Zwina
“Zwina” is a poetic love letter to Mother Earth, celebrating Africa's extraordinary beauty, natural abundance, and enduring spirit. Through the voice of an African child, the song asks Mother Earth why, among her seven continents, Africa was blessed with such remarkable beauty.
The lyrics journey across the continent, honoring its golden sunshine, vast deserts, mighty rivers, fertile lands, and rich natural resources.
Mother Earth responds by reminding her child that Africa's beauty and abundance existed long before humanity gave the continent its name.
At its heart, “Zwina” is both a celebration and a challenge. Mother Earth asks a profound question: If the sun still shines, the rivers still flow, and the land remains abundant, what will you build with the gifts you have inherited?
The song's message is that Africa's greatest beauty lies not only in what nature has given her, but also in what her children choose to create with it.
Cover art for ZSORAYII’s “Zwina” shows a Black African woman seated above a magnificent African landscape, holding a letter to Mother Earth. Rivers, waterfalls, mountains, pyramids, wildlife, fertile fields, villages, and a brilliant sunset surround her. Above, a majestic woman’s face emerges from a living mountain covered in trees and waterfalls, personifying Mother Earth and Africa’s extraordinary beauty, abundance, and natural gifts
Ah! Iya Aye!
I write one letter give Iya Aye,
I no get stamp so I send am with the rain,
I ask am the question wey dey worry me
about the pikin wey she born inside the sun.
Mama, you get seven children,
seven land wey scatter for the sea,
but this one wey dem dey call Africa,
wetin she do to be this beautiful?
Iya Aye, Iya Aye,
so fun mi, so fun mi,
ile mi, oorun mi,
ki ni mo se?
Iya Aye, Iya Aye,
enate, izih alehu,
tsehay ena wuha,
buna ena bomoi,
buna ena bomoi,
Iya Aye, Iya Aye,
wetin she do to be this beautiful?
Mazal ana hna,
sahra kbira, lbhar dyali,
nazali awa,
ebale monene, mokili malamu,
ngisekhona, ngisekhona,
ilanga, amanzi, umhlaba omuhle,
mo wa nibi,
ile ti mo fun yin,
na me give am everything
before dem give am name.
Iya Aye, Iya Aye,
mazal ana hna,
bladi zwina, chams dyali,
sahra kbira,
Iya Aye, Iya Aye,
wetin she do to be this beautiful?
Izih alehu,
mazal ana hna,
nazali awa,
ngisekhona,
mo wa nibi,
izih alehu,
mazal ana hna,
nazali awa,
ngisekhona,
Iya Aye.
Chams, tsehay, oorun, ilanga,
one sun wey no dey tire,
wuha, ebale, omi, amanzi,
water wey no dey finish,
buna, cocoa, yam and shea,
ground wey dey born two times one year,
every mama for this world
carry your blood inside her.
Iya Aye, Iya Aye,
nazali awa, ngisekhona,
umhlaba omuhle,
mokili malamu,
Iya Aye, Iya Aye,
wetin she do to be this beautiful?
Then she ask me back,
if I never take am back,
if the sun still dey,
if the river still dey,
wetin you go build with am?
Iya Aye,
so fun mi.