Shona malanga
"Shona malanga… It means 'shorten the day'… it means 'let the sun go down'. It was usually in the anti-apartheid era, when people used to work in the day and they'd say 'Shona malanga,' till we meet again, because we're gonna meet and we're gonna fight for liberty. So the anti-war cry, 'a luta continuar'… it means 'the struggle will continue'…" -Una May Olomolaiye (on YouTube)
The lyrics below are sung in a call-and-response pattern and are repeated throughout the song.
Shona malanga
Let the Sun Go Down
Freedom Song
Freedom Song
(Zulu)
(English)
Shona!
Shona malanga!
Shona malanga shona!
He sizo dibana*
Dibana, dibana
Oh oh a luta continuar!
(Leader) Go down!
(Group) Let the sun go down!
(Everyone) Let the sun go down, go down!
Until we meet again!
We meet, we meet!
Oh, oh, the struggle continues!
Notes
*This line isn't always sung. Sometimes more lyrics are added to the song.
Malanga = sun, sunshine or day, daytime.
Shona = set, go down.
"A luta continua" is Portuguese. According to Wikipedia, "A luta continua (in English: the struggle continues) was the rallying cry of the FRELIMO movement during Mozambique's war for independence. The phrase is Portuguese (the official language of the former Portuguese colony) and was used by FRELIMO leader Samora Machel to cultivate popular support against the Portuguese colonial presence."
Game Instructions
"You have to move to this song!" -Una May Olomolaiye
Movements: One step forward with right foot, then left foot. Then one step back with right foot, then left foot. Arms move in the same direction as the feet.
Comments
This song is popular with choruses around the world.
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