Wonderful Woolies “Flash Mob” Tribute to Nelson Mandela

Last Saturday, 7 December, something wonderful happened at Woolworths in Parkview, Pretoria.

The Soweto Gospel Choir had been due to perform a rendition of James Brown’s “I Feel Good” as part of the Woolies nationwide Operation Smile Christmas campaign.

But, as South Africa’s beloved former President Nelson Mandela had just passed away, the choir decided on a tribute to Madiba instead, and performed Johnny Clegg’s “Asimbonanga”…a song which was written during Nelson Mandela’s incarceration as a call for his freedom.

Watch below as the Choir, who posed as shoppers and workers in the store, surprised and entertained the real shoppers in a beautiful tribute to the nation’s hero.

http://youtu.be/MHHjP7XrBq0

As of today, 13 December, the video had already received over one million views – and counting – on YouTube!

Asimbonanga Lyrics

Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ uMandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona

Asimbonanga
Asimbonang ‘umfowethu thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’wafela khona
Sithi: Hey, wena
Hey, wena nawe
Siyofika nini la’ siyakhona

Translated Version:

We have not seen him
We have not seen Mandela
In the place where he is
In the place where he is kept

We have not seen him
We have not seen our brother
In the place where he is
In the place where he died
We say: hey, you
Hey, you and you
When will we arrive at our destination