Xitsonga Lyrics Explained: Today na Today by John J The Big Baby feat. Magoda

From Xitsonga to the World! 🌍

Artist name: John J The Big Boy
Album title: Nghala ya Juda (2025)
Song title: Today na Today (Awbeke)
Interpretation: By Nyarhi ya Vahlengwe, FanaThePurp
Featured artist (s): Magoda, JujulamaRSA, MaradonaSA

Making Xitsonga fashionable through music and lyrics. 🌇

Summary of the song:

Today Na Today, is a creative marriage of legendary lines to pay homage to the Goats of Xitsonga music.

This is John J drawing a line in the sand and reminding vafana va ka Gaza that he is not their peer. His name belongs in the same breath as the greats, not because he claims it, but because he built the lane they walk in. Xigaza xa Ma2K exists because he dared first. Careers were born in his shadow, and today, he refuses to be spoken to as an equal.

Today na Today is a masterclass in control. John J doesn’t just rap. He conducts. He structures the song so that his crew’s verses become bridges, pauses between his own displays of penmanship. His hand stretches across the entire record; he even writes Maradona’s verse, asserting authorship not only of the song, but of the moment itself. At its core, Today na Today is a diss record. A clean, surgical, and intentional diss. The shots are aimed at Blissbouy, Blackmyth, and Simefree whom he dismisses as va ma ndla hi ku vona – copycats. The dispute? Hiphop Dwag. Va vanga vunigga. This is a fight over the crown of Hosi ya Xigaza. Who truly pioneered this hip-hop–inflected Xitsonga electro sound known as Xigaza?

John J answers the question without debate. He doesn’t argue lineage. He presents proof with Today na Today. If they contest his claim, let them respond with something greater than Today na Today. Until then, the throne remains occupied. He closes with a chant that both praises himself and dares the challengers.

John J does not move out of insecurity. He moves out of necessity. See, behind Today na Today lies a quieter, more dangerous reality: he is losing the branding and algorithm race of Xigaza. While his legacy built Xigaza, visibility is being claimed elsewhere. Blissbouy entered the scene branding himself as Mfana wa ka Gaza, positioning his collective as Vafana va ka Gaza. Blackmyth followed the same arc. Hala ku na Simefree the new age Xitsonga rapper who the industry gave a shot but didn’t catch fire. Together, they framed themselves as vafana va ka Gaza vo ba Xigaza – the new faces of the sound. Virgin Music amplified it, marketing them as the pioneers and standard-bearers of this new rush of Xigaza.

To John J, this was not competition. it was erasure.

The language, the identity, the cultural positioning he introduced were now circulating without his name at the centre. Respect was being replaced by reach. Legacy by momentum. And so, he responded the only way he knows how: by working… December 2025 becomes his month of reckoning. First, the One Man Show in Giyani, a live declaration of authority. Then Nghala ya Juda, statement of endurance, dominance, and authorship. The album cover is John J tracing the full arc of his journey with Xigaza, reminding anyone tempted to doubt him just how deep his roots go.

Lyrics and Translation:

Famba juba yo, u ya va vitana kaya juba yo. (Fly away my messenger, go summon my family)
Ni ri famba juba yo, u ya va vitana kaya juba yo. (Go call on my people)
Hayi muka juba yo, u ya va vitana kaya juba yo. (To come witness)

Today na Today! (Right this moment)
Phamela Johnny! (My war)
Mafela-ndleleni! (My last stand)
Ah, hi yimele wene! (I know they await me)
[x2]

Today na Today! (But it ends today)

Hi mina mani a Xigazeni? (Am I not the Xigaza Hiphop King). Hi mina mani le Xigazeni? (Who am I to you). Ha mina wa ku nghenisa Vamrapper Xigazeni?
(Is it not me who introduced rap to game). Ha mina wa ku nghenisa Vomprapper Xigazeni? (Is it not me who paved the way for these rappers in Xitsonga music).

Tolo! Ni fela ku miyela!
(And so, I learn from my past. Silence is far from golden)
Khangala-khangala wa tshwa!
(Look how we easily forgot the father of Xitsonga rap)
Mara va ri nghala a yi bhongi loko yi twa ndlala!
(But, unlike you, I am going for the kill)
Mi ngo vanga huwa nje n’wina mi lo xurha na?
(Why would you claim my throne, are you ready to die)
Mi ngo vanga huwa nje n’wina mi lo xurha ke?
(Are you out of ideas)
John na wena u siye nsimu u nga pfalangi gede.
(But John, this is your fault, you let these boys get carried away)
Vona va twa ku xurha va ku phikizanisa na genge!
(Now the game is comparing you to these clowns)

John Miyela! Nghala a yi bongi loko yi twa ndlala.
(Don’t cry John, you’re a lion, and you know what to do)
Mara John Miyela! Nghala a yi bongi loko yi twa ndlala.
(Make no sound! Just strike them)
John Miyela! Phe nghala a yi bongi loko yi twa ndlala.
(Show them whose King)
John Miyela! Nghala a yi bongi loko yi twa ndlala.
(Hunt them down, John, and end them)

Tikisela Johnny! Se va balekela Johnny!
(Show no mercy John! They are ducking and hiding from you)
Swindlisi ku yini, va ngo baleka Xigazeni?
(What happened to your bravado now that I am calling you out)
Tikisela Johnny! Se va balekela Johnny!
(This is the difference between you and me boys)
Swindlisi ku yini, va ngo tumbela Xigazeni?
(I don’t have from smoke)

Vafana va BMT, kaofela ri difha ga mata.
(The BMT crew is hottest crew)
You know God did, he never gonna fail on us.
Well, I have no regrets, mhe nto khandziya xikabile (we are taking off).
I will catch you up ahead, mhe nta fela Xigazeni (see you at the top).

Mi nga tshembhe? (The jokes on you for doubting me)
Va to hlamala, va ku yowe, a xi nga hambe!
(Surprise, I made it too)
Mfana ka Malamulele, xi fike eXigazeni!
(Malamulele, stand up)
Na vusiku a mi nga tlele!
(They are about to have sleepless nights)
Swo lava mafrikiki, ya va vona Johnny!
(I blame you not for pretending, but John is the King)

Famba juba yo, u ya va vitana kaya juba yo.
(Go report tell my family of my greatness)
Ni ri famba juba yo, u ya va vitana kaya juba yo.
(Invite them to come witness)
Hayi muka juba yo, u ya va vitana kaya juba yo.
(Please make it home and return with them)

Today na Today! (Today is the day)
Phamela Johnny! (Where, I, John)
Mafela-ndleleni! (Puts it all on the line)
Ah, hi yimele wene! (As I await you)
[x2]

Today na Today! (It’s on)

Ni ri, heh… (Well…)

Ho tolonyana a kuri nhova la!
(There was no Hiphop when we entered the game)
Hayi na mintsenga a yi nga tshetshiwangi!
(Xigaza was raw)
Ivi hi fika mhe na Mr. Kalaxaka,
(Until I and the lone wolf changed the game)
Hi dyi sungula ku tshetsha, swilo leswi a swi nga olovangi!
(We introduced raps to Xigaza and we have proof of it)
Hi wena wo rhanga ku sungula ku nghena ka nsimu leyi, Johnny.
(John J is the first Xigaza rap act in Xitsonga music)
Phela se va rivele, hi wena Maqala e! (There is no one before him)

A futhi phamela Maqala… phamela xikanyani.
(They are yours my Sire, expose them for being frauds)

Va ma ndla hi ku vona, va ri va cince Xigaza,
(These copycats claims they introduced Hiphop to the Xigaza genre)
Kuve hi mina, wo faka rap na Xigaza.
(But it is a lie, it’s me who made Hiphop pop in Xigaza music)
Ni fele help Xigazeni, va teka swiluva swa mina va nyika van’wani.
(Just because I had help, you want to strip me of my title)

N’wana loko a nga rili, u ta fela byobyeni.
(I’m not going to keep quite)
Miyela Johnny, Magaza ma tiva wena.
(Yes, the people know that I am the true King)
Va ku vona va sweka vafana va ka Gaza,
(But I must say that your Gaza favourites)
Vo sweka vunanga nga ri vo sweka matanda.
(Make social media music)
Hayi vo zama vafana va ka Gaza,
(Yes, they are good)
Vo sweka minanga nga ri vo sweka matandza.
(However, their music is easy to make bubble gum)

Byi fana na chepisi, byi nyangaku sweswi!
(Sweet as you chew it, but not memorable)
Ku nga se pela dyambu, byi hele chekele!
(Don’t tell me about release date artists)
Byi fana na chepisi, byi nyanga sweswi!
(Their drops come and go as their hype)
Va ku tshuvela ndzilo, u tseleka he wehe!
(Okay John, we hear you, now flame them up)

Va ku tseleka, tseleka, tseleka Johnny!
(We are here for you John, show them how it’s done)
Va ku tseleka, tseleka, tseleka weno!
(Hit them, nonstop, show them)

Ni ta mi kota hi yini? (What must I do to them). Lweyo wo tlula mpimo! Ni ta mu kota hi yini? (If this hit doesn’t work! What will I do). Eh ni ta mu kota hi yini? (I truly wonder what I will do to you). Lweyo wo tlula mpimo! Ni ta mu kota hi yini? (You have taken it too far. I have no choice but deal with you).

“Keep exploring, keep learning, and let the language guide you.“

Have you read:

Featured Posts 🏅

Leave a Reply