DJ Maphorisa Abantwana Bakho Lyrics Meaning, Abantwana Bakho Lyrics Meaning Breakdown

“Abantwana Bakho” (translated as “Your Children”) is a soulful Amapiano track released on March 28, 2025, as part of DJ Maphorisa’s album Ngomoya (meaning “Spirit” in Zulu). Produced by DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, and Kabza De Small, it features heartfelt vocals from Thatohatsi, Young Stunna, and Nkosazana Daughter.

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DJ Maphorisa Abantwana Bakho Lyrics Meaning, Abantwana Bakho Lyrics Meaning Breakdown READ THE LYRICS: DJ Maphorisa – Abantwana Bakho Lyrics English Translation Abantwana Bakho Lyrics Breakdown with English Translation

The song blends the genre’s signature deep house grooves with gospel-infused lyrics in isiZulu, creating an anthemic, prayer-like vibe. It’s a supplication to God, framed from the perspective of humanity as vulnerable “children” seeking divine intervention amid life’s struggles.

The performers draw on personal and societal hardships—like darkness, loss, and uncertainty—to emphasise themes of faith, forgiveness, and communal hope. The repetitive, chant-like structure builds emotional intensity, making it a staple for spiritual reflection in South African music circles.

Key Themes

Spiritual Plea and Dependence: The lyrics portray God (“Baba” or “Father”) as a compassionate parent, with the singers crying out for light in “darkness” (symbolising despair, sin, or societal ills). It’s a raw expression of humility, echoing biblical ideas like Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
Forgiveness and Inclusion: References to those “who don’t know Jesus” highlight universal grace, urging mercy for all, regardless of faith or background.
Community and Strength: The chorus reinforces collective identity (“We are Your children”), extending the plea to families and society, fostering a sense of unity and resilience.
Hope in Adversity: Amid Amapiano’s uplifting beats, the song contrasts pain with pleas for “strength” and “guidance,” turning personal testimonies into a broader anthem of endurance.

READ THE LYRICS: DJ Maphorisa – Abantwana Bakho Lyrics English Translation

Abantwana Bakho Lyrics Breakdown with English Translation

Below is a structured breakdown of the full lyrics, divided by sections. I’ve included the original isiZulu lyrics, a line-by-line English translation, and brief explanations. Note: isiZulu lyrics use phonetic spelling for accessibility; translations aim for poetic fidelity over literal word-for-word.

Intro: Young Stunna (Setting the Prayerful Tone) Lyrics:

Woh oh
Woh Bawo
Ooh, ayi

English Translation:

Woh oh
Woh, Father
Ooh, hey

Meaning and Explanation:
Young Stunna’s ad-libs evoke a soulful call-and-response, like the opening hum of a gospel hymn. “Bawo” is an intimate Xhosa/Zulu address for God the Father, immediately grounding the track in reverence. The “woh oh” sighs mimic communal worship, pulling listeners into a space of vulnerability before the pleas begin.

Verse 1: Young Stunna & Thatohatsi (The Cry for Hearing and Forgiveness) Lyrics:

Ngab’ uyasizwa na
Ngabe z’yafika na
Izikhalo zethu
Baba s’ngabantwana bakho
Ngab’ ubaxolele nabangamazi uYesu
Baba kumnyama
Khanyisa, khanyisa, khanyisa
Kumnyama
Khanyisa, khanyisa, khanyisa
(Hayi weh Somandla)

English Translation:

Do You hear us?
Do our cries reach You?
Father, we are Your children
Have You forgiven even those who don’t know Jesus?
Father, it’s dark
Shine Your light, shine Your light, shine Your light
It’s dark
Shine Your light, shine Your light, shine Your light
(Oh, Almighty God!)

Meaning and Explanation:
This verse captures raw desperation—questioning if prayers pierce the heavens amid suffering. “Izikhalo zethu” (our cries) nods to everyday struggles like poverty or loss in South African townships, positioning listeners as “abantwana bakho” (Your children) to evoke God’s paternal mercy. The plea for forgiveness for the spiritually unaware echoes Luke 23:34 (“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”). The repetitive “khanyisa” (shine) is a beacon in “kumnyama” (darkness), symbolising hope against despair, with “Somandla” (Almighty) adding urgency. Thatohatsi’s harmonies layer emotional weight, turning it into a duet of shared faith.

Verse 2: Thatohatsi (Direct Appeal to the Creator) Lyrics:

Sikhala kuwe Mvelinqangi
Wena umabiza sabela
Yey yeni boh, yey yeni boh
Haibo maye, haibo maye
(Repeated)
Heh mani thina
Singabantwana bakho (Thina singabantwana bakho)
Siyohlezi s’khala kuwe nalosapho lwethu
Yeh mani thina
Singabantwana bakho
Yey yeni boh
Siyohlezi s’thola amandla
Kuwe ngalohlobo Tat’ uBawo s’size
Siyohlezi s’jonge kuwe
Ngalohlobo Tat’ uBawo siph’ amandla

English Translation:

We cry to You, Creator
When You call, please answer
Yey yeni boh, yey yeni boh (Exclamations of plea)
Haibo maye, haibo maye (Expression of surprise/wonder)
Heh, please us
We are Your children (We are Your children)
We always cry to You with our whole family
Yes, please us
We are Your children
Yey yeni boh
We always find strength
From You in this way, Father, help us
We always look to You
In this way, Father, give us strength

Meaning and Explanation:
Thatohatsi’s solo shifts to active dialogue with “Mvelinqangi” (Creator/Eternal One), begging for response in a call-and-response style common in South African gospel. The interjections like “yey yeni boh” and “haibo maye” add expressive flair—playful yet pained, like communal ululations in prayer meetings. Reiterating “singabantwana bakho” reinforces identity as God’s family, extending the plea to “alosapho lwethu” (our whole family), emphasising ubuntu (collective humanity). It’s about deriving “amandla” (strength) from faith, mirroring Amapiano’s role in providing solace during socio-economic “darkness.”

Pre-Chorus & Chorus: Thatohatsi (Building the Anthemic Plea) Lyrics:

(Thina singabantwana bakho)
Heh-man’ eh-man’
Heh-man’ eh-mani
Heh khawus’ size, yeah
Yey-yen’
Heh-man’ eh-man’
Heh-man’ eh-mani
Khawus’ size, yhi-hih
Heyi-yeh, yhi-hih
Thina singabantwana bakho
(Hey’ mani thina singabantwana bakho)
Thina singabantwana bakho
(Siyohlezi sikhala kuwe ngalosapho lwethu lonke)

English Translation:

(We are Your children)
Heh-man, eh-man (Vocal ad-libs urging response)
Heh-man, eh-mani
Heh, please help us, yeah
Yey-yen’
Heh-man, eh-man
Heh-man, eh-mani
Help us, yhi-hih
Heyi-yeh, yhi-hih
We are Your children
(Hey, please, we are Your children)
We are Your children
(We always cry to You with our whole family)

Meaning and Explanation:
The pre-chorus explodes with rhythmic ad-libs—”heh-man” and “yhi-hih” mimicking crowd chants or tongue-clicking in traditional praise poetry—escalating emotional intensity. The chorus hammers the title phrase, turning personal prayer into a unifying mantra. It’s designed for live performances, as seen in Scorpion Kings’ campus shows where crowds sing along, fostering a sense of shared resilience. This section embodies Amapiano’s communal spirit, where music heals collective wounds.

Bridge: Nkosazana Daughter (Wilderness and Trust) Lyrics:

Mhhhmmm Mhhm
Singabantwana abancane
Abahleze thembeleni
Singabantwana abancane
Abahleze thembeleni
Ngisehlane la
Mina kumnyama la
Ngiyakdinga la
Singabantwana bakho
Ha-ah-hah (Thina singabantwana bakho)
(Repeated)
Siyohlezi s’jonge kuwe ngalohlobo
Tat’ uBawo Siph’ amandla
Yey-yen’, yey-yeni

English Translation:

Mhhhmmm Mhhm
We are young children
Who always trust in You
We are young children
Who always trust in You
I’m in the wilderness
It is dark here
I need You here
We are Your children
Ha-ah-hah (We are Your children)
We always look to You in this way
Father, give us strength
Yey-yen’, yey-yeni

Meaning and Explanation:
Nkosazana Daughter’s ethereal entry brings intimacy, portraying believers as “abancane” (young/innocent children) relying on divine trust (“abahleze thembeleni” = leaning on You). The “wilderness” (“ngisehlane la”) evokes biblical exile (like the Israelites’ desert wanderings), symbolizing isolation or trials, with “ngiyakdinga la” (I need You here) as a raw confession. Her soft, soaring vocals contrast the beat’s pulse, offering solace—fans note how this bridge “wraps you like a hug” during low moments. It ties back to the song’s youth focus, as the video features children embodying this innocence.

Refrain & Outro: Thatohatsi (Reaffirmation and Fade) Lyrics:

Thina (Thina singabantwana bakho)
Heh-man’ eh-man’ … (Ad-libs repeated)
Oh thina (Thina singabantwana bakho)
Singabantwana bakho …
Siyohlezi s’hlezi s’khala kuwe nalosapho lwethu lonke
Hey mani thina
Sohlezi sikhala kuwe heh nalosapho lonke lwethu Bawo

English Translation:

We (We are Your children)
Heh-man’ eh-man’ … (Repeated pleas)
Oh we (We are Your children)
We are Your children …
We always sit and cry to You with our whole family
Hey, please we
We always cry to You with our whole family, Father

Meaning and Explanation:
The refrain loops the chorus for catharsis, fading into layered harmonies that feel like a congregation dissolving into peace. It ends on familial unity, underscoring that prayers are intergenerational. This outro mirrors Amapiano’s endurance—starting soft, peaking in joy, and resolving in quiet faith.

Overall Themes and Impact
“Abantwana Bakho” transforms Amapiano into a vessel for spirituality, blending club energy with gospel soul to address universal pleas for light amid darkness. Themes of forgiveness, protection for the innocent (especially youth), and communal strength resonate deeply in post-apartheid South Africa, where music often serves as therapy.