Mbongo (Lutumba Simaro) - T.P. O.K. Jazz 1977

Same track as posted elsewhere on YT, except on this release, there is no fake applause - it is a studio recording, done live in the studio, of course. Vocal: Djo Mpoyi. Compare the version from 1975 with Ndombe's vocal.

Piquedard explains the general idea of the lyric:

Theres so much to say about Mbongo that one could write a book! The composer is saying a whole range of things connected with money, what you can do with and what consequences this may bring. He is using a lot allegoric images as well but like Les Bantous (they had a hit in the 1960's, had a big hit with a tune (dont remember the title unfortunately), but the lyrics were like makambo mibale ebomi mokili mobimba, liboso nde likambo ya falanga, ya mibale likambo ya basi, baninga botia motoyi freely translated Two matters kill the whole world, the first one is money, the second is woman, beware my friends!), basically he is warning humanity against money's backsides.

The singer uses essentially 3 names;

(1)Selidja (who may be a rich lady) because the composer is asking her to lend him money

(2)Kelani, another lady. He wants to dance with her, telling her too how difficult it is to make money.

(3)Lwambo (Franco), the guitarist and singer.




Day and night, whether its rainy or sunny, the only thing people do is talking about money.

By the way, Selidja I forgot to ask you the other day when are you going to leave me (as I dont have money)

Money can do wrong, money can do well. How to cry? Ive been told not to see a sorcerer as I risk becoming crazy.

But I suffer too much so I went to see some, but sorcerers are liars and they are as poor as Im as they are looking for money as well because they ask me to pay...

Selidja borrow me money so I can feel strong and proud, I dont owe money to anyone

The one who made money destroyed the world. You, money,one day youll stand trial in front of God.




Then the singer asks rhetorically MBongo owuta wapi?= Money where do you come from. Who is your mother? I heard old people criticizing you.

Later on he answers Ive been told your mother gave birth to 2 children, the first one is you Money, the second one is called Woman

Money, youve shaken the world. Money, you are unique (Ozali na ndoyi te = nobody else has your name)




Let the one who earns his money by working enjoy his life

Dont follow the one who got his money by inheritage, youll end up stealing

Dont go and consult the sorcerers, you'll end living in solitude (according to the belief that sorcerers ask not only money but wants you to "offer"your nearest in order to get rich and to have powerso according to the same belief that is why and how many around Mobutu, his kids and members of his family were dying)

Dont steal the states money because you might end up in jail

Kelani come and let us dance, Franco is playing

I dont owe money to anybody

Money, Money, money

Im singing you, money, where do you come from, money

Who is your mother?

You need money to go to the hospital

People divorce (marriages die) because of money

Friends become enemies because of money




Mbongo or falanka (sometimes falanga) = money

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Franco
• Rumba
• Zaire
• Africa
• TPOKJazz
• Simaro

[Patmuamba]

Manseba Jo Mpoyi Kanyinda tu es et tu resteras a jamais dans nos coeurs. Tu es un cadeau que Dieu avait donne a ceux, qui comme moi, aiment ecouter de la musique. Tu etais talentueux, tu etais beau, tu etais un simple homme,... Manseba Jo Mpoyi Kanyinda. Ah oui, l'argent est la source de tous les maux que nous avons sur cette terre des hommes; les guerres, les divisions, le racisme,... Bons conseils pour tout le monde. Reposes en paix, Jo Mpoyi Kanyinda, manseba.

Patrick Muamba

USA

[AboubacarSiddikh]

@Patmuamba Ce sont des mots du compositeur Lutumba Simaro.

[Jarawilla]

@AboubacarSiddikh Your dedication to OK discography and the pleasures therefrom derived on YT, would warm even the heart of that heartless opaque god who used to recieve human sacrificial hearts atop Mayan and Aztec tempels. In this peace we must mention the devilish stringing of Mavatiku Visi Michellino, the other wizard from the Dr. Nico guitar school. We see why he left OK: There is no [artistic value addition] room for Franco guitar when Visi stars beside a divine Thiery Mantuika n Simaro.

[AboubacarSiddikh]

@Jarawilla Maybe he just left because someone else was offering more money. By the way, actually it was the Tino Baroza guitar school. Nico became more famous but Tino Baroza was the originator.

[PapaBahia]

@Jarawilla It is not a dedication; it is more like a destruction of the livelihoods of the 18 children of Franco, their chidlren, and all others who could have counted on royalties from this music easing the hardship that is the one constant in their lives in Africa...

[AboubacarSiddikh]

@PapaBahia During his career, Franco signed away his materials and that of his band members basically never looking beyond the release at hand. When he negotiated the release of his next singles, he was not anticipating cd releases 10 years after his death. So these rights were sold, re-sold and again, and came into the hands of creeps who had no relation whatsoever with anybody even remotely related to anybody ever to play or sing a note in OK Jazz. Nobody ever saw a dime for all these cd's.

[Jarawilla]

@PapaBahia Good to raise the point of royalties. But with the rise of this new medium, technologies and associated new modes of music consumption, the music industry must undergo a re-structuring to author a new way of compensation. Copyright in the original form is a dead business. Songs are on sail at I-tunes for 5 cents a-piece. One can make one mp4 CD containing 200 franco songs for $1. Dont battle technology, use it.

[loubassou]

DJO MPOYI tu nous manques enormement.les bonnes choses ne durent jamais.

hélas!! tu resteras eternel comme le restera CHANTAL KAZADI(african fiesta de DOCTEUR NICO).voilà vous êtes immortels.

[jakodembo]

Where can one download all these wonderful music? Please someone let me know.