(South African Rapper) Sho Madjozi - "John Cena" (Information, Video, Lyrics + English Translations, & Explanations)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Revised: May 19, 2020

This pancocojams post provides information about South African rapper/singer Sho Madjozi and information about her 2019 rap track "John Cena".

This post also showcases a video of that song and several English translations of the Swahili, English words to that track. Explanations

The Addendum to this post presents the video of Sho Madjozi being surprised by John Cena's appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Sho Madjozi for her musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
This is the first of several pancocojams posts about the 2019 South African rap composition entitled "John Cena" by Sho Madjozi.

Additional posts that are related to or were inspired by Sho Madjozi's "John Cena" rap can be found by clicking the "John Cena rap" tag below or using Google search or some other search engine for "John Cena rap" pancocojams.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SHO MADJOZI
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sho_Madjozi
"Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif (born 9 May 1992), known professionally as Sho Madjozi (/ʃɒˈmɑːdjɔːrzɪ/ shoh-mah-JOH-zee), is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, actress and poet.[1] Regarded as one of the best performers in Africa, Madjozi incorporates the Tsonga culture through her music and public image.[2]

Life and career
1995: Early life and beginnings
Madjozi was born on 9 May 1992, in Shirley Village, Elim, Limpopo, the daughter of Rosemary Phaweni and Marc Wegerif who ran a non-governmental organisation which was made to assist people with their land claims. Her mother is of African descent while her father is of European descent.[3] After her parents divorced at an early age, she was mainly brought up by her mother. Madjozi has half-sisters from both her mother's and father's sides. As her father, Marc Wegerif, traveled regularly in particular regions of the continent, Madjozi had opportunities to travel with her father – she followed him to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where he worked for the charitable organisation Oxfam while she was a teenager.[4] She also spent some time selling clothes at markets in Senegal during 2016 to provide for family.[5]

After graduating high school at the International School of Tanganyika in Tanzania, Madjozi was offered a scholarship to Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, US to study creative writing and African studies. While in the US, she started writing poems under a pen name of MayaThePoet.[6] The poems were about politics, identity and race. Madjozi returned to South Africa where she took up a fellowship in studying at the University of South Africa, Johannesburg, while also planned songwriting for other local artists.[7] After her return to South Africa, she began rapping and composing music under her stage name "Sho Madjozi". Madjozi rose to fame after her collaboration with rapper Okmalumkoolkat on the track "Ngiyashisa Bhe" and the hit single, "Gqi""...

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "JOHN CENA"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cena_(song)
"John Cena" is a song by South African rapper Sho Madjozi. It was made about the WWE professional wrestler John Cena. It was released as a single through Flourish & Multiply Records on 27 September 2019, after being performed on the global music platform, COLORS, uploaded on 15 August 2019.[1][2] The song was written by Sho Madjozi, while it was produced by Tboy Daflame.[3]

....Live performances
As her debut, Sho Madjozi performed the song on the music platform, COLORS, standing next to the mic in the studio covered with blue background.[12] After the formation of the social media challenge "John Cena Challenge", many individuals engaged on the challenge, leading the song to become viral.[13] Following the spread of the challenge, professional wrestler John Cena, was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he was asked by Ellen DeGeneres to dance to the song alongside Stephen Boss.[14][15]

The song was also performed by Sho Madjozi on several events throughout South Africa and other regions, including Afropunk Festival held on 13 October 2019 in Atlanta, US.[16] Madjozi performed the song on The Kelly Clarkson Show in November 2019. During the performance, she was surprised by professional wrestler, John Cena by dancing right behind her while she was performing. It was the first time she met Cena in person.[17] On 17 November 2019, Madjozi performed the song on the finale of the South African-franchise of the reality television singing competition Idols, for season 15.[18]"...

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WHAT THE RAP TRACK IS ABOUT
Here's a comment exchange from the discussion thread for "Sho Madjozi - John Cena (PURE FIRE 🔥🔥🔥)dance compilation #Johncenachallenge" Style ny Bia Bi, Aug 21, 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rey6Kbfbmo in which commenter frank odindo gives a summary of that song. Note that there are portions of that explanation that I don't think are correct. My comments about those portions are found after that exchange.

1. Kaleb Wolf, 2019
"Being american I can't understand a word she's saying except John Cena but I'm feeling her mood😂😍"

REPLY
2. paulyn shoniwa, 2019
"Rough like John Cena ... then blah blah blah... but still dancing"

**
REPLY
3. frank odindo, 2019
"It would take a whole 40 min lesson to break it down to you but in a nutshell... She had a boyfriend who used to be cool when she used to sort his bills, but now the tables have turned and he's acting tough and he can't see her (Like she's John Cena) he's imprisoned her (like Mandela) and he's lecturing her (like Nyerere (who was also known as teacher)). Now she's going to act tough (like John Cena+ U Can't C me), and take shots like tequila and take a beating like Sabina."

**
REPLY
4. Noble_ Nelz, 2019
"@paulyn shoniwa Thank u for the explanation. I'm frm SA bt I also needed it 😘"
-snip-

Some subsequent commenters in this discussion thread corrected the name "Sabina" to "Serena". I believe that the translation "Somebody's gonna get beat, I'm Serena" is the accurate translation (with "Serena" referring to tennis champion Serena Williams).

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I don't think that the man who Sho Madjozi liked actually made her his prisoner. Besides, that English translation of those Swahili words may not be accurate. In the Explanation section of this post which is given below, a commenter from another discussion thread translates that line "You treat me like a prisoner, like I'm Madiba".

That seems to me to be a much better fit for that rap than "you made me your prisoner", but that's the Swahili lyrics that a number of KiSwahili speaking commenters posted in several discussion threads about this song that I've read.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Sho Madjozi - John Cena | A COLORS SHOW



COLORS, Aug 15, 2019

South African based artist Sho Madjozi shares a vibrant performance of previously unreleased single ‘John Cena’

COLORSXSTUDIOS is a unique aesthetic music platform showcasing exceptional talent from around the globe. COLORS focuses on the most distinctive new artists and original sounds in an increasingly fragmented and saturated scene. All COLORS shows seek to provide clear, minimalistic stage that shines a spotlight on the artists, giving them the opportunity to present their music without distraction.
-snip-
Statistics as of May 7, 2020 at 9:34 AM EDT
total views- 14,386,382
total likes - 212K
total dislikes - 6.7K
total comment - 12,204

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SEVERAL LYRICS RESULTS FOR THIS SONG
I'm not confident about the accuracy of online lyric & translations for this song (apart from comments from actual Swahili speakers). However, here's the results from one lyric site for "John Cena" as well as some comments that provide the original lyrics with English translations:
Excerpt #1:
From https://popnable.com/south-africa/songs/204739-sho-madjozi-john-cena/lyrics-and-translations
"Shii!!
Sho...
Madjozi!

Unajifanya hunioni labda mimi John Cena
Ulinifanya mfungwa wako labda mi ni Madiba
Sina plan, sina cash,  hata pesa mi sina
Eeh ndo maana unanitreati kama nimekuibia
Lakini mimi nimekupenda though
I don't know why you treat me like a criminal, eish
We were just together though

On the same line, why you pressin' enter though?

Some wanna act rough like John Cena
Some wanna get buff like John Cena
We used to be cool, when I used to come through
Now you wanna act tough like John Cena (Hayi bo!)
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi
Chi! Chi! Chi!
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi
Chi! Chi! Chi
Some gonna want beef like Hyena
Some gonna get beat, I'm Serena
Some gonna get wild, gonna get loud
Gonna take shots like Tequila (Hayi bo!)
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! (Hayi!)
Chi! Chi! Chi (Hayi bo!)

Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi (Hayi!)
Chi! Chi! Chi

Unajifanya mwalimu wangu labda we ni Nyerere
Unanifundisha kutulia labda huna kelele
Utakaa right-ah na
Belinda hata mimi mwenyewe
Hungependa si tulia, wakati we unaenda mbele
Lakini mimi nimekupenda though

I don't know why you treat me like a criminal, eish
We were just together though
On the same line, why you pressin' enter though?

Some wanna act rough like John Cena
Some wanna get buff like John Cena
We used to be cool, when I used to come through
Now you wanna act tough like John Cena
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi
Chi! Chi! Chi! (Hayi bo!)
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi
Chi! Chi! Chi
Some gonna want beef like Hyena
Some gonna get beat, I'm Serena
Some gonna get wild, gonna get loud
Gonna take shots like Tequila (Hayi bo!)

Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! (Hayi!)
Chi! Chi! Chi (Hayi bo!)
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi (Hayi!)
Chi! Chi! Chi

Okay. ya
Okay
So this is where we do the pouncing cat now.
And then. Shi! Shi! Shi!
Shi! Shi! Shi!
Kwanza, cheza kama we hutaki
Pili, kata kama mshikaki
Tatu, ingia hapa katikati
Toka jasho unalowa kama ni samaki, yebo!

Cheza kama we hutaki eey
Kata kama mshikaki
Ingia hapa katikati
Toka jasho unalowa kama ni samaki
Hayi! It's too much

Some wanna act rough like John Cena
Some wanna get buff like John Cena
We used to be cool, when I used to come through
Now you wanna act tough like John Cena
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi (Hayi!)
Chi! Chi! Chi! (Hayi bo!)
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi
Chi! Chi! Chi
Some gonna want beef like Hyena
Some gonna get beat, I'm Serena
Some gonna get wild, gonna get loud
Gonna take shots like Tequila (Hayi bo!)
Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! (Hayi!)
Chi! Chi! Chi (Hayi bo!)
-snip-
*I've read the line "Some gonna want beef like Hyena" translated as "So you gonna sit with Regina".

I believe that the portion of this rap the introduces the contemporary South African dance "the pouncing cat" dance movements are in Zulu. I believe that that portion is spoken in Zulu as are the exclamations "Haibo!", "Eish!", Shii, and (probably also "Chi chi chi". Most of the rap is in Swahili and other lines are in English.

The rapper says "Haibo! Haibo!" and then she does the vosho dance move (squatting down and kicking up one foot). Madjozi then says "It's too much". [This portion begins around 2:56 in that Colors video.]

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JADYY2tqgGw
"American 🇺🇸 First Reaction To South African 🇿🇦 Music | Sho Madjozi - John Cena"
Crooklyn Reactions, August 30, 2020

MsDarkrabbit, 2019
"Anyone wondering what the Swahili parts mean:

Unajifanya hunioni labda mimi John Cena
(You act as if you don’t see me, may I am John Cena)

Ulinifanya mfungwa wako labda mi ni Madiba
(You made me your prisoner maybe I am Madiba)


Sina plan, sina cash,  labda pesa mi sina
(I don’t have a plan, I don’t have cash, maybe I don’t have money)


Eeh ndo maana unanitreati kama nimekuibia
(That’s why you treat me as if I have robbed you)


Lakini mimi nimekupenda though
(But I love you though)

...

Unajifanya mwalimu wangu labda we ni Nyerere
(You pretend to be my teacher, maybe you are Nyerere)


Unanifundisha kutulia labda huna kelele
(You teach me how to stay still maybe you don’t make noise)


Utakaa right-ah na Belinda hata mimi mwenyewe
(You sit on the right with Belinda, I am all alone)

Hungependa si tulia, wakati we unaenda mbele
(You would like us to stay still, while you move forward)


Lakini mimi nimekupenda though
(But I love you though)


Kwanza, cheza kama we hutaki
(First, dance as if you don’t care)


Pili, kata kama mshikaki
(Second, roll like beef skewers)


Tatu, ingia hapa katikati
(Third, get in the middle)


Toka jasho unalowa kama ni samaki
(Sweat, get wet like a fish)"
-snip-
The ... were in the comment itself.

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Excerpt #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLYUcTz0noY Sho Madjozi - John Cena ( REACTION VIDEO ) || @ShoMadjozi @Ubunifuspace posted by
The Ubunifu Space,Sep 27, 2019

1. Pam Oketch, 2019
"Hey guys, here's the translation for the parts of the song that are in swahili (I tried, lol) 🇰🇪

Unajifanya hunioni labda mimi John Cena(You're acting like you don't see me, maybe I'm John Cena)
Ulinifanya mfungwa wako labda mi ni Madiba (You made me your prisoner, maybe I'm Madiba)
Sina plan, sina cash, hata pesa mi sina (I don't have a plan, I don't have cash, I literally don't have money)
Eeh ndo maana unanitreati kama nimekuibia(It's why you treat me like I've stolen from you)
Lakini mimi nimekupenda though (Inspite of it all I still love you though)
I don't know why you treat me like a criminal, eish
We were just together though
On the same line, why you pressin’ enter though?

[Verse 2]
Unajifanya mwalimu wangu labda we ni Nyerere( You're acting like my teacher, maybe you are Nyerere)
Unanifundisha kutulia labda huna kelele(You teach me to be quiet, maybe you don't have noise)
Utakaa right-ah na
Belinda hata mimi mwenyewe (You'll sit right with Belinda and I'll sit alone)
Hungependa si tulia, wakati we unaenda mbele (You won't like me staying calm while you go on ahead)"

**
2.Abdillah Muhammad, 2020
"@Mpumelelo Manxiwa its pure swahili,when she said " unajifanya mwalimu wangu labla wewe ni nyerere" means u act as my teacher as if u are nyerere. Nyerere's full name is julius kambarage nyerere ( the first president of tanzania) and the one who try his best for south africa independent."

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Excerpt #4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2Do0sTS9s
Lorrenzo Mokgosana, 2019
"Just a bit of info, the first verse translate:
You pretend you can't see me, maybe I'm John Cena
You treat me like prisoner like I'm Madiba
I don't have plans or cash neither money
maybe that's why you feel like I've stolen from you
but I still love you"..."
-snip-
"Madiba" is a reference to former South African President Nelson Mandela ("Madiba" was his clan name).
The reference to Madiba in the John Cena song refers to Mandela being imprisoned for many years.

**
Excerpt #5
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2Do0sTS9s SHO MADJOZI - JOHN CENA | REACTION VIDEO
published by Mansa Manye, Aug 20, 2019

alvin shuga, 2019
" "Unajifanya mwalimu wangu"
Means "you pretending to be my teacher""
-snip-
"Nyerere" refers to Julius Nyerere, the first President of Tanzania. Nyerere was often referred to by his honorific title "Mwalimu" (KiSwahili for teacher).

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ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE SONG "JOHN CENA"
"John Cena" - John Cena is a White American professional wrestler and actor; his taunting catchphrase was "You can't see me". click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cena for information about John Cena. Also, click https://www.wwe.com/article/john-cena-you-cant-see-me-story for information about the origin of John Cena's catchphrase.

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"Somebody wanna get a buff" -getting a muscular, good looking physical appearance as a result of cal workouts [American English vernacular]

**
Some lyric translations for Sho Madjozi's "John Cena" include the line "Some want to get beat, I'm Serena". ""Serena" probably refers to professional tennis champion Serena Williams.
**
Regarding the word "eish" which Sho Madjozi says in her "John Madjozi" rap:
Read this quote: "Eish [aysh] is a [South African] colloquial exclamation of surprise, disapproval, exasperation or regret derived from Xhosa. Eg. ‘Eish, my cell phone broke’." https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/18-south-african-slang-words-and-phrases-you-should-know/

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"We used to be cool, when I used to come through" - We used to be good together when I did things to help you [African American Vernacular English]

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Click https://city-press.news24.com/Trending/our-favourite-dance-craze-the-pouncing-cat-20191218 for an online article about the Pouncing Cat dance (with videos)

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Finally, here's a link to a South African video entitled https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-omWLzeQoQ. Notice the "shi shi" in that video's title. which is the same as this portion of the "John Cena" lyrics given above
"So this is where we do the pouncing cat now.
And then. Shih! Shih! Shih!
Shih! Shih! Shih!"

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ADDENDUM - SHO MADJOZI AND JOHN CENA ON "THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW"

John Cena Says Sho Madjozi 'Did The Impossible' By Starting The John Cena Dance Challenge



The Kelly Clarkson Show, Nov 8, 2019

Singer Sho Madjozi opens up to Kelly Clarkson about what it was like growing up in her rural South African village where there was only one television and how she first started watching John Cena in wrestling matches. Sho reveals how she took his "You Can't See Me" catchphrase to heart when dealing with some real life struggles. Sho then gets the surprise of her life when she finally meets John Cena in person, and he has so many nice things to say about her.

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