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Tuesday, July 1, 2025

The Gwijo "Yebo Lapho" Is An Example Of An African Song That Has A Great Beat & Sounds Beautiful But Also Has "X" Rated Lyrics


Pistole Gwijo, Aug 20, 2024  #gwijokings #gwijo #pistolegwijo

By @UnkleMsarow
-snip-
WARNING- This isiXhosa gwijo includes words that are "x" rated. 

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of the viral gwijo "Yebo Lapho" as sung by Unkle Msarow and the gwijo kings.

This post also includes selected comments from the discussion thread for that video. Those comments focus on how Unkle Msarow's rendition of "Yebo Lapho" sounds beautiful and has a catchy beat, but also has "x" rated lyrics

In addition, this pancocojams post presents selected comments from two Tik Tok videos. Those comments focus on how the commenters were surprised that that gwijo described an x rated bedroom sexual scene.

In my opinion, "Yebo Lapho" refutes the relatively commonly found statement that "
Music is a universal language we can all bond over". Instead, that Xhosa language gwijo reminds people that of the importance of being aware of the meanings of a song's lyrics in a language you're not familiar with before embracing that song as one of your favorite jams.  


The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their  owners.

Thanks to Unkle Msarwo and the gwijo kings. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the producers of this YouTube video and this Tik Tok video. 

****
DISCLAIMER:
I am an African American who doesn't read or speak any language but English.

I don't have any direct knowledge of South African culture and the 
only information that I have about that culture and the Xhosa language is from my reading on and off the internet.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES ABOUT SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 AND THAT YOUTUBE VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
The gwijo "Yebo Lapho" (Xhosa meaning "Yes, over there" is a viral hit in South African and in some other nations based on the number of social media videos and comments.

Unkle Msarow's version of "Yebo Lapho" and other versions I've come across online feature the standard "Zampampam" refrain that is found in other amagwijo (plural for "gwijo") with the title "Yebo Lapho" or other gwijo that don't include that title or any of those lyrics. Based on what I think I hear in that showcased Unkle Msarow YouTube video, here's what I refer to as the standard Zampampam refrain:

"Zampampam
Zampampam
iyhoo ah zampampa"

This fixed refrain is sung by the group in response to the leader's varying lines (call).

Although the title of the showcase "Yebo Lapho" video that is embedded at the top of this pancocojams post indicates that it includes lyrics for that song, the Xhosa lyrics (with no translations in another language) are written in captions within that video for only 0.41 seconds of that 2:24 video. Why are there no captions for the remainder of this video? Is this a way of not acknowledging that the lyrics for that song refer to a x rated sexual scene?

Furthermore, that video's summary doesn't include any of that song's lyrics and only a few comments in that video's discussion thread refer to any of that song's lyrics.

Most of that video's discussion thread focus on how beautiful that song sounds and how people throughout the world love singing it or dancing to it, even if they don't understand what the words to the song mean.

Here's my transcription of that song's lyrics that are given in that video along with the Xhosa to English translation of those words given in parenthesis. Imo, those results reinforce my opinion that Google translation shouldn't usually be considered as an accurate translation of gwijo songs (in large part because of the cultural differences between South Africa and the United States).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTOzHCLw-hk

Nango umalamola seka bheke umandlamini
(Even if you look at the river, you will see)

Nango u16 seka gijimisi v
(Here is the 16th runner v)

(Athi uyababona seba bhekane ngo 6)
He said that he saw them stealing from each other at 6

 Zampampam pam
(No translation given)

Hebathi yebo
(He said yes)

Yebo lapho
(Yes,here)

Kufunek isbhamu somdoko
(Need a shotgun)

Hayi yaya
(No, it went)

Zampampam
(No translation)

Zampampam
(No translation)

****
Here are two of the very few comments in the discussion thread for Uncke Msarow's "Yebo,Lapho" video that mentions lyrics to that song. These examples are numbered for referencing purposes only: 

1. @nonkuthalozondi802, 2024
"so sweet i like the part when he say nangu umadlamini esekabheka umalamula and it end when he say aaa ach men"
-snip-
Here are the Google translate results for this sentence from Xhosa to English:
"nangu umadlamini esekabheka umalamula" =here is a drunkard still looking at the lemon

 "aaa ach men" = oh my god

**
2. @makunguchabangu, 2024
"Nangi u16 seka gijimisi v๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅโค๏ธ"
-snip-
from the on page Google translation feature for this video:
"โ€œI'm 16 and I'm running v๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅโค๏ธโ€

****
Most of the comments in that video's discussion thread either praised the lead singer Unkle Msarow, and/or praised that song, praised the amamgwijo music genre, described their positive reactions to that song, or ranked the currently popular gwijo lead singers.

Here are a few examples of these comments (numbered for referencing purposes only).

2024
1.@NomhlepertuniaMashabane
"Love this gwijoโคโคโคโค"

**
@AsandaNkambule-h5w
"100%guys this is 100%

โค"

**
3. @BokamosoNtuli-d7y
"Yoo msaro  what  a nice songโค"

**
4. @thapelomagaxa5804
"his voice wow they are only 4 but the talent is amazing keep it up"

**
5. @OmphemetseKgopa
"oh what a nice remix โค"

**
6. @BonisiweMpanza-f8n
"This Voice is makes me feel good โคโคโค"

**
7. @Rmkays.132
"Yhoo these guys are fire

Love their music, always making me feel alive and making me wish l was there singing with themโคโคโค๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜ข

**
8. @WillmahMagida
"You sing like a angel โคโคโค"

2025

9. @MatsedisoMdi-t2e
"Wowโคโคit is a nice gwijoโคโคโค"

**
10. @IngridSelamolela
"I love this song is my favourite song for ever and ever amen and make crying๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ขโคโคโคโคโคโค"

-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-possible-source-for-xhosa-word.html for the 2025 pancocojams post "A Possible Source For The Xhosa Word "Zampampam" That Is Used As A Title And/Or Refrain In Certain Amagwijo (Call & Response Songs)."

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/general-gee-zampampam-gwijo-video-with.html "General Gee & Group - "Zampampam" (Gwijo) video with partial lyrics with English translation"

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A LINKED TIK TOK VIDEO #1
[Unfortunately, I don't know how to embed Tik Tok videos in this pancocojams blog.]

This video and the selected comments from its discussion thread are numbered for referencing purposes only.

https://www.tiktok.com/@yanolyrics_extra/video/7392519723126131973?lang=en "yanolyrics_extra: Yebo Lapho English translation๐Ÿ˜‚โ€ฆ, published by Yano Lyrics Extra ๐Ÿ’š, 2024-7-17

1. rat
"what is this translation ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-17

**
2. risten๐Ÿ†

"I lost it at porridge gun๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ’”"

2024-7-17

**
Reply
3. Chanda!!
"Holding what ???๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ"

2024-7-18

**
4. Kamogelo Montisi-Taw
"Lol nah these lyrics must be wrong ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
5. Londeka Dlamini
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-20

**
Reply
6. thobz52
"No really ๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-22

**
7. creezy
"How's this song Legal๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-17

**
Reply
8. aubreykanji
"south africans y'all been singing this all this time ahh"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
9. kay_bee
"Even at school๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-19

**
10. Frieda๐Ÿซ โค๏ธโ™พ๏ธ
"I never expected this๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜…"

2024-7-17

**
Reply
11. Sibahle Mtana
"No guys you donโ€™t have to make a literal translation of everything."

2024-7-19

**
12. CHIHERA
"this is why you should know the meaning of these tunes before singing your heart out ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-18

**
13. king mafi
"all l do learn is never never ever ๐Ÿ’ฏ translate amapiano some of them especially this generation ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ jut do the dance challenge and enjoy ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ"

2024-7-18

**
14. Nva_Kyankwanzi๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ
"the way we all was vybing to it ๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
15. lucie๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟโค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ”ฅ
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-18

**
16. kelvincumbe1
"It's worse than I thought๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
17. Sizwe Mkhize
"๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜…"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
18. Chris
"I prefer not to understand ๐Ÿ’”๐Ÿ’€"

2024-7-18

**
19. blackbrunette_nancy
"No ways ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿคญ what?"

2024-7-18

**
20. 
Ayanda Cekiso
"it's doesn't make sense in English keep it like that"

2024-7-19

**
21.
emanuelchimzythun
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ look what you did to my fave song๐Ÿ’”"

 2024-7-19

**
22. 
kearsa๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿฅน๐Ÿ’•

"you mara ke I enjoy this song but don't know the translation๐Ÿ˜”๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
17. miriam
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
18. PITSO NDABA
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ rather not translate coz wow"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
19. Thoby_23
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-19

**
20. Dineoโค๏ธ
"lol ๐Ÿ˜‚ the day I listened to this song properly I was shook".

2024-7-19

**
Reply
21. JaneenMelissa
"๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-24

**
22. Dii
โ€œA porridge gun is neededโ€ for what?๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜ญ

2024-7-19

**
23. Silver Moon
"I thought everyone understood this song๐Ÿ˜ญ???"

2024-7-20

**
Reply
24. Yols
"No ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-8-3

**
25. BoitumeloM
"Its worse in english ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-20

**
26. d33_Vers
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚I was NEVER ready ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ™"

 2024-7-21

**
27. janeyy_m3
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚Why direct translation ?"

 2024-7-21

**
Reply
28. 
@...danon โœจ๐ŸŽ€
"Pov:ur mind is..... If yk, yk๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-21

**
29. Nangula_E4๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
"what are you guys making us sing along to๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-22

**
30. Dj Hlukzin ๐Ÿ‘‘๐Ÿ™
"aowa I'm no more singing this song๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-22

**
Reply
31. Nolwazi K๐ŸŒธ
"๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญโœ‹๐Ÿฝ"

2024-7-22

**
32.  Witty๐Ÿฆ‹๐ŸŒบ
" The dance is so cool though ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚the words๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ”ซ๐Ÿ”ซ"

2024-7-23

**
33. sunshine
"it's a joke because the meaning is different in our languages and it's just hard to translate it ends up sounding like nonsense ๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-23

**
34. Gulia๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น
"I have learnt my lesson๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ"

2024-7-23

**
35. moodswingssz
"welcome to sasa frika where we dance to what we don't know it means"

2024-7-26
-snip-
"sasa frika" - a colloquial way of saying "South Africa".

**
36. Phuluphedziso
"Why did i sing it in those English lyrics ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ฉ"

2024-7-28

**
37. EasyRipper aka Jaja Tayo
"Wow no no. Wait what the hell yall got us singing lol what!?"

2024-10-19

**
38. Yols
"Never singing it loud again lol wtf"

2024-8-3

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A LINKED TIK TOK VIDEO #2

[Unfortunately, I don't know how to embed Tik Tok videos in this pancocojams blog.]

This video and the selected comments from its discussion thread are numbered for referencing purposes only.

https://www.tiktok.com/@leanzo_theron/video/7401093787994344709 
The first video caption (written in English) โ€œI canโ€™t listen to this song anymore after knowing the English lyrics.โ€

published by Is That Leanzo?, 2024-8-9 

COMMENTS 
[These comments are numbered in relative chronological order, except for replies.] 

1. AllLove_365
"Hello be singing this with his innocent looking face ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
2. kabo.diale
"๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

2024-7-18

**
Reply
3.
 Prosper Makhamba
"Doesnโ€™t make sense in English ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-26

**
Reply
4. pourstiel.saxx
"yes our languages can't be translated bro"

2024-7-26

**
5. kelvincumbe1
"It's worse than I thought๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
6. Chris
"I prefer not to understand ๐Ÿ’”๐Ÿ’€"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
7. blackbrunette_nancy
"No ways ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿคญ what?"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
8. 
Dineoโค๏ธ
"lol ๐Ÿ˜‚ the day I listened to this song properly I was shook."

2024-7-19

**
Reply
9.

**
10.
Ayanda Cekiso

"it's doesn't make sense in English keep it like that"

2024-7-19

**
5. 
Dj Hlukzin ๐Ÿ‘‘๐Ÿ™
"
aowa I'm no more singing this song๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-7-19

**
6. @
emanuelchimzythun
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ look what you did to my fave song๐Ÿ’”"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
7. user87327547
"why are you translating it ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-22

**
8.Micodi
"The (direct) translation is wild ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-21

**
Reply
9.  Mkhonza
"Gun porridge?๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-7-21

**
Reply
10.Buhlebendalo ๐Ÿชท ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
"these lyrics...ngeke๐Ÿ’€"

2024-7-22
-snip-
ngeke-[Zulu] = English meaning- I wonโ€™t

**
Reply
11. shaun
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚translate it properly chief"

2024-7-22

**
Reply
12. Aka Ninja
"then people still say there's nothing wrong"

2024-7-25

**
Reply
13. Infinity_soulโค๏ธ
"๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ โ€œyess yes a porridge gun is neededโ€

2024-8-9

**
Reply
14.Grace๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜
"
Imma search it"

2024-8-9

**
Reply
12. Grace๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜
"
Shouldโ€™ve stayed curious"

2024-8-9

**
13. Danica๐Ÿ’‹
"
the lyrics are heavy yoh๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-8-11

**
14. Reply
โœ๏ธ
 "us who always knew the lyrics ๐Ÿ‘‡"

 2024-8-12

**
Reply
 15. Callyn Alexander
"and the way people dance it but dont know the actual lyrics ๐Ÿ˜‚"
2024- 8-14

**
Reply
16. Tati
"But yet here you are dancing to it ๐Ÿ˜‚

2024-8-14

**
17. Yung Angel
"Yes Yes over there A porridge gun is neede

2024-8-21

**
Reply
18. English Police๐“…“
"Porridge??? ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

2024-8-17

**
Reply
19. tshepi
"what does it mean"

 2024-8-20

**
Reply
20. londiwe ๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿคช๐Ÿคช
"a boys infront๐Ÿ’€"

2024-8-20

**
Reply
21. tshepi
"thanks"

2024-9-13

**
22. _D.ian_a
"Me too this song took away my innocence ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ

2024-8-21

**
Reply
23. 
Mimi๐Ÿ’‹
"I thought I was the only one๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

 2024-8-21

**
Reply
24. zykara 101
"I can never delete this frm my memory ,yohhhh๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ"

2024-8-29

**
25. princeฤ–รŸakhe
"whyyyyyyy"

2024-9-25

**
Reply
26. โค๏ธshadyโค๏ธ
"tโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘– ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘  ๐‘๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘›"

 2024-9-25

**
Reply
27. Cindy Hassan
"for real ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ"

 2024-9-25

**
Reply
28. hazelhoffman2
"that gun will make thing appear after 9 months๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ˜ฑ"

2024-9-26

**
Reply
29. girvan_n
"๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-10-27

**
Reply
30. girvan_n
"God bless your innocent mind"

2024-10-27

**
Reply
31. Stunna
"And this is song we are screaming"

2024-8-15

**
Reply
31. maya๐ŸŒบ๐Ÿป
"after translation I won't sing loudly ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚"

2024-8-15

**
Reply
32. Jomo Sedibane
"but why are you still listening to it"

2024-9-25"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

2 comments:

  1. Here's a comment that ranks some of the currently hot (popular) gwijo lead singers. That comment is from the discussion thread for Pistole Gwijo's video of Unkle Msarow leading a rendition of "Yebo Lapho":
    @Liz1418, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTOzHCLw-hk "Yebo Lapho (Gwijo) Lyrics"

    1.KEMEโคโคโค uhamba yedwa๐Ÿ™Œ
    2. General gee
    3. Msarow
    4. General
    5. Foja nation

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've lived in the United States all of my life. A majority of people
    In this country-including me- only know how to speak & read English. Furthermore, in many places in the United States-including where I've lived and where I live now, it's very unusual to hear anyone speak any language but Standard American English or African American Vernacular English. Maybe that's why I focus on what the lyrics mean in YouTube videos sung in a non-English language instead of focusing on the aesthetics of the song (such as the way the singer/s sound and how the song made me feel).

    But, then again, I consider myself a "word person" (a person who is interested in the origin of words, and how their meanings change in different contexts and over periods of time.) For instance, I've been known to read a YouTube video's discussion thread before watching that video. The "Yebo Lapho" video that is embedded in this pancocojams post is an example of that habit.

    However, I've learned from my online reading that in other countries throughout the world, and particularly in a number of African nations, people speak two or more languages. I wonder if people who are multilingual are used to hearing people speak languages that they don't understand and thus aren't "pressed" (feeling the need) to know what those people are saying or singing.

    Be that as it may, the lesson that the "Yebo Lapho" song reinforces for me is that regardless of a song's aesthetics (i.e. regardless of how beautiful the singers sound and how great the tune and/or beat of a song is), it's important to know what words mean in a language you don't know before claiming that song as one of your favorites.

    It probably will take a bit of effort to find English translations online for some African languages. I'm not confident that Google translation knows the vernacular meanings of these words and prefer to find out the meanings from people who regularly speak those languages.

    Thank goodness for TikTok for discussion threads on the gwijo "Yebo Lapho". There were additional videos/discussion thread comments that I didn't include in this pancocojams post. Without those videos' discussion threads, I wouldn't have had a clue what the singers in the various "Yebo Lapho" YouTube videos were singing about although I agree with commenters in those discussion threads that they sounded very good.

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