ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Thandiswa Mazwai - Singer
Thandiswa Mazwai is one of the most influential South African musicians of this generation.

Why you should listen

The Guardian has referred to Thandiswa Mazwai as "South Africa's finest female contemporary singer." Her influence in the post-millennial South African sound can be heard far and wide -- new groups idolize and emulate her work, while globally, she effortlessly channels the legends such as Mariam Makeba, Busi Mhlongo, Fela and Hugh Masekela.

Mazwai's debut album, Zabalaza (2004), reached double platinum status, and her critically acclaimed second album, Ibokwe (2009), reached gold status within weeks of release. Her third solo studio album is Belede (2016), a collection of reinterpretations of legendary South African jazz and protest anthems from the 1950s and 1960s golden era. Mazwai's selection is inspired by the music she listened to whilst growing up, and the title, Belede, is named after and dedicated to her late mother, a major influence in her music and political stance.

More profile about the speaker
Thandiswa Mazwai | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2017

Thandiswa Mazwai: "Iyeza" / "Zabalaza"

Filmed:
204,387 views

Self-styled wild woman and rebel singer Thandiswa Mazwai rocks the TED stage with an electrifying performance of two songs: "Iyeza" and "Zabalaza."
- Singer
Thandiswa Mazwai is one of the most influential South African musicians of this generation. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
(Music)
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(Vocalizing)
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Ndicela iyeza
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lokuhlamba
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ndisuse iinkathazo.
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Ndicela iyeza
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lokuhlamba
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ndikhuphe iinkathazo.
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(Vocalizing)
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(Improvising)
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma.
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Ndicela iyeza
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lokuhlamba
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ndisuse iinkathazo
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ndicela iyeza
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iyeza lokughabha
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ndisuse iinkathazo
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ndicela iyeza
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lokuhlamba
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ndisuse iinkathazo.
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(Vocalizing)
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Lam vuma,
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Thongo lam vuma,
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Lam vuma, lam vuma.
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(Improvising)
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(Music ends)
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(Applause)
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Thandiswa Mazwai: Hello everybody.
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Thank you so much for having us here.
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My name is Thandiswa Mazwai.
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I am a wild woman,
a rebel singer, a conduit.
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My music is about memory
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and struggling between
oppresion and freedom.
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After over 20 years in South Africa
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we find ourselves as the black masses
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still suffering and fighting
for our freedom and humanity.
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This first song was called "Iyeza"
which means "medicine."
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Medicine for our madness,
medicine for our rage.
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This song we're doing now
is called "Zabalaza,"
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and it means "rebel."
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I'd like to dedicate this to the valiant
student movement in South Africa
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who came up with the #FeesMustFall.
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(Applause)
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Rhodes Must Fall.
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(Applause)
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But more importantly,
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the new vigor that has been brought
into the feminist movement
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so patriarchy must fall.
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(Applause)
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(Music)
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Gogo bek' umthwalo
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Kunin' uhlupheka?
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Little ghetto child
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Ungazibulali sana
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Oh ...
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If you take my hand,
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I'll show you
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how to be free.
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Ayifanelang' ub' iyenzeka lento
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Emzini kabawo
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kunge kudala
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Sizozabalaza.
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Zabalaza, zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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Sizozabalaza.
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Zabalaza, zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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Zabalaza, zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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(Vocalizing)
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(Improvising)
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It's my people in Soweto,
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my people in Mozambique,
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my people in Senegal.
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These are my people in the ghettos.
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Zabalaza, zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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Zabalaza.
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(Music ends)
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(Applause)
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(Cheering)
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Thank you very much.
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(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Thandiswa Mazwai - Singer
Thandiswa Mazwai is one of the most influential South African musicians of this generation.

Why you should listen

The Guardian has referred to Thandiswa Mazwai as "South Africa's finest female contemporary singer." Her influence in the post-millennial South African sound can be heard far and wide -- new groups idolize and emulate her work, while globally, she effortlessly channels the legends such as Mariam Makeba, Busi Mhlongo, Fela and Hugh Masekela.

Mazwai's debut album, Zabalaza (2004), reached double platinum status, and her critically acclaimed second album, Ibokwe (2009), reached gold status within weeks of release. Her third solo studio album is Belede (2016), a collection of reinterpretations of legendary South African jazz and protest anthems from the 1950s and 1960s golden era. Mazwai's selection is inspired by the music she listened to whilst growing up, and the title, Belede, is named after and dedicated to her late mother, a major influence in her music and political stance.

More profile about the speaker
Thandiswa Mazwai | Speaker | TED.com