Stella Chiweshe (also Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe Ne… Read Full Bio ↴Stella Chiweshe (also Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe Nekati, or Stella Nekati Chiweshe, b. Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe, November 8, 1946) is a Zimbabwean musician. She is internationally known for her singing and playing of the mbira dzavadzimu, a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. She is one of the few female players of the instrument, which she learned to play in the mid-1960s when even fewer females played the instrument. In 1989, she starred in I Am the Future, a Godwin Mawuru film about a young woman who travels to the big city to escape Zimbabwe's independence war in the rural areas.

Kasahwa
Stella Chiweshe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa

Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa

Ndakanga ndabaiwa navakomana toita marombe
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Vakomanaye, ndoendawo kwambuya, ndoendawo kwambuya
Iye woyere, iye, iyewo
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa

Mukai tiende vakomanawe mombe yamurereketu yoenda
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa nemakore kore
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Vakandiita mukomberamwa kundiita garira nekokoko
Ndopavandiposa vari kurimwa nhomba mbuya
Pururudzai vanhu nekunetsana ini ndanyara ini
Ndakanga ndabaiwa

Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa

Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Ndakanga ndabaiwa

Ndakati ndoenda nekoko gore rino
Regai ndiite ndoita wedangwe

Mangondiroverawo mwanangu vasikana kani
Ndakanga ndabaiwa
Handichaziva zvandichaita gwara mutere iwe

Ndoendawo kwambuya
Inga ndiri mwana wenyu vanambuya vasikana kani

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stella Chiweshe's song "Kasahwa" convey a sense of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The repetitive phrase "Ndakanga ndabaiwa" can be interpreted as the artist proclaiming that she has been through tough times but has managed to overcome them. This repetition emphasizes the strength and endurance required to overcome challenges.

The lyrics mention "navakomana toita marombe," which translates to "young men, let's work together" in English. This line suggests the importance of unity and collaboration in facing difficulties. The artist acknowledges the support she has received from these young men, as well as the role of her ancestors in guiding and protecting her.

The later verses mention a cow named Murereketu that is being taken away. This can be seen as a metaphor for the burdens and struggles that the artist has experienced. The lyrics also touch on themes of misunderstanding, as the artist expresses her willingness to forgive and reconcile with others.

Overall, "Kasahwa" serves as a testament to the artist's determination, resilience, and the power of unity in overcoming challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

Ndakanga ndabaiwa
I was beaten

Ndakanga ndabaiwa navakomana toita marombe
I was beaten by the boys, we were playing rough

Vakomanaye, ndoendawo kwambuya, ndoendawo kwambuya
Those boys, they went to my grandmother, they went to my grandmother

Iye woyere, iye, iyewo
She will defend me, she will, yes

Mukai tiende vakomanawe mombe yamurereketu yoenda
Please go, those boys, the cow that they tied up, it's wandering off

Ndakanga ndabaiwa nemakore kore
I was beaten badly

Vakandiita mukomberamwa kundiita garira nekokoko
They made me carry heavy loads and forced me to crow like a rooster

Ndopavandiposa vari kurimwa nhomba mbuya
That's when they realized they are taming a wild animal, grandmother

Pururudzai vanhu nekunetsana ini ndanyara ini
Warn people against harming me, I am already hurt

Ndakati ndoenda nekoko gore rino
I said I will leave with the rooster today