MovieChat Forums > Cry Freedom (1987) Discussion > To anyone who speaks Xhosa/Zulu...

To anyone who speaks Xhosa/Zulu...

posted 18 years ago by masterkage
3 replies | jump to latest

During the funeral of Biko, there are some schoolkids in uniform shouting something in either xhosa or zulu...does anyone understand the language and know what they were saying?

thanks!

[–] amelpoulette 18 years ago

well, i don't actually speak Xhosa nor Zulu but what the crowd chants during Steve Biko's funeral is a well known anti-apartheid rally cry that anti-apartheid activists around the world used. it says (i think!) "amandla" which means power or freedom (i'm not quite sure, i've been given different translations) and then people would respond "ngawethu" which means either "ours" or "now" (again, people gave me different translations).
i hope that's helpful.

[–] aubreycw 18 years ago

That was the principal cry of the anti-aparthied movement. It means "the power is ours"

"I snort. I drink I kill. I am not a kid-I am a man."

[–] masterkage 17 years ago

thanks a lot guys, i appreciate it :-)