Johannes Kerkorrel — Halala Afrika song lyrics and translation
The page contains the lyrics and English translation of the song "Halala Afrika" by Johannes Kerkorrel.
Lyrics
Toe die wêreld hier nog jong was en die horison wyd en oop
Was dit groen hier in die halfrond, suid van die ewenaar
En in die skemer as die son sak en die beeste huis toe loop
Klink die roepstem van die vrouwe oor die heuvels van die land:
Halala, ewig is ons Afrika
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm
Toe kom die skepe uit die weste, wit seile oor die see
Om te vra vir kos en water en te bly vir so veel meer
En die land wat een tyd oop was, die land het ons verruil
Vir die ghetto’s van die stede is ons koperdraad gegee
Halala, ewig is ons Afrika
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm
Daar was rykdom in die maag van ons moeder Afrika
Diamante en ook steenkool, goud, edel metaal
En die mense word die slawe hier want die mense word betaal
Om te tonnel in die aarde elke greintjie uit te haal
En die groot en oop grasvlaktes span dit toe met doringdraad
En van die olifant tot die gemsbok al die diere moes kom buig
Voor die mag van die grootwildjagter voor die mag van sy groot geweer
Totdat net die stilte oorbly, totdat net die stilte heers
Halala, ewig is ons Afrika
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Sasidjapolutjoloythina
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Afrika
Lyrics translation
When the world here is still young and the horizon wide and open
It Was green here in the hemisphere, south of the equator
And in the twilight as the sun goes down and the cattle home runs
Sounds the call of the saddle over the heuvels of the country:
Halala, forever is our Africa
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm
Then came the ships from the west, white sails on the sea
To ask for food and water and to stay for so much more
And the country that one time was open, the country we have exchanged
For the ghettos of the cities are our copper wire is given
Halala, forever is our Africa
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Africa
Tula tula mtanami, tula tula sanaboni, tula tula mtanami
Ubab uzobuya sihlale naye, ubab uzobuya sihlale sonke, Hmmm-Hmmm
There was wealth in the belly of our mother Africa
Diamonds and also coal, gold, noble metal
And the people are the slaves here because the people are paid
To tunnel into the earth every ounce out of it
And the big and open savannas team it with barbed wire
And from the elephant to the deer all the animals had come to bend
Before the power of the great hunter before the power of his big gun
Until only the silence remains, until only the silence reigns
Halala, forever is our Africa
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Africa
Sasidjapolutjoloythina
Halala, sasiphila, kamnandi, halala, mayibuye Africa