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When Song, Faith, and Joy are Enough

rredick April 30, 2024
Photo credit: YouTube

The full name of the song is “Ndikhokhele Bawo,” which means “Lead me, Father” in Xhosa. These South African youths, assembled in their school’s courtyard, transform their place of learning into a concert hall with nothing more than the power of their voices. But it’s their spirit of joy and solidarity that lifts the beautiful into the realm of the sublime.

No irony, no forced cleverness. Just beauty and hope. That’s what you get with this gorgeous song. Here’s a rough (very rough) translation of the lyrics:

Lead me father, lead me my savior
Through all the sorrows of this world.
Father, father, father, I thank you
For you still protect me

We suspect that the lead singer (you’ll see her toward the end of the video) has added some lyrics of her own. And while we always like to share the story behind a Sanctuary post, this time we can’t, for the simple reason that we don’t that story ourselves! If this is your school or you can guide us to further information about these gifted young singers, please drop your friendly editor a line at robertvsredick@gmail.com.

What we can tell you is that you’ll rarely hear more uplifting harmonies, more glad and warm sincerity, than these few hundred students offer under gray skies and plain brick walls.

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