Lyrics and translation Miriam Makeba - Vukani

Vukani

Vukani bagithi ..., ... Vukani bagithi
Hela Chileshe
Ungaba yeki baku bizi ikirimani Nawe ngumuntu
Uzo hula nini
Welele Ndhlamini
Yeka ukhubiza abanye abantu bentive
Nazisi ngabantu
Uzo funda nini
Helele mabhulu
Yekani ukhubiza abanye abantu amakhafula
Nabo ngabantu
Nizo xaula nini (thimela, thimela)
Hela tsotsi
Yeka ukugwaza abanye abantu nge mimese
Nabo abantu
Uzo khula nini (nge nkululeko yethu)

Nge nkululeko yethu
Mina kangiboni
Ngiboni igazi lethu eliqithwa nge zandla zethu
Bambanani hlakanani yekelani uku monalana
IZizo ziya zihleka
Lalelani zino thando

Helele Chileshe
Ungaba yeki baku bizi ikirimani
Nawe ngumuntu
Uzo hula nini
Welele Ngobese
Yeka ukhubiza abanye abantu izilwani
Nabo abantu
Uzo funda nini
Helele mabhulu
Yekani ukhubiza abanye abantu amakhafula
Nabo ngabantu
Nizo cava nini
Hela tsotsi
Yeka ukugwaza abanye abantu nge mimese
Nabo abantu
Uzo khula nini

Helele (sonke singabantu)

Nge nkululeko yethu
Mina kangiboni
Ngiboni igazi lethu eliqithwa nge zandla zethu
Hlakanani hlakanani bakithi yekelani uku monalana
IZizo ziya zihleka
Lalelani zino thando

Helele Chileshe
Ungaba yeki baku bizi ikirimani
Nawe ngumuntu
Uzo hula nini
Welele Ngobese
Yeka ukhubiza abanye abantu izilwani
Nabo abantu

Vukani

Awake sisters, awake, sisters awake
Hele Chileshe
Could you be one of those who are living in fear? But you are human
When will you grow up?
Welele Ndhlamini
Stop looking down on other black people
Whites are human
When will you learn?
Helele mabhulu
Stop looking down on those people, who are coloured
They are human
When will you all wake up? (time, time)
Hele tsotsi
Stop hitting other people with knives
They are human
When will you grow up?

With our freedom
I cannot see
I see our blood that is shed by our own hands
Stay apart, separate yourselves, stop hating each other
The Boers are laughing
Listen to these words of love

Helele Chileshe
Could you be one of those who are living in fear?
But you are human
When will you grow up?
Welele Ngobese
Stop looking down on other people, they are animals
They are human
When will you learn?
Helele mabhulu
Stop looking down on those people, who are coloured
They are human
When will you dig?
Hela tsotsi
Stop hitting other people with knives
They are human
When will you grow up?

Helele (we are all human)

With our freedom
I cannot see
I see our blood that is shed by our own hands
Laugh, laugh my people, stop hating each other
The Boers are laughing
Listen to these words of love

Helele Chileshe
Could you be one of those who are living in fear?
But you are human
When will you grow up?
Welele Ngobese
Stop looking down on other people, they are animals
They are human