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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.


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