In the early 90s the Apartheid system in South Africa was dismantled. Since then we have looked to the racial conditions in South Africa as a litmus test for the progress of thought  in our world.

On May 15, 2009, I wrote South Africa – Part 1 of this series. Now that Jenny Burton’s new CD, Released, has been released, I’d like to follow up that posting with further thoughts on this all too important issue in all of our lives.

I spoke earlier this week in Evolution of a Category: Inspirational Music (part 1) of some of the changes in perception we are going through at Watchfire Music and mentioned the term, “Issue Songs” as an evolved direction for our music.

South Africa is a perfect example of an Issue Song, a song that takes a problem, puts it before us and allows us to explore an issue of some sort musically.

My visit to Cape Town and my subsequent visit to the Masiphumelele Township only further stimulated my interest in this international human error. The words of this song unfortunately still ring true. Now that the song has been produced and released, it can sing to the world of its insights.

Things have gotten better. But things are still a long way from being truthful.

I don’t think I need to speak on this subject much tonight. Ms. Burton and company speak for me in a much more demonstrative way than just mere words.

Listen to the power of music. Click here.

South Africa
Music And Lyrics by Peter Link
Zulu Translations by Jimmy Mgwandi

We come from Soweto
We come from a great confusion
We come from the ghetto
We look to South Africa
We look to South Africa

We come from Zimbabwe
We come from the streets of Harlem
We come from a new age
We know where the times have gone
So we go where the lines are drawn

We come from Botswanna
We come from a deep frustration
We come from Atlanta
We look to South Africa
We look to South Africa

Ah there I see in the great Serenghetti
The hope of our ancestors
Standing before me
I see in the ancient still mountains
And shining blue waters
The strength of Mandela
And still in the shanties of Cape Town
The voices of children sing
“Power to the people” Amandla  awaytu
“Power to the people” Amandla  awaytu
“Power to the people” Awaytu

We come from Uganda
We come from the mask of slavery
We come from South Central
We look to South Africa
We look to South Africa

And now we look to the slums of Pretoria
To show us the way
As the straw shows the way of the wind
For there in the mood of South Africa
Lies a measure of truth
The writing is there on the wall
Where it always has been

We come from the bread lines
We come from the blackboard jungles
We rise from the confines
Impelled by the hand of God
We look to South Africa

Ah there I see upon Kilamanjaro
The souls of our forefathers
Standing before us
The mem’ries of Medgar
And Malcolm and Martin
Run deep in our blood
The fires of apartheid
Still burn through the tears screaming
“Power to the people” Amandla  awaytu
“Power to the people” Amandla  awaytu
“Power to the people” Awaytu

We come from Soweto
We come from the Zulu nation
We come from the ghetto
We look to South Africa  Oomzahntsi Africa
We look to South Africa  Oomzahntsi Africa

We look to South Africa  Oomzahntsi Africa
We look to South Africa  Oomzahntsi Africa
Amandla awaytu
Amandla awaytu
Hiee hiee hiee
Ah su gah mahn!

Geen goo bah nee me
Nah gahn gah
Pahn dleh gko baba

Gee ah bongah weh baba
Gee nee geze
Oom zahn tsi  Afreeca

We come from the bread lines
We come from the blackboard jungles
We rise from the confines
Impelled by the hand of God

We come from Soweto
We come from the Zulu nation
We come from the ghetto
We look to South Africa!

South Africa Translations by Jimmy Mgwandi

A-man-dla   a-way-tu (power to the people)
Oom- zahn-tsi   A-fri-ca (down in South Africa)
Hiee  hiee  hiee  hiee (whispered)

Geen-goo-bah-nee-me
Nah-gahn-gah
Pahn-dleh-gko-bah-bah (Who am I without God
and freedom)

Gee-nee-geze  in-coo-lu–le-co (give me freedom)

Gee-ah-bongah-weh-baba (I thank you Lord)

Coo-lu–le-co   coo-lu–le-co (freedom freedom)

Gee-foo-nah  in-coo-lu-le-co   ku-beh-hi-mee-nuh
(I want the freedom to be mine)

If you missed the first part of this series, click on South Africa – Part 1.