good version of an old south african freedom song

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  • April 26, 2017 at 11:52 pm #67846
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    This is from the 1973 film “A Warm December,” which was produced by and stars Sidney Poitier. In the scene the two central characters listen as an African performer sings a song written by Miriam Makeba. It is a lament for Mandela and others who are in prison. In the scene, you see the (fictional) audience showing deep respect for the song, which in fact reflects the status South African freedom songs had in the world. Actually that’s why it’s in the film. I include it here because it is a famous version of the song. Lyrics are below the vid.

    LYRICS TO “Bahleli Bonke”

    Bahleli bonke etilongweni, (they are sitting together in prison)
    Bahleli bonke kwa Nongqongqo (they are sitting together in Nongqongqo [a south african prison])

    [repeat]
    Hi, hi, hi, (expresses crying or pain.)
    halala (‘halala’ is an exclamation)

    Nanku X 2 (here he is)
    Nanku uSobukhwe (here is Sobukwe)
    Nanku, nanku etilongweni (here he is in prison)

    [repeat]

    hi bawo Luthuli (‘bawo’ in Xhosa means father/sir, and Luthuli was the president of the African National Congress and winner of the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize)
    hayi uzotheni, uzotheni (‘hayi’ means no; ‘uzotheni’ means ‘why do you deserve this?’ or ‘what have you done wrong?’/ ‘what is your sin?’)

    [repeat]

    Nanko X2 (there he is)
    Nanko uMandela (there is Mandela)
    nanko, nanko etilongweni (there he is, there he is in prison)

    Nanko X2 (there he is)
    Nanko uSisulu (there is Sisulu)
    nanko, nanko etilongweni (there he is, there he is in prison)

    yini wema-Afrika? (‘yini’ means what is it; ma-Afrika means people of Africa; “what is it Africans?” is used as a rhetorical question implying ‘what’s wrong with us Africans?’)
    hayi uzotheni? uzotheni? (no, what have you done wrong?)
    Bahleli bonke etilongweni, (they are together sitting together in prison)
    Bahleli bonke kwa Nongqongqo (they are sitting together in Nongqongqo)

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