Tracks like the #1 smash "Charlie", along with top ten hits "Something Wrong", "Africa", "Never Ever", "Green Fever" etc made sure that all five (SAMA nominated) WONDERBOOM albums were represented on the "All The Hits" CD/DVD compilation, released at the end of 2005, bringing
' WONDERBOOM PHASE ONE' to a close.
National tourswith Simple Minds and Live and headling every South African festival (sharing the stage with the likes of The Mission and Feeder) led to WONDERBOOM being constantly touted as S.A.’s hottest live act. CITO, MARTIN, DANNY AND WADE lived up to this claim in December 2004 when WONDERBOOM represented South Africa at the Global Battle of the Bands in London and finished second in a field of 16 bands from all over the world.
Other accolades include added the prestigious “Kanna” award won at the 2005 Klein Karoo Kunstefees and People magazine’s “Best S.A. Band” Crystal Award in 2003.
Early in 2006 vocalist Cito landed the lead role in the Pieter Torien production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. The five month break from live shows, along with the phenomenal success of the theatre production and the impact Cito has made in the role, has resulted in an unprecendented demand for WONDERBOOM.
'WONDERBOOM PHASE TWO’ begins with “City of Gold” an album released on the Sheer Sound indi label, is full of radio friendly singles sure to take the band’s already large following to massive proportions!
Àfrica
Wonderboom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An orphan to the land
So gentle to the eye he was
As any woman's man
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Ah la la
As he grew people told him, son
Don't you trust anyone
You learn how to trust a stone
Learn how to be alone
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
Ah la la
And, so he walked
Through the passion of his land
Until at last he cried out
Can anybody hear me?
Can anybody hear me?
Can anybody hear me?
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
Ah la la
Let us sing
As we walked through the dark
Hand in hand
Hand in hand
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
Ah la la
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele (Ah la la)
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah (Ah la la)
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele
Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele wemah
The song Africa by Wonderboom is a reflective piece that tells the story of a man born in the African continent as an orphan. The character is depicted as gentle and attractive to women, but he grows up learning not to trust anyone. Instead, he learns to rely on himself and be alone as he walks through the passion of his land.
As the character cries out, asking if anyone can hear him, the song builds up to a chorus that celebrates Africa. The phrase "Afrika ko-ka-la ba-ngwele" is repeated multiple times, which means "Africa, let's sing together" in Sesotho, a South African language. The lyrics represent the unity and power in the voice of the African people, regardless of their struggles and experiences.
The song is a tribute to the beauty and strength of Africa as a continent and its people. It portrays Africa as a land of endurance, of passion, and of resilience. Through the orphan's story, the lyrics convey the sense of struggle that exists in Africa but also the powerful spirit that endures through hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
He was born in an African dawn
He came into existence during an early morning in Africa
An orphan to the land
He was without any familial relations to the land
So gentle to the eye he was
He had an attractive physical appearance
As any woman's man
He was charming and had qualities that made him attractive to women
Don't you trust anyone
He was advised not to trust anyone
You learn how to trust a stone
You can only rely on inanimate objects and nature
Learn how to be alone
Being independent is necessary
Until at last he cried out
After struggling for some time, he finally expressed his emotions
Can anybody hear me?
Is anyone listening to me?
Let us sing
We should express our joy through music
As we walked through the dark
During difficult times, we should walk together
Hand in hand
Together, helping and supporting one another
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danbarnes8178
Absolutely love this version. Feel privileged to have seen these guys in SA
@mrkleinhond
Been some years and you are still one of my favourite bands! So glad you guys are still around
@edwarddyssel8063
This is definitely one of the best live bands I've ever seen and I've seen a shitload
@roxycampher6694
I love this band 😍💙
@marcusliebenberg4930
Can I say four things:
Electric Petals.
90s
Durban.
Memories.
@bernardingram9695
F amazing
@jagermeister1.015
Love this song. Takes me right back to the summer of 2004... Wonderboom playing at the RAU RAG Jool. What an awesome night that was.
@WONDERboomBand
Thanks Richard. Check out the upcoming "Best Side Story" tour and new single, Praying Mantis.
@davidknott4514
Brilliant, still listening to it in 2020
@DurbanNiks101
Yes sir. WB rocked our heads off.