https://youtu.be/MHHjP7XrBq0
The Soweto Gospel Choir’s tribute to Nelson Mandela went viral this week in a fitting remembrance of the former South African President and anti-apartheid icon.
The choir was supposed to perform a flash mob at the Woolworths store in Pretoria on December 7 and sing a rendition of James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” But then Mandela passed away, stunning the nation and the world. So, after Madiba’s passing, the choir decided to sing Johnny Clegg’s “Asimbonanga” instead.
“Asimbonanga” is an anti-apartheid song that Clegg wrote during the time Mandela spent in prison as a call for his freedom. The translated lyrics are below:
Asimbonanga [we have not seen him]
Asimbonang’ uMandela thina [we have not seen Mandela]
Laph’ekhona [in the place where he is]
Laph’ehleli khona [in the place where he is kept]
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang ‘umfowethu thina [we have not seen our brother]
Laph’ekhona [in the place where he is]
Laph’wafela khona [in the place where he died]
Sithi: Hey, wena [We say: hey, you]
Hey, wena nawe [Hey, you and you]
Siyofika nini la’ siyakhona [when will we arrive at our destination]
The Soweto Gospel Choir posed as shoppers and Woolworths employees, before one man began to sing the song. Shoppers stopped everything they were doing to stand and listen to the beautiful song, taking photos and videos of the incident.
[H/T Yahoo! News]
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