Soweto Blues

Soweto Blues is a beautiful number written for Mama Africa by Hugh Masakela. Soweto (South Western Township) is an urban area in the City of Johannesburg, in Gauteng, South Africa. The song is about the Soweto riots of 1976 which started because of a language decree.

I had a hard time finding the lyrics, so I thought it would be fitting to save them here:

The children got a letter from the master
It said: No more Xhosa, Sotho, no more Zulu.
Refusing to comply they sent an answer
That's when the policemen came to the rescue

Children were flying bullets dying
The mothers screaming and crying
The fathers were working in the cities
The evening news brought out all the publicity:
Just a little atrocity, deep in the city
Soweto blues (4)

Benikuphi ma madoda (where were the men)
Mabedubula abantwana (when the children were being shot)
Benikhupi na (where were you)
Abantwana beshaywa ngezimbokodo (when the children were throwing stones)
Benikhupi na (where were you)

There was a full moon on the golden city
Knocking at the door was the man without pity
Accusing everyone of conspiracy
Tightening the curfew charging people with walking

Yes, the border is where he was awaiting
Waiting for the children, frightened and running
A handful got away but all the others
Hurried their chain without any publicity
Just a little atrocity, deep in the city
Soweto blues (4)

Benikuphi ma madoda (where were the men)
Mabedubula abantwana (when the children were being shot)
Benikhupi na (where were you)
Abantwana beshaywa ngezimbokodo (when the children were throwing stones)
Benikhupi na (where were you)

Soweto blues (3)
Soweto blues - abu yethu a mama
Soweto blues - they are killing all the children
Soweto blues - without any publicity
Soweto blues - oh, they are finishing the nation
Soweto blues - while calling it black on black
Soweto blues - but everybody knows they are behind it
Soweto Blues - without any publicity
Soweto blues - god, somebody, help!
Soweto blues - (abu yethu a mama)
Soweto blues

Another beautiful version of Soweto Blues: