[Specials] “Independance Cha Cha”

30 Juin 1960. 30 Juin 2013. 53 ans d’Indépendance. Bonne fête d’indépendance à tous les Congolais et à toute la diaspora congolaise répartie dans le monde entier, France, Belgique, Angleterre, Inde, Chine, Japon, USA, Allemagne, Russie, etc…

Happy Independance Day to all Congolese people around the world!

Title: Indépendance Cha Cha
Artist: African Jazz
Lyrics: Roger Izeidi
Year: 1960

Indépendance Cha-cha tozuwi ye! (Kikongo)
Oh Kimpwanza cha-cha tubakidi (Tshiluba)
Oh Table Ronde cha-cha ba gagner oh! (Lingala)
Oh Lipanda cha-cha tozuwi ye!

Independance Cha-cha to zuwi ye !
Oh Kimpwanza cha-cha tubakidi
Oh Table Ronde cha-cha ba gagner oh!
Oh Lipanda cha-cha tozuwi ye!

ASORECO na ABAKO
Bayokani Moto moko
Na CONAKAT na CARTEL
Balingani na FRONT COMMUN

Bolikango, Kasavubu
Mpe Lumumba na Kalonji
Bolya, Tshombe, Kamitatu
Oh Essandja, Mbuta Kanza.

Independance Cha-cha tozuwi ye!
Oh Kimpwanza cha-cha tubakidi
Oh Table Ronde cha-cha ba gagner oh!
Oh Lipanda cha-cha tozuwi ye!

Na MNC, na UGECO
ABAZI, na PDC
Na PCA, na African Jazz
na Table Ronde mpe ba gagner!

Independance Cha-cha tozuwi ye !
Oh Kimpwanza cha-cha tubakidi
Oh Table Ronde cha-cha ba gagner oh!
Oh Lipanda cha-cha tozuwi ye!

Translation
Independance (cha-cha) was declared
Freedom (cha-cha), we’ve conquered
At the Round Table****, they won
Oh Liberty (cha-cha) we’ve conquered!

ASORECO** and ABAKO**
United as one
CONAKAT** and CARTEL**
had joined the FRONT COMMUN**.
Bolikango*, Kasavubu*, Lumumba* and Kalonji*
Bolya*, Tshombe*, Kamitatu*
oh Essandja* and Elder Kanza*.

1. The MNC**, the UGECO**
   ABAZI** and PDC**
   The PCA** and African Jazz Band***
   were all victorious at the Round Table!

*Patrice Lumumba was the first prime minister of the independent Congo (assassinated in January 1961) and Joseph Kasavubu was the first President of the Congo. Jean Bolikango, Paul Bolya, Moïse Tshombe, Albert Kalonji, Cleophas Kamitatu, Essandja and Mbuta Daniel Kanza were leaders of political and/or separatist congolese movements.

**Congolese political parties

***African Jazz Band was commissioned to write this song. Joseph Kabasele aka Grand Kalle unite his own musicians of African Jazz (Roger Izeidi, Petit Pierre, Déchaud Mwamba, Dr Nico) and invite OK Jazz musicians (Vicky Longomba et Brazzos), the 2 most popular groups of the moment, to write this song. The song will be first sang on the official day of independence, June 30th, 1960.

****The Round Table took place in Brussels’ Hotel Plazza from January 20th to February 20th and from April 26th to May 26th of year 1960.

Vocabulary

budììkadidi: indépendance / independence
cisùmbu: parti / parti
cisùmbu cya cìdììdì: parti politique / political party
cisùmbu nkààyà: parti unique
musambu: chanson / song
mèèsà: table
mèèsà a cijèngù: table ronde / round table