“Umama” is dedicated to Sjava’s own mother, Thandi Nkabinde.
In the song Sjava appreciates her mother’s unconditional love in a soulful tone while still maintaining his original sound.
The song was released as a single for the album Umqhele.
[Intro]
Ngikhumbul' uMa
Ak’savumi (Ngikhumbul' uMa)
Ang'sakhoni
Ngikhumbul’ uMa
Ngith' Ak'savumi
Ngikhumbul' uMa
[Chorus]
Sebeth' indod' endala kangaka ikhalel' uMawayo
Tha bafwethu ngek' ni understand
Ndod’ endala kangaka ikhalel’ uMawayo
Tha bafwethu ngek' ni understand
[Verse 1]
Uyojabula mang’fika
Athi uShembe uyaphila
Kule'ngozi zom'gwaqo mntanami ng'yajabula ufike usaphila
Beka i’khwama ke Msamu
Land' impepho kaGogo erondweni
Ng'phahle, ngikhulume nabadala, ngibatshele usemagcekeni
Imvul' iyana emakhaya
Ses'phelile amakhaza
Mawubuy' eGoli, cel' ung'phathel' i-heater ngoba ngempela uzong'ngcwaba
Yaz' uMa , avunamahlaya
Ngeke ushone ngisak'thanda
K'yoba isibusiso kimi ukuthi ubekhona Ma wami mang'shada
[Bridge]
Ngoba uyokwazi 'th'ukung'bonisa
Mase zing'buyela emshadweni
Ngoba uyokwazi 'thu'ukung'duduza
Mase zing'buyela emshadweni
[Pre-Chorus]
Ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni
Ngikhumbul' uMa
Ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni
Ngikhumbul' uMa
[Chorus]
Sebeth' indod' endala kangaka ikhalel' uMawayo
Tha bafwethu ngek' ni understand
Ndod' endala kangaka ikhalel' uMawayo
Tha bafwethu ngek' ni understand
[Verse 2]
Into eng'ythanda ngekhaya
Ukuthi ekhaya ak'ngwenwa ngemali (ngemali, yeah yeah)
Noma ng'ngasebenzi uMama ung'thanda ngingenani
(Ungithanda ngingenalutho)
Noma umhlaba ungang'shaya uzong'thulisa athi, "mntanam' ungakhali" (ungakhali)
Ubukeka ukhathale awuthi ngilande ukudla baba hlala phansi (hlala phansi)
[Pre-Chorus]
Ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni
Ngikhumbul' uMa
Ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni, ang'sakhoni
Ngikhumbul' uMa
[Chorus]
Sebeth' indod' endala kangaka ikhalel' uMawayo
Tha bafwethu ngek' ni understand
Ndod' endala kangaka ikhalel' uMawayo
Tha bafwethu ngek' ni understand
Umama was written by Sjava.
Umama was produced by MACE.
On an article for TimesLive Sjava said:
Experiencing my mom’s celebration of me while I’m still alive to appreciate it, is an amazing feeling
My mom doesn’t ever have to leave her peaceful life to be seen next to me, just for my career. Nothing like that will ever happen because it’s planned. If it’s organic, then that’s fine but she won’t be splashed on papers or whatever for my music’s sake. It’s crazy… like for example when I went to g...