AKI SPECIAL - PRINCE NICO MBARGA ( AFRICAN MUSIC CLASSICS)

Prince Nico Mbarga (1-01-50 24-06-97) born to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father in Abakaliki, Nigeria.
You wouldn't guess by his diminutive stature, but Prince Nico Mbarga was one of the greatest giants of Nigerian music ever. Nico's record Aki Special marked the high point in his career: it featured the tune "Sweet Mother," which sold over 15 million copies and stands as the most popular African pop song ever.

Nico came from Nigerian and Camerounian roots, a polyglot who spent enough time in both countries to absorb a monster share of music and culture. For an extended period, he performed with a group called Rocafil Jazz, but he was unquestionably its star. Aki Special features seven tunes all about 8-9 minutes in length, drawing from the musical traditions of Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, New World centers like Cuba and Jamaica, and the great beyond. In 1977, this emerging mix made a great recipe for popular music.

Certain hallmarks of the West African highlife sound surface regularly on Aki Special. The interlocking guitars and drums, especially the congas, present a rhythmic foundation upon which Nico's vocals glide. On "Sweet Mother," the pulse turns toward calypso for a carefree, lilting dance rhythm. The words to the song formalize the deep respect African cultures have for their family: "If you forget your mother, you have lost your life." With lyrics like these and a light, refreshing groove, "Sweet Mother" transmutes a deep tribute into a joyous celebration. Maybe that's why it's the best-recognized song on the continent.

And if there's one thing that marks Aki Special, it's the upbeat frolicking spirit that runs throughout. There's nothing particularly complex or dense about these pieces, though they draw from so many styles and somehow integrate them into a seamless whole. Nico's septet makes it seem easy to assemble a tight, coherent unit from all these beats and patterns. But in the end, it's pure dance music. And in Africa, where the best music drives the shuffle of feet and the sway of hips, Prince Nico was King.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Prince
• Nico
• Mbarga
• Aki Special
• African Music
• Africana
• Etnic
• Nigeria
• Barranquilla
• Lokassa
• Verbena
• Soukous
• El akien
• Sweet Family
• Republic of Congo
• Zaire
• Champeta
• Cartagena
• Colombia
• Highlife
• Verbenero
• Pepe Kalle

[killero72]

Chorus:

Aki, Aki

Aki, Aki

Yes! Aki, oh Aki, Aki, Aki.

Mama mama mama my-yay, who knows tomorrow, Mama? (Aki) Nobody knows tomorrow, my friend. (Aki)

La la la la la la la ly-ay, who knows tomorrow, Mama? (Aki) Nobody knows tomorrow, Mama. (Aki)

Aki, Mama-aye

[killero72]

This life is wonderful. Don't be proud 'cos you can't. It comes from God Almighty! Yeah!

Oh, oh-oh. Picken good-o, picken good-o, picken good-o, we know uh-huh.

But if you get picken, make you no laugh at people who way no get. At all!.

If you no get picken, make you no cry, because you no get em.

[killero72]

'Cos the best opportunities come but once in this world, yeah-eh!

Oh oh oh, morning good-o, morning good-o, morning good-o, we know we know we know, uh huh.

But if you get money, make you no laugh at people who way no get. Uh huh!

If you no get money, make you no cry, because you no get em.

[LUNALUNERA1981]

Killero72 tienes un repertorio del carajo! Gracias por compartirlo!

[DEMEROUSNACK]

UN TEMA EXCELENTE!!!

[Hubscrown]

@killero72 pickin (Child) not picken... It seems you are not really familiar with broken/pidgin english.

[Hubscrown]

@killero72 Its Money good-o, money good -o. not morning good...

[Kpogbenouto]

J' étais tout petit à peine j' avais 8ans quand mon père à joué le disque du Prince Nico M'barga, qu'il à acheté de Lagos, nous ne comprenions pas les paroles mais nous connaissons toutes les chansons de Nico dans la famille et après dans le village natal, Merci, merci et plus de vidéo de Nico M'barga SVP Sweet Mother, Akie, Suzanna etc... etc...

[gloriaemilsen]

Que teamazo mi hermano, quien no bailo este disco, no sabe de la que se perdio....es mas yo todavia cuando lo oigo me despeluco......jajajajajajajaj­aja....Gracias ,killero72....

[ze9999ful]

Je me rappel de prince nico au cap vert, elle ete roi au cap vert.

Moi je comprende pas ongles, me je aime cette musica a vie.

Merci prince nico pour tout que tu fais pour nous au cap vert,

cap vert vous aime beaucoup. Cabo verde é di bo pa sempri.

[ze9999ful]

Je me rappel de prince nico au cap vert, elle ete roi au cap vert.

Moi je comprende pas ongles, me je aime cette musica a vie.

Merci prince nico pour tout que fais pour nous au cap vert,

cap vert vous aime beaucoup. Cabo verde é di bo pa sempri.

[emecca123]

@killero72 "Cos the best opportunities come but once in this world", should be GOD'S TIME IS THE BEST, OPPORTUNITY COME BUT ONCE.

"morning" should be MONEY.

[emecca123]

@killero72 Don't be proud 'cos you HAVE IT, "It" being material possessions.