Paka Lowi (Franco) - Franco & le T.P. O.K. Jazz 1976

Franco, Michèl Boyibanda, Josky Kiambukuta, possibly Lola Chécain sing. This song was forbidden by the regime.

piquedard translated:

You, old man, Lewis!

In life, an older man deserves respect, but you dont want to be respected. You court your friends' daughters and made them your girlfriends. You have even chosen to distance yourself from friends. When a friend is in trouble, you never visit him; when you hear the news, you do nothing but to send money to him Remember you dont have much longer to live. Soon all of us well be doing the same to you. Work and eat, and think about life, you will die soon because you got rich while you are already old. If a friend is in trouble, go and visit him, dont just send only money, your presence is more important than money Why do you put 2 hats? It rumoured you are bold, you dye your hair, and have some cyst in one of your feet You dont want to meet your old friends any more...you are only interested in their daughters; you car is full of candies and biscuits that you give to young girls (to attract them). Every time you see one of your friends daughters, youd say Here is some candy for you; here is some biscuit for you Everyone kid in you district knows how old you are but you dont want to be called Papa or Papy (Grandfather), you prefer to hide in your car..

Anyone (Congolese) would get the message at once: Franco hints to one of all those old politicians (mostly from Mobutus tribe) who have become tremendously rich. The regime couldnt allow that! As for me, whether one likes Franco or not, one must admire his courage. He got problems with the administration with Liwa wa P.Emery and (Ive been told) with OpedalakiRochereau, being coward, would never take such a risk.

Category:

Music

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• Franco
• Rumba
• Zaire
• Africa
• TPOKJazz

[rawlongo]

can i get a direct translation word by word. Eg. am i getting the words correct " sala olia okanisa lavy"?

[rawlongo]

thz a great song

[lipephi]

@pauliyai This songs talks about an old man who got rich late and who refuses to get old, he is especially interested in his friends daughters and darkens his white hairs

[opiyo417]

Impunity!!

[pauliyai]

the music in this piece is just top notch! the harmony and the melody is so nostalgic, good work AS keep it up. I would request that more translation of word for word should be done on other songs too so that we can feel with our brothers who speak Lingala.

[micha78able]

une chanson ki donne a reflechir....

[larryboy1995]

Yes, AS, you are right about Franco having the guts to stick his neck out n make songs that were sure to rile the regime...But in all fairness to Rochereau, Zaiko etc, we have to remember too that none of them enjoyed the special status and position Franco was privileged to have in Mobutu's heart and palace....

[larryboy1995]

Oh you do us a great service by putting the translation up here! I enjoyed this song a lot when you put it up, and now I enjoy it even more. This is not really history because we see the same thing back home in kenya (and everywhere) every day...old men in long tinted limousines from the president's tribe...doing the same thing the master describes here...Nothing changes!