People Of Matsamo - Folk Music And Dance
SONGS AND THEIR MEANINGS
In African custom, like in most customs of the world, people express themselves through song and dance. The lyrics of songs are usually expressing the feelings of the people about a certain subject or event. Often the event about which the song is all about and the facts and circumstances surrounding the happening is long forgotten which makes it difficult to understand the true meaning behind the lyrics.
When researching songs and their origin and meaning we often rediscover valuable historic information.
So has is Ka Hhohho, the introductory song, of special significance to the people of Matsamo as it is a very old song which relates to their direct area where King Sobhuza I, was born, some 200 years ago.
During the reign of King Sobhuza I, the various independent clans of Southern Africa started polarising to protect themselves against conquest by the Zulu King Chaka as well as for economic reasons.
King Sobhuza I, also called Somhlolo, introduced a strategy of incorporating smaller clans into the Dlamini clan, recognising their Chiefs on condition that their Chiefs marry Dlamini royalty. The son from such a marriage will then be the next Chief of that clan. In so doing the leadership will be half Dlamini within one generation and presumably loyal to the Dlamini monarchy. This strategy of incorporation was followed by king Mswati II, the son of King Sobuza I and founder of the Swati nation. In the song the Sotho people who lived in the region where Matsamo is today, grumble about the arrogant way in which King Mswati II took over their royal home and divided their kingdom with his strategy.
The “ka” prefix means “place of…”. The Swati (Swazi in Zulu) people do not use the hard “r” in their language which was used by the fellow indigenous Sotho people. In Sotho the word “Kgoro” means “royal home” or “palace”.
“Ka Hhohho was therefore the phonetically pronounced Swati word for “place of the royal home”.
The song “KA HHOHHO” tells us how the people of those days felt about this strategy:-
Mswati uyi Nkosi Ka Hhohho Wabekwa - Mswati is King of Hhohho
wabekelwa kwentani? - Why was he put there?
Sitsi camu camu balisika emalegeni - He divided us like furrows
Nemambala ayeyana e Maswati - Really the Swazis are rude
Hhohho Ka Hhohho. - Hhohho, place of the royal home.
Nangembala ayeyana e Maswati - Yes, really the Swazis are rude.
Here are a few examples of songs sung at Matsamo at their basic theme or meaning:-
MATJOTJOMBE
This song is about a place Matjotjombe in the rural areas where people enjoy to stay. They stay there much rather than in the cities where things are expensive.
UMOYA WAMI
My Soul is anxious to receive salvation
Matsamo comfort my Soul
My Soul please don’t disappoint me
I am willing to see Heaven
EMLANJENI
This song is about a man sitting next to the river
thinking about his loved one who is far away from him.
MAHLALELA
This is a light hearted song about a woman who is tired to live with a man who is lazy to work.
INGWENYAMA
The song praises Matsamo as the Lion
INKOMO EMNYAMA
In this song a child sings praise for his fathers black bull. In African culture, cattle are considered to indicate wealth.
NDIKHOKHELE
Guide me dear Lord
I am a sinner
Clean me with your blood
Please God, I am praying
UYASHA
It is a song about two people burning with love for each other but afraid to tell each other.
HLANGANANI MA AFRICA
Africa unite today
We do not need killing anymore
It has been so long fighting each other
Africa unite today. |
