The Click Song

Qongqothwane is a traditional song of the Xhosa people of South Africa. It is sung at weddings to bring good fortune. In the Western World it is mainly known as The Click Song, a nickname given to the song by European colonials who could not pronounce its xhosa title, which has many click consonants in it. The xhosa title literally means "knock-knock beetle", which is a popular name for the Xestobium rufovillosum, a woodboring beetle that makes a distinctive ticking sound. This beetle is believed by the Xhosa to bring good luck and rain.

The song is known world-wide thanks to the interpretation of South African singer Miriam Makeba (herself a Xhosa). In her discography the songs appears in several versions, both with title Qongqothwane and as The Click Song.

Lyrics

Igqira lendlela nguqongqothwane Sebeqabele gqithapha bathi nguqongqothwane

Diviner of the roadways – the knock knock beetle It just passed by here – the knock knock beetle