

Song · Small Small
Ekhoneni
“Ekhoneni” is track 16 on Rob Matare's Afro-Pop & Amapiano album Small Small, released October 9, 2026. Southern African Afro-pop that takes its time: kitchen songs, brass rings, "Sala Kahle, Mama" and staying till the kettle sings.
Watch the lyric video

“Ekhoneni” lyrics
Hhayi bo! Yebo, yebo
Asambe, asambe
Friday, sun is going down
Speaker on the stoep, whole street coming round
Queue at the spaza for the cold drinks
Auntie's got the grill and the smoke is thick
Sneakers clean, I'm ready now
Cousins from the taxi rank walking up the road
Somebody turns it up, the log drum drops
Woza la, woza la (woza)
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Sonke, sonke (ekhoneni)
Kumnandi ekhoneni
Asambe, asambe
(Ekhoneni)
Gogo on the chair, she's laughing loud
Kids copy moves till the streetlights glow
Mkhulu's in the doorway with his hat on tight
Says, "You young ones don't know this one right"
Puts his stick down, the whole street stops
Kumnandi, nobody wants to go
Speaker on the stoep and the moon is out
Woza la, woza la (woza)
Woza la, woza la (woza)
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Sonke, sonke (ekhoneni)
Kumnandi ekhoneni
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Sonke, sonke (ekhoneni)
Kumnandi ekhoneni
Mkhulu, shaya! (shaya!)
Bheka uMkhulu! (hhayi bo!)
Mkhulu, shaya! (shaya!)
Bheka uMkhulu! (hhayi bo!)
Mkhulu, shaya! (shaya!)
Bheka uMkhulu! (hhayi bo!)
Mkhulu, shaya! (shaya!)
Bheka uMkhulu! (hhayi bo!)
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Sonke, sonke (ekhoneni)
Kumnandi ekhoneni
Siyaphi? (Ekhoneni!)
Asambe, asambe (hhayi bo)
Lyrics written by Rob Matare. Written by me • made with AI. Artist visuals are digitally created.
More from Small Small
- 1Ekhishini4:44
- 2Xiluva Xanga3:34
- 3Left Right Love3:20
- 4Come Sit Close3:30
- 5Izandla Zethu3:57
- 6Kufikile Ukukhanya3:15
- 7Sho Mfethu3:02
- 8Mushin To Mainland2:55
- 9Sala Kahle, Mama3:21
- 10Two Brass Rings3:11
- 11Midnight Medicine3:04
- 12Devagar, Outra Vez3:18
- 13Make the Room Move2:46
- 14Small Small3:24
- 15Your Pace, My Pace3:07
- 17Mama Mortar3:13
- 18Velvet Tuesday5:38
- 19Moya Wami4:08
- 20Stay Till the Kettle Sings5:28
- 21Khothama Vuka3:48
- 22Carta de Maputo5:14
- 23Ingoma Ayibizile4:07
- 24Heita Friday4:01