Living Zimbabwe

Tag: Inspiration

  • Step Over Them by Rassie Ai

    Step Over Them by Rassie Ai

    Step Over Them by Rassie Ai (from the album Return to Life). The song is a song of encouragement and inspiration to the struggling masses of Zimbabwe home and abroad. It seeks to encourage Zimbabweans at home and abroad to “step over’ their challenges and maintain a positive outlook. Speaking to Zimbabweans of all ethnicities and social backgrounds. (see below for live performance of Step Over Them being performed at Stormont Buildings (National Assembly of Northern Ireland) on Commonwealth Day, a poignant platform for the expression of African values and concerns)

    Step Over Them – Lyrics

    We till the land, plant the seed, watch over dem, African Kings come we claim we throne again

    Step over dem

    Com we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide neither prove fi dem – hey.

    Mek we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide, nothin’ ah hide.

    I originate in distance places, through time and space to a village me ah trace back to Zimba

    I do no ina rat race in this land of waste, choo mi case is to go back to Zimba (I do not partake in the rat race in this land of waste, my case is to go back to Zim)

    Anywhere you deh so better proud you a Zimba, Shona or Ndebele better know you a Zimba (Whatever tribe you are from be proud to be Zimbabwean, know who you are)

    Vanhu veZimbabwe tisu tine simba, same one Zimbabwe build Matombo Dzimba (People of Zimbabwe we have the strength, we built the House of Stone)

    Munhu nemunhu ane kumusha inga, kune vekuBikita kune vekuBinga (Every person has a spiritual home, some are from Bikita some from Binga)

    Ask who ah revolute ah Congo ah Zimba, ask who ah revolute ah Zambia Zimba (Ask who helped the revolution in Congo, ask who helped the revolution in Zambia)

    Do no bring no pill do no bring no syringe ya, Shona or Ndebele better know you a Zimba

    Show me your hand and clench your five finger, if you a Zimba do no bother linger (regardless of political affiliation, clenched fist or open palm)

    Com, com, com, com we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide neither prove fi dem – hey.

    Mek we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide, nothin’ ah hide.

    I know some African , wey can speak more than five lingua Dat is when you find out you ah reason with a Zimba (I know some Africans who speak more than five languages, that’s how you know a Zimbabwean)

    If you think ah peace and safety, things serene ya Still ah reminisce Rhodesia, dis ah Zimba (Things have not always been peaceful and serene, do not linger on the past, this now Zimbabwe)

    Ghonarezhou to Matopo dat ah Zimba (Ghonarezhou to Matopo is Zimbabwe)

    Amhlope Makorokoto dat ah Zimba (Congratulations in Ndebele or Shona, it’s still Zimbabwean)

    Zambezi dung ah Limpopo dat ah Zimba (Zambezi to Limpopo it’s Zimbabwe)

    Watch babylon wid dem dutty grubby finger Want tek a little piece out Munhumutapa (Those who hate us want to destroy our ancient Kingdom piece by piece)

    Zimbabwe step out and we start to wrath ya Babylon mi ah com, better clear da path ya (Zimbabweans step out and harness our anger/outrage)

    Mi ah gash dem so bad dem can’t heal with plaster( Clear the path, we are on the way, the battle wounds inflicted will not be healed by plasters!)

    Com, com we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide neither prove fi dem – hey.

    Mek we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide, nothin’ ah hide.

    ‘Member blood of men, women and children never stop from spill (Remember the blood of men, women and children never stops spilling)

    Babylon your biggest export is kill, babylon your first resort is kill Babylon your UN report is kill,(Evil nations export death, their first resort is death, the UN reports are full of death)

    An eye fi an eye me say limb fi a limb till you stop boost war upon mi little children (It will be an eye for an eye, limb for a limb until you stop killing our youth)

    An eye fi an eye, fire burning, ready fi a spark babylon come say a ting (An eye for an eye, fire burning, all it needs is a spark, make your move!)

    Com, we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide neither prove fi dem – hey.

    Mek we step over them, I see the enemies attack, jump over them

    Nah tek no prisoners, so we no handover dem

    I no have nothin’ ah hide, nothin’ ah hide.

    We till the land plant the seed watch over dem

    Dem same one send police patrol again

    Just get release African parole again

    African Kings come we claim we throne again (repeat)

    This has been a submission by Takura Donald Makoni aka Rassie Ai.
    You can connect with Rassie Ai via the following: https://twitter.com/DonaldMakoni, https://www.facebook.com/galleriakwamurongoarts.
    You too can become a Citizen Journalist by submitting your story here: Citizen Journalism by Living Zimbabwe
    The views expressed in the article are those of the author and not necessarily Living Zimbabwe.

  • Lessons For Zimbabwe & Africa From Tributes Made At Mandela’s Farewell

    Lessons For Zimbabwe & Africa From Tributes Made At Mandela’s Farewell

    On Sunday December 15, 2013, the iconic Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was laid to rest in Qunu, the place that he called home.

    He took his last breath on Thursday 5 December and the 10 days leading up to his return to the soil has been marked with a number of ceremonies. This included a memorial service which was attended by the people of South Africa and about 90 current and former heads of state from around the world.

    There were moments throughout the 10 day period that were emotional with people being in a sometimes celebratory mood (celebrating the life that was), a mournful mood, comical such as the news of the sign language interpreter who’s interpreting didn’t mean a thing and a little political such as Zuma being booed and Mugabe being cheered by the crowds.

    A few of the world leaders who attended the memorial and funeral services made speeches to bid farewell to Mandela. The speeches highlighted interactions that the speakers had with Madiba or aspects of his life that inspired them to be who they are today. A lot of the speeches included lessons and wisdom that leaders and nations at large can take on board and apply as they work towards a better tomorrow.

    Below are extracts of some of the speeches made to honour Mandela:

    Barack Obama (President of the United States):

    [quote]The questions we face today – how to promote equality and justice; how to uphold freedom and human rights; how to end conflict and sectarian war – these things do not have easy answers. But there were no easy answers in front of that child born in World War I. Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done. South Africa shows that is true. South Africa shows we can change, that we can choose a world defined not by our differences, but by our common hopes. We can choose a world defined not by conflict, but by peace and justice and opportunity.[/quote]

    [quote]And finally, Mandela understood the ties that bind the human spirit. There is a word in South Africa, Ubuntu, a word that captures Mandela’s greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that are invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us.[/quote]

    The full transcript of Barak Obama’s speech can be found here

    Joyce Banda (President of Malawi & SADC Chief):

    [quote]I learned that leadership is about falling in love with the people and the people falling in love with you. It is about serving the people with selflessness, with sacrifice and with the need to put the common good ahead of personal interests.[/quote]

    [quote]Tata Madiba taught us that even when the challenges of life seem insurmountable, with courage and determination, we can overcome the evils of our societies.[/quote]

    [quote]The ideals of political, social and economic emancipation that he stood for will inspire us forever as a Region.[/quote]

    This was one of the speeches that was both moving and inspirational hence the inclusion of the video below:

    The full transcript of Joyce Banda’s speech can be found here

    Ahmed Kathrada (close friend of Madiba, South African politician and former political prisoner and anti-apartheid activist)

    [quote]Madala, your abundant reserves of love, simplicity, honesty, service, humility, care, courage, foresight, patience, tolerance, equality and justice, continually served as a source of enormous strength to many millions of people in South Africa and the world. You symbolize today, and always will, qualities of collective leadership, reconciliation, unity and forgiveness. You strove daily to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.[/quote]

    [quote]In this spirit, so exemplified in your life, it is up to the present and next generations to take up the cudgels where you have left off. It is up to them, through service to deepen our democracy; entrench and defend our Constitution; eradicate poverty; eliminate inequality; fight corruption, and serve always with compassion, respect, integrity and tolerance. Above all, they must build our nation and break down the barriers that still divide us.[/quote]

    The full transcript of Ahmed Kathrada’s speech can be found here

    Kenneth Kaunda (Former President of Zambia)

    The former Zambian president was not scheduled to speak at the funeral but he took the opportunity to make his way to the podium and bid his friend farewell. The speech was a times a little controversial with his use of the word “boer” as got certain points across.

    [quote]Who is Nelson Mandela, who is he, how do I see him?
    This man is a blessed child of the Lord God Almighty, he followed the commandments that God Almighty our creator has given to the human race; love God your creator with all you heart, all you soul, all your mind, all your strength.
    As to that one he has made his image like you, his commandment is love your neighbour as you love yourself, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.[/quote]

    Where there any other stand out moments from Mandela’s farewell that you felt included lessons that could help make this world a better place?

    To learn more about Nelson Mandela and what made him the man that he was, get your hands on his autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom