Shosholoza -

The lyrics describe a steam train ( Stimela ) coming from Rhodesia, navigating through the mountains on its way to South Africa.

It was originally used as a call-and-response work song. Miners would sing in time with the rhythmic swinging of their pickaxes to coordinate their movements and alleviate the stress of grueling labor. Cultural Evolution Shosholoza

Over decades, the song's meaning transitioned from a laborer's lament to a symbol of political and social struggle. The lyrics describe a steam train ( Stimela