithi umhlaba ungajikelezi
Inyang ingaswaca
Ilanga lingesine
Nsuku zona zingashabalala
Mawungeko nami
Ndinoti dai tiri tose, iwe neni
Mdyo wangu uno rwadza
Ndinotadza nekurara
Ndichifunga iwe
Ndoita sei (ndoita sei)
Ndoita sei (ndoita sei)
Ndoita sei (ndoita sei)
Ndisina iwe ... Ndisina iwe
Ndisina iwe ... Ndisina iwe
Ndisina iwe ...
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe
Ndisina iwe ... Ndisina iwe
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe
Rivieren
Rivieren zouden niet meer stromen (Ndisina iwe ...Ndisina iwe )
En mijn ogen, mijn ogen, mijn ogen (Ndisina iwe ...Ndisina iwe )
Zouden niet meer zien (Ndisina iwe ...Ndisina iwe )
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe

Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe
Ndoita sei ... Ndisina iwe

Overall Meaning

The song "Ndisina Iwe" by Stef Bos is an emotional piece that captures the feeling of heartbreak and loneliness. The lyrics talk about a world without hope where rivers stop flowing, the winter never gives way for the summer, and the heart stops beating. The phrase "Ndisina Iwe" is Chichewa and translates to "I don't have you" in English. The chorus repeats this phrase multiple times, emphasizing the theme of loss and separation. The bridge of the song brings in a sense of longing for the person that is no longer there, as the singer wishes they could be together once more. The verses shift from Chichewa to Shona and then to Zulu, adding a layer of cultural depth to the song. Overall, "Ndisina Iwe" portrays the intense pain and devastation that comes with losing a loved one and the hopelessness that so often follows.

Line by Line Meaning

Rivieren
Rivers

Rivieren zouden niet meer stromen
The rivers would stop flowing

En mijn ogen
And my eyes

Mijn ogen zouden niet meer zien
My eyes would no longer see

De winter
The winter

Zou niet meer wijken voor de zomer
Would no longer give way to summer

En mijn hart
And my heart

Zou niet meer slaan misschien
Perhaps my heart would stop beating

Dinoka noka dikasephale
Streams and rivers are dry

Mahlo aka akwalehe
My eyes are swollen from crying

Pelo yaka ha e otli
My heart is not at peace