The independent and spirited Khumalo released her debut album, Hey Laiti, in 1988. While she was given recognition by the industry for her impressive vocal abilities, she also had to endure some criticism from people who said she copied Brenda Fassie, with whom she was working.
Few people really know who Khumalo is. That is because for many years she lived in the shadow of the legendary Fassie, for whom she was a backing vocalist. She also doubled up as a filler whenever the pop icon was not able to make it on stage.
Khumalo does not mind in the least if she is compared to Fassie.
“I learnt more about music while I was with Brenda Fassie than I learnt anywhere else.
“She was my mentor and role model,” Khumalo says.
Khumalo pays tribute to Fassie on her album Happy Day, which she released last year.
In a song titled Ngikujongile, Khumalo appeals to people to stop fighting over Fassie’s estate and royalties.
“Whenever someone dies people fight over the deceased’s belongings instead of mourning. We should be ashamed of ourselves,” Khumalo complains.
On Happy Day, her voice is full and powerful.
She sings with that alluring purr that gives a hint of everything she’s got.
After taking a long break from the music industry, she joined Kalawa Jazmee Records five years ago.
The album opens with a house tune titled Drift Away. The song will take you down memory lane. Khumalo wrote the song herself, to tell people that she has made a decision to drift away from her old lifestyle.
She sings that she wants to climb new heights, where she wants to live her life to the full.
The 36-year-old believes that her new album will take the industry by storm.
“This album is what the music industry has been missing. The songs will take you to church, to wedding ceremonies, to clubs and to parties like there is no tomorrow,” she says confidently.
Khumalo says Kalawa Jazmee Records also wanted her to sing gospel music, but she felt she is not ready for it.
“I am not spiritually ready to commit to gospel music yet. I have a lot of sins to deal with. I do not want to be a fake like some gospel artists who are saturating the industry,” she says.
Her gospel tunes were produced by Sipho Mbele who works with gospel divas Deborah Fraser and Hlengiwe Mhlaba. And Khumalo delivers her messages like an angel from heaven.
She has a son with former world boxing champion Dingaan Thobela and a daughter with her ex-husband, the former bubble- gum musician Seabee of Thiba fame.
While she took a break from music, Khumalo busied herself with business.
She has also appeared in the TV drama Muvhango, featured on the Brothers Of Peace album Life iskoroko, and in Chicco Twala’s low-budget movie, My sh*t father and my lotto ticket.
Amabele
Winnie Khumalo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ndakunika nengalo
Ndakunik'amabele
Awuyaz'oyifunayo
Ndikunikil'izandla
Ndakunika nengalo
Ndakunik'amabele
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo
Ndenze konk'okusemandleni ami ndoda
Andazi yinton'oyifunayo ndoda
Upendile kwami
Walungis'umuzi wami
Ndakubhatala
Kalokho awuyazi oyifunayo
Ndikunikil'izandla
Ndakunika nengalo
Ndakunik'amabele
Ngok'awuyaz'oyifunayo
Ndikunikil'izandla
Ndakunika nengalo
Ndakunik'amabele
Ngok'awuyaz'oyifunayo
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo
Ndenze konk'okusemandleni ami we ndoda
Andazi yinton'oyifunayo we ndoda
Upendile kwami
Walungis'umuzi wami
Ndakubhatala
Kalokho awuyazi oyifunayo
Ndikunikil'izandla
Ndakunika nengalo
Ndakunik'amabele
Ngok'awuyaz'oyifunayo
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo
Hmmm ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
(Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Heee
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
(Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Hmmm
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
(Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Heee
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
(Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Hmmm
(We ndoda)
Hmmm (Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo)
Heeee mmmm (We ndoda)
Heee eeh (Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Mmmm
(We ndoda)
Hey yeeeeeh (Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Wo oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (We ndoda)
Hai ye ye ye ye ye (Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo)
(We ndoda)
The lyrics of Winnie Khumalo's song 'Amabele' speak of a person who is willing to offer their all to their lover, yet the lover seems ungrateful and nonchalant. 'Ndikunikil'izandla' translates to 'I give you my hand', 'Ndakunik'amabele' means 'I give you my corn', and 'Ndakunika nengalo' means 'I give you my love'. The repetition of these lines drives home the point that the singer is willing to give their all to their lover. However, the chorus 'Awuyaz'oyifunayo' repeatedly emphasizes that the lover does not seem to appreciate or desire these gifts.
The second stanza speaks of the singer's confusion and frustration at their lover's ungratefulness. They express that they have built a home for their lover and paid for it, yet the lover seems to not care about their efforts. Ultimately, the chorus repeats again, emphasizing that the lover seems uninterested in the gifts of love that the singer is offering.
Line by Line Meaning
Ndikunikil'izandla
I gave you my hand
Ndakunika nengalo
I gave you a promise
Ndakunik'amabele
I gave you my heart
Awuyaz'oyifunayo
You don't know what you want
Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo
Do you know what you want?
Ndenze konk'okusemandleni ami ndoda
I did what I could, my man
Andazi yinton'oyifunayo ndoda
I don't know what you want, my man
Upendile kwami
You've made me happy
Walungis'umuzi wami
You've taken care of my home
Ndakubhatala
I paid for you
Kalokho awuyazi oyifunayo
But you still don't know what you want
Ngok'awuyaz'oyifunayo
According to what you want
Hmmm ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo (We ndoda)
Hmm, do you know what you want? (My man)
(Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Heee
(Do you know what you want?) Yes
(Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Hmmm
(Do you know what you want?) Hmm
(We ndoda)
(My man)
Mmmm
Hmm
Hey yeeeeeh (Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo) Wo oh oh oh
Hey yeah (Do you know what you want?) Wo oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (We ndoda)
Oh oh oh oh oh (My man)
Hai ye ye ye ye ye (Ye wen'awuyazi oyifunayo)
No no no no no (Do you know what you want?)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sipho Zulu
on Kulezontaba
Wathi uyahamba ubheke eGoli [You said you were leaving to Joburg]
Kwandonga ziyaduma [to the roaring mountains]
Wathi ngik’bambel’inhliziyo yakho [You said I should hold your heart]
Wen’uzobuya [You would come back]
Manje ukuphi na? [Where are you now]
Ngoba ngiyak’dinga [Because I need you]
Ngizothatha ibhasi yasekuseni [I’ll take the morning bus]
Ngizokufuna lapho [to look for you there]
Ezintabeni zaseGoli [In the Joburg mountains]
Refrain
Kuleziya ntaba bangisithele isithandwa sami [In those mountains they have my sweetheart out of sight]
Kuleziya ntaba bangifihlele ulavi wami [In those mountains they have hidden my love]
Uyakhumbula mhla ngiyokha amanzi [Do you remember the day I went to fetch some water]
Wangibamba ngesandla wenz’isethembiso [You held my hand and made a promise]
Wathi ngeke ungilahle [You said you’d never leave me]
Wathi sofa silahlane [You said death would do us apart]
Manje awusekho lana la [Now you are no longer here]
Manje ilelo Goli [it’s (because) of that Joburg]
Wathath’inhliziyo yami [You took/stole my heart]
Wathi uzobuya kodwa manje awusekho [You said you’d come back but now you are no more]
Refrain
Mina ngiyak’khumbula! [I miss you]
Mina ngiyak’dinga! [I need you]
KwaNdonga Ziyaduma, eGoli! [in the rumbling mountains, in Joburg]