Songs of Migration

In the words of the famous South African artist Hugh Masekela:  Migration is always the result of social and political upheaval, poverty, war and colonialism.

Last night I went with a couple of friends to see the musical "Songs of Migration" by the great Hugh Masekela. I believe I'll never stop to be amazed by the South African strong cultures of song and dance. It was such a great experience to listen to the beautiful voices of these talented artists telling the stories that so many in this country and region have and are still experiencing. 

Stimela
There is a train that comes from Namibia and Malawi
there is a train that comes from Zambia and Zimbabwe,
There is a train that comes from Angola and Mozambique,
From Lesotho, from Botswana, from Zwaziland,
From all the hinterland of Southern and Central Africa.
This train carries young and old, African men
Who are conscripted to come and work on contract
In the golden mineral mines of Johannesburg
And its surrounding metropolis, sixteen hours or more a day
For almost no pay.
Deep, deep, deep down in the belly of the earth
When they are digging and drilling that shiny mighty evasive stone,
Or when they dish that mish mesh mush food
into their iron plates with the iron shovel.
Or when they sit in their stinking, funky, filthy,
Flea-ridden barracks and hostels.
They think about the loved ones they may never see again. Because they might have already been forcibly removed
From where they last left them
Or wantonly murdered in the dead of night
By roving and marauding gangs of no particular origin,
We are told. They think about their lands, their herds
That were taken away from them
With a gun, bomb, teargas and the cannon.
And when they hear that Choo-Choo train
They always curse, curse the coal train,
The coal train that brought them to Johannesburg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYhTTZXP4g