MY BLACK PRESIDENT

when i was living in paris for a bit, a big song on frenchMTV was brenda fassie's 'my black president.' nelson mandela had been released from prison after 27 years. he revived his role of president of the also long-banned ANC, and though he would not become president of south africa for several years, her song rang true.

she'd have loved to live to see us now.

MY BLACK PRESIDENT

The year 1963
The people's president
Was taken away by security men
All dressed in a uniform
The brutality, brutality
Oh, no, my black president
Him and his comrades
Were sentenced to isolation
For many painful years
For many painful years
Many painful years
Of hard labour
They broke ropes
But the spirit was never broken
Never broken
Oh, no, my, my black president

Hmm maa
Mama
Hmm maa
Mama

Hmm maa
Madiba
Hmm maa
Madiba
Ahh, nyu ye uyee huu

He broke ropes
But his spirit was never broken
Never broken
Oh oh oh, my president

Now in 1990
The people's president
Came out from jail
Raised up his hand and said
'Viva, viva, my people'
He walked the long road
Back, back to freedom
Back, back to freedom
Freedom for my black president

Let us rejoice for our president
Let us sing for our president
Let us pray for our president
Let us sing, let us dance
For Madiba give us freedom
We thank you Lord
For listening to our prayers
Night and day
Oh oh oh, my president

Madiba

[Zulu /Xhosa lyrics]

My president
I will die for my president
I will sing for my president

I will stand and say
Viva, viva, viva, viva, viva, viva

© Brenda Fassie