Johnny Clegg Moliva Lyrics

Moliva Lyrics

Hawu baba ngashada intombi yami esikolweni emoliva
(Oh father I married my
girl at the school on Mooi River)
Kwashunqa uthuli kwandlovu madoda silwela
lobuhle
(The dust was rising with all the preparations at Ndlovu's
home)
Usipho wakipha izinkomo ezamalobolo ezinamasondo
(Sipho paid the
bride price with a motor car)
Wadlala umukwa wami, wadlala
engalindile
(And my father-in-law performed an unexpected war dance
on
the spur of the moment)
Wadlala umukwa wami engalindile kwakhikhiza
abafazi
(My father-in-law performed an unexpected war dance
and the women
encouraged him with shrill cries)
Ngisho izulu eliphezulu lalihleka
kancane
(Even the Heaven above - i.e. the Zulu King - gave a small
laugh)
'Zulu eliphezulu lalikhona lalihleka kancane
(The Heaven above was
present and he gave a small laugh)
Emoliva, emoliva
(At Mooi
River)

Chorus:
Yamnandi lendaba ngaze ngashada emoliva ngiyabonga
webanguni
(It was a wonderful event, for I eventually got married at Mooi
River
and I thank you people of the chunu clan)
Ngaze ngashada ngaze
ngathola nowami
(I eventually got married, I eventually even got my own
wife)

Wemzila wangincelisa amasiko ngaze ngaba wumuthu
(Mzila! you
suckled me on the traditions and customs
of the Zulu and I became a
person)
Hawu wemakhabela nangikhulisa ngaze ngaba wumuthu
(Oh you people
from Makhabeleni you raised me until I became a person)
Kungathiwani ngani
banguni nahlanganisa zonke izizwe
(And what can be said about you, Machunu
people,
for you brought together all the nations)
Nahlanganisa zonke
izizwe ubesehlulekile ubotha
(You brought all the nations together,
Botha
long having failed to do this)
Nahlanganisa zonke izizwe ngobuhle
ubesehlulekile ubotha
(You brought all the nations together in good
spirit,
Botha having long failed)
Emoliva
(At Mooi
River)

Chorus

(Here I call out the praise names of various people
who have been
important in my life, most of whom were present at my
marriage)

Chorus