Congolese Rhumba Singer M'Bilia Bel - Nakei Naïrobi (video, lyrics, & comments)

dited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about the iconic Congolese singer M'Bilia Bel and showcases an updated (High Definition) YouTube video of M'Bilia Bel's 1980s hit song "Nakei Naïrobi". Information about that singer and information about that song's composer, Tabu Ley Rochereau, is included in this post along with the song's lyrics.

Selected comments from this YouTube video's discussion thread is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to M'Bilia Bel for her musical legacy. Thanks also to Tabu Ley Rochereau for composing this song and thanks for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT M'BILIA BEL
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%27bilia_Bel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%27bilia_Bel
"M'bilia Bel (born 1959) is a rumba and world music singer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] She is known as the "Queen of Congolese and African Rumba".[2] She rose to fame after first being discovered by Sam Manguana and later by Tabu Ley Rochereau who really helped her to gain confidence, matter full control of her powerful soprano-voice and to reach to the summit of being one of the best Congolese female singers.

[...]

With a combination of beauty, an angelic soprano voice, really good dancing/dancers, and tremendous agility on stage, M'bilia Bel stole the hearts of music fans all over the continent and every where outside of the African continent. She was Africa's first female transcontinental diva. And also became the second notorious female singer from Africa who could claim popularity all over the entire continent, of course, In fact, one could argue that there has not been any female singer from Africa who has captured the imagination of music fans across the continent as much as M'bilia Bel did in the eighties. South African Miriam Makeba known as "Mama Afrika" popularity peaked in the 1960s but could not attract as many fans as M'bilia Bel did later.”...

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Mbilia Bel - Nakei Naïrobi ("El Alambre") [Clip Officiel]



Syllart Records, Published on Jul 18, 2017
-snip-
Statistics: May 4, 2019 10:57 PM
total number of views - 4,584,892 views

total number of likes- 13,000

total number of dislikes -1,700

total number of comments - 1,497

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LYRICS- NAKEI NAIROBI

Na yoki Nzambe motindo ya mpasi, ba nyokoli yo.
I heard that you've been treated badly.

Yaka pembeni nazali se wayo ya motema.
Come closer, in my heart, I am still yours.

To vandi bo mwana, to meseni nga nayo, Dunia.
We grew up together, we are used to each other, Dunia

To bandi bo mwana, ki moninga na miso ya mama
We started our friendship since childhood, under the eyes of Mother.

Ezali mabe nayoka okomi na pasi naza te.
It is inappropriate for me to hear that you are suffering in my absence.

Na koya na kenya na ya ko zwa yo tozonga
I will come to Kenya to get you and bring you back

na Kinshasa. Ya Elodie, mapasa,
to Kinshasa. Big sister Elodie, twin sister

lokumu ya famille o ti wapi?
why have you lowered your standard?

Ya Elodie, mapasa,
Big sister Elodie, twin sister

lokumu ya famille o ti wapi?
why have you lowered your standard?

Ki kamarade ya bo mwana
Friendship bonds from infancy

Tango mosusu elekaka bondeko.
is sometimes stronger than bonds between relatives.

To yebani bo mwana.
We've known each other since infancy.
To tamboli Kenya mobimba ngai na yo.
We've been all over Kenya together.

Nairobi, Mombasa ah, Nakuru, Kisumu toyebani
We are known in Nairobi, Mombasa ah, Nakuru, Kisumu

Harambee eh, Harambee eh, Harambee eh,
Harambee eh, Harambee eh, Harambee eh
Harambee, Nyayo
Harambee, Nyayo
(Repeat x7)
(Repeat x7)

Nakei Nairobi, po na salisa Duni
I am on my way to Nairobi, to help Duni

Nakei Nairobi;
I am on my way to Nairobi

Na ko zonga na Duni
I will bring Duni back
-snip-
These lyrics were given by Cornelius Chemitei, 2018 in this embedded video's discussion thread with this comment:
"Original Lyrics
Translation in English (95%) (James Wagude)"
-snip-
These lyrics are in Lingala (with the exception of the word "Harambee" and the word "Nairobi", the capital of the East African nation of Kenya.

A commenter in this video's discussion thread (Comment #43) wrote that "Nakei Nairobi" was written by Congolese Tabu Ley. Here's some information about Tabu Ley from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabu_Ley_Rochereau
"Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu (13 November 1937 or 1940 – 30 November 2013),[1][2] better known as Tabu Ley Rochereau, was a leading African rumba singer-songwriter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International, as well as one of Africa's most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters. Along with guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley pioneered soukous (African rumba) and internationalised his music by fusing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American rumba.

[...]

During his career, Tabu Ley composed up to 3,000 songs and produced 250 albums.[5][6]

[...]

In the mid 1980s Tabu Ley discovered a young talented singer and dancer, M'bilia Bel, who helped popularise his band further. M'bilia Bel became the first female soukous singer to gain acclaim throughout Africa. Tabu Ley and M'bilia Bel later married and had one child together. In 1988 Tabu Ley introduced another female vocalist known as Faya Tess, and M'bilia Bel left and continued to be successful on her own. After M'bilia Bel's departure, Afrisa's influence along with that of their rivals TPOK Jazz continued to wane as fans gravitated toward the faster version of soukous."...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
2017
1. Kenyan K'reuno
"In Kenya, we love rhumba even though we don't understand anything you sing ..we grew up listening to it.Mbilia, Franco,Madillu system,"

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REPLY
2. Sybil Tchedre
"Kenyan K'reuno same thing in Togo! I am addicted to Rhumba since then ..."

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REPLY
3. Gato Editores
"Its the same in Colombia, South America: we love Rumba and Mbilia. We came from African continent, but we dont understand what those singers say in their songs. Even though, we love them"

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REPLY
4. Russel Mukondwa
"Even in Zimbabwe, we love rhumba music. Every party and wedding in Zimbabwe plays rhumba music"

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REPLY
5. Sarah Jane
"Even here for me in Australia kaka wangu!! I understand Swahili but not Lingala love the music though"

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REPLY
6. John Mahugu
"haha this is very true"

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REPLY
7. John Mahugu
"dont forget kandabongoman"

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REPLY
8. Kevin Omondi
"Even in kenya.. Rhumbah make you to.relax.your mind"

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REPLY
9. grace nyambok
"Very powerful. I do compare their dancing style here in Kenya with Luo Dancing style. Hahahahha."

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REPLY
10. Mustakimu Twaliki
"Even Tanzania we listening but nothing understand what is the mean of song"

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REPLY
11. Simon P.
"Viva Kenia! We also love Congolese Rumba here in Spain!"

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REPLY
12. Sadera Kipsang
"kenyan in Melbourne *wave! :-)"

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REPLY
13. vereniging kongo en vrienden, 2018
"Even in hollland we are in love with it."

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REPLY
14. Ezra Chesiboi Tanui, 2018
"I guess we love Lingala songs more than anything else because of its African rhythm."

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REPLY
15. pentracy, 2018
"Kenyan K'reuno I'm still listening to this and oldies Rhumba is my Christmas 2018 theme Merry Christmas everyone all the way from Kenya living in the States"

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16. Mejja Jk
"Kenyans will never stop listening Congolese music ,great vocals of all time👍❤️😎"

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REPLY
17. Kelvin Kelly, 2018
"Cuz we same people"

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REPLY
18. Bakkehaugen Ungdomsinstitusjon, 2019
"Coz remember all bantus migrated from Congo one people"

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REPLY
19. Macy M., 2019
"Mejja Jk Yea, Lingala music is like part of us☺💞"

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REPLY
20. Kiswahili Kitukuzwe 254, 2019
"@Bakkehaugen Ungdomsinstitusjon Not all Kenyans are Bantu. Kenyan nilotes love Congolese music even more!"

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21. Jason Mweudina
"way bck in the early 90s ths was one of popular song in our village okalongo namibia"

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22. Sira Mike
"that song used to be top rated in Sudanese wedding parties back in late 90s to earlier 2000."

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23. Barnasha II
" "Nakeyi Nairobi". Une chanson magnifique que le President Mobutu ordonnait pour ouvrir la piste de danse avec Mama Bobi Ladawa dans presque toutes les fêtes, de la seconde moitié de la decennie 1980 à la fin de son règne. Je ne sais pas pourquoi il en avait fait un rite. Est-ce en memoire de bonnes relations entre le Zaire et le Kenya d'Arap Moi? Seuls la famille de Mobutu et les barons de son regime (et peut-être la chanteuse elle-même) peuvent nous en donner la raison."
-snip-
Google translate from French to English
" "Nakeyi Nairobi". A magnificent song that President Mobutu ordered to open the dance floor with Mama Bobi Ladawa in almost every holiday, from the second half of the 1980s to the end of his reign. I do not know why he made it a rite. Is it in memory of good relations between Zaire and Kenya Arap Moi? Only Mobutu's family and the barons of his regime (and perhaps the singer herself) can give us the reason."

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24. Kennedy Okoth
"My fasihi teacher in high school told us that it's Mzee Moi who forced her to sing this😂"

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25. Martin Karimi
"Bana ba Congo, What is MBilia Bel saying about Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu?"

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REPLY
26. Bruce Matoka
"she is singing about her friend Dunia; they grew up together and become like sisters
she left kinshasa and went to Nairobi. unfortunately she suffered there. so she decided to come helping her to go back to kinshasa before they decided to visit Kenya mombasa, nakuru, kisumu.

the refrain says Nakeyi Nairobi pona salisa Duni (I am going to Nairobi to help Duni)
nakeyi Nairobi na ko zonga na Duni (I am going Nairobi, I will be back with Duni)"

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2018
27. Jeremy Clyde
"wow! I grew up with this song and I didn't even know it wasn't Kenyan! haha."

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28. Issa Manganga
"Thank you Mbilia for your good music.. It takes me back to the good old 80s in Nairobi..Asante sana 😃"

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29. CAMEROON OLYMPIADS
"Mbilia Bel, one of my mom friend loves her so much she used to make her clothes and dress up just like her. Growing up all the kids in town when watching the back and white video casette of Mbilia Bell, we truly believed it was aunty Lisette because they also look like and she used to play and sing all her songs. I will conitinue to listen to Mbilia Bell songs' for you. RIP aunty Lisette."

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30. Haron Ogongo
"Mbilia Bel was Wil always be a lady music giant for those of us who grew up in the 70s 80s and came of age in the 90s. Her music means and reminds us of a past we wish we could recreate. Don't mind those who wish Mbilia looked eighteen in the video, she was once eighteen ."

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31. Alain Senat
"is LIKE HAITIAN COMPAS,,, THEY DANCE LIKE US ,.... I DONT UNDERSTAND THE LYRICS AS AN HAITIAN BUT I LIKE THE MUSIC, THE VOICE, THE INSTRUMENTS AND ALSO NICE VIDEO,,... NICE DANCE.... LOVE FROM AFROHAITI PROUD TO BE A PIECE OF AFRICAN NATION"

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32. Kenyans React
"Rhumba is beautiful..i have to visit DRC some day..actually both congos"

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33. Dj sudu ntambi
"We got good stuff in dr Congo but our leaders made people suffer great song even tho I don’t understand the meaning 🇨🇩🇨🇩🇨🇩🇨🇩🇨🇩🇨🇩🇨🇩"

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34. Stephen Taylor
"Lingala,? Though hear so may words that are so like Swahili. Kiungwana has its own flavor of Swahili"

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REPLY
35. Ibrahim Ndungu
"Stephen Taylor
Congolese are Bantus"

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REPLY
36. alex B., 2019
"@Stephen TaylorIndeed its why Congelese leaders worry that worry that Swahili might one day replace lingala as the most spoken language in Congo Kinshasha."

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REPLY
37. Stephen Taylor, 2019
"@alex B. Kingwana Swahili is the Lingua Franca in Shaba province??"

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REPLY
38. alex B., 2019
"@Stephen Taylor Eastern DRC,"

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REPLY
39. Harrysam Mubita, 2019
"Thanks Cornelius for the translation in English. I wish we can find other translators for other songs for mbili"

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40. Asec Mimosas
"Man! I love our African women in African outfit. As they say in Ghana, they are sexy as cheese. Lol"

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41. Edy kay
"Wow this is a classic. Glad they re-did in HD"

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42. Sahr Filo
"Thank you boss for uploading this song for all of us. I have always felt that this song is very special and emotional. I grew up listening and dancing to these songs in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Her songs are just uniquely superb like no other…. They just make one feel really good, emotional and connected all at the same time with all of Africa; and that we Africans and black people all over the world are one. May God bless her and her band and song writers as much as they blessed and enriched our lives with these great and feel good records for the ages. Amen! And Amen/."

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43. jeremy kinuthia
"In 1985, when Kenyans relied only on the state-led radio station KBC for their entertainment, the government banned all foreign music.
Tabu Ley quickly composed the song Twende Nairobi, sung by Mbilia Bel and which praised the then president Daniel arap Moi. The ban was immediately lifted."
-snip-
"Twende" is Swahili for "We went" [to]

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44. Tabisa Florence
"Reminds me of my dad. He used to love that song during his frequent travel and work to Nairobi. Rest in peace Fallen Kasozi Wilson, you died for your country Uganda but you never tested the fruits. Maybe things wouldnt be like they are now."

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2019
45. Donna Joe
"As one who was born and bred in Nairobi, this was our anthem in the 80's. Thanks for the great memories."

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46. Lukyamuzi Stephen
"I thought she was from Kenya when I heard Nairobi in her words not until i saw Kenyans in the comment section claiming not to understand what she’s singing 😅 Lots of love from Uganda."

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47. George Oduory
"My best hit from Mbilia Bel. The song sounds fresh each time it’s played. Just like Mbilia, the song has defied aging."

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48. Clemente Americo
"How very nice it is to go back at the past. We mozambicans we love it so much"

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49. rot. live
"Listening in Canada 2019, its remained me when was young coming from primary school in Kenya my mom cooking lunch ugali mboga i eat then return to school. It's still one of the song my mom loves, she made me like it too.
even thro i dont undertand the words...."

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50. Carolyne Canini
"I did not know her friend was being mistreated in Kenya till now..i actually thought she was praising kenya..😌"

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51. Jonathan Barasa
"The queen of mutuashi herself doing what she dos best just in love with these congolese music cant stop listening to Rhumba music never no music can come near this in the whole world soooo sweet"

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