Ripples on a Midnight Lake

Some people talk of peace, love and harmony, in order to make our world a better place.  These gestures can be difficult and sometimes happen singularly; like a small rippling effect.  But I do believe we try our best to attain each in order to keep sanity for ourselves.  But it is difficult to maintain peace when crime is rising; establish harmony when there is resentment; give when society so easily takes; and exude love when there is so little of it to go around.  All of this seemed to melt away and not matter to the audience who attended in Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s concert on Feb. 29^th, 2008.  Everyone who attended, all the small ripples, created a tidal wave that exuded peace, love and harmony. 

My experience began even before entering the auditorium where the concert was being held.  While I was trying to decide whether I should go or not, two women were standing directly in front of me and one woman was holding up a ticket announcing that it was free!  They told me their friend couldn’t make it and graciously gave it to me.  Now I was the rightful owner of a lovely center balcony seat, three rows from the ledge; excellent. 

The auditorium housed several different stereotypes; young, old, earthy, sophisticated, families and sororities, and we all came to celebrate life and the world we live in through the voices of Joseph Shabalala and his group.  The first time I saw Ladysmith, a few years back, I had searched online to find more interesting facts about the group, their heritage, their journey and most of all, their message of ‘preservation through education.’  I cannot speak for anyone else but I’m sure there are plenty who feel very grateful to live in the United States and couldn’t imagine living in a country where only a few years ago apartheid (separation of blacks and whites) was condoned and that someone could (and did) go to prison for believing this to be wrong. 

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a former President of South Africa and was the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election in 1994.  Before his presidency, he was an anti-apartheid activist and leader of an armed wing called Umkhonto we Sizwe.  He spent 27 years in confinement for knowing and believing that the suppression of blacks and apartheid was wrong.  His time spent in prison where for acts of militant sabotage during the struggle against apartheid.  A turning point for South Africa was his release in 1990.  He helped lead the transition to a multi-racial democracy.  This struggle for the blacks of South Africa rings true in several of Ladysmith’s harmonies.  Songs like Homeless and Long Walk To Freedom, are the voices of a nation being suppressed. 

          The entire band autographed my Graceland album!!

Currently I’m reading authors who are considered to be “artist’s of a floating world.”  I believe that Ladysmith Black Mambazo is the epitome of this and not only do they evoke a fight for their freedom but do so by educating the world of it, through their global performances.  In 1985, Paul Simon recorded his Graceland album which features Ladysmith Black Mambazo singing their traditional music called, Isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya).  Ladysmith toured with Simon and nationally created a huge interest in world music.  Ladysmith was also asked by Mandela, to perform at his ceremonies when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and again at his inauguration in 1994.  Currently Joseph Shabalala leads his group, which consists of friends and family members, including four sons, on a journey to teach the traditions his elders, taught him and the consciousness of South African culture.

These events are something to be proud of and sometimes I look back over my life and wonder what have I done?  What have I done to make a difference in this world?  Of course I would like to believe that I will do great things and make strong decisions that result in changes for a better world.  But ultimately for now, I’ll take pride in knowing that I’m part of a ‘rippling effect’ and that there are many people out there who also try to do the right thing and therefore cause more rippling.  If society gave thought to the gestures, peace, love, harmony and tried to make it a part of their everyday lives, I believe this would create a Wave of Change and will make us all look back on the world we helped create . . .and be proud.  I experienced that ‘rippling’ even before stepping foot into the auditorium that night.  So, to Kathy Towne and Betty Bryant; THANK YOU!  Not only for my ticket, but for your act of kindness and continuing the ‘rippling’ effect!

Lyrics to Homeless

Emaweni webaba
Silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni

Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
We are homeless, we are homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
And we are homeless, homeless, homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

Zio yami, zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami amakhaza asengi bulele
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, angibulele amakhaza
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami somandla angibulele mama
Zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami

Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo
Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo

Strong wind destroy our home
Many dead, tonight it could be you
Strong wind, strong wind
Many dead, tonight it could be you

And we are homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih

Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba lonke ilizwe
(ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih)
Esanqoba phakathi e england
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e london
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e england

Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?

Kuluman
Kulumani, kulumani sizwe
Singenze njani
Baya jabula abasi thanda yo
Ho