MaDlamini Lyrics Meaning by Makhadzi:

In this song, Makhadzi expresses her frustration with being left by men in the past. However, with this new relationship, she’s confident that this man won’t leave her. She tells everyone to hurry up and prepare for the wedding by getting their clothes ready and learning the wedding dance quickly, just in case this man tries to run away like the others before him.

Here are the key Tshivenda words from the song and their English meanings:

• Tavhanyani – Hurry up
• Rungisa – Prepare/make (in this case, wedding clothes)
• Vheiwe – You (people)
• Shavhe – Run away
• Gude – Learn
• Tshitepe – Dance (wedding dance)
• Rokho – Dresses
• Sutu – Suits
• Litshani – Let me
• Bvule – Take off (clothes/shoes)
• Pembele pembele – Celebrate freely
• MaDlamini – Mrs. Dlamini (symbolic reference to a bride)
• Vhakegulu – Grannies/older women

MaDlamini Lyrics

 

Tavhanyani ni yo rungisa vheiwe (Go and quickly make the wedding clothes)
Hoyu wa zwino ndiri anga si shavhe (This one [boyfriend] will never run away from me)
Tavhanyani ni yo rungisa vheiwe (Go and quickly make the dresses)
Hoyu wa zwino ndiri anga si ntsie (This one [boyfriend] will never leave me)

Ni ye ni gude tshitepe (Go and learn the wedding dance)
Tavhanyani ni yo runga ni runge ni runge dzi rokho (Go and quickly make the wedding dresses)
Ni ye ni gude tshitepe (Go and learn the wedding dance)
Tavhanyani ni yo runga ni runge ni runge dzi sutu (Go and quickly make the wedding suits)
Ni ye ni gude tshitepe (Go and learn the wedding dance)

Ari vhone (He said)
Vhari ndi Muvenḓa mubikwa na ive, ive ḽa vhibva Muvenḓa a sala (The MuVenda who was cooked with a rock, and the rock got cooked, but he remained undone)
A ya fhisa mateki (The tekkies [shoes] are too hot)
A ya fhisa mateki (The tekkies are too hot)
Litshani ndi bvule ndi pembele pembele wee (Let me take them off and celebrate freely)

We MaDlamini (Mrs MaDlamini)
Ni fhe vhakegulu navho vhale vhanwe (Give the grannies food and drinks)
We MaDlamini (Mrs MaDlamini)
Ni fhe vhakegulu navho vhale vhanwe (Give the grannies food and drinks)

A ya fhisa mateki (The tekkies are too hot)
A ya fhisa mateki (The tekkies are too hot)
Litshani ndi bvule ndi pembele pembele wee (Let me take them off and celebrate freely)