Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a video of a live performance of South African singer and songwriter Busi Mhlongo singing her Maskandi song "Izizwe". Two sound files of House remixes of "Izizwe" are also showcased in this post.
Information about Busi Mhlongo is also included in this post along with selected comments from the discussion threads of these examples. According to some of these commenters, the song "Izizwe" promotes the end of xenophobia in South Africa.
In addition, this post presents some information about South Africa's Maskandi music genre.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owner.
Thanks to Busi Mhlongo for her musical legacy. Rest in Peace.
Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT BUSI MHLONGO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busi_Mhlongo
"Busi Mhlongo (28 October 1947 – 15 June 2010 [1]), born as Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo, was a virtuoso singer, dancer and composer originally from Inanda in Natal, South Africa.[1][2]
Biography
Drawing on various South African styles such as Mbaqanga, Maskanda*, Marabi and traditional Zulu, fused with contemporary elements from jazz, funk, rock, gospel, rap, opera, reggae and West African music she produced a fresh and exciting sound. Her infectious music and singing style have a universal appeal and her lyrics carry powerful and poignant messages. In the 1960s, she adopted the artistic name Vickie; only later did she became known by Busi Mhlongo. She was an initiated sangoma, which heavily influenced her music.[3][4]"
-snip-
"Busi" is a nickname for "Busisiwe". Here's information about that name from https://www.behindthename.com/name/busisiwe/submitted
"GENDER: Feminine
USAGE: African
PRONOUNCED: boo-see-SEE-weh
CONTRIBUTOR: Nqoh on 6/26/2008
Meaning & History
South African Zulu girl name meaning 'blessed'"
-snip-
*Here's some information about Maskanda (Maskandi) music from
"Maskanda (or Maskandi) is a kind of Zulu folk music that is evolving with South African society. Ethekwini Online describes it as "The music played by the man on the move, the modern minstrel, today’s troubadour. It is the music of the man walking the long miles to court a bride, or to meet with his Chief; a means of transport. It is the music of the man who sings of his real life experiences, his daily joys and sorrows, his observations of the world. It’s the music of the man who’s got the Zulu blues."
Nowadays this is untrue in as much as it is no longer just the domain of men. African women - notably Busi Mhlongo - are also making Maskandi music. Maskandi music is largely popular and mostly consumed in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, given its rich Zulu heritage and significance to the Zulu tribe. Looking at the genre from a record sales point of view...Maskandi happens to be the 2nd top selling genre in South Africa, after Gospel music. Although Maskandi music can be heard in more urban cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, it is important to note that it is largely the played by migrants who come to the big cities to seek a better quality of life and better employment opportunities."...
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Here's some additional information from https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/traditional-music-south-africa "Traditional music in South Africa" By DJ Okapi, 21 Nov 2014
[...]
"Zulu Maskandi and Isicathamiya
The ‘neo-traditional’ genre most closely associated with the amaZulu is maskandi, which emerged in the late 1960s played by migrant workers living in hostels and compounds (enkomponi) near mines. Their music reflected felt a nostalgic yearning for home and was typically played on guitar and by men. Bucking this trend was the late Busi Mhlongo, whose last album Amakholwa explored the connection between maskandi and faith, drawing on gospel, rock and funk influences. While maskandi and gospel address similar themes of yearning for a better life and overcoming hardship, they are stylistically not related. Instead a closer connection between traditional Zulu music and gospel is isicathamiya, a type of acapella gospel music sung by choirs, made famous internationally by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. More recently rapper Zulu Boy managed to fuse traditional Zulu influences into his own brand of hip-hop."
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Busi Mhlongo Live Zithin' izizwe live at Nantes & Roskilde [video]
Bafana Nhlapo, Published on Sep 25, 2009
South African diva, singer and songwriter Busi Mhlongo - Live recordings from the Fin de Siecle Festival in Nantes France, 1997 and the the Roskilde Festival in Denmark 1999. Cameras by Dick Jewell and Marcus Conway. edited by Lianne Cox. Taken from the DVD Busi Mhlongo Urbanzulu live by MELT 2000 cat. No MZADVCD014. featuring Spector Ngwayi, Thierry Mvie, Serge Ngndo, Brice Wassy Ndodile Shezi & Thembisa Khuzwayo
-snip-
The Google translation from Zulu to English of “Zithin' izizwe" is “We are the nations". However, in her introduction to this song as shown in this video, Busi says "'Izizwe' means “foreigner”. I am izizwe to you and you are izizwe to me. All and all we make one”.
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with Zulu words translated to English by Google translate given below the comment itself). These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.
2012
1. Sihle Mndela
"Powerful message this song holds... "Zithini izizwe nina, benhlek'izizwe nina khuluma ngani..."
"Nehlisa isthunzi senu ma Africa masen'bulalana nodwa nje"
-snip-
Google translation from Zulu to English= "What do you say, the nations you're talking about ..."
"Reduce your shade in Africa and kill each other"
-snip-
Remember that Busi Mhlongo said that "izizwe" means "foreigner" so instead of the word "nations", the translation should be "the foreigners you are talking about".
Perhaps a more accurate translation of the second sentence is "Reduce your hate in Africa and stop killing each other."
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2013
2. Maanka Chipindi
"Are you able to translate please"
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REPLY
3. N1nG1nJ3r
"Ngingumuntu omhlophe kodwa ngifunda isizulu esikoleni sami.
Uthi: What we are saying, (us, our nation), we are (might be "we aren't) laughing when we say this-
Our hisses are failing, in Africa we are killing eachother like this...
Zulu is complex in its structure and I might be horribly mistaken in its meaning, but it can't be far off as the root words are true, even though their contextual meaning might be convoluted. Hope it helped :)
Also feel free to reply to correct any mistakes :)
-snip-
Google translation from Zulu to English of "Ngingumuntu omhlophe kodwa ngifunda isizulu esikoleni sami.
Uthi" = "I'm a white man but I'm learning the weather at my school.
He says"....
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2014
4. Olivier South
"RIP sweet sweet sister..we salute you maMhlongo"
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5. Zama Lunga
"Very powerful, I love the messages her songs hold
Your music will always teach us Ubuntu"
-snip-
Here's information about the Bantu word "ubuntu" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_philosophy
"Ubuntu... is a Nguni Bantu term meaning "humanity". It is often also translated as "humanity towards others", but is often used in a more philosophical sense to mean "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity".[3]"...
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2015
6. Antoinette Halberstadt
"I would love someone on here to translate the main parts of this song, for those of us who don't speak much or any Zulu!"
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REPLY
7. Skhalo
"+Antoinette Halberstadt This is basically saying no Xenophobia- Stop killing among our selves"
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REPLY
8. Antoinette Halberstadt
"+Sello Bopape Thank you Sello. So very relevant now! We should all post it in the comments sections of all the media reports about the latest wave of xenophobic violence that is SO saddening!
-snip-
Skhalo’s screen name apparently was “Sello Bopape” when this online exchange was made.
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REPLY
9. Skhalo
"Busi Mhlongo - Yehlisan' Umoya Ma-Afrika>>> Calm down/Stop it Africans >>this one is direct saying No to Violence..."
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Example #2: BlackCoffee feat Busi Mhlongo - Izizwe [sound file]
audrey ndaba, Published on May 28, 2008
i like the message in this song, its so coherent with wats going on in S.A now with the Xenophobia...
-snip-
Here s information about (DJ) Black Coffee from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Coffee_(DJ)
"Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo (born 11 March 1976), better known by his stage name Black Coffee, is a South African record producer and DJ. He began his career around 1995[1] and has released five albums[2] as well as a live DVD under his Johannesburg-based record label, Soulistic Music.[3] He is arguably the most prominent electronic music producer in Africa.
[...]
Music Career
In 2005, he launched his career with a remix of Hugh Masekela's 1972 hit Stimela.[14] Later that year he released his self-titled debut album under his Johannesburg based record label Soulistic Music,[13] Black Coffee's wholly owned corporate structure, his team's home base and the jump-off point for himself, and as time has evidenced for many others too.[15] The album featured collaborations with the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo amongst a few."...
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with Zulu words translated to English by Google translate given below the comment itself). These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.
1. Fezile Mbuku, 2008
"i loveeeeeeee this song. blackcoffee yo yo yo yo this is hot."
-snip-
The word "yo" in this sentence probably means something like "yeah".
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2. Mlulami Dike, 2010
"@Mludja..Black Coffee can make you to be well known by ppl especial youth just like mamu uBusi, i know her because of Black Coffee nd..i respect her with dat uncompetable sharp voice. Black Coffee introduced her into dis House music..I even went to her Live perfomance in Grahamstown in 2008...nd..she turned up da stage into somethin..else..may your soul rest in peace mama. we gonna mic ya.."
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3. Trompas, 2011
"Please upload the other house version...its too nice..
-snip-
Note that “too nice” is a positive statement meaning "very nice"; "real nice". In contrast, "too __" in American English is often a negative description meaning that the thing or person being described is in excess.
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4. Odirile Mondlane, 2015
"Growing up! in a foreign country, i understand this song it gets me all emotional at times...everything about it....the message is just precise...one of the songs i do not dance to. i just listen. 'Thini zizwe? Ndi zo yi bika le ndaba, kwa bakithe khaya! :)
-snip-
Google translation's of these words from Zulu to English for “'Thini zizwe? Ndi zo yi bika le ndaba, kwa bakithe khaya! :)" is "What are you feeling? It's about this story, for the homeowners".
However, given Busi Mhlongo's statement that "izizwe" means "foreigners" [as noted in the video given as Example #1], that translation is probably wrong.
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Lalla Olifant, 2017
"God bless BC...I have been listening to this ever since it existed and it's been so many years, nearly a decade if i am not mistaken and i still think it's my fav track by BC. Rest in peace Mama Mhlongo, we loved you back then, we love you now and we will forever love and cherish you."
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Example #3: Busi Mhlongo - Izizwe(point 5 remix) [sound file]
Freddy Motsumi, Published on Jul 7, 2011
-snip-
This remix was produced by (musical group, DJs) Point 5. Unfortunately, I haven't found any information about Point 5 online.
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with Zulu words translated to English by Google translate given below the comment itself). These comments are given in chronological order based on the year that they were published, with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.
2011
1. tyson dube
"ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe much love for this track"
-snip-
This is a line from that song. According to Google translate "ewe" is the Zulu word for "yes".
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2. Thanda
"club BANGER!!!!!!!"
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3. kelly buru
"TUNE!!!!!!!!!"
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4. Balushi Sekele
"this is the one. old + new = the boom...."
-snip-
"The boom" might be a typo or a mishearing of the African American Vernacular English term "the bomb", meaning something that is very good. "The old" is the original song "Iziziwe" and "the new" is the House remix.
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5. Mdu Madondo
Mdu Madondo
"Mam' Busi was but divine... House remix off the hook!!"
-snip-
"Off the hook" is an African American Vernacular English phrase meaning "very good".
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2012
6. Mabuda Yanga Romeo
"Piont5 you am sure u made mam'ubusi proud with this, may her soul rest in peace, its point5 baby and thats wats up!!!!!!!"
-snip-
"Points" refers to "Points 5", the producers of this remix.
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7. MissLindo Sindane
"One house track I will never get over..."
-snip-
"House" here means the genre of music known as "South African House". There are different categories of South African House music. I don't know which category this is.
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2011
8. mosima collin Tlabela
"killer song DJ"
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9. sammwa214
"so happy to have found this song after a streneous search its s hit in kenya"
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10. Shireen Mzizi
"yeah thats more like it.....we can enjoy international music but we love our own brand"
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2016
11. Takalani Mkhalele
"You know your a 90's baby if you still jam with this song"
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REPLY
12, Antoinette Njambali, 2017
"And still know all the lyrics"
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2017
132. Mihlali Dante Maninjwa
"This jam used to give me goosebumps n in 2017 it still does that. Its a classic"
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14. Vincent Tawana
"may your soul so rest in peace mama, gone is the most beautiful voice we had in Mzansi"
-snip-
"Mzansi"= "South Africa"
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15. Oscar 11
"😂😂😁 "Thin' izizwe yea" 🙌🙌🙌 2017 n it still goes in"
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16. One Bantatetse
"tuuuuuuuune....never gets old."
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17. Veronica Vilakazi
"It ain't a set if you haven't played this song!"
-snip-
"A set" - a party, a social event that includes music and dancing
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18. KG Ndlovu
"thini sizwe ma africa. thini sizwe. what about land africans what about land."
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