AmaNdiya
AmaNdiya is a 2001 Zulu language song by South African musician Mbongeni Ngema. The song is controversial for accusing South Africa's Indian community of racism and exploitation of black South Africans.[1] It has been accused of being racially derogatory towards the Indian community[2] and promoting anti-Indian sentiment.[1][3]
On 27 December 2001 the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) banned the song[4] from Ukhozi FM after the South African Human Rights Commission filed a complaint. BCCSA chairperson ruled the song constituted hate speech for making "sweeping generalisations" accusing Indians of oppressing and dispossessing Zulus.[3] Former South African president, Nelson Mandela, called on Ngema to apologise "if he has offended anyone with racist lyrics."[1] A motion in the South African parliament was proposed condemning the song and the Anglican bishop of KwaZulu-Natal stated that the song should be banned.[5]
The Mail & Guardian compared the song to Simon Bikindi's anti-Tutsi song released just before the Rwandan genocide.[6] The public reaction to the song has been compared to the controversial Apartheid era song Dubul' ibhunu (Kill the Boer).[7]
Ngema rejected calls to apologise for the song and defended his lyrics, saying they reflect the views of many black South Africans.[5]
Especially controversial lyrics of the song, translated into English, included:
"Indians don't want to change, even Mandela has failed to convince them. It was better with whites we knew then it was a racial conflict";[3]
"...we struggle so much here in Durban, as we have been dispossessed by Indians";[3]
"I have never seen Dlamini [a common Zulu name] emigrating to Bombay, India. Yet, Indians, arrive everyday in Durban - they are packing the airport full".[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Mbongeni Ngema dies: Tributes paid to South African theatre legend". BBC News. 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ Staff Reporter (2012-01-18). "Mbongeni Ngema: Lion of the stage". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e "Ngema 'regrets' public ban of AmaNdiya". IOL. 2002-06-20. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ Staff Reporter (2001-12-31). "Ngema song banned from the airwaves". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ a b McGreal, Chris (2002-06-05). "Black composer rejects Mandela's call to apologise for racist lyrics". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ Staff Reporter (2002-06-28). "Songs of hate". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ Smith, Janet (17 September 2011). "Dubul' ibhunu jolts us to ponder post-1994 discourse". www.pressreader.com. The Independent on Saturday. Retrieved 2025-04-29.