Kwela_Mafikizolo

[Super124532]

buya africa buya

[jefmuj]

Luv the prisoners dancing. Hahaha.

[Azizip17]

I read some say that the language sung is Zulu & Afrikaan or Xhosa & Afrikaan. Which is it?

Also, I'm posting this video on my facebook page. And I'm adding it to my online collection of YouTube video music/dance gems, with focus on those videos from Africa & the African Diaspora. Google jambalayah & the title of this video. I've also added other Mafikizolo videos as well as videos of the great Hugh Masekela. Thanks again for uploading this video!

-an African American sista

[falgunitula]

@Azizip17 it is Zulu and Xhosa. Most of the Black south africans do not speak afrikans, mostly the white south africans do.

[Azizip17]

@falgunitula Thanks for that information!

[Azizip17]

@falgunitula I understand you to say that t his song is in BOTH Zulu & Xhosa. Are these languages very similar? Are there words and personal names that are in both languages? I read that Zulu & Xhosa are Bantu languages like Swahili. Is that right?

[falgunitula]

@Azizip17 They are similar in that they have clicks. I speak Zulu, but Xhosa is different. And yes there are many words and names in both languages. For instance, Nobuhle, Nokuthula, Thando, Thembelani, Thembekile, Dumisani, Sindiso. All Zulu. I cant think of Xhosa names right now. And yes Bantu languages.

[Azizip17]

@falgunitula Okay! Thanks again for the info. I'm loving how people across the world can communicate instanteously if we are both online at the same time. :o)

Peace!

[falgunitula]

@Azizip17 no problem. which part of the world are you in? I am a south african transplant in New Hampshire, USA.

[Azizip17]

I LOVE Mafikizolo's music! I'm an African American who is found this quote on a south africa info site: "The term "kwela" is derived from the Zulu for "get up", though in township slang it also referred to the police vans, the "kwela-kwela". Thus it could be an invitation to dance or a warning. It is said that the young men who played the pennywhistle on street corners also acted as lookouts to warn those enjoying themselves in the illegal drinking dens of the arrival of the police."

[De0rach]

I'm Scottish but have been to Africa a couple of times. One time we had a party/braai in Namibia. There was a group of us and we had this song on repeat all night (all the other songs on the cd skipped and jumped!). Its such a great tune and it was one of the best parties ever. I have this song as my ringtone now!

[shemaleofSouthAfrica]

A kwela kwela is actually a police van and this song is not sang in Zulu it is sang in isiXhosa and Afrikaans by Hugh Masekela at the end . IsiXhosa is a very strong South African Language that is definately not easy to speak to others because it consists of X Q C pronounced in our way . Thanx

just correcting latinerranea

[tshzan004]

@shemaleofSouthAfrica

He sings it in Zulu..Jo'burg Zulu , to be precise this is tsotsi taal

[latinerranea]

I'm not South African and I don't speak Zulu but Kwela as far as I know is the name of the pennywhistle jive that was played next to the illegal gambling spots in the slums during early Apartheid (late 40s-50s)... This sounds like 'renovated' kwela... Similar rhythm!! Very tasty, loving it

ANYONE WHO LIKES SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC SHOULD CHECK OUT THE FILM 'AMANDLA'!!

[teeggarscott]

thanks men

[bgarbett]

e monate pina ena

[101wonda]

Ke e rata jang!!! Love it to bits!

O nga buzi o Sisulu, o nga buza no Mandela, na o Oliver Tambo ba ya eyazi e kwela kwela

[Thenjiwez]

awe!! I dig this song batong !

[edopro2]

Mafikizolo luv ur songs lots, though i dont really understand what u talk about.

Sungani, England

[Kittenspanker]

anyone wanna translate this? literal and actual?

I'm just starting to learn zulu (Sanibonani!) off my cousin, but I don't see her enough to keep up

[Sbuda88]

Kwela KWela is the van the police in the past used to use to arrest black people...(basically a police van-I think)

So the song is like a reminder of how people used to be arrested and put into the KWela Kwela..

want more?? Or thats cool?

[penza143]

eish...wrds cnnt describe

:)

xx

[lBRON1000]

''bayayazi ikwela kwela''!!!!!

[kaoverue]

please explain just briefly what the song is about i realy like it bt dnt understand, bt think its abut old south africa aparthied

[stofpoeper]

Yes, correct. Very old SA apartheid. During the 40's and 50's black people were forced to carry a special "pass" on their persons when moving through white areas. (Called a dompas). If caught without, they would end up in police custody. Police vans would do the rounds, and these were nicknamed

"kwela". (See 2:35 - 2:37). In the song they mock the dompas system, the white afrikaner police and of course the kwela. Only the very elderly black people will know what I am talking about.

Regards

[F8L]

Ahh Hugh Masekela. Two of my favorite SA artists in one great song. :)

[lipasoso]

this is the best african music

[Imposanto]

Very very good....

i like this song:-)

[DemonsGoneWild]

This is lady africa after Brenda !!!

[lubokoma]

i dont understand anything but i just like the music!!

[bawilili]

lol from 4:12

[bawilili]

ilove

[cavianita25]

nigerians love mafikizolo.nhlanla is the closest to yvonne chaka chaka.south africans should stop killing other africans..why blacks always behaving foolishly.world cup is around

[ginamttk]

This guyz are so sweet I just love guyz please keep it up.

[jmunyeneh]

I love this music. Africa during those days.

[krudougo]

what do i have to say the video is good and the amazing voice of Hugh at its best do i need to say more

[doylyngal]

i love these guyz tho i'm nigerian but i'm in love with there type of musik go AFRICA

[zeebabe88]

those dark old days...

[babeboy11]

can someone tell me the lyrics in english. thanks

[tyty1794]

fuck lyrics

[mab1992]

fuck you

[stofpoeper]

Fantastic South African rythm and style!!

They are singing(Afrikaans chorus)about carrying a "dompas" (travel/movement pass) required by law during the 50's, an arrestable offence if caught without. (hence the prison scene)

"They say to us, where is your pass?" ("they" being the police)

"Are you going to sleep?" (going home)

"What are you doing here?"

etc etc

[timafa2]

who is the old man who sings with them?

[mahle1985]

his name is Hugh Masekela the legend of South Africa

[rrrangerrrr]

i beleive kwela kwela is the name for a police van..

[heartbeat2thenation]

what does Kwela mean? I love this music and the vid, only if SA was free 60 years ago we would have had the best country in the world with no aphartheid to remind us of.

[MmOWISHAM]

Mafikizolo rocks i jus luv dem beats!!eish kwela kwela mama!!

[bhobho89]

i love this song

[MmOWISHAM]

eish, eish, eish these guys just kill me!!

[welwitchamirabilis]

kwela kwela mama!!! why is man so mean?? we could live together in harmony with nature, respecting God's word...why, why???

Luve this song

[littlecutie06]

i luv dis song and i luv mafikizolo, i have their dvd of all their album 'the journey'

[sexylatita4real]

watz up mafikizolo.reali,reali,lyk ur music.ingoma zenu zindishaya ngaphakathi.all the best people.each and everythin u du,put GOD first so dat you wil achieve all ur goalz.love u..spokie n Ireland.xxxxx

[josinah]

eish...my man tebza:(.

u will by missed forverer

mafikizolo la rocka!!!!

[hamoba143]

are they dead? or is it js one of them?

[SIKONGE]

Is this not hugh Masekela?

[pamzozo]

yeah they made a collaboration with him...

[mpuwa]

Kwela means a police van (painted in yellow or in blue)

[thomasserena]

what does kwela kwela mean?

[b3rimbau]

"get up! get up!" - see wikipedia for a fascinating full explanation