“Bakulumpa Bambila” by Kasayi Allstars

Kasai Allstars is a group absolutely loved by the african music critics and african music lovers and fans. Here’s one of their most recent piece. I bought the album and it’s really good. On the cover the album you can see an electrical likembe. Likembe is one of the traditional instruments of the Luba people and it can actually be found in diverse forms in  most countries of subsaharian Africa.

The lead singer is Papa Kabongo, one of the main actors of baluba folk music.

Title: Bakulumpa Bambila (Thus the Ancestors Spoke)
Artist: Kasayi Allstars
Album: Beware the fetish
Year: 2014

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[Discography] Les Bayuda Du Congo

Leader: Lelimba wa Kutshila

2000 – Tshiolilo

2005Tshiolilo
Tracklist
Grand Charme
Kinda Bwamba
Kulela
Tshiolilo
Chute Katende
Kayumbi
Réponse Kulela

2003 – Grand Kasai

grand kasai2004

Tracklist

Kasayi Munene
Cadence
Bushale
Comment
Voyage
Ndumba
Mambulu
Omonaki

2007 – L’union fait la force

unionfaitlaforce2007
Tracklist
L’union fait la force
Muendjango
Sanga Nyembwe
Malandji

Chute Katende (Best of)

chutekatende2013

Tracklist
Chute Katende
Buamba
Kayumbi
Buina
Grand Charme
Bilembi
Musuyi
Reponse Kulela

[Lyrics Translation] “Lekela Mwadi” by Tshala Muana

This song is probably my favorite song in this world. It is a mix of salsa and mutwashi, the traditional rhythm of Kasayi, Congo. As I explained in a previous post, this song is a good example of “lisanga” or dedications, ”shout outs”. All along the song, Tshala Muana lists several people’s names. I put those parts between parenthesis…

This transcript is here only thanks to my mum who spent some of her free time on this… If you use this translation, please mention this blog to encourage us translating even more songs… It will be appreciated!^^

N.B.: Apparently this song is known in Latin America as “Kabuya” by Africando. TOTALLY FALSE!!! Give back to the Queen what belongs to the Queen. Africando is a Senegalese salsa band who often invited Congolese artists on their albums such as Papa Wemba, Nyboma or Madilu System but, correct me if I’m wrong, as far as I know, they never invited Tshala Muana and I don’t think they speak Ciluba. However, ‘Lekela Mwadi’ was featured on Putumayo compilation entitled ‘Congo To Cuba’.

Title: Lekela Mwadi (Stop Crying)
Artist: Tshala Muana
Album: Mutuashi
Year: 1996
Label: Sterns

Wikala dikemena wa kwata kumu kusu

(Kabuya Pitch Lux Pitch Lualua Mama ya bongo)

Yelele yelele…
Nganji kubikila Maamù eh
Mamiani mwà Mbuya kasasu eh
Mambi wa Tumba ne Tshala eh
Mwâna mudikaya yampongo eh
Moyi munda nganyì wà ngakwile eh
Ngipata mukunda muya mukanka mwâna we lekela we

(Ya Esther Ngalula Kulola!)

Ya ye lele ya ye lele
Nganji kubikila Maamù eh
Mamyanyi mwa Mbuya kasasu eh
Mambi wa Tumba ne Tshala eh
Mwana mudikaya yampongo eh
Moyi munda nganyi wa ngakwile eh
Ngipata mukunda muya mukanka mwana we lekela we

Mwâna we lekela kudila mwadi e
Mwâna we lekela kudila mwadi e
Bakulumpa bakudima kwěpì ?
Bakudima kuyaya dîba
Kuyaya kumpengelela kwadi
Bilumbu ni bya salala bya ya
Ngondu wa kubanda mulundingu
Mukàjì mufwà bintu bibombe

(Maman Ndimi Ngoyi Maman Colonel)

Yaye lele yaye lele…
Ngimba ne Mulume Mutombo ee
Ngimba ne Ange Kayembe ee
Ngimba ne Ngalula Waba Milolo ee
Ngimba ne Yaya Sangye e
Ngimba ne Mputu wa ba Ntumba ee
Tangila Kabeya Ndombie
Twayi lona, lekelayi mwadi
Balongeshi bakalukanyia
Simon Kabila lekela we

Mwâna we lekela kudila mwadi ee
Mwâna we lekela kudila mwadi ee
Bakulumpa bakadima kwěpì
Bakadima kuyaya dîba
Kuyaya kumpengelela kwànyì
Bulumbu ni byà salala bya ya
Ngondu wa kubanda mulundingu
Mukàjì mufwa bintu bibombe

Twayi lona ee
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona ee
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we
(Byà kulwa disànka) Maestro!

(Super Mwika Ya Marie eh Maman coup de foudre…)

(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona ee
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona ee
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona ee
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona ee
(Byà kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we

Bya kulwa disànka x4

(Bya kulwa disànka) Twayi lona ee
(Bya kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we
(Bya kulwa disànka) Twayi lona ee
(Bya kulwa disànka) Twayi lona we …

mutuashi2003

TRANSLATION:

Wikala dikemena wa kwata kumu kusu
Si tu es une fourmi rouge, accroche-toi au chiffon
If you are a red ant, hang on to the cloth

Nganji kubikila mamu
Que j’appelle maman
May I call mommy

Mamiani mwà Mbuya kasasu
Mon homonyme, la maman de Mbuya
My homonym, the mother of Mbuya

Mambia wa Tumba na Tshala
La maman de Tumba et de Tshala
The mother of Tumba and Tshala

Mwana mudikaya ya mpongo
L’enfant sur l’épaule du grand frère
The child on his older brother’s shoulder

Moyi munda ngani wa ngakwile
Mon cœur s’attriste, que tu intercèdes pour moi
My heart saddens, please intercede for me

Wipata mukunda muya mukanka
Je lance un cri strident qui va et fait trembler
I cry out loud and that sound’s loud and make people shake

Mwana we lekela
Toi mon petit, arrête-toi
Please, kid, stop

Mwana we lekela kudila mwadi
Toi mon petit arrête de pleurer
You, kid, stop crying

Bakulumpa bakadima kwepi ?
Les ainées, où cultivaient-ils ?
The elders where did they cultivate?

Bakadima kuyaya diba
Ils cultivaient là où le soleil se couche
They cultivated where the sun sets

Kuyaya kumpengelela kwadi
Là où la perdrix va pour se cacher
Where the partridge goes into hiding

Bilumbu ni bia salala bia ya
Les problèmes s’aggravent et s’estompent d’eux-mêmes
Problems come and go on their own

Ngondu wa kubanda mulundingu
La lune monte dans le firmament
The moon is rising in the sky

Mukàjì mufwà bintu bibombe
Une mère qui meurt
A mother is dying

Bya kulwa disànka
Cela devient une grande joie
This becomes a great joy

Twayi lona
Dansons ensemble
Let’s danse together

Ngimba ne Mulume Mutombo
Je chante avec Mulume Mutombo
i sing with Mulume Mutombo

Tangila Kabeya Ndombie
Regarde Kabeya Ndombie
Look Kabeya Ndombie

Twayi lona, lekelayi mwadi
Dansez de joie, arrêtez donc de pleurer
Danse with joy, stop crying

Balongeshi bakalukanyia Simon Kabila lekelayi
Les professeurs du lycée Simon Kabila, arrêtez (de pleurer)
Teachers of Simon Kabila High School, please stop

[Lyrics Translation] “Leja Bulelà” by Tshanda Sangwa

The lyrics follow. There is only one actual verse repeated several times and the chorus is only one line. What fills in are the dedications or mabanga. This is an extremely common phenomenon in Congolese music. They are not lyrics as per say but names that would be listed. They generally praise the dead, the hero, the cultural icon, the celebrity but even you , as a ”normal” person, can have your name recorded by a famous singer. In exchange of whatever present, or upon a simple request, the singer will praise your name in their next hit song… So don’t be confused… A good part of the lyrics here are made of dedications which I won’t translate. Some Congolese artists don’t put dedications in their songs. This phenomenon is really common but it also depends on the type of music…
The special effects are very basic but this video is also interesting for the traditional ornament and clothing it shows. These are typically Kasayan clothing. You can also try to get some move of the traditional Kasayan dance, Mutuashi!!! hehe This said, enjoy!

tshanda_1

LEJA BULELÀ
Que la vérité éclate/montre la vérité
Let the truth come out/show the truth

Mema musamba cii ne bwalu
Je suis calme et tranquille
I am calm and quiet

Beena buloji benda bajana
Les malfaisants (=les sorciers) continuent à me harceler
The bad keep on harassing me

Moyi wà munda udi usàma
Tellement j’ai mal au coeur
My heart is in so much pain

Leja bulelà bwà ditùnga edi ooo
Fais éclater la vérité dans ce pays
Let the truth come out in this country

Leja bulelà, leja bulelà bwà ditùnga edi (x2)

(Various lyrics among dedications)

Ikalayi bònsu nku nnyimà wa Tshanda
Soyez tous derrière Tshanda
Be all supportive of Tshanda

Mwelayi dibòku muulu
Levez-lui le bras
Raise his arm (in sign of victory)

Kampingani kungima to
Qu’il ne recule pas
May it not back down

Ikala àmu uya kumpàla
Qu’il aille de l’avant
May it forge ahead

Tshanda, mwâna wa meeji, aya amu kumpala
Tshanda, l’enfant doué, qu’il aille de l’avant
Tshanda, the bright child, may he go forward

Kwata maja! ambulula!
Leja kune kulela

[Lyrics Translation] ”Malu” by Tshala Muana

This is a classic by Tshala Muana. Many musicians play this song for fun (Check on you tube). Don’t hesitate to submit corrections. Hope you’ll enjoy this!

Titre: Maalu (Les Problèmes / Problems)
Album: Dinanga (Amour)
Year: 2002

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO_zoaMj9FI

Spoken: Maalu katonda bakole
Kutonda nkumba, kutonda ne balela
Kutonda ntontodi wa nyingala pankatshi
Udi kayi ne maalu eelà munu mulu e

Verse 1:
Taatù wa kafwa, maamù wakaya kwabu (taatù e le le yi)
Bâna bakashala batangula ntàngu (taatwanyì e le le yi)
Taatù wanyì musumbi dyà bilamba (taatù e le le yi)
Muntu yônso udi ne maalu e

Maamù wakafua, Taatù kutubenga (maamù e le le yi)
Bâna bakashala batangula ntangu (maamù wanyì e le le yi)
Maamù wanyì, munami dyà cisenga (maamù e le le yi)
Muntu yônsu udi ne maalu e

CHORUS: Kusekiseki mwineba Maria
Kumanyimanyi ciya
Maalu se tubwa twa ku njìngu
Muntu yônso udi ne bwenda mu mucìma maamù eyo
Yoyoyo kèmayi yoyoyo balumyànà
Mucìma se lubanza lwà maalu

Kabulu kwamba kusekiseki mwineba
Kumanyimanyi ciya
Maalu se tubwa twa ku njìngu
Muntu yônso udi ne bwenda mu mucìma maamù eyo
Yoyoyo kemayi yoyoyo balumyànà
Mucìma se lubanza lwà maalu

Verse 2:
Muntu wa moyi utu ne bwenda bumusoma
Batela nawu bwalu bajanyi ne bitalu e
Maalu kawu maswa kusomba ne bantu
Maalu akudia ne akulwata
Maalu a basanka ne makenge
Maalu akulala ne kubika kwee
Akwata baledi ne bâna bwabu
Akwata baluma ne bakàjì e
Akwata babanji ne bapele
Maalu akwata bamfumu ba matunga
Yoyoyo Kemayi
Ngabilayi kwakalwa malu e

Mulùme nganyi wa ditanta
Mukàjì kayi mutamba bakwabu
Utena yeya ne malu munda
Kalwa ubwela mu cyalukamu
Bantu bamwela diboku muulu
Bwa bwimpa bwenda
Yoyoyo kemayi
Muntu wa bwela mu cyalukamu

CHORUS:
Kusekiseki mwineba nkashama
Kumanyimanyi ciya
Maalu se tubwa twa ku njìngu
Muntu yônso udi ne bwenda mu mucìma maamù eyo
Yoyoyo kemayi yoyoyo balumyànà
Mucìma se lubanza lwà maalu

Kabulu kwamba kusekiseki mwineba kakumina
Kumanyimanyi ciya
Maalu se tubwa twa ku njìngu
Muntu yônso udi ne bwenda mu mucìma maamù eyo
Yoyoyo kemayi yoyoyo balumyànà
Mucìma se lubanza lwà maalu

Verse 3:
Wewa muswe kucina maalu:
Sanka olonda meyi ne mikandu ya Mulopò
Kwema dinanga munda mwebe
Unanga Nzambi webe kumpala kwa byônso
Unemeke baledi bembe
Kuvualakanyi kantu ka mukwebe shabana eyo
Mukàjì wa benda kelengi !

Ngabilayi kwakalwa maalu
Adi ku batoka ne bafika e
Adi munda mwa bukwadisamba e
Atonda bantu munda mwa micima yabo
Bààbà wanyì Bààbà, Bààbà we
Bààbà wanyì
Ngabila kwa kalwa maalu

Freestyle:

Bààbà wanyì Bààbà
Bààbà wanyì twambilayi kwa kalwa maalu x2

Mu Budimi bwa Edena
Adama ne Eva bateka
Bwa kutangila difunkibwa
Nzambyanyì e

Umwayi mwa kalwa maalu :
Satana kadinga bana bulaba e
Bantu kunyianga mikenji ya Nzambi wa musumba
Nzambyanyì e

Nzambi kubela mulawu e
Bwa kudia kwenba Adama ne ututena
Kulela kwaba Eva ne umona maalu
Cilwalwa bununu e

Twa twayi x4 Twa !

Mwaja ku teleja, mwaja cimbwacik’
Mwaja mu cimono, mwaja cimbwacik’
Mwaja mu lubesa, mwaja cimbwacik’
Mwaja mu cimono, mwaja cimbwacik’

Sila e? (eeeee!)
Sila wa? (Sila wanyì!)
Sila wanyì lelela bya kutonda (bya kutonda!)
Sila e? (eeeee!)
Sila wa? (Sila wanyì!)
Sila wanyì lelela bwa kutonda (bwa kutonda!)
Sila e? (eeeee!)
Sila wa? (Sila wanyì!)
Sila wanyì maalu akuto… ? (akutonda)

(Dédicaces: Mutombo Dikembe…)

Bààbà wanyì, Bààbà Bààbà wanyì twambilayi dyashi kwa maalu… ad libidum

2002_TM_dinanga

Even if the sentences occur several times in the song, I put the translation only once so don’t be surprised… 🙂

Maalu katonda bakole
Les problèmes accablaient les Anciens
Problems overcome the elders

Kutonda nkumba, kutonda ne balela
Ils accablaient aussi les femmes stériles comme les femmes fécondes
They overcome infertile women just as fertile women

Kutonda ntontodi wa nyingala pankatshi
Ils accablaient la mante religieuse qui s’attriste sur son branchage
They overcome the praying mantis on its branch

Udi kayi ne maalu ela munu mulu e
Que celui qui n’a pas de problème lève le doigt
The one who doesn’t have problems may raise his hand

Taatù wa kafwa, maamù wakaya kwabu
Quand mon père mourut, ma mère retourna chez elle
When my father died, my mother went back home

Bana bakashala batangula ntàngu
Les enfants furent désemparés
Children were distraught

Taatù wanyì musumbi dya bilamba
Mon père qui achetait nos vêtements
My father that would buy our clothes

Muntu yônso udi ne maalu e
Tout le monde a des problèmes
Everybody has issues to deal with

Maamù wakafua, Taatù kutubenga
Quand maman mourut, papa nous abandonna
When mother died, father left us all alone

Maamù wanyì, mulami dya cisenga
Ma mère, gardienne du pardon
My mother, keeper of forgiveness

Kusekiseki mwineba Maria
Ne te moque pas de ton amie Maria
don’t laugh at your friend Maria

Kumanyimanyi ciya
On ne sait jamais comment cela peut tourner
You never know how things can turn out

Maalu se tubwa twa ku njìngu
Les problèmes c’est comme les chiens qui amènent des problèmes* (traduction littérale)
Problems are like dogs that bring problems*

Muntu yonso udi ne bwenda mu mucìma maamù eyo
Chacun a son propre problème qui le taraude au fond de son cœur
Each and every one have their own problems that get them worried inside

Yoyoyo kemayi yoyoyo balumiana
Oh! Étonnez-vous, oh ! Jeunes gens

Mucima se lubanza lua maalu
Le cœur est le temple des secrets
Heart is the temple of all secrets

Kabulu kwamba kusekiseki mwineba
N’oublie pas, ne te moque pas de ton prochain
Don’t forget, don’t laugh at your fellow man

Maalu akudia ne akulwata
On a des problèmes pour manger et pour s’habiller
We have troubles to eat and dress

Maalu a basanka ne makenge
Il y a des problèmes chez ceux qui rient, ceux qui pleurent
Problems occurs with the one who laugh and the one who cry

Maalu akulala ne kubika kwee
On s’endort et on se réveille avec
You go to bed with problems and you wake up with problems

Akwata baluma ne bakaji e
Ils touchent les hommes et les femmes
It touches men and women

Akwata babanji ne bapele
Ils touchent les riches et les pauvres
It touches the rich and the poor

Maalu akwata banfumu ba matunga
Ils touchent les chefs d’Etat
It touches countries’ Presidents

Yoyoyo Kemayi
Yoyoyo Etonnez-vous-en!
Yoyoyo be surprised!

Ngabilayi kwakalwa maalu e
Dites-moi d’où proviennent les problèmes
Tell me where problems come from

Mulùme nganyi wa ditanta?
Quel grand homme osera-t-il le dire ?
What great man can tell me?

Mukàjì kayi mutamba bakwabu
Quelle femme mieux que les autres
What woman better than other

Utena yeya ne maalu munda
Osera-t-elle dire
Would dare tell

Kalwa ubwela mu cyalukamu?
Qu’elle n’a pas de problèmes au plus profond de son être?
That she doesn’t have any problem inside?

Bantu bamwela diboku mulu
Qu’elle vienne sur la place
May she come to the square

Bwa bwimpa bwenda
Que les gens l’acclament en levant les bras en l’air pour sa beauté
May the people praise her for her beauty

Muntu wa bwela mu cyalukamu
Qu’un homme vienne aussi sur la place
May a man also come to the square

Wewa muswe kucina maalu:
Si tu ne veux pas avoir de problèmes
If you don’t want any problems

Sanka olonda meyi ne mikandu ya Mulopo
Sois heureux, suis les conseils et préceptes de Dieu
Be happy, follow the precepts of God

Kwema dinanga munda mwebe
Mets l’amour dans ton cœur et dans tout votre être
Put love in your heart and all your being

Unanga Nzambi webe kumpala kwa bionso
Adore ton Dieu avant toute chose
Love your God before anything else

Unemeke baledi bembe
Respecte tes parents
Respect your parents

Kuvualakanyi kantu ka mukwebe shabana eyo
N’envie pas les affaires de ton amie Shabanna
Don’t be envious of your friend Shabanna belongings

Mukàjì wa benda kelengi !
Ne touche pas à la femme d’autrui
Do not touch the women of others

Ngabilayi kwakalwa maalu
Dites-moi d’où proviennent les problèmes
Tell me where problems come from

Adi ku batoka ne bafika e
Il y en a chez les Blancs comme chez les Noirs
there are problems with white people and black people

Adi munda mwa bukwadisamba e
Il y en a au sein d’un clan
there are problems inside the same group

Atonda bantu munda mwa micima wabo
Ils touchent les gens au fond de leur cœur
They touch people right inside their heart

Bààbà wanyì, Bààbà
Oh ma mère
Oh mother

Bààbà wanyì twambilayi kwa kalwa maalu
Ma mère, dites-moi d’où viennent les problèmes
Mother, tell me where problems come from

Mu Budimi bwa Edena
Du jardin d’Eden
From Eden Garden

Adama ne Eva bateka
Adam et Eve nous y plongèrent
Adam and Eve threw us into it

Bwà kutangila difunkibwa
Pour avoir voulu connaitre la Création
Because they wanted to know Creation

Nzambi wanyì e
Oh! Mon Dieu
O My God

Umwayi mwa kalwa maalu :
C’est comme ça que surviennent les problèmes chez les hommes
This is how problems occurs

Bwà kudia kwenba Adama ne ututena
Pour se nourrir Adam devra travailler dur
To eat, Adam will have to work hard

Kulela kwaba Eva ne umona maalu
Pour donner la vie, Eve enfantera dans la douleur
To give birth, Eve will go through a great deal of suffering

Cilwàlwa bununu e
Cela jusqu’à la vieillesse
Until their old age

EXTRA : Malu (version 2)

Album: Sikila
Year: 2009

For the first 5 minutes or so the lyrics are basically the same except for some variations here and there but the ‘free style’ at the end is completely different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpJHkyacA9I