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Music Olsson/Traditional
Shosholoza is one of the most well-known folk songs in Southern Africa which is sung at all kinds of meetings,
sports events etc. In the beginning it was sung by miners on the trains taking them back home to their families
after months of hard labour. It was sung to help the train along its way over the mountains. This powerful song
was a call to action – move faster, Shosholoza!
We don’t really have a direct equivalent in Sweden, but a folk melody that most people know is “Gårdebylåten”
from Dalarna. It’s a mix that for some strange reason works.
Shosholoza
//: (Shosholoza)
Shosholoza
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum’ e South Africa ://
//: (Wen’ uyabaleka)
Wen’ uyabaleka
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum’ e South Africa ://
A rough translation:
Move fast
on those mountains
train from South Africa.
You are running away
on those mountains
train from South Africa.
Photo: Torleif Svensson
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Foto: Torleif Svensson