Skip to main content

KANDA BONGOMAN'S - FRERES SOKI LYRICS TRANSLATED

 "Freres Soki" is the eighth track on Kanda Bongoman's 1991 album tittle "Zing Zong". It is a tribute to two brothers Emile Soki Dianzenza and Soki Vangu who were the founders and band leaders in Orchestra Bella Bella Band in which Kanda had a brief stint as a vocalist. The tittle of the song "Freres Soki" is French for "Soki Brothers" in reference to the two brothers. Tragically the two brothers died within a year of each other. Dianzenza passed on in 1990 and Vangu closely followed behind in 1991.

Kanda Bongpman's song is a tribute to both of them. With legendary Congolese guitarist Nene Tchakou on the lead guitar, Mimi Kazidona on rhythm guitar, Kaber Kabasele on the percussions and Kanda Bongoman on the vocals, the song is soft, smooth and melodious as you would expect of the legendary muscian. The song is sang almost entirely in Lingala language.

Without much a do let's get right into the lyrics, shall we? (The translations are bracketed).


Nakokamwa nakokamwa oh
(I'm shocked, I'm shocked)
Nandimaki te bayoka basango yango
(I didn't want them to know the news)
Kasi yo olingaki eyebana
(Even though you wanted it known)
Ngai nakomi nde kolota yo mama
(I end up dreaming of you)
Nga nakomi nde kolota yo mama. 
(I'm always dreaming about you, mama)
 
Lisano yango ebanda kala
(That game started a long time ago,)
Bato nyonso bayeba yango
(Everyone knows this)
Belabela eyebanango mama
(Belabela (Band) is well known)
Nazali kokamwa kokamwa oh,
(I'm so shocked, so shocked- oh)
Nazali kolota elongi nayo
(I'm always dreaming of your face)
Butu nyonso ngai nde kobanza
(The whole night I'm thinking)
Namoni yo wapi eeh, mama?
(Where can I see you, mama?)
Nalota yo wapi eh Dianzenza?
(Where do I meet you Dianzenza?)
 
Nawuti na Japan nakuti nse nsango
(I returned from Japan and got the news)
Yo ozongisi molimo nga moto pasi
(Your spirit returns and I have a headache)
Moto ekomi kosua mpona likambo
(My head aches because of this matter)
Yo otike ngai moko oh mama,
(You leave me alone mama,)
Natikali lokola yango etike
(I'm left alone like an orphan,)
Natikali lokola moto azanga ndako
(I remain like a person without a home)
Soki Vangu ooh.
 
Kende malamu mwana mama,
(Goodbye child,)
Epai natikali lelo nazali nse kolota yo butu mobimba ah
(The place wherever I am, I always dream about you, the whole night,)
Nazali nse kolota yo, 
(I'm just dreaming of you)
Lisano esilaki te  Dianzenza,
(The game has no end)
Lisano esilaki te Soki Vangu
(The game has no end, Soki Vangu)
Tala ngai nakomi lokola zoba
(See, I have become like a fool)
Tala ngai nakomi lokola zoba, mama
(Behold, I have become like a fool, mama)

Soki Vangu ngai naleli yo,
(Soki Vangu I weep for you)
Soki Dianzenza ngai nasambwe
(Soki Dianzenza I'm cursed)
Nasambwa nzoto mpona lisano,
(My body is cursed because of the music/ the game)
Lisano ememisi ngai bozito na moto
(The game has made my head go heavy)
Ngai mpe makasi esili ngai na nzoto
(I also have no strength left in my body)
Nakomema ndenge nini kilo eleki nga
(How will I carry this weight that's too much for me?)
Melela ngai eh mama,
(Have mercy on me, mama)
Melela ngai eh Dianzenza
(Have mercy on me, Dianzenza)
 
Nasuki wapi ngai namemi ngambo
(How will I end up as I carry (this) guilt?)
Nakokamwa na likambo yango
(I'm shocked by this matter)
Bato nyonso mpe bayebi yango
(And everyone knows this)
Lelo nga natikali na pasi
(Today I left in pain)
Nakosuka wapi mama
(Where will I end up?)
Mama, mama, mama
Dianzenza oh 

        NOTES
  • Lisano is translated as "a game" or "fun" but Kanda Bongoman here uses the word to refer to the music that he and the Soki Brothers made together. He says that the music they produced together "esilaki te" or will never end. 
  •  "Moto pasi" depending on the context can be understood to be a headache or a difficult situation.
  • "Bansango" is plural for "nsango" which means news. In Lingala,  the word for "news" has its plural.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

20 LINGALA WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW THEIR MEANINGS

Over the last couple of years the Lingala language has gained and continues to gain unprecedented popularity in Kenya . Many Kenyans now can speak fluent Lingala. Some even sing in the langauge! I'm talking about Papa Fololo, Igwe Prezda Bandasson, Awilo Mike of Jamnazi Africa, Fofona Bangali and myself, just to name but a few. Part of the reason for this popularity is: Lingala is easy to learn (For Lingala-Swahili similarities, click here ). I mean, it is ridiculously easy. So easy, in fact, it takes just a few months. Forget about the Lingala you hear in songs that's bedeviled with iterations of Lingalized French (Hahah, what does that even mean?). I'm talking about Lingala in its purest form here, the one not polluted with foreign languages. Well, before I bore you to death with detail, I'm happy to present you here with 20 popular lingala words and phrases I thought you could be interested in knowing their meaning. Let's get right into it, shall we? 1. Bolingo
86 comments
Read more

5 POPULAR LINGALA PHRASES EVERY RUMBA LOVER MUST KNOW

Lingala is probably the fastest growing indigenous African language largely due to Congolese music (Rumba, soukous, chatchto and the like). Some of the greatest composers and singers in Africa have sung in this language producing some renown hit songs that have dominated the African airwaves for decades while introducing some endearing phrases and catchphrases that never just never fade from our collective memory. Lingala is reputed as Africa's most romantic language and it has surely lived up to this reputation. Lingala phrases are a pure joy to listen to, especially when you understand them. Some of these phrases are priceless pieces of wisdom while some overflow with sardonic humor and wit. But one thing is for sure, these phrases are simply unforgettable, for one reason or another. Maybe it's because we tend to be fascinated with exotic languages and ideas. Or maybe, the Congolese people are just damn good at composing music. Either way, their singing, their music and mann
4 comments
Read more

TOP 5 LUO BENGA SONGS AND MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME

Luo benga is a crowded scene. It is a boiling pot teeming with hundreds of artistes, both dead and alive, young and old, males and females jostling for space in this very competitive music world.We have legends like the late George Ramogi, the late Owino Missiani (also known as DO Missiani), The late Okatch Biggy, the late Prince July, the late Prince Kassam, the late Omondi Tony, the late Kollela Maze, The late Kodiyo, to sample but a few. We also have an emerging crop of young talents like Dolla Kabarry, George Dume, Otieno Small, Kamaliza Majengo, Aluoch Jamaranda, Reggie Kabaselle  (son of the late Ochieng Kabaselleh ), Aluoch Jipanoran, Ogina KoKo, Omondi Longlilo, Jerry Jalamo Ka'John  and Osito Kalle to mention but a few. We cannot all agree who is the best and I am not going to impose my choices on you. But we can agree that from the long list of Benga artists in Luoland a few names stand out and a few songs stand out from the bunch like giraffe in heard of gazelles (well,
16 comments
Read more