Senzanina
Country: South Africa
Language: Zulu and Xhosha
Though in music class we embrace it as a South African lullaby, with full appreciation of it history and strength, “Senzenina” is a powerful anti-Apartheid song that commonly made appearances at funerals and demonstrations. In its original context, “What have we done?” essentially implies “what have we done to deserve Apartheid?”
Lyrics of the All Around This World Version:
Senzenina, senzenina, senzenina, senzenina
What have we done?
Lyrics of the Original Version
Senzeni na? Sono sethu, ubumnyama?
Sono sethu yinyaniso? Sibulawayo Mayibuye i Africa
English translation:
What have we done? Our sin is that we are black?
Our sin is the truth They are killing us Let Africa return