Xitsonga Lyrics Explained: Mahlasela by Benny Mayengani

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From Xitsonga to the World! 🌍

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Song title: Mahlasela
Artist name: Benny Mayengani
Album title: Mahlasela [Page 15] (2024)
Interpretation: By Nyarhi ya Vahlengwe, FanaThePurp

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Making Xitsonga fashionable through music and lyrics. 🌇

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Summary of the song:

Mahlasela is a war song by Benny Mayengani. In it, he declares a lifelong fight against the Ngove man known as Mr Post, the only man brave enough to challenge and threaten his dominance as the King of Mindzumbha… The song serves as the theme to Benny’s relentless journey into Mr Post’s village, where he searches for information to destroy him. But the villagers shield their own, refusing to betray him. Undeterred, Benny marches deeper into Ngove territory, only to be met by Mr Post’s people, who surrender and beg for mercy. However, it’s too late. It doesn’t move him. Their pleas mean nothing. To Benny, this is bigger than one moment or one song. He makes it clear that the fight doesn’t end with him. Anyone born into the Mayengani bloodline will rise and carry this war forward.

Mr Post is not just a musical rival:

It’s personal,
Permanent,
And beyond music…

Lyrics and Explanation:

[Beat]
Mahlasela, xi le ka Ngove!
(My target is in Ngove village)
Mhani, Mahlasela xi le ka Ngove!
(Mother, I’m taking the war to his village)
Mhani, ni ya hlasela kwale ka Ngove!
(Mother, I’m attacking Ngove village)
Mhani, ni ri ndawini kwala ka Ngove!
(I speak as I set foot on their land)
Mina ni lava munhu kwala ka Ngove!
(People of Ngove village, I’m here, seeking one of you)

[Beat]
Kwekweza-kwekweza machaya a nge etleli! [x2]
(Sing louder, louder, so the drummer keeps playing)

[Beat]
Mara mi tumbeta munhu na khwiri ro tani!
(His belly is too big to hide from me)
[Beat]
Yo ntima nyama homu ya kona!
(I mean the fat black bastard)
[Beat]
Mara mi tumbeta munhu n’we va ka Ngove!
(That you dare hide from me people of Ngove village)

[Beat]
U yimise ni mavoko n’wana vanhu. Kasi a yi heli nyimpi ya kona? [x3]
(But he admitted defeat. When will it end)

[Beat]
Ya Mayengani, a yi nga heli!
(As my namesake, I too, believe that some lines once crossed, stay crossed)

[Beat]
Kwekweza-kwekweza machaya a nge etleli! [x2]
(Sing louder, louder, so the drummer keeps playing)

[Beat]
Ni twa hi risema, ku fana na mbyana! [x2]
(I can smell his disgusting smell like a dog)
[Beat]
Hi ku a nga hlambi, munhu wa kona!
(You know him, the one who doesn’t bathe)
[Beat]
Vito i Khungulukani, munhu wa kona!
(I mean the man built like a drum)
[Beat]
He The One… kwala ka Ngove,
(Even you… The One)
[Beat]
Kokwani Africa… kwala ka Ngove,
(You too… old men Africa)
[Beat]
Mara mo tumbeta munhu n’we va ka Ngove?
(How can you and your brethren hide this man from me)

[Beat]
U yimise ni mavoko n’wana vanhu. Kasi a yi heli nyimpi ya kona? [x3]
(But he admitted defeat. When will it end?)

[Beat]
Ya Mayengani, a yi nga heli!
(As my namesake, I too, believe that some lines once crossed, stay crossed)

[Beat]
Ni to duvula nyenyani, ni ya byela Mafemani!
(Don’t make me invoke the great spirit of Mafemani)
Ni to duvula nyenyani, ni ya pfuxa Jonasi!
(Don’t make me invoke the great spirit of Jonasi)

[Beat]
Kwekweza-kwekweza machaya a nge etleli! [x2]
(Sing louder, louder, so the drummer keeps playing)

[Beat]
Mara mi tumbeta munhu n’we va ka Ngove?
(People of Ngove village, are you set on hiding him)
[Beat]
Mina ni lava lavani le ka ra Bavo!
(I have searched for this man even where his ancestors lay dead)
Mahlasela xi le ka Ngove!
(He is here; I know it)

[Beat]
U yimise ni mavoko n’wana vanhu. Kasi a yi heli nyimpi ya kona? [x3]
(But he admitted defeat. When will it end)

[Beat]
Ya Mayengani, a yi nga heli!
(As my namesake, I too, believe that some lines once crossed, stay crossed)
[Beat]
Kasi a yi heli nyimpi ya kona?
(But when will your war end?)

[Beat drop]

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Avuxeni. 🌅