Remembering Kenneth Kaunda

Tiyende Pamodzi (Let Us Go Together)

Outside Zambia, the contribution of President Kenneth Kaunda to Southern African liberation struggles is only rarely acknowledged, in comparison to the towering figures of Nelson Mandela of South Africa or Samora Machel of Mozambique. I never met him personally and have only been in Zambia for one brief visit in 1967.

But in reflecting on today's need for the kind of global solidarity that was a decisive factor in the defeat of white minority rule in Southern Africa, my thoughts turned to Kaunda's signature song Tiyende Pamodzi. I first learned the song from the version sung by the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) in the war of independence from Portuguese colonialism. 

And as I searched YouTube for the song last week, I found a profusion of other versions of the song celebrating Kaunda's contributions to national unity. 

I picked out ten for a playlist which you can check out here.

Three others I particularly recommend are embedded below.

Kenneth Kaunda - Tiyende Pamodzi- 3 minutes along with a slide show of still photographs

Tiyende Pamodzi _ Tribute to Kenneth Kaunda _ All Stars {Official Video} Shot by Bang Bang Media

And a very short clip of Kaunda himself singing in 2019, while tapping his cane.

KK, as he was known to Zambians, was born April 24, 1924. He died on June 17, 2021. 

For background on the song, check out this Facebook post by Mubanga Lumpa.

See the lyrics here. The full English translation of the refrain is "Let us go together, with one heart."

Enjoy!

And I think you will agree with me in finding inspiration in Kenneth Kaunda’s musical vision of joining together for justice for all.

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