Mama Tembu's Wedding

Tonight, tonight’s the wedding feast
The men arrive with the slaughtered beast
A wail a chant soon fills the air
For miles around the people hear

Mama Thembu’s getting married here tonight
All the spirits looking, shouting their delight
Mama Thembu’s getting married here tonight
The bones are thrown and mama's happy shining bright

Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya

The maidens kneel and kiss the bride
The warrior waits, he’s filled with pride
The drummer starts to pound the drum
For miles around they hear the sound

Mama Thembu’s getting married here tonight
All the spirits looking shouting their delight
Mama Thembu’s getting married here tonight
The bones are thrown and mama's happy shining bright
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya

And I sighed and I called in the deep of the night
Because never before have I seen such a sight
As the bride Mama Tembu walks out through the door
And the valleys still echoes the sound of the roar

Helele, helele, helele, helele
Helele, helele, helele, helele
Helele, helele, helele, helele
Helele, helele, helele, helele

Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya
Ela gqirha lagqita laqabela phaya