Appendix 6 - International Music Council

Sikhulekele Ukuthula
(We pray for peace – English translation)
By C. Themba Msimang
It took off and soared away; The magic bird soared away;
The bird that does not flap its wings Where all birds flap their wings.
It flew away with the Palissander choir It soared away and cut through the clouds,
Aiming for the deepest skies Waving a white flag, Which it waved above pools of blood
Which flow down the mountains of Africa. We perceived grief and saw tears.
What has gone wrong Africans of Africa? Till when will we keep killing one another?
It took off and soared away; The magic bird soared away;
Heading towards Norway, The home of peace throughout the world;
It carried a big swarm of doves We threw them down peacefully as we passed the DRC
Saying that the Palissander choir are peace makers, We pray for peace in Congo;
Again we threw them down as we passed Burundi, We pray for peace in Africa;
Again we threw them down as we passed Rwanda; We pray for peace in Africa.
Again we threw them down as we passed Eritrea; We pray for peace in Africa.
Till when will we keep butchering one another?
It took off and soared away; The magic bird flew away;
When we were up in the sky, Coming along with John Monageng;
Coming along with Gert Maree; Coming along with Sarita Hauptfleisch;
We turned our eyes towards the East.
Oh! What affliction is there in Palestine! Oh! What misery is there in Israel!
What is the matter in Jerusalem? Why do we hear cannon rumbling in the holy city?
What is the matter in Bethlehem? Why do we hear cannon rumbling in the holy city?
We pray for peace throughout the world; We pray for peace in Pakistan; We pray for peace in India.
Why do we keep killing one another?
It took off and soared away; The magic bird soared away,
There is ISME coming to welcome it; Responding to the sounds of African drums
Saying that working together is human, Saying that unity is strength
This was echoed by the ‘orphans’ from Africa; ‘Orphans’ who have no home in Pretoria;
Children who sleep in the streets of Pretoria; Having come to Europe to appeal for peace;
Appealing for peace as they face Oslo; The capital of peace in the world.
The magic bird took off and then landed! It landed in Bergen and reminded me of Oslo;
I remembered Chief Luthuli of the Madlanduna clan,
I remembered Nelson Mandela of the Thembu clan, I remembered De Klerk among the Whites;
I remembered Tutu among bishops; Peace brokers of South Africa;
Who brokered peace until Oslo noticed, And then honoured them with the Nobel Prize;
The supreme award for peace. In South Africa we all clapped our hands,
Saying liberty has returned to our land, We enjoyed the fruits of democracy,
The government of the people by the people, At our place in South Africa!
GOD SAVE AFRICA!
I have no more words!
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