I have ALWAYS wanted to know what all the African (the language is Zulu btw) chanting meant. I found a website that has the script, and subsequently (ooooh I like that word) has the translation of the Zulu.
In the very beginning during the Circle of Life, the Zulu chorus chants this:
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba [There comes a lion]
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama [Oh yes, it's a lion]
Various shots of animals raising their heads at the sunrise: rhinos, antelope, a cheetah, meerkats, storks...
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba [There comes a lion]
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama [Oh yes, it's a lion]
Ingonyama
Siyo Nqoba [We're going to conquer]
Ingonyama
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala [It's a lion and a tiger] {repeats 5}
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Se-to-kwa!)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Asana) {repeats 1}
When Rafiki finds Simba is alive and helps him to go find his place as King, he chants this, which annoys Simba greatly. This is actually in Swahili, not Zulu, and was taken from a Kenyan "schoolyard chant" which the production team heard on their research trip to Africa.
Asante sana! [Thank you very much!]
Squash banana! [Squash banana!]
We we nugu! [You're a BABOON,]
Mi mi apana! [And I'm not!]
When Simba follows Rafiki through the woodsy brush just before he sees Mufasa in the stars you hear this chanting of the Zulu chorus in the background.
We sangoma ngi velelwe [Oh, spiritual healer, I'm troubled]
We baba ngivelelwe [Oh, my father, I'm in pain]
We baba ngivelelwe [Oh, my father, I'm in pain]
When Simba is running across the desert back to Pride Rock to fight Scar and become King, the Zulu chorus is singing this
Busa le lizwe {"This land, invincible."}
Busa le lizwe [Rule this land]
Busa le lizwe [Rule this land]
Busa lomhlaba [Rule this land]
Sabusa le lizwe [You shall rule this land]
Sabusa le lizwe [You shall rule this land]
Sabusa le lizwe [You shall rule this land]
Busa lomhlaba [Rule this land]
And at the very end of the movie when Simba is now king and he roars off of Pride Rock you hear the re-singing of Circle of Life with this chanting.
Simba's expression gains confidence and strength. He roars. The lionesses roar in reply. Time switch to the savannah in full bloom again.
Busa le lizwe [Rule this land]
Busa le lizwe [Rule this land]
Busa le lizwe [Rule this land]
Bus-busa ngo xolo [Rule, rule with peace]
Se-fi-le Baba ti-tabo Maye babo Busa lomhlaba [Rule this land]
He! Se-fi-le Busa Simba! Busa Simba! [Rule Simba! Rule Simba!]
Ubuse ngo xolo [You must rule with peace]
Ubuse ngo thando [You must rule with love]
Ubuse ngo xolo [You must rule with peace]
Ubuse ngo thando [You must rule with love]
Ubuse ngo xolo [Rule with peace]
Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and Nala are on Pride Rock. Zazu flies up to the point. Timon, of course, is shaking his arms in the classic victory sign. All the groups of herds are there and making noise as in the presentation of Simba.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala [It's a lion and a tiger] Ingonyama nengw' enamabala [It's a lion and a tiger]
And that is some of the cool stuff I didn't know about the Lion King that I've always wanted to know. Pretty cool huh?!? I'm glad I bought the DVD.
YAY for The Lion King!!!
2 comments:
Oh poo.
At my high school graduation we sang "Circle of Life" - including the introduction - among a number of other corny gradumatationary songs. But the introduction was completely different than what you have written here!
It went something like:
Ma tsivenya vavagitsiwawa!
Ma sitokom,
Venyama...
Ma tsivenya vavagitsiwawa,
Ke ke waba;
Haiwaba!
Sitokom vayawa,
Venyama...
Hengwinyama hengwinyamamada,
Hengwinyama hengwinyamamada...Ohwell. Since you've got the DVD, you're probably right. :-P
Of course, being in highschool, a substantial number of students were not actually singing "hengwinyamamada" at the end, but something that sounded somewhat closer to "hangin' with yo mama"! ;-)
-Steg.
Steve, I think it's just a matter of how you do the transliteration from the Zulu. (Just like Hebrew, some transliterations are great, some are AWFUL!!!) Though since the one I found looks harder to pronounce but if you do and listen to the movie they both sound similar. I suspect the harder to pronounce is closer in spelling to the actual Zulu. But I could be wrong. It was cool to find out what it all means though. :)
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