So I've recently started to modern(ish) African music sung in a various African languages and I'd thought I'd share it hear, because it's probably a lot better than most people think it would be.
Where I can, I'll provide written lyrics and translations as well, but due to the extreme nicheness of this subject from a Western perspective, it might not be possible.
Feel free to jump in and add your own examples if you have any, or just have general chit-chat about what you think of it.
We'll start with one some of you might know, as it was sampled in the Matafix song Living Darfur, which is Umagubane (The Mob) by Chicco.
UMagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
UMagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
(The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma)
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
(My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember)
(Nabantwana and Nezingane can be used interchangeably to mean small child or baby)
Awu indoda yami bo
Baba wabantwa bami
Awu indoda yami bo
Baba wezingani zami
(Well my husband bo
The father of my children
Well my husband bo
The father of my children)
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
(Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords
Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords
Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords
Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords)
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
(The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma)
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
(My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember)
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
(My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember)
Ahh he umh umh
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
(Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords
Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords
Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords
Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords)
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
(Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords
Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords)
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
(The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma)
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
(My children and I will always remember)
Awu indoda yami bo
Baba wabantwa bami
Awu indoda yami bo
Baba wezingani zami
(Well my husband bo
The father of my children
Well my husband bo
The father of my children)
Awu indoda yami bo
Baba wabantwa bami
Awu indoda yami bo
Baba wezingani zami
(Well my husband bo
The father of my children
Well my husband bo
The father of my children)
Yeyeye ye zinye zinto
(Yes, that's right you can now become known as a Lord, Lord of lords)
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
Umagubane wabulala ubaba wami oh ma
(The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma
The mob killed my father oh ma)
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
(My children and I will always remember)
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nezingane zami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
Mina nabantwana bami sohlala sikhumbula
(My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember
My children and I will always remember)
(Well my husband bo
The father of my children
Well my husband bo
The father of my children)