Mokolo Nakokufa / Minha Angola - Sam Mangwana

Sonafric SAF 1819 a-b.

Minha Angola from 4:36 - Live version here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqx4UhfkHrY

Wanduni comments, transcribes & translates:

Sam Mangwana's version of "Mokolo Nakokufa" is one of a series of satirical approaches to the theme of death in Lingala music. Tabu Ley's version was also translated (into French) by the late Professor Adolphe Dzokanga in his "Chansons et Proverbes Lingala" (Conséil Internationale de la langue française), Paris (1993).

Of course TPOK JAZZ explored the same theme in "Nayebi Ndenge Bakolela Ngai" (I know how they will weep for me). And Verckys' Orchestre Veve went on record tackling the issue of death in "Anatamboli".

Sam's version is very similar to Tabu Ley Rochereau's version (I wonder which came first). Mangwana's sung lyrics are clear, but at one point, he stops singing and speaks these words: "Liwa, elombe ayaka nayo centre na la vie". ("The hero who comes with you to the centre of life") This may be ambiguous.

Mokolo nakokufa
(The day I will day)
Mokolo ya liwa
(The day of my death)

Mokolo mosusu ngai nakanisi
(The other day I was wondering)
Naloti lokola ngai nakolala
(I dreamt as I was sleeping)
Aa mama aa Mokolo ya liwa
(Ah mother, the day of my death)
Mokolo nakokufa nani akolela ngai?
(The day I day, who will weep for me?)
Nakoyeba te
(I don't know)
Tika namilela
(Let me weep for myself)
Liwa ya nzamba soki mpe liwa ya mai
(Death in the forest or in water?)
Liwa ya nkisi soki mpe liwa ya mpasi mama
(Death by witchcraft or of illness)
Mokolo ya liwa, mama
(The day of my death, Mother)

Mokolo nakokufa, ngai moto ya mbongo
(The day I will die, I the rich man)
Nakanisa nini kaka mosolo o?
(What will I think of, but my property?)
Nakanisa lopango na bakaminyo
(I'll think of my houses and lorries)
Nakanisa bana ngai natinda kelasi koyekola
(I'll think of the children I sent to school)
Mokolo ya liwa, mama
(The day of my death, mother)
Mokolo nakokufa, ngai moto ya Pauvre,
(The day I die, I the poor man)
Nakanisa nini kaka bana na ngai?
(What will I think of but my children?)
Nakanisa kaka mpasi ya mokili ezali kotikala
(I'll only think of the problems of the world that will be left)
Mokolo Nakokufa
(The day I die)
Mokolo nakokufa ngai moto ya kwiti
(The day I die, I the drunkard)
Nakanisa kopo ya masanga na ngai
(I'll only think of my glass of beer)
Nakanisa nini kaka suka ya sanza
(What will I think of but the end of the month)
Tango namelaka ngai na baninga
(When I used to drink with my friends)
Aa mama, mokolo ya liwa
(Ah mother, the day of my death)
Mokolo nakokufa nani akolela ngai?
(The day I die, who will weep for me?)
Nokoyeba te
(I don't know)
Tika namilela
(Let me weep for myself)
Liwa ya nzamba soki mpe liwa ya mai
(Death in the forest or death in water?)
Liwa ya nkisi soki mpe liwa ya mpasi mama
(Death by witchcraft or of illness?)
Aa mama, mokolo ya liwa.
(Ah mother, the day of my death)
Liwa, elombe ayaka nayo centre na la vie
(Death, the hero who comes with you to the centre of life)
Tabu, O Maloba*
(Tabu, Oh, words!)
(* This could be a salute to Tabu Ley Rochereau.)
Mokolo nakokufa ngai moto ya kwiti
(The day I die, I the drunkard)
Nakanisa kopo ya masanga na ngai
(I'll think of my glass of beer)
Nakanisa nini kaka suka ya sanza
(What will I think of but the end of the month)
Tango nakutana ngai na baninga
(When I met with friends)
Aa mama, mokolo ya liwa
(Ah mother, the day of my death)

Mokolo ya Liwa,
(The day of my death)
Mokolo nakokufa
(The day I will die)

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Mokolo Nakokufa was composed by Wendo, he sang it in 1966 at the funeral of Paul Mwanga in Brazzaville, accompanied by Honoré Liengo on guitar.

Rochereau was present at the occasion and invited Wendo to come sing the song with African Fiesta National.

Wendo, being broke at the time, did not hesitate to accept the offer.

Rochereau had promised to respect Wendo's rights as a composer, but recorded the song nonetheless under his own name, with his own arrangement.

Wendo sang for two more years with AFN but things went sour when AFN was in Brussels at the invitation of the Congolese ambassador and the orchestra did not get paid.

After that, Wendo joined Dewayon. He never received one penny for his composition, which belongs to the most succesful of Congolese music.

http://wrldsrv.blogspot.com/2010/04/babla.html

Others believe Rochereau stole it from someone else:

http://www.congolite.ca/music3.htm

When asked (in the 1990's) what his favourite composition of his own was, Le Seigneur answered: Mokolo Nakokufa.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mangwana
• Mokolo
• Nakokufa
• Rochereau

[mediaevalguitartab]

Nice post. One note on translation: in Lingala, "Mama" is used as a form of address to any woman, not just one's mother.

[AboubacarSiddikh]

@mediaevalguitartab That is true not only in Lingala, but many other languages/places in the world. But then, on the day you die, you may be calling your birth mother...

[sokoroable]

@zuluman2008 you're most welcome dear

[zuluman2008]

@sokoroable thank you for the translation man..God bless!!

[starcelebridade]

XEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[mediaevalguitartab]

@AboubacarSiddikh Eza ya solo!

[ashtonnesmith]

My, are those cheap instruments or what ?

[pedjorge]

Sam we love you!

[sokoroable]

Mokolo mosusu ngai nakanisi (The other day I was wondering)Naloti lokola ngai nakolala (I dreamt as I was sleeping) Aa mama aa Mokolo ya liwa (Ah mother, the day of my death) Mokolo nakokufa nani akolela ngai?(The day I day, who will weep for me?) Nakoyeba te (I don't know) Tika namilela(Let me weep for myself)

Liwa ya nzamba soki mpe liwa ya mai (Death in the forest or in water?)

I got at megajoin look for full lyrics there, i love lingala i refuse to die before i know it

[Txmnaz]

Thanks Aboubacar..this is relevant to almost any funeral...Merry Xmas and Happy New Year