Swilo yini (Tsonga folk song)
from Raising the Bar: Traditional South African Choral Music II by Created by Mollie Stone & Patty Cuyler
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about
Swilo yini is in Tsonga, a language spoken by the Shangaan-Tsonga people, many of whom live in South Africa's northern province of Limpopo.
As with many South African folk songs, learning the story behind the cryptic lyrics was a challenge.
Matlakala Bopape tells us that the ship referred to in this song was the SS Mendi, a steamship chartered by the British government to transport black South African troops to France as part of a large volunteer labor contingent joining in the fight against Germany during World War I. On February 21, 1917, just south of the Isle of Wight, the Mendi was accidently rammed in the fog by an ocean liner, sinking with over 600 casualties. Most of the black troops on board had never seen the sea—or even a ship—before the voyage, and few could swim. Stories abound of the bravery of the men as they faced their deaths in the icy water. The tragedy is commemorated every year at Remembrance Day, held on the Sunday closest to November 11, the signing of the Armistice ending WWI.
As with many South African folk songs, learning the story behind the cryptic lyrics was a challenge.
Matlakala Bopape tells us that the ship referred to in this song was the SS Mendi, a steamship chartered by the British government to transport black South African troops to France as part of a large volunteer labor contingent joining in the fight against Germany during World War I. On February 21, 1917, just south of the Isle of Wight, the Mendi was accidently rammed in the fog by an ocean liner, sinking with over 600 casualties. Most of the black troops on board had never seen the sea—or even a ship—before the voyage, and few could swim. Stories abound of the bravery of the men as they faced their deaths in the icy water. The tragedy is commemorated every year at Remembrance Day, held on the Sunday closest to November 11, the signing of the Armistice ending WWI.
lyrics
Makhanana, what is this?
It is a ship from Germany
Ah [the sound of the waves]
Makhanana!
It is a ship from Germany
Ah [the sound of the waves]
Makhanana!
credits
from Raising the Bar: Traditional South African Choral Music II,
released April 15, 2015
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all rights reserved
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