AmaNdiya is a 2001 Zulu language song by South African musician Mbongeni Ngema. The song is controversial for accusing South Africa's Indian community of racism and exploitation of black South Africans. [1] It has been accused of being racially derogatory towards the Indian community [2] and promoting anti-Indian sentiment. [1] [3]
On 27 December 2001 the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) banned the song [4] from Ukhozi FM after the South African Human Rights Commission filed a complaint. BCCSA chairperson ruled the song constituted hate speech for making "sweeping generalisations" accusing Indians of oppressing and dispossessing Zulus. [3] Former South African president, Nelson Mandela, called on Ngema to apologise "if he has offended anyone with racist lyrics." [1] A motion in the South African parliament was proposed condemning the song and the Anglican bishop of KwaZulu-Natal stated that the song should be banned. [5]
The Mail & Guardian compared the song to Simon Bikindi's anti-Tutsi song released just before the Rwandan genocide. [6] The public reaction to the song has been compared to the controversial Apartheid era song Dubul' ibhunu (Kill the Boer). [7]
Ngema rejected calls to apologise for the song and defended his lyrics, saying they reflect the views of many black South Africans. [5]
Especially controversial lyrics of the song, translated into English, included:
"Indians don't want to change, even Mandela has failed to convince them. It was better with whites we knew then it was a racial conflict"; [3]
"...we struggle so much here in Durban, as we have been dispossessed by Indians"; [3]
"I have never seen Dlamini [a common Zulu name] emigrating to Bombay, India. Yet, Indians, arrive everyday in Durban - they are packing the airport full". [3]