South Africa

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 Botswana
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 Serengeti
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 Kilimanjaro
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!