Bantwana Bami

[Intro]
[soft pad swell
Distant shakers]
Bantwana bami
Lalelani
Kudala sigadile nina
Kudala nis’buka phezulu
Siyaphendula namhlanje (yeah)

[Verse 1]
Ngivuka ek’seni
Kukhona umoya endlini
Ngizwa amazwi angabonakali
Ath’ “ndodana
Ungakhohlwa”

Ngibona ugogo ephusheni
Esihleli eduze komlilo
Ehleka kancane
Angibiza
“Awu
S’khumbule ke manje”

[Chorus]
Bantwana bami
Bantwana bami
Sihamba nani
Ngosuku lonke
Makubenathi
Makubenathi
Nxa sidansa phansi kwelanga

Bantwana bami
Bantwana bami
Nizungezile
Nesiyezi
Makubenathi
Makubenathi
Nxa sidansa phansi kwenyanga

[Bridge]
[female vocal floats in]
Ngithi shaya phansi
Khumbula
La madlozi akho
Avukile (woah)
Umhlaba uyajika
Kodwa
Izimpande zihlala zikhona

[male + female call and response]
“Ngikuzwa”
(“Ngikuzwa”)
“Ngiyak’bona”
(“Ngiyak’bona”)
“Angisodwa”
(“Awusodwa”)

[Child vocal background]
(“Bantwana bami… bantwana bami…”) [soft
Repeating]

[Chorus]
Bantwana bami
Bantwana bami
Sihamba nani
Ngosuku lonke
Makubenathi
Makubenathi
Nxa sidansa phansi kwelanga

Bantwana bami
Bantwana bami
Nizungezile
Nesiyezi
Makubenathi
Makubenathi
Nxa sidansa phansi kwenyanga

[Outro]
[log drums breathe
Pads open up]
Sithi woah
Madlozi ethu
Sithi woah
Singabenu
Sithi woah
Madlozi ethu
Sithi woah
Singabenu (bantwana bami)