Senzeni Na?

“Senzeni Na?” (also spelled Senzenina, English: What Have We Done?) is a South African anti‐apartheid folk song. The Xhosa/Zulu language song is commonly sung at funerals, demonstrations and in churches. Activist Duma Ndlovu compared the influence of “Senzeni Na?” to that of the American protest song, “We Shall Overcome.”

The song has been around at least since the 1950s, and it reached the height of its popularity during the 1980s. The origins of the song are unclear. Zimbabwean poet Albert Nyathi claims to have written “Senzeni Na?” on the day that activist Chris Hani died. However, Nyathi’s “Senzeni Na?” uses a different melody and altered lyrics. Either way, Hani was assassinated on April 10, 1993, by which time the song had already been sung for decades.

Lyrics

There doesn’t seem to be one universally agreed on set of lyrics. Below are two versions, the bottom one being the more aggressive of the two:

Xhosa/Zulu original Senzeni na? Sono sethu, ubumnyama? Sono sethu yinyaniso? Sibulawayo Mayibuye i Africa

English translation What have we done? Our sin is that we are black? Our sin is the truth They are killing us Let Africa return

Xhosa/Zulu original Senzeni na senzeni na Senzeni na senzeni na Senzeni na senzeni na Senzeni na kulomhlaba? Amabhulu azizinja Amabhulu azizinja Amabhulu azizinja Amabhulu azizinja Kuyisono ‘kubamnyama Kuyisono ‘kubamnyama Kuyisono ‘kubamnyama Kuyisono kulelizwe

English translation What have we done, what have we done? What have we done, what have we done? What have we done, what have we done? What have we done in this country (world)? Boers are dogs Boers are dogs Boers are dogs Boers are dogs It’s a sin to be black It’s a sin to be black It’s a sin to be black It’s a sin in this country (world)

Appearances in the Western world

While best known in South Africa, “Senzeni Na?” has gained some popularity overseas. The song was featured in the anti‐apartheid film The Power of One and a recording of the song as sung at the funeral of Steve Biko can be heard at the end of the album version of “Biko” by Peter Gabriel. The music was used for an adaptation of the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Isaac Watts in the Mennonite Hymnal: A Worship Book.

In Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy there is a city called Senzeni Na (founded by the Japanese). Part 7 of the book is also titled "Senzeni Na."