Johnny Clegg (With Nelson Mandela): "Asimbonanga" (1999)

"Asimbonanga" is the 2nd track from "Third World Child", the studio album by South African artist Johnny Clegg and his band Savuka, released in 1987 and produced by Hilton Rosenthal.

Incorporating both Zulu and English lyrics, as well as political songs, it was the album which led Clegg to international fame. All songs were written by Johnny Clegg, except for Giyani in collaboration with V. Mavusa.

The song "Great Heart" was covered by Jimmy Buffett a year after its release for his album Hot Water. The song has since become an opener for Buffett's notorious concerts, being played nearly every performance during the 2000 and 2003 tour. The 2000 tour was compiled into a live album, Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, but "Great Heart" was left on the cutting room floor. However, many performances from the 2003 tour was captured on five out of seven of the Jimmy Buffett sound board live albums. Buffett originally picked the song up from Clegg when Clegg opened a show for him.


- Lyrics:

Asimbonanga (We have not seen him)
Asimbonang' uMandela thina (We have not seen Mandela)
Laph'ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph'ehleli khona (In the place where he is kept)

Oh the sea is cold and the sky is grey
Look across the Island into the Bay
We are all islands till comes the day
We cross the burning water

Chorus

A seagull wings across the sea
Broken silence is what I dream
Who has the words to close the distance
Between you and me

Chorus

Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge
Neil Aggett
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang 'umfowethu thina (we have not seen our brother)
Laph'ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph'wafela khona (In the place where he died)
Hey wena (Hey you!)
Hey wena nawe (Hey you and you as well)
Siyofika nini la' siyakhona (When will we arrive at our destination)