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Umshini wami

"Umshini wami", also known as "Awuleth' Umshini Wami" (English, Bring My Machine [Gun]), is a Nguni language struggle song used formerly by members of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress during the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa with machine allegedly referencing machine gun. Nowhere in the song is the term "machine gun" used, but the reference is strong. Most recently, the song is identified with the persona of Jacob Zuma, the ex President of South Africa, and is often sung at rallies which involve him and his supporters, including the ANC Youth League.

Lyrics

ZuluEnglish
Umshini wami mshini wami [lead]
Kawuleth'umshini wami [follower]
Umshini wami mshini wami
Kawuleth'umshini wami
Umshini wami mshini wami
Kawuleth'umshini wami
Kawuleth'umshini wami
Wen'uyang'ibambezela [lead]
Umshini wami, kawuleth'umshini wami [follower]My machine my machine
Please bring my machine
My machine my machine
Please bring my machine
My machine my machine
Please bring my machine
Please bring my machine
You're pulling me back
My machine, please bring my machine

Popularity and controversy

In October 2006, the song was made available by Zuma's defence fund as a ringtone on its website. The song has gained controversy in 21st-century South Africa because of its association with the violence of the apartheid period, and is seen as misplaced by some people because of the rise in violent crime throughout the country since the current multiracial order began in 1994. In 2008, Zuma expressed displeasure when the song was sung by violent, xenophobic mobs.

In 2011 Die Antwoord released a short film titled Umshini Wam, that was written and directed by Harmony Korine, who also wrote the screenplay for Larry Clark's feature film Kids. The 16-minute short features Ninja and Yo-Landi Visser of Die Antwoord as a disabled couple who are passionate fans of "gangsta rap" and use wheelchairs for mobility.

References

References

  1. Eyewitness News. "Zuma sings Umshini Wami at ANC Policy conference".
  2. [http://www.adeleida.co.za/sites/adeleida/blog.nsf/dx/de-la-r y-wont-you-come-down-and-bitchslap-some-confused-children?opendocument&comments Lyrics]
  3. [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20061026063720938C445663 " JZ trust to cash in on Zuma ringtone"]
  4. "Umshini isn't a song to kill, says Zuma". [[Independent Online (South Africa)]].
  5. osalvationcine. (24 March 2011). ""Umshini Wam" Die Antwoord Harmony Korine (Official, HD)". Google Inc.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

zulu-language-mass-media anti-apartheid-songs south-african-political-songs south-african-protest-songs
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