Nelson Mandela - The Man in the Arena - Shosholoza

Shosholoza is a very popular in Africa, sung in the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years.
Performed by Los Angeles City College Choir
Choir Director John Russell
(Scroll down to see lyrics)

"Man in the Arena" from the speech "Citizenship in a Republic"
by Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in Paris, France on April 23, 1910

Read by Gary Tanno"

"Shosholoza" performed by Los Angeles City College Choir.
Choir Director, John Russell


"Man in the Arena" from the speech "Citizenship in a Republic"
by Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in Paris, France on April 23, 1910
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

"Shosholoza" is a Ndebele folk song that originated in what is now Zimbabwe but was popularised in South Africa. The song is a traditional South African folk song that was sung by Ndebele all-male migrant workers that were working in the South African mines in a call and response style. The song is so popular in South African culture that it is often referred to as South Africa's second national anthem.

Lyrics of South African version of “Shosholoza”:
Shosholoza (2)
Ku lezontaba
Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa
Shosholoza (2)
Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa
Wena u ya baleka
Wena u ya baleka
Ku lezontaba
Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa

English Translation of “Shoshaloza”:

Work, work, working in the sun
We will work as one
Shosholoza
Work, work, working in the rain
Till there’s sun again
Shosholoza
Push, push pushing on and on
There’s much to be done
Shosholoza
Push, push, pushing in the sun
We will push as one.