Umshini wami, also known as Awuleth' Umshini Wami (English, Bring me my machine gun), is a popular Zulu language

Zulu language

Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...

 "struggle song

Protest song

A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...

" used formerly by members of Umkhonto we Sizwe

Umkhonto we Sizwe

Umkhonto we Sizwe , translated "Spear of the Nation," was the armed wing of the African National Congress which fought against the South African apartheid government. MK launched its first guerrilla attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961...

, the military wing of the African National Congress

African National Congress

The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...

 during the struggle against Apartheid

History of South Africa in the apartheid era

Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained...

 in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. Most recently, the song is identified with the persona of Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....

, the current President of South Africa

President of South Africa

The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....

, and is often sung at rallies which involve him and his supporters, including the ANC Youth League

African National Congress Youth League

The African National Congress Youth League is the youth wing of the African National Congress.-Foundation:Its foundation in 1944 by Nick Gombart, Ashley Peter Mda, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo marked the rise of a new generation of leadership of South Africa's black African...

.

Lyrics

Zulu	English
Umshini wami mshini wami (lead) khawuleth'umshini wami (Follower) Umshini wami mshini wami, khawuleth'umshini wami Umshini wami mshini wami, khawuleth'umshini wami khawuleth'umshini wami Wen'uyang'ibambezela(Lead) umshini wami, khawuleth'umshini wami(Follower)	My machine my machine Please bring my machine My machine my machine Please bring my machine My machine my machine Please bring my machine gun Please bring my machine gun You're pulling me back My machine , Please bring my machine

Popularity and controversy

In October 2006, the song was made available as a ringtone by Zuma's defence fund through its website. The song has gained controversy in 21st-century South Africa because of its association with the violence of the apartheid period, and is seen as misplaced by some people because of the rise in violent crime throughout the country

Crime in South Africa

Crime is a prominent issue in South Africa. South Africa has a high rate of murders, assaults, rapes, and other crimes compared to most countries. Many emigrants from South Africa state that crime was a big factor in their decision to leave...

 since the beginning of the current multiracial order in 1994. In 2008, Zuma expressed displeasure at the singing of it by violent, xenophobic mobs.

Umdzidzi wami

Since the Jacob Zuma rape trial

Jacob Zuma rape trial

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, the President of South Africa starting in 2009 and current president of the governing political party, the African National Congress , was charged with rape in the Johannesburg High Court on 6 December 2005. The accuser, Zuma's deceased friend's daughter, was known by...

 several more versions of this song have been made, as well as some containing lyrics of a satirical nature, such as a remix of the song created by See4 in which the song refers to a microphone rather than a machine gun. The song is in Siswati

Swati language

The Swazi or Swati language is a Bantu language of the Nguni group spoken in Swaziland and South Africa by the Swazi people. The number of speakers is estimated to be in the region of 3 million. The language is taught in Swaziland and some South African schools in Mpumalanga and KaNgwane areas...

 and is called Umdzidzi wami (Bring my buttocks/ass) or Khawuleth umdzidzi wami. The song is popular in many shebeen

Shebeen

A shebeen was originally an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages were sold without a licence.The term has spread far from its origins in Ireland, to Scotland, Canada, the United States, England,...

s and taverns in South Africa.