Jozi, Jozi. (Ngiyeza) - South African isicathamiya

Jozi, Jozi (Ngiyeza) is a cinematic African choral journey about leaving home in search of work, carrying the hopes of a family and the memories of the land left behind. Inspired by the traditions of South African isicathamiya singing, this song tells the story of a young man leaving his mountain home for Johannesburg, promising his mother that one day he will return with something to give back. With deep male choir harmonies, ancestral rhythms, and bilingual English and isiZulu vocals, Jozi, Jozi explores the emotions of migration, sacrifice, hope, and belonging. "Leave the mountain, chase the bread, But my roots stay in the bed." A song for everyone who has ever left home to build a better future, while carrying home within them. Lyrics - Jozi, Jozi. (Ngiyeza) I left my mother by the gate Left her hands on my shirt The Drakensberg held the morning cold And the cows moved slow through the dirt Ngashiya umndeni ekuseni Ngathi ngiyabuya, ngiyethembisa Kodwa inhliziyo yami yayisindile Njengetshe egxotsheni The road was long and full of dust My name was small in the dark Ngaya eJohanesburgh Ngilandela isibani senhliziyo I had to go I had to try Ngicela ningilinde Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza I’m leaving home to work and live Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza Ngizobuyela nginokuthile nginike Leave the mountain, chase the bread But my roots stay in the bed Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza Ngibuyela ekhaya one day I saw the taxis bite the air And the workers line the street Every face was far from home Every step was sharp and beat Ngasebenza ngamahora amade Izandla zami zaba nzima Kodwa ebusuku ngiyakhumbula Isango, umlilo, nomama I count the days in borrowed rooms I count the stars I cannot see Ngithi uma ngiphumelela lapha Ngisengumntwana wakho The road was long and full of dust My name was small in the dark Ngaya eJohanesburgh Ngilandela isibani senhliziyo I had to go I had to try Ngicela ningilinde Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza I’m leaving home to work and live Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza Ngizobuyela nginokuthile nginike Leave the mountain, chase the bread But my roots stay in the bed Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza Ngibuyela ekhaya one day One day I’ll come back with shoes for my brother One day I’ll come back with peace for my mother Ngizobuya ngiphethe izindaba Ngiphethe isinkwa, ngiphethe uthando If the city makes me hard Let the mountain keep my name Ngoba ekhaya kusekhona Kusekhona indawo yami Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza I’m leaving home to work and live Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza Ngizobuyela nginokuthile nginike Leave the mountain, chase the bread But my roots stay in the bed Jozi, Jozi, ngiyeza Ngibuyela ekhaya one day #AfricanMusic #Isicathamiya #SouthAfricanMusic #WorldMusic #ChoralMusic #Johannesburg