Osiyeza (The Crossing)

The Bird Sings Oral Tradition Song Library

Osiyeza (The Crossing)

I arranged this song for three part chorus, based upon the version performed by Overtone on the Invictus movies soundtrack. It is in Zulu, the language of South Africa.

Composer & Copyright

Original song by Johnny Clegg.

Recording

Lyrics

Note: these lyrics are written phonetically for easier learning.

O siye-za, o siye-za, sizo figa way baba noma
O siye-za, o siye-za, siya goo-dla lom laba

Siya wela
lap eshaya
lulay zontaba zim ya-ma

Lapa sobeka fansi
konke ukhul feka

Actual Written Language with Translation

O Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon)

O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
(we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth)

Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
(we are crossing over those dark mountains)

Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka
(where we will lay down our troubles)

Inspiration Track

Teaching Notes

This song is too complex lyrically to teach in one session, but great for a chorus. It is steady and simple rhythmically and works well with or without drums. In this three-part arrangement all three part ranges are stretched with fairly high sections for the high part and the low part bottoms at a low E.

Recording is in the key of D.

8

Level of teaching speed/ difficulty (1 = very easy, 10 = very challenging)

 

12 Comments
  • Just found this website. I too write Zulu songs as I am teacher and always in need something new. Over 40 years of writing songs and my mother writing the music.

    I have more complicated songs ready to be sung. Finding a singer has been my problem. Must be a solo for the children, Second additional Zulu, to hear each word clearly.

    I look forward to listening to all these Zulu songs. Well done.

    • Jen Kazen

      Thank you Jennifer!

  • Lizette

    Can someone translate this for me please?

    • Lisa G.

      The translation is above in parenthesis under the lyrics Lizette.

  • Xhosa has a lot of clicks in it. They speak Xhosa in Black Panther. This is how you would identify Xhosa being spoken.

  • Christopher Barnett

    Thanks to JR Veale – South Africa is a complex place, and the range of languages spoken is just one example. I’ve always wondered whether this song is in Zulu or Xhosa.

    • Kevin Phillipson

      Does anyone have an English translation of the song?

      • Lisa G.

        It’s listed here with the lyrics Kevin.

      • Lisa G.

        It’s in the description above Kevin-

    • Beccy Stones

      It’s in Zulu, as are all Johnny Clegg’s songs.

  • JRVeale

    In case you’re interested, Zulu is only one of around 35 languages in South Africa! You can read about them here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa

  • michael lojkovic

    i love singing this song! i love Jaluka & Johnny Clegg ! We are scatterings of Africa, yutan bota!!!

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