Inkanta
Group: Admins
Posts: 1453
Joined: Feb. 2000 |
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Posted: Feb. 29 2000, 09:47 |
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Hi CarstenKuss, GMOVJ and everyone,
Last week, or maybe the week before (time flies!) one of the Dark Star editors put me in touch with Ron van Lingen, regarding the Zulu or Xhosa (at that point I didn't know which!) lyrics of Amber Light. Ron has studied both languages at university, and he also went ahead and translated the Amarok as well.
I was hoping that he would have time to respond to this forum topic himself, but in that he had addressed the Amarok lyrics letter to two of the DS editors, me, "and other interested parties," and I've posted his letters to the Amarok mailing list and included in Elements (cc: ed him!), it seems ok to post the Amarok part of his letter here, as well! Still hope he has a chance to drop by!
From Ron van Lingen:
The "deed" has been done; the conclusion to AMAROK is a secret no more!
What pleases me most is that I could manage it all by myself! No, no
interuptions! I wish for a change to blow my own horn, thank you!
First of all: the lyrics are in Xhosa (as mentioned in previous
correspondence: it does not really matter whether it is in Xhosa or Zulu,
as these two are so closely related) but for the official records we shall
stand by Xhosa since my translation was done with the aid of my Xhosa
dictionaries.
Do not ask me what the choir members are talking about before they start
singing the epilogue - the sound of the drums and other instruments nearly
completely filter these conversations out. But from the little I can make
out it sounds as if they are just making "small talk" in between. I
recognise a part where it sounds as if one of the members is refering to
iBhayi. This is Xhosa for Port Elizabeth, one of SA's important harbour
cities, situated in the Eastern Cape, about 800km (500 miles) from Cape
Town, along the Indian Ocean.
Now the Eastern Cape is traditionally Xhosa country where you will find
some of the "southern clans" - like you mentioned to me in a previous
conversation, Mary-Carol.
Herewith the lyrics as they appear on the album:
Sondela uSomandla sukuma wena obengezela
(I must just confirm this word, because I cannot clearly make it out on the
song - but in a process of eliminating posibilities obengezela stuck.)
It is broken up as follows in the song:
Son/de/la u/So/mandla su/ku/ma we/na o/be/nge/ze/la
Sondela uSomandla sukuma wena obengezela
Come closer the Almighty stand up you who glitters
Once again in western grammar this does not make sense and the sentence
must be modified, but without it losing its original meaning.
We can readily accept that the Almighty refers to God and not one of their
traditional gods. (Many Blacks in SA are devoted Christians.) So, here goes
...
Come closer, God. You who glitter ( because of the Light that shines from
You) must stand up (and be seen by us mortals).
I do not think that anybody will take me on about this translation. If
obengezela is not the word, the other possibilities (translated) should be:
"who needs Him" or: "turn to Him". But I am pretty sure of my case!
Please convey to Mike that should he make use of South African Black
musicians again, he must please ensure that the lyrics are noted in proper
grammar (ie. correct spelling, word order, etc.). Then translation should
be no problem.
You will notice that in no western language (well, at least not in the
Germanic ones such as English and German) can one use a single word,
SONDELA, and put a melody to it. Put a melody to "Come closer". It will
sound stupid, won't it? Or to uSomandla. But in the Black languages
(anywhere in Africa?) this is well possible.
In Xhosa we find a traditional lullaby: Tula, Sana - composed in a
beautiful, calm melody. Now you try to sing: "(Be) Quiet, Child" in such a
way that it will put your child to sleep! Can't be done - not in English!
Is Xhosa/Zulu not a beautiful, musical language?
<snip>
Best wishes.
Ron van Lingen
<ronscars@mweb.co.za>
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"No such thing as destiny; only choices exist." From: Moongarden's "Solaris."
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