Nancy Jacobs & Her Sisters — Mielieland (Meadowlands)

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Description

Nancy Jacobs And Her Sisters
Mielieland (Meadowlands)
Songwriter: Strike Vilakezi (c) 1956

Strike Vilakezi's 1956 anti-Apartheid song:

The lyrics of the song articulate 3 different voices. There is the voice of white people, trying to lure Sophiatown residents into leaving their homes and moving to Meadowlands, the government-decreed Black township. This is answered by the voice of the Tsotsis who speak out, simply, but firmly, against the forced removals. And, finally, there is the coda Sithando Sam, a third voice, which links the two stanzas.

Lyrics:

Otla utlwa makgowa arei
Are yeng ko Meadowlands
Meadowland Meadowlands
Meadowlands sithando sam

Otlwa utlwa botsotsi bare
Ons dak ni ons pola hier
Pola hier pola hier
Pola hier sithando sam

Translation:

You'll hear the whites say
Let's move to Meadowlands
Meadowlands Meadowlands
Meadowlands, my love

You'll hear the tsotsis say
We're not moving, we're staying here
Stay here, stay here Stay here, my love