Zabalaza
Thandiswa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kunin' uhlupheka?
Little ghetto child
Ungazibulali sana
Oooooooooh
If you take my hand I'll show you
How to dream
Emzini kabawo, kunge kudala.
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza thina (zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza)
Sizozabalza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza)
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza thina (zabalza)
Sizo zabalaza
Ndivuk' ekuseni
Ndiyom' ezitradweni
Ndibelek' usana lwami ndiyocel' imali
Mina ndihamb' ezinzulwini zobusuku
Ndizilibaza
Ngizikhohlisa zonk' inhlungu zam
Ayifanelang' ub' iyenzeka lento,
Emzini kabawo, kunge kudala.
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza thina (zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza)
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza)
(zabalaza, zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza thina (zabalza)
Sizo- zabalaza (sizozabalaza thina)
For their blood sweat and tears
For their struggle and pain
Cause they gave up their lives for this
And it makes me wanna scream
When I see things this way.
Come and see what I see everyday.
Oooo Insana zilele zingadlanga, maye maye.
Ooo Intanga zam' zibulawa yingculazi.
Ooooo thina silal' emikhukhwini
Emzini kabawo, emzini kabawo.
Kutheni kunje? Kutheni kunjena la?
Kutheni kunjena emzini kabawo?
Thina sizozabalaza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza thina (zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza)
Sizozabalza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza)
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza, zabalaza)
Oh Sizozabalaza (zabalaza)
Oh sizozabalaza
Oh sizozabalaza
Sizozabalaza
The lyrics of Thandiswa's song Zabalaza reflect the struggles, pain and injustices that are part of life in the townships. The song starts with the question "Gogo bek' umthwalo, kunin' uhlupheka?" which translates to "Grandmother, do you feel the burden, do you feel the pain?" The reference to the little ghetto child who should be spared the suffering is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of life in the townships. However, the song is also a call to action and a message of hope. Thandiswa encourages the listener to dream and to take her hand as she shows the way. The lyrics "Sizozabalaza" which means "We will rise up" is a refrain that echoes the struggle for freedom and the need for change.
The song is characterized by a powerful melody and a strong beat. It is a fusion of different musical genres such as jazz, Afro-pop, and traditional rhythms. Thandiswa's vocals are raw and emotional, and convey a sense of urgency that matches the message of the lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "zabalaza" adds to the hypnotic and mesmerizing quality of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Gogo bek' umthwalo
Little grandma, do you bear the burden?
Kunin' uhlupheka?
Where is the hardship?
Little ghetto child
A child from the township
Ungazibulali sana
Don't kill me please
Oooooooooh
Expressing emotions
If you take my hand I'll show you
I will guide and inspire you
How to dream
Educating on the power of imagination
Ayifanelang' ub' iyenzeka lento,
This shouldn't be happening
Emzini kabawo, kunge kudala.
In our fathers' land, it wasn't like this before
Sizozabalaza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
We will rebel
Sizozabalaza thina (zabalaza)
We will rebel ourselves
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza)
In our fathers' land, we will rebel
Sizozabalza (zabalaza, zabalaza)
We will rebel
Emzini kabawo (zabalaza, zabalaza)
In our fathers' land, we will rebel
Sizozabalaza thina (zabalza)
We will rebel ourselves
Sizo zabalaza
We are rebelling
Ndivuk' ekuseni
I wake up in the morning
Ndiyom' ezitradweni
I go to school
Ndibelek' usana lwami ndiyocel' imali
I wash my child and beg for money
Mina ndihamb' ezinzulwini zobusuku
I walk in the dark alleys
Ndizilibaza
I'm burdened
Ngizikhohlisa zonk' inhlungu zam
I bear all my pains alone
Oooo Insana zilele zingadlanga, maye maye.
The people are sleeping without eating
Ooo Intanga zam' zibulawa yingculazi.
My cattle were killed by murderers
Ooooo thina silal' emikhukhwini
We sleep on the floor
Oh Sizozabalaza
Oh, we will rebel
Oh sizozabalaza
Oh, we will rebel
Oh sizozabalaza
Oh, we will rebel
Sizozabalaza
We will rebel
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mlondincama344
The whole country was singing this song with her. The voice was hers but the heart wasn't just hers, it was a heart of millions of South Africans who lived in poverty, children who were helplessly witnessing their parents lose their lives because of HIV/AIDS. Ms Mazwai has a powerful voice and is a great performer but what made this song move my heart was because she gave millions of South Africans a voice to express themselves and gave them strength to carry on. "Little ghetto child, ungazibulali sana. If you take my hand I'll show you how to dream. Sizozabalaza emzini kabawo... We will fight on, in my father's house🇿🇦"
2021 we're still here nothing has changed.
@mojalefasibanda9987
Soldering on ✊🏽
@Kutlwano_IVY
Beautifully explained ❤️🎬
@sinawosiqebengu5405
Still listening to this song in 2024. Oh a gem
@frankspokes5282
2024 we're making our voices heard! Vote for the most revolutionary movement since the dawn of our democracy! The work is only beginning, Sizo zabalaza! ✊🏽🇿🇦
@victoriatabourn2095
How true is this song though!!!Black people suffering in their own continent that's so rich in mineral resources...SMH
@tshepangsiyasanga3968
Eish...
@azaniaafricaunite9978
In 2020 I'm still listening to this song.
It's not suppose to happen indeed sisi Thandiswa.
"Kutheni Sahlala eMikhukhwini". 😢😢😢
Steve Biko once said " Black Child you are on your own".
@lovers0903
She just pointed in this song that the struggle still continues, whatever struggle you maybe experiencing in your life, you must Zabalaza against it black child...I love her too much!
@pinampimaano2403
Profound