The days of darkness are done,

the times of ignorance over.

The brand of Cain enflames the land:

are you a killer like Cain?

From the stream came the song of the maidens,

from the outposts and empty villages

of the lands of the Sotho and Hlubi:

come out, leaders, explain it to us.

Halahoyi! Africans, something stinks

like the ground snake, fouling the air.

We were robbed of home and royalty.

Now our parents need a pass to travel.

Oh the homestead standing alone

with easy access through its gates,

whose people once had plenty,

now a sign of oppression.

Where are the leading women of Africa?

We've quit in despair in Ngqikaland.

Are you bound in shackles, Africa?

What do passers-by say?

Open your eyes; for a long time I've seen it.

Didn't Ntsikana tell you?

We toyed with God while whites looked on:

today our country's affliction itself.

The brand of Cain enflames the land:

are you a killer like Cain?

May the dumb arise in Africa!

The dumb arose in Decapolis.

Where are the leading women of Africa?

Will Africa slip off before your eyes?

Cain's mark's made our mother's peticoat

drop. Oh yes, it dropped!

The shooting star informed us:

spurn strange gods on pain of death.

Because of them we've lost ourselves

and our leaders all sit mum.

The shooting star informed us:

spurn strange gods on pain of death.

That was a leader, leading us,

that Leader, leading us.

Celebration began before fighting ceased,

but there sits the donkey driving the wagon.

We heard the roar of the word of God,

brought by mocking sorcerers.

Now what do you say? The country's at war:

behold the pass, the death of our families.

We perish for lack of diviners

as if every home housed a witch.

Come, woman leader, child of Maxeke,

there are the women faffing about.

Today there's dishonour in African homes,

we sink today in a stream of dishonour.

We make a big thing of this schooling,

and this culture we eagerly hound.

We pinned our hopes on a miracle:

some died with nothing to show for it.

Unity's our only strength,

it alone can nourish us,

all enemies will be crushed by it,

and the pillars of heaven shattered.

Peace!!