Thina singumlilo ovuthayo
This song is usually be found under the name "Tina Singu" or "Thina Singu" (even though those are incorrect). The 2nd verse is often sung as a two part round with Group A singing one line and Group B singing the other.
"I know this song, we grew up singing it at primary school. I am not sure if the schools still let pupils sing like we used to, it helped us preserve the music." -Bheki Sitshela
![Thina singumlilo ovuthayo - South African Children's Songs - South Africa - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World - Intro Image Thina singumlilo ovuthayo - South African Children's Songs - South Africa - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World - Intro Image](https://www.mamalisa.com/images/photos/fire_wiki.jpg)
Thina singumlilo ovuthayo
Us, We are a Burning Fire
Folk Song
Folk Song
(Zulu)
(English)
Thina singumlilo ovuthayo
Watsha, watsha, watsha,
Watsha, watsha, watsha.
A: Watsha, watsha, watsha, watsha, watsha.
B: La la la la la la, la, etc.
Us, we are a burning fire.
Burn, burn, burn!
Burn, burn, burn!
Group A: Burn, burn, burn!
Group B: La la la la la la, la, etc.
Notes
*"To be precise, 'watsha' or 'washa' is the imperative form of 'to burn'. It means you are being burned or you will be burned as you say Lisa. 'Ukutsha' means to be burned in Zulu/Ndebele.
We sang the song to warn opponents to watch out they'll get burned or they are getting burned. We used to sing the song in sports to intimidate our opponents. I am not quite sure for people who used to sing it originally, in the older days, as to under what circumstances they used to sing the song." -Bheki
*****
"I really do not know the original composer of the song and I doubt proper records exist to show the true origin. The song is sung in almost all Nguni languages and cultures: Zulu, Ndebele, Sotho, Swati. However chances are high it originated in Zulu, because Zulu is a bigger community than the rest, and there is many works of arts, music etc., even historically." -Bheki Sitshela
"No owner it's a traditional song." -Cde Mantsarimpande
Comments
If any Zulu speaker would like to sing this for us, please email me. Thanks! Mama Lisa
![Watch](https://www.mamalisa.com/images/ml_images/watchEnglish.png)
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Bheki Sitshela for providing the correct lyrics to this song, the translation, and for commenting on it! Thank to Cde Mantsarimpande for commenting too.