Hi Guys, i've read many of the dated posts and here's my 5 cents worth.

Firstly , i must add that i spent most of my life in southern Africa so i kind of know what i;m talking aobut.

Originally the song was sung by Rhodesian migrant workers, on the train travelling BACK to the Gold Mines in South Africa. So i assume it was originally sung in Ndebele, which is very close to Zulu as a language.

and the word shosholoza has different meanings depending on its context. It's main meaning is "go forward", but it's also a play on the sound made by a steam train, sho sho. It can also mean go forward (in peace) but i suppose peace more in the sense of be safe as opposed to being peaceful.

The diversity of the meaning of shosholoza is evidence of the richness of many African languages especially when creating new words.

Hope this help clear up some of the meanings and queuries.