Unonzani?
Unonzani is a track by the mbira songbird, gwenyambira Tanaka Chikati who goes by the stage name SunniChi. Unonzani the title of the track is a Shona word that asks the question: What is your name?
The song is a reflective soundscape that reminds us to remember who we are and where we come from, especially in the prevailing socio-economic climate were one ends up travelling far from home for a destiny unknown….
Unonzani Lyrics and Translation
Huya pano
(Come here)
Chigwindiri changu
(My dear child)
Ndanzwa soko rekuti
(I heard word that)
Uchaenda mhiri kwemakungwa
(You will travel abroad)
Zvinoda kushinga
(It requires courage)
Zvinoda ruzivo
(It requires knowledge)
Zvinoda moyo wakasimba
(It requires a strong heart)
Ziva ziva mwanangu
(Remember, remember, my child)
Ziva ziva kwaunobva
(Remember where you come from)
Kwaunoenda usiku Saka ziva kwaunobva
(Where you are headed to is unknown, so remember where you come from)
Kwaunoenda usiku Saka ziva mwanangu
(Where you are headed to is unknown, so remember my child)
Unonzani ?
(What is your name?)
Unobvepi ?
(Where do you come from?)
Unoereiko ?
(What is your totem?)
Unonzani ?
(What is your name?)
Unobvepi ?
(Where do you come from?)
Unoereiko
(What is your totem?)
Uri mwana wamambo
(You are a child of royalty)
Asi muranda kwevamwe
(But a commoner in a foreign land)
Zvininipise
(Humble yourself)
Ubvise miti munzeve
(And listen to wise counsel)
Zvinoda njere
(It requires knowledge)
Zvinoda runyararo,
(It requires peace)
Zvinoda moyo wakasimba
(It requires a strong heart)
Saka ziva ziva mwanangu
(Remember, remember my child)
Ziva ziva kwaunobva
(Remember, remember where you come from)
Ziva ziva mwana
(Remember, remember my child)
Ziva ziva kwaunobva
(Remember, remember where you come from)
Produced, mixed, and mastered by: Rayo Beats and Ian Sinz
Ngoma: Waheed
Bass: TBlawu
Guitar: Maestro
Composed and written by Tanaka Chikati
https://becomingthemuse.net/2023/11/25/unonzani-lyrics-and-translation-sunnichi/