Soweto Sounds: Prayer for South Africa

Prayer for South Africa is one of my all-time favourite Soweto Gospel Choir song.

The song is sung in Afrikaans and Zulu.

Lyrics:

Afrikaans / Zulu Lyrics

Here, in die hemel daarbo
Die dag is op sy laaste draai
En die son, Here die son
Hy lyk of hy water wil hê
Hy staan al hoe nader
(O Nkosi Yam)
In die blou dag se water.
(O Nkosi Yam)
Sithandazel’izwe lethu

Here, in die hemel daarbo
Die dag is op sy laaste draai
En die son, Here die son
Hy lyk of hy water wil hê
Hy staan, hy staan al hoe nader
In die blou dag se water
Sithandazel’izwe lethu

Give faith and hope and love.
Oh Lord

Yehla Moya Oyingcwele,Usisebenzise Ngoku
Ngokuthanda kwaKho, Usisebenzise.

Yehla Moya Oyingcwele,Usisebenzise Ngoku
Ngokuthanda kwaKho, Usisebenzise…

English Translation

Lord, in heaven above
The day is on it’s last turn
and the sun, Lord, the sun
Looks as though he’s thirsty.
He is standing closer
In the blue day’s water

Lord, in heaven above
The day is on it’s last turn
and the sun, Lord the sun
Looks as though he’s thirsty
He stands, he is standing closer
In the blue day’s water

Give faith and hope and love.
Oh Lord.

O, Holy Spirit descend upon us and use us as You wish…

Make us Your instruments…

(thank you to Dave and Thembisa for their assistance in the above lyrics/translations!)

Song Info:

Prayer for South Africa can be found on the Choir’s Grace album. The song was also sung during the Choir’s 2010 North American tour.

Sipokazi Nxumalo provides the amazing lead vocals on this song.

Listen:

[audio:prayer-for-south-africa.mp3]

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