May 19, 2013

LYRICS OF KHONA by MAFIKIZOLO featuring UHURU, AND ITS LITERARY MEANING – A NIGERIAN’S PERSPECTIVE by Prince Adewale Oreshade

The first phenomenon one has to address in this song is the Language. The song was written and sung in the Zulu Language. And in some part of the song; it did flirt with other local Languages. Some Zulus from a province called Mpumalanga are influenced by an inland country called Swaziland, so they tend to mix their vowels. It has a feel of English too – Rose and Mama. But then, Mama is one of those words that its meaning is universal. Mama means Mother in almost all languages. And Zulu is not an exception.

To understand this song – Khona, one has to understand the personal lives of the members of the Mafikizolo Band, and Uhuru also. The members of Mafikizolo are Theo Kgosinkwe, Nhlanhla Nciza, and Tebogo Madingoane. And the genre of music this group make is called Kwaito. Their kind of song can be called Afro-Pop. It has a peculiar Angolian-Swahili feel too. Quite eccentric, at least, to we non-South Africans.

Khona is one of the tracks in their February (2013) released album titled Reunited. Being their first album since they went solo in 2008. From the lyrics of the song one will see that Reunited is not just the persons reuniting but a unification of their experiences in sonorous-lines. Khona is a sample of one of the tracks that unites their sad experiences.

Before one goes into their personal experiences, it is pertinent to understand or have an idea what Khona means. Khona means ‘there’ or ‘at that place’. So the song is more of a dialogue-type song. So for every persons mentioned in the song; Khona is a rhetorical call to them to ‘come back. So all of them that are ‘there’, at that ‘other side’ or ‘that place’ should come back. Its kind of a sad plea. Khona being an euphemism for death’s hades and cracks of a broken heart. Even Theo’s dance of throwing his arms and thighs in the forward and then backward direction portrays the come-back-Khona message.

So the question arises, who are these people the Mafikizolo sang this song for? One of the Trio of Mafikizolo is Tebogo Madingoane. Amidst the peak of their success in 2004, on the 14th of February to be precise; Tebogo, one of the male singers was shot after an argument got heated with another driver in traffic. His death touched the spines of the Mafikizolo and it has always been in their hearts since then.

Nhlanhla Nciza, the only lady of the Trio also had her share of misfortune when she lost her 5 year old daughter, Zinathi, in a car accident in December, 2009. Her death and request to come back was portrayed at the end of the music video where the smoke from the ghastly car which was suppose to disperse in the air, was seen reverting back into the car from the car’s windscreen. The pains of a bereaved mum was also evident in her choice of attires and gestures. The first verse of the song was for Tebogo and the second was for her daughter. The third one was for Theo’s Rose and the fourth was for Uhuru’s Mum.

From the lyrics, it is evident that Theo Kgosinkwe lost his love; Rose, who is either his sister, daughter or lover. His call for Sesi Rose to come back was deep and passionate. Sitting on a black horse which is known to represent strength and power is a show of his graphic toast to Rose. Perhaps, those are the qualities that were missing in Theo hitherto. Hence, his persistent call and show. Like a Knight riding back from a war he was victorious.

It is evident from the lyrics that Uhuru who is not a member of the Mafikizolo also had a piece of the sad cake; his mother. With the name Uhuru, what readily comes to mind is the Lesotho 70’s and 80’s band. Or better still, the South American Black Uhuru Band. Or perhaps, the Kenyan’s Uhuru Kenyatta. Uhuru however, is a Swahilian word that means Freedom. Whether this Uhuru is an offshoot of the Black Jesus’ Uhuru is yet unknown. But one thing is clear, this Uhuru sings. And he does it well. Singing is the only thing he would do if he wasn’t singing – that wasn’t a typo. His dramatic performance and passion about his demised Mum was Captivating. It got me replaying the song over and over.

The song Khona is a sad love song but one with a beam of optimistic hopelessness. We’ve all lost something. And we all miss something. For all of us that have lost and missed something, and wish it to come back; this song is for us. Khona to our demised friends and family. Khona to our broken hearts. Khona to those strangers that gave us a good smile whilst walking past. Khona to those lost precious times. Albeit a lost call, its still uplifting to yearn for them. Perhaps, just perhaps, we may have them back. Maybe not in person; they always can reincarnate in others.

As a Nigerian, the nostalgia of the utopia that used to exist makes us listen, dance and sing-along to Khona. Its a call for our basic human rights. A call for peace, unity and progress. A call to Glory!

KHONA: The Zulu Lyrics.

Za izaka su, Za izakasu *27 times at the background most times*

Ewu eee Ewu eee!

Khor!

Khona *4 times*

Khona! *17 times at the background of the first verse below*

Uthando lwami lakuphi na?
cela ulibuyisele
Lapho ulithathe
Ngiyalifuna
Lapho liphuma
Ngiyalifun
Libuyisele, sele

Uthando lwami likuphi na?
Cela ulibuyisele
Lapho ulithathe
Lapho liphuma
Ngiyalifuna
Libuyisele eh,eh,eh

Za izaka su, Za izakasu *8 times*

Sesi ya rose Sesi
Ulise
Thanlo lwami, yee yeyeye
Libuyisele
Lapho ulithathe
Ngiyalifuna
Lapho liphuma
Libuyisele
Sele sele ye ye ye ye eee

Sele sele ye *twice*

Khona *9 times*