Of Jah Prayzah’s Kwayedza Lyrics And Translation

Kwayedza is the 15th track on Jah Prayzah’s album Hokoyo. Kwayedza means Dawn or Sunrise. This track opens with a distinctive mbira instrumental and you can almost feel it lull you into a hypnotic state and the perfect space to appreciate this call to embrace our heritage and stop being our own worst enemies, delivered in mellifluous vocals.

Wandinzwa ndichinge nzombe kukuma
You hear me roar like a bull
Zvikanzi shumba inga dzinoruma
They said the lions bite
Bereka makumbo tiiende chikomanawe
Get ready lets go
Koinga mabatiro akasiyana
We work differently
Handingarire seshiri vakomana
I cannot sound like a bird
Koinga ndiri nhondo inofamba
I am a deer walking
Dzakatamba chembere dzikatirutsira
Old ladies danced till they were nauseous
Yakange yangove madhara achauya
It was all the old man will be coming
Zadzisa mukombe tigoukutura
Fill up the gourd and we will empty it
Tamuka ngoma rega kuibvarura
Tamuka don’t burst the drums
Yakanga yangove goto rinehwema
it was as all a celebratory dance spectacle
Tamuka ngoma rega kuipfarura
Tamuka don’t burst the drums
Kwayedza kwayedza iwe (aiwa aiwa)
Its dawn you
Kwayedza kwayedza muzukuru (aiwa aiwa mukuruwe aiwa)
Its dawn grandchild
Kwayedza kwayedza mukuruwe (aiwa aiwa mukuruwe aiwa)
Its dawn elder
Kunganzi chinja mutupo (aiwa)
If they said change you totem (no)
Daira muzukuru (aiwa)
Answer grandchild (no)
Unobvuma here? (aiwa aiwa mukuruwe aiwa)
Will you agree (no, no my elder no)
Vakakuti chinja ruvara (aiwa)
If they said to you change your colour (no)
Woita ganda jena (aiwa)
And get white skin (no)
Aiwa unoda here? (aiwa aiwa mukuruwe aiwa)
Do you want it? (no, no my elder no)
Kuchiva rumwe rudzi hurema (aiwa)
Envy of another race is a handicap
Mwana wemutema (aiwa)
Child of a black person
Ucharamba uri mutema (aiwa mukuruwe aiwa)
You will remain black
Kuchiva rumwe rudzi hurema (aiwa)
Envy of another race is a handicap
Mwana wemutema (aiwa)
Envy of another race is a handicap
Ucharamba uri mutema (aiwa mukuruwe aiwa)
You will remain black
Mukaona tupwere kudzanadzana yarira akomana
When you see the young lads dance there’s drumming
Mukaona tavamba kugamuchidza takashanda asikana
When we start passing we have worked
Mukaona tupwere kudzanadzana yarira akomana
When you see the young lads dance there’s drumming
Mukaona tatanga kugamuchidza takashanda asikana
When we start passing we have worked

Hanga yangu (hanga)
My guinea fowl
Ndakasungira dhibhura ndomene (hanga)
I snared it myself
Hanga yangu (hanga)
My guinea fowl
Ndakanoteya dhibura ndomene (hanga)
I set the trap myself
Hanga yangu (hanga)
My guinea fowl
ndakasungira dhibhura ndomene (hanga)
I snared it myself
Hanga yangu (hanga)
My guinea fowl
Ndakanoteya dhibura ndomene (hanga)
I set the trap myself

Kundipa museve usina uta
Giving me an arrow without a bow
Ah wandivirimira
Ah how you belittle me
Ah mutema wakaoma Ah mutema wakaoma
This black person is hard
Kundipa museve usina uta
Giving me an arrow without a bow
Ah wandivirimira
Ah how you belittle me
Ah mutema wakaoma Ah mutema wakaoma
This black person is hard
Wanditi mbwende wandionei?
Called me a coward how do you me view me so
Wandivirimira
Ah how you belittle me
Ah mutema wakaoma
This black person is hard
Wanditi mbwende wandioneiko?
Called me a coward but how do you view me so?
Wandivirimira
how you belittle me
Ah mutema wakaoma
This black person is hard
Kufamba kwangu mutserendende
I walk like I am sliding downhill
Handinyenyerenyedze muberevere (ndinofamba ndega)
(I walk alone)
Ibvai munzira majerenyenze
Get out of the way…
Patinotsika mazerendende
Where we step on…

Rotochena moyo kuti ngwerewere (ndinofamba ndega)
Your heart is pure (I walk alone)
Ndiani waita mhere mhere?
Who is making noise?
Kurwira nyama vane mavende
Fighting for meat with the toothless
Ndiani waita mhere mhere?
Who is making noise?
Pamusha pano
In this homestead
Kurwira nyama vane mavende
Fighting for meat with the toothless

Kuchiva rumwe rudzi hurema (aiwa)
Envy of another race is a handicap
Mwana wemutema (aiwa)
Child of a black person
Ucharamba uri mutema (aiwa mukuruwe aiwa)
You will remain black

PS *I wrote down these lyrics the hard way by listening to the track on repeat, there were a few phrases towards the end I just guessed ^_^ and if you know the proper words and translations or if I missed any others please kindly let me know

**Thank you Bruce for help with some of the translations