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In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Silindiwe, who is from Zimbabwe, about the Birthday Song she wrote in Ndebele for her son, Mbulelo, when he was born.
Topics of discussion:
The languages in Zimbabwe
English is considered the language of the elite in post-colonial Zimbabwe
Spreading awareness of African literature
Silindiwe: an ambassador for African literature
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The politics of cultural identity in Africa
What the hell a kind of name is Jack?
The power of music to bridge linguistic, cultural and racial boundaries.
The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born - Ayi Kwei Armah
Text of the Birthday Song in Ndebele:
Siyathaba
Uzelwe
Ngalemini enhle
Silenhlanhla uzelwe
Usilethe uthando
Khula Mbulelo
Uguge Mbulelo
Ubelempilo
Enhle
Ende
Translation of the Birthday Song:
We are overjoyed
That you were born on this glorious day
We are blessed and lucky
You have brought love into our lives
Grow Mbulelo
Grow old Mbulelo
And have a long and beautiful life
Silindiwe’s African Literature Recommendations:
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born is the debut novel by Ghanaian writer Ayi Kwei Armah - Further info
http://www.socialiststories.com/en/writers/Sembene-Ousmane/
https://apersonalanthology.com/2019/09/06/black-girl-by-ousmane-sembene/
http://www.bookshybooks.com/2017/04/20-short-story-collections-by-african.html
If you’d like to support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, you are very welcome to buy Helen a coffee :)