#sjava

COLOR Me Bad.

Listen, I’m not even gonna lie, I was very territorial of COLORS, from the time I was just a fan binging every night, to the moment I got a chance to perform a show. 

I was territorial because I felt like I had found something of my own, something that no-one else was checking for, something like me, something like NORMVL, something like home. Like, COLORS was and still is known for putting on artists who don’t seem to get too much mainstream love.

Getting on COLORS wasn’t part of my PR run, I mean, I didn’t have anything to capitalize with anyway, but it had nothing to do with that, and everything to do my bucket list. 

The day I got an email confirming my selection for the Goethe Talents Program, the first thing I did when I got home was to send COLORS an email. In my mind, if they got back to me at all, I’d probably be back in SA. NEXT FUCKING DAY FAM! Next fucking day. “Yeah man, please come through”...it was unreal for a moment. 

It all felt so personal.

So I was always ready to feel some type of way if ever a South African artist like, say, Cassper, or AKA, or Nasty C was announced, ‘cause I’d feel like “Oh, ya’ll want this too now? Fuck off..” you know? Like, you have all these other platforms like Channel O, 5FM, MTV, etc. that already show you love, leave us alone! That’s just how I felt.

So as I’d grow and mature in those two years, I began to let go of what could’ve would’ve been an unhealthy relationship with COLORS, I didn’t want it to seem like a crutch or something. Then they announced a second South African, Yugen Blakrok, and I was hyped, I was happy, like, one of us man! She was on the Black Panther soundtrack, and people down here still slept you know?

Sjava — uMama

translation from isiZulu by Lindokuhle Malaza (in the youtube comments)

Angsakhoni… Ngikhumbul’ uMa — I can’t anymore… I miss mom Aksavumi… Ngikhumbul’ uMa — it’s not well… I miss my mom

[Chorus] Sebeth’ indod’ endala kangaka ikhalel’ uMa wayo — they say an old man crying for his mother hhawu bafethu ngeke ni understand — guy, you won't understand Ndoda endala kangaka ikhalel’ uMa wayo — an old man crying for his mother Hhawu bafethu ngeke ni understand — guy, you won't understand

Yojabula mang’fika — she will be happy when I arrive Athi uShembe uyaphila — and say Shembe is alive Kule ngozi zomgwaqo mntanami ngyajabula ufike usaphila — with all these road accidents, my child, am glad you arrived safely Beki’ khwama leMsamu — put your bags in the room Landi mpepho kaGogo erondweni — fetch impepho from Gran’s House Ngiphahle ngikhulume nabadala ngibatshele usemagcekeni — so I can let our ancestors know you are home

Mvul’ iyana emkhaya, sesiphelile amakhaza — it's raining in the rurals, we’re dying from the cold Mawubuy’ eGoli ngicela ungiphathele iheater — next time you come back please bring a heater Ngoba ngempela uzong’ ngcwaba — otherwise you will bury me Yaz uMa, avunamahlaya — mom can be funny Ngeke ushone ngisak’thanda — you won’t die while I still love you Kuyoba isibusiso kimi ukuthi ubekhona Ma’wami mangishada — having you at my wedding will be a blessing Ngoba uyokwazi ukungibonisa mase zingibuyela emshadweni — because you will advise me when the marriage gets tough Ngoba uyokwazi ukungiduduza mase zingibuyela emshadweni — because you will comfort me when the marriage gets tough

[Bridge] [Chorus]

Into engiyithanda ngekhaya, ukuthi ekhaya akungwenwa ngemali — what I love about home it's that entrance is free Noma ngingasebenzi uMama ungithanda ngingenani — even if I’m unemployed mom loves me, even if I have nothing Noma umhlaba ungang’ shaya uzong’ thulisa athi mntanami ungakhali — even if I’m raggedy she will comfort me and say son don’t cry Ubukeka ukhathale awuthi ngilande ukudla baba hlala phansi — you look tired, lemme get you some food, have a seat