Continuing the series with a beautiful love song.
Nathi is a South African singer who speaks and sings in the Xhosa language. “Nomvula”, from his debut album, sparked airplay, sales and awards. If you live anywhere near South Africa, this song is on every playlist that you have made since 2015. It might be on your radio at this very moment...
But, if you don’t live on the African continent, you may not have had the pleasure of this beautiful song in your life. My hope is that “Nomvula” travels all the way to the Pacific Northwest, where I imagine someone in Oregon is sipping on their almond milk latte while “Nomvula” plays on the café speakers.
Why is “Nomvula” worth listening to?
This song is beautiful, soulful and catchy. Deep jazz chords set the tone during the brief intro, creating the atmosphere. Verse one comes in with Nathi’s acoustic guitar and smooth voice as he describes the scene. There are strong hooks in this song, melody lines and emotions that really stay with you. Even before I understood any Xhosa, this song moved me. But, I personally enjoy knowing the meaning of the music I listen to, which brings us to the next subheading.
What is the song about?
Good question. Nathi sings in the Xhosa language, so most of my readers will be a bit lost. A word-for-word translation into English does not tell the whole story, since most of the lines are figures of speech. So, here is the gist of the song:
Nathi is in love with a girl named Nomvula. He knows that they would be good together, but she doesn’t respond. On the first hook when he sings “Bazali bam, ndibizeleni uNomvula wam…” this is where Nathi is asking his parents (Bazali) for their help. As the song carries on, he continues to reach out to her and she continues to ignore him. Obviously, Nomvula is not interested, otherwise she would respond.
Why is this song relatable?
Everyone has a “Nomvula” in their life, making this song relatable across any border, language or culture. Past or present, you have had feelings for someone who did not feel the same way about you. If you have somehow not experienced this, bravo. But the rest of us understand clearly where Nathi is coming from.
I also appreciate that Nathi goes to his parents for help. It seems that modern culture is trending away from the family unit. Youth are often influenced to be independent from their parents at an earlier age. Nathi shows respect for his parents and the importance of family.
In conclusion
“Nomvula” is a beautiful song that is worth your time and attention. The universal theme speaks to all of us. On the most basic level it’s a catchy love song, while a closer listen reveals complicated emotions and the importance of family. Don’t allow borders, oceans or language barriers to keep you from great music!
Who is your “Nomvula”?
Siyabonga kakhulu (thank you very much),
Swazipond
Indeed. No wonder house DJs couldn't leave it alone. The first I heard it in Maputo it was in the form of a house beat and very catchy.