Listen to a sample track: “Take Over” [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs.xml]

Click to download the album from iTunes or order a physical CD from Amazon: Or, buy a CD from us directly for $14.99:

About the Album

The Robben Island Singers are three ex-political prisoners who gave up many years of their lives in the struggle for freedom. They all come from townships near the City of Durban in South Africa, joined the African National Congress in their late teens, fought for freedom and served time as political prisoners on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. This album was recorded live at the Singers’ American debut performance in Chicago and mastered by professionals to create archival-quality tracks.

Track Listing & Samples

Track	Song Title	Download song from iTunes/Amazon
1.	“Singoban’ Thina” (Who are We?) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs1.xml]
2.	“Sizothabatha Umthwalo” (We Will Take Our Belongings) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs2.xml]
3.	“Sikhalela Izwe lakithi”- (We Are Crying for Our Country That Was Taken by the Colonizers) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs3.xml]
4.	“Izinqa ZikaMahlalela” (The Buttocks of the Unemployed Are as Hard as Concrete) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs4.xml]
5.	“Sihole we Mqabuko” (Lead Us Joshua Nkomo Into Zimbabwe) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs5.xml]
6.	“Silindel’ Impendulo” (We are Waiting for an Answer) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs6.xml]
7.	“Luthuli Bambiza E Oslo” (Tribute to Chief Albert Luthuli – Noble Prize Winner) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs7.xml]
8.	“Guerilla Sizobabulala” (Guerilla, We Will Kill Them) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs8.xml]
9.	“Sizobadubula Ngombayimbayi” (We are Going to Fight by Using Big Cannons) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs9.xml]
10.	“Sasolburg” (The Oil Refinery is Burning- ANC Boys Sabotaged it Yesterday) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs10.xml]
11.	The War Medley – “Toi Toi” (War Dance) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs11.xml]
12.	“Take Over” (Take Our Country the Castro Way) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs12.xml]
13.	“Avante Popolo” (in Spanish: Viva Communism) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs13.xml]
14.	“Chimurenga Dzakatanga” (The struggle continues in Zimbabwe) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs14.xml]
15.	Interlude [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs15.xml]
16.	“Kure Kure Kwa Ndinobva” (Far Away is My Home) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs16.xml]
17.	“Sugar Lump” – Sing-A-Long with Kids [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs17.xml]
18.	“What a System” (What a Crime) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs18.xml]
19.	“Ama Come Duze” (Come Closer Sweetheart, Daddy is Here) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs19.xml]
20.	“Bulawayo” (The Enemy Appears From Around the Corner?) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs20.xml]
21.	“Umzabalazo Uyasivumela” (Everywhere the Struggle is in Our Favor) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs21.xml]
22.	“Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” – God Bless Africa (South Africa’s National Anthem) [mp3player width=250 height=20 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=songs22.xml]

Click to download the album from iTunes or order a physical CD from Amazon: Or, buy a CD from us directly for $14.99:

Artists’ statement

“We came together to release a CD that tells stories about our personal experiences during our imprisonment and struggle for freedom through songs. These are the songs we sang in our childhood. Everyone sang them while we were fighting and added new layers of meaning during the years of struggle. These songs helped us feel strong and kept our spirits up during imprisonment.”

“We are not war heroes or famous in our country. We are not professional musicians. We are just ordinary soldiers in the fight for freedom and our songs are the songs of all South Africans.”

“We came to America because we want to share our stories with you, and because we joined in a collaboration with Groundswell to make a film so that our stories can be heard around the world. Our history is based on oral traditions and songs. The film we make will preserve our stories and songs for posterity.”

“Through our stories and songs, people will understand that in situations of extreme conflict the human spirit can persevere and that negotiation with the enemy, and forgiveness can, in fact, bring peace. What happened in South Africa is not a miracle. It is possible for everyone. We would also like to thank the American people for their support during our struggle. The international support played a major role in our triumph.”

– The Robben Island Singers

Song Guide

“Singoban’ Thina” (Who are we?)

“Sizothabatha Umthwalo” (We will take our belongings)
This is a motivational song about packing up all of our belongings and leaving the country to join Umkhonto Wessizwe (ANC MK) to get military training.

“Sikhalela Izwe lakithi” (We are crying for our country that was taken by the colonizers)

“Izinqa ZikaMahlalela” (The buttocks of the unemployed are as hard as concrete)
We sang this song about being homesick on the island and longing to be with a girlfriend. But this nostalgic song was originally created in a different context. The song first came about as an ironic commentary on the sadness of being unemployed far from home. Day laborers (living in men -only dormitories) would sit along the road in the cities far from their homes, in the hope of being picked up by an employer to find work for that day. If you are not called upon for work, your seat might become cemented, metaphorically-speaking!

“Sizobadubula Ngombayimbayi” (We are going to fight by using big cannons)
This song was very popular among youth because it gave encouragement. It declares war against Apartheid and committed us to use weapons.

“Sihole we Mqabuko”
We remember the comrades who died with this song.

“Silindel’ Impendulo”
We are Waiting for an Answer (We Won’t Strike Without an Answer)

“Luthuli Bambiza E Oslo”
This song is a tribute to Chief Albert Luthuli, president of the African National Congress in the late 1950’s and early 60’s. Chief Luthuli was the first South African to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Guerilla Sizobabulala”
This is an MK (Umkhonto Wessizwe) song that we sung when we were getting ready to fight on the front lines. It means, “We will kill them I swear by my mother that we will kill them. When I jumped the fence I saw the hippo (a war truck which was used to kill young students during the fighting for freedom) running away. When I jumped the fence I saw Voster (he was the South African minister during Apartheid regime) running away.”

“Sasolburg”
This song is about how a South African oil refinery was sabotaged by the ANC.

“Toi Toi” (War dance)

“Take Over” (Take Our Country the Castro Way)
This song pays homage to Fidel Castro, who had supported the South African struggle against Apartheid.

“Avante Popular”
In Spanish, this song translates roughly to “Viva Communism.” We were taught this song by a Cuban fighter.

“Chimurenga Dzakatanga” (The struggle continues in Zimbabwe)
This song is in Shona, the largest linguistic group in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean African People Union (ZAPU) was formed by workers and peasants. This song talks about Ian Smith (Former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe) and how he caused the conflict in Zimbabwe.

Interlude

“Kure Kure Kwa Ndinobva” (Far away is my home)
“Far away is my home. Mother and father we shall meet in Zimbabwe. When we come home we shall meet in Zimbabwe. Mozorewa, Smith, Chirawu you will shiver like cowards. When we come to Zimbabwe.

“Sugar Lump”
Sugar was a scarcity for prisoners. They were deprived of sugar, but also sugar was used as a source of energy during the hunger strikes.

“What a System” (What a Crime)
These satirical words are sung to the tune of Oh my darling, Clementine.

“Ama Come Duze” (Come Closer Sweetheart, Daddy is Here)
A folk song we used to sing when missing our girlfriends and wives

“Bulawayo” (The Enemy Appears From Around the Corner?)
We learned this song from MK veterans who fought with the Zimbabweans to conquer Smith (He was Zimbabwe’s president then).

“Umzabalazo Uyasivumela” Everywhere the Struggle is in Our Favor
The song gives one strength and confidence. It is still relevant and people still sing it during commemorations.

“Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” God Bless Africa (South Africa’s National Anthem)

Click to download the album from iTunes or order a physical CD from Amazon: Or, buy a CD from us directly for $14.99: