Shosholoza ... South Africa's 2nd anthem

Shosholoza goes the song. It's something which I have been hearing quite often. Mostly at sporting events, the crowd would break into two, a lead who starts the song and the rest would follow.


Not knowing this before, but it is actually a historic song, born in Zimbabwe, however, adopted by South Africa. Today, it carries pride and unity of the South African people and each version I hear sends goosebumps down my arms. (It's kind of like the Hakka for the All Blacks or Waltzing Matilda for the Wallabies)
Springbok is the national rugby team in South Africa.
The lyrics of the song vary, as do the transcriptions. In the older traditional styles, the words translate to "train from Rhodesia". Such is the version heard in the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy" and as sung by Pete Seeger in his album "We Shall Overcome." Here is one example:

Shosholoza (lead)

Shosholoza (group)

Ku lezontaba (group)

Stimela siphum' eZimbabwe (group)

Shosholoza (lead)

Shosholoza (group)

Ku lezontaba (group)

Stimela siphum' eZimbabwe (group)

Wen' uyabaleka (lead)

Wen' uyabaleka (group)

Ku lezontaba (group)

Stimela siphum' eZimbabwe (group)

A rough translation:

Go forward

Go forward

on those mountains

train from Zimbabwe

Go forward

Go forward

You are running away

You are running away

on those mountains

train from Zimbabwe

I am hoping to learn the verses quickly so the next time I hear it I will be able to sing along and feel right at home :-)

Enjoy !
R :-)