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.
โI learnt more about music while I was with Brenda Fassie than I learnt anywhere else.
โShe was my mentor and role model,โ 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 Fassieโs estate and royalties.
โWhenever someone dies people fight over the deceasedโs belongings instead of mourning. We should be ashamed of ourselves,โ Khumalo complains.
On Happy Day, her voice is full and powerful.
She sings with that alluring purr that gives a hint of everything sheโs 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.
โThis 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,โ she says confidently.
Khumalo says Kalawa Jazmee Records also wanted her to sing gospel music, but she felt she is not ready for it.
โI 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,โ 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 Twalaโs low-budget movie, My sh*t father and my lotto ticket.
Too Late
Winnie Khumalo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Started raining on the way to fetch some water
Poor woman had a baby on her back
Got struck by lightening on the way
To fetch some water
Water
Water
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late
It was too late
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Sho
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
She tried hiding under a tree to save her child
Poor woman had no place to go
Lightening caught her with her baby on her back
Friends, relatives ran for her
It was too late
It was too late
Too late for mama
Oh no
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late
It was too late
Sho
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Too late for mama
Oh mama
Mama with a little baby
She's gone
She's gone
She's gone
Oh poor mama
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late
It was too late
Husband came running to the scene yeah
Poor man held his dead wife in his arms
Eyes full of tears not believing the nightmare
Knelt down and prayed if this was a dream or not
It was too late
Too late for mama
Oh mama mama
Oh poor mama
It was too late
Too late
Too late for mama
Oh mama
Mama with a little baby
She's gone
She's gone
She's gone
Oh poor mama
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late, too late
It was too late
Sho
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
Sho
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
Iyajika lento
Iyajika lento
The song Too Late by Winnie Khumalo is a heartbreaking tale of a woman who perishes due to nature's cruel whims. The lyrics describe the woman's journey to retrieve water for her family, a task that seems simple enough but proves to be fatal. The woman walks ten kilometres barefooted in the bush to fetch water when it suddenly starts raining. She carries her baby on her back and attempts to find shelter under a tree in a futile attempt to protect herself and the baby. Sadly, lightning strikes her and it is too late for anyone to help her.
The song also describes the aftermath of the tragedy. The woman's husband finds her and holds her lifeless body in his arms, crying and praying it's all a nightmare. Friends and relatives also gather around, but it's too late, and nothing can be done to bring the woman back. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "too late," emphasising the tragedy that has occurred and the inability to prevent it.
This song is a poignant reminder of how vulnerable humans are when they venture out into nature. One minute you can be carrying out a simple task, the next minute you could be facing a life or death situation. The use of repetition in the song reinforces the idea that no matter how many times people say it, some things are just too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten kilometres barefooted in the bush
The woman traveled a long distance without shoes through the wilderness.
Started raining on the way to fetch some water
It began to rain while the woman was on a journey to get water.
Poor woman had a baby on her back
The woman was carrying a baby on her back during her journey.
Got struck by lightening on the way
The woman was hit by lightning while she was traveling.
Water
The woman was gathering water when the tragedy occurred.
Water
Water was the reason for the woman's journey and her tragic fate.
Oh poor mama
The woman who suffered the tragedy was called 'mama' and is being lamented.
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late
The tragedy was irreversible and could not be undone, no matter how much time or effort was expended.
It was too late
The tragedy was irrevocable and in the past, nothing could be done to change it.
Iyajika lento
This situation leads to sorrow and mourning.
Sho
An expression of agreement or understanding in response to the singer's storytelling.
He ngikhule ngikhule ngimamel'uMaBrr
The singer is encouraging herself to grow and mature like her mother, 'MaBrr'.
She tried hiding under a tree to save her child
The woman attempted to protect her baby from the lightning strike by sheltering under a tree.
Poor woman had no place to go
The woman had nowhere safe to take shelter from the lightning.
Lightening caught her with her baby on her back
The lightning strike hit the woman and her baby while they were together.
Friends, relatives ran for her
The woman's loved ones went to help her, but it was already too late.
Too late for mama
The tragedy struck the mother and her life could not be saved.
Oh no
An exclamation of sadness and distress in response to the tragedy.
Husband came running to the scene yeah
The woman's husband arrived at the location of the tragedy.
Poor man held his dead wife in his arms
The husband mourned his wife's death and held her body.
Eyes full of tears not believing the nightmare
The husband was in a state of disbelief and shock, crying from his eyes.
Knelt down and prayed if this was a dream or not
The husband fell to the ground and prayed, hoping that the tragic event was just a dream.
Mama with a little baby
The mother was carrying her baby with her when she passed away.
She's gone
The mother died in the tragedy and cannot be brought back.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tanaka Chisango
Touching song indeed, Danki Oskido
Jeffrey Danai
Love how she kept her accent
KITUMBA_ TV
very dope!!!
Syabonga Mbatha
This songs remind me back in 2014
Steven Salut
Great hit..... Seems like the queen remake
nosandile gasela
โฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ
Christo Gawie
mmmmmmm!Great indeed!
Prayer Musa
i like
makhi nobhozoyi
Nice music vidoe n beat
vuma02
more like TOO LATE for this video! song came out months back. love this track but I feel like wants the point, y cant it be the other way round and the video will make folk fall in love with the track. something to think about
great track tho!!!