(Cameroonian Song) KRYS M - "Chacun Sa Chance" (YouTube video with English language comments that explain the song that is sung in French)

KRYS M, July 15, 2022

Written and composed by Krys M -snip-
Statistics as of June 3, 2023 as of 10:12 PM EDT
Total # of views - 26,962,390
Total # of comments - 6,120

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcase the Cameroonian song"Chacun Sa Chance" by KRYS M.

This post also presents some comments in English that explain the meaning of this song which is sung in French.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners. 

Thanks to KRYS M and thanks to all those who are associated with this song and this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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SELECTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SONG 
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8v9Utq4nhg

1. Amoya9838, 2022
"I DON'T understand a word being said but the celebratory vibe that this song gives is unexplainable🥰🥰.

Nuff love from 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲"

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Reply
2. Gallus Universe,2022
"@Amoya9838 She is saying that life is Luck!  she sings in French with a deep Western patois (Bamileke) accent of Kamerun .

Music in Kamerun is very diverse. this Country produce some of the best musicians(not singers) in the World. especially in the bass guitar category.

check out Armand Sabal Lecco( very stylist bass player), Richard Bona, Andre Manga, etc...they are all bass players. they live in the US."

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3.Yves EGBARE, 2022
"Life is luck"The title of the song"

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4. nadmessamena, 2022
"Long story short, she Says each of us has our own luck (A chacun sa chance) in this world, don't Envy other luck. She Illustrated it with some example, when you try to copy other or grab other luck things went wrong. A Guy with Master degrés but non job. A Midget Who want to have success as UFC fighter Francis N'gannou etc... 😉"

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5. Rashid Montana, 2022
"i'm a Sierra Leonean. i fell in love with this song when i visit my uncle in Guinea. this song was all over Canal +. I did'nt unhderstand the language but the neigbors sing it loud with emotion. I love the song so much. Peace be to French people."

**
Reply
6. leonide Awah, 2023
"Very lovely message. She is saying we all have our destiny. And gave a series of scenarios. Those who went to school no job, those who tried to travel ilegally and failed etc. Brief trust your own process what's urs will find you"

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7. Micheal Ndakolo, 2022

"Love all the way from South Africa 🇿🇦 when it's come to music you don't need to understand the language#music is a therapy

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Reply
8. Gallus Universe, 2022
"@Michael Ndakolo Absolutely dear bro. music has no borders, it's all energy.

since you don't understand French, she is saying that Life is Luck,  Everyone of us has its own opportunity at being Lucky in life.

She is from West Kamerun of the Bamileke ethnic group. that side speak French. The South West and North West Kamerun is English.

**
9. Mercy Kendy Karimy, 2022
"This song runs through my veins... I don't care what it means.. i just love it🇰🇪🇰🇪if the DJ forgets to play this song in my wedding.. he's not getting paid.."

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Reply 
10. Yuri Meke, 2022
"It's in french. It means in a nutshell that life is all about luck."

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11. Dibianci C., 2022
"The song say

Everybody have his opportunity in life and it's up to him to take it. Life is fait de luck.

And she take comic examples that make the sound funny but really instructive."

**
12. Momodou Dem, 2023
"I’m a Gambian 🇬🇲 .. Currently residing in Switzerland 🇨🇭 and I felt in love with the song even though I can’t understand a word. The African culture is beautiful and diverse. Peace and blessings to all Cameroonians."

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Reply
13. Dupleix Mbodah, 2023
"For those who don't understand the French language in the song , she says in the first verse  that after studying, you graduate and start looking for job but you can't  get any, even at snack bars your documents are rejected, at the end of the day you become a night watch with all your certificates. She narrates some situations were to people will do things and it will immediately work for them, but when it's your turn to try you fail. She also narrated a situation where  a young lady gets married to an old whiteman thinking that when he dies she will inherit his properties but the lady dies before the old whiteman .

Generally the message she is passing is that life is all about luck. hope this helps someone 🇨🇲🇨🇲🇨🇲."

**
Reply
14. Momodou Dem,2023
"@Dupleix Mbodah  Appreciate it thank you very much."

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Reply
15. Jo.M, 2023
"Hello, the general message of the song is in Life , all of us we get our own luck ( grace) so do not envy, our compare yourself to other , because you have your own grace ❤( Yeah I prefer to say grace 😉)"

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Reply
16. Brice Ngah, 2023
"The song says:"Don't give up because the sun brightens for everyone." "

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Reply
17. Momodou Dem, 2023
"@Brice Ngah  And indeed is. Thank you for the input. 😊"

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Reply
18. Barnabe mc, 2023
"It says we go to school we finish schooling start looking for job even in snacks your cv is rejected and others go to Europe for greener pastures but end up getting married to old white people of 80 years hoping that he or she dies before you but you end up dying before the person. In all she says every one has his or her own luck and life is a chance for some people"

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Reply
19. Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, 2023
"She is saying everyone has his or her luck, opportunity and life is a good luck 🤞"

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Reply
20. EVANS MATANDA, 2023
"Thanks for the interpretation. I wish to learn French"

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21, Sainey Gibba, 2023
"Beautiful song with so much melody and culture. Even though I couldn't understand what you are saying but I am in love with this song plus I am happy to see you giving joy to the market vendors. We are united as one, love from Gambia 🇬🇲🇬🇲"

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Reply
22. Tuks AsusA, 2023
"In summary,  she's saying everything  in life has it's turn. Basically your time will come, keep at it. There's much more depth in the song because she narrates specific scenarios where we rush ahead of ourselves, trying to cheat life or set unrealistic expectations and lose in the end. One of the examples she uses is a young woman marrying a rich old white man (80 years old) expecting an inheritance when he dies but ends up dying before him 😆."

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Some Childhood Memories Of The Song "Zangalewa" In Africa & In Colombia, South America Prior To Shakira Singing "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)

juniorka2, Jan. 28, 2011

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on the Cameroonian song "Zangalewa".

This post showcases a video of Kenyan comic Zangalewa entertainers. Comments about these entertainers are given in the Addendum to this post.

This post also presents a compilation of selected comments from various YouTube discussion threads about commenters' memories about the original "Zangalewa" song. I'm interested in comments about memories of "Zangalewa" prior to Shakira's 2010 performance of the song that she calls "Waka Waka" (This Time For Africa"). I'm particularly interested in comments that include demographic information (a nation name) and comments that also include the decade that these memories are associated with.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-cameroons-1986-zangalewa-song-and.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcase a video of the original 1986 "Zangelewa" song and video of the 2010 "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" song. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/what-1986-cameroonian-song-zangalewa.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. This post showcases a clip of the original Zangalewa video and documents online comments that summarize the Zangalewa song and provide English translations for some of that song's lyrics.  That pancocojams post also presents some information about the songs "Zangalewa" and "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are associated with this video.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
SOME CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF THE SONG "ZANGALEWA" IN AFRICA AND IN SOUTH AMERICA (BEFORE SHAKIRA'S "WAKA WAKA" SONG)

These comments are from various discussion threads of YouTube videos of the song "Zangalewa". The discussion threads for these selected comments are presented in no particular order . The discussion thread and their comments that are compiled in this post are numbered for referencing purposes only.  

Excerpt #1

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47zwuOVXNQ&ab_channel=juniorka2 "Zangalewa (Zamina mina....) Waka waka", juniorka2, Jan 28, 2011

1. Jeff Barrett, 2014
"shakira made this song famous because  in the near 80's african music was very popular in the colombian caribean coast where she is from, in that part of colombia by the time of the colony arrived many african slaves and since then they have stayed here they're now colombians but they still have that thing that makes them africans... and thats the reason why a radio station in cartagena started to broadcast popular african music it was really hard to get that type of music at first  but they did it and people loved it even people who were not african descendants so that's when she came up with the idea... in this part of colombia there are many lebanese people turkies, arabics, spaniards, and of course indigenous people too who really own this land."

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Reply
2. Noel Disey, 2017
"I'm from Bogotá and I remember this original version was popular on the radio, nearly 90's"

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Reply
3.  Emma Ibn-talal Ikhwan, 2020
"Well, she made it famous for non Africans. This song has been around since the 60s and probably before. It was african marching chant as they do their early morning street march"

**
4. Beven T Tsimba, 2016

"This takes way back.. Used to put pillows and imitate the guys.. This is just my childhood jam.. Will always love it.."

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5. Orlando jose Cespedes, 2016
"Zangalewa 1986 se iso popular en Cartagena  en los año 70"
.snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English: 
"Zangalewa 1986 became popular in Cartagena in the 70's"

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6. mzingaye mkwananzi, 2017
"Wow...! *2 Firstly Zangalewa brings back a flash back of my childhood back in the 90s. I resided in Victoria Falls were we had the privilege of watching Zambian broadcaster ZNBC were I first saw this song.

Secondly I am surprised by the fact that Shakira made this her song and didn't even give credit to these guys. But on that token she has to be applauded as a musician for taking a 30yr old song and making it a worldwide anthem."

**
7. Senge Syndysolidard, 2019
"Aww I remember my primary school days. Am emotional right now😅😅😅 we sang this while marching especially during 11 Februaries n was an epic moments...I love my country 🇨🇲😍😍"
-snip-
Here's an excerpt of an article that explains the significance of Feb. 11 in Cameroon:
From https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/cameroon/youth-day#:~:text=History%20of%20Youth%20Day&text=The%20date%20of%20February%2011th,Cameroons%20chose%20integration%20into%20Nigeria.
"Youth Day is a national holiday in the Republic of Cameroon on February 11th each year.

 The celebration of the holiday is intended to increase awareness and recognition of the significant role played by youth in the country.

 ...The date of February 11th was chosen to commemorate the referendum that took place on that day in 1961 which saw the southern part of British Cameroons decide in favour of joining newly independent Cameroon. The northern part of British Cameroons chose integration into Nigeria.

Youth Day has been a public holiday since 1966.

This holiday is celebrated with enthusiasm and vigour across the nation with planning meetings taking place beforehand for the numerous parades and sports events that mark the day."...

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8. Uwem Ekpo, 2019
"The  music has been around since the 70,s because I remember us singing it in the school or chartered lorry after winning hig h school soccer match. Any support from Etinan  Institute from Umoh Etukudo era?"
-snip-
Etinan Institute is a school in Nigeria.that was established in 1915. https://www.facebook.com/EtinanInstitute/

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9. Jeff Abu, 2019
"Wow! This video brought back childhood memories. I use to sing and act along whilst watching this on TV back in the early nineties. 😁"

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Reply
10. Jeff Abu, 2019
"🇳🇬"
-snip-
"NG" is the country code for Nigeria.

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11. Ibrahin Ezequiel Martins Ibrahin, 2019
"I remember watching this song on tv. good times. From Angola!"

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12. Emma Ibn-talal Ikhwan, 2020
"There is an even older version in the late 60s and early 70s that we sang in primary schools in Nigeria

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13. 4. Fa., 2021
""One ❤️ Africa 
This was our childhood anthem in Ethiopia. God bless our continent 💚💛❤"

*️*
14. Dagim Tekle, 2021
"Ethiopian 🇪🇹  i remember this song when its african union and its in adiss ababa this song was in our tv 24/7 ❣"

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15. bawe shelah, 2021
"my childwood song and this reminds me of my primary school and the fact that my dad was in the army. proudly Cameroonian"

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16. Kelvin Anderson, 2021
"We enjoyed this song as a kid in Nigeria. Thanks for the information. I never knew it was originally from my neighbouring country Cameroon 🇨🇲. One love"

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17. siri man, 2021
"this song is the marching song of african soldiers ( engages volontaires) in the second world war it mixed of bunch of african dialects 3 of those songs became famous I think the last army to sing it was the army of cameroon everyone by now devolopped thier own marching song"

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18. Levis Lopez, 2021
"La musica africana es adoptada en colombia desde los 70s para nosotros los colombianos es normal escuchar esta musica en barranquilla cartagena y toda colombia"
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English
"African music has been adopted in Colombia since the 70s, for us Colombians it is normal to listen to this music in Barranquilla, Cartagena and throughout Colombia."

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19. Nahashon Irungu, 2021
"Used to go for movies as boys in a kibanda. The guy would play this song as we waited for other customers to arrive. Happy days those ones."
-snip-
Here's information about the Swahili word "kibanda" from https://en.bab.la/dictionary/swahili-english/kibanda: "cabin, hut, shack, stall". I think that the commenter meant that the movies were shown in a small building.

**
20.  john omolaye, 2021
"Wow! Thanks for uploading. I remember my childhood days ooo. This songs played on NTA Nigerian television. I do dance with my dad"

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21. muzaki vicky, 2021
"💃💃💃💃😅😅😅❤🌹⚽️⚽️⚽️ I loved this song school time football this was theme song and its a must win 🏆for my school I till love it 😀 2021 Uganda 🇺🇬"

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22. Cjay 111, 2021
"From Kenya, use to hear this song growing up, watched it in our black TVs."
-snip-
"Black TVs" probably means television where the programs are only shown in black & white (no colors).  

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23. Stefan kwaku, 2022
"Proud to be African; Still Vibing to this beautiful masterpiece from Ghana 🇬🇭, This was a Childhood hit🔥🔥"

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ih3z5eS1PI "Version Coupe du Monde 2010 /  "Zangalewa : Version Coupe du Monde 2010 / 2010 World Cup video edit", published by GroupeZangalewa, Sept. 7, 2011
1.lescamerpasvénales, 2015
"Zangalewa et les Golden Sounds du Cameroun nous faisaient déjà rire au pays avec leurs déguisements dans les années 80 , avant la REPRISE de Shakira : la preuve !"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
 "Zangalewa and the Golden Sounds of Cameroon were already making us laugh in the country with their disguises in the 80s, before Shakira's COVER: the proof!"

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2. SMC Escobar Gonzalez, 2017
"Canción de 1987  de Camerún para el mundo"
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English:
"1987 song from Cameroon to the world"

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Reply
3. Maria Paz Martínez, 2021
"La canción ya la cantaban los soldados de Camerun en la segunda guerra mundial, en el 87 la grabaron las dominicanas Las Chicas Del Can. Si te referís a esta versión es de principio de los 80"
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English

**
4. yvonne mupasu, 2020
"Reminds m of my child hood frm Zimbabwe ...Afrobit"

**
5. simeon Essoh, 2021
"Je suis ivoirien. J'étais encore un gamin. C'était au milieu des années 70; cette chanson était utilisée pour animer les activités du scootisme et C.V - A.V."
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"I am Ivorian. I was still a kid. It was in the mid-70s; this song was used to animate the activities of scootism and C.V - A.V."
-snip-
“Scootism” probably refers to the Boy Scouts.  I don't know what C.V.- A.V means.

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Excerpt #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avMfR0astQc&ab_channel=NothingLikeVinyl    "Golden Sounds - Zangalewa (music from Cameroon)", Nothing like vinyl, June 28, 2019
Summary: "Golden Sounds was a makossa band from Cameroon, creator of this song that was a huge hit in Africa in 1986. Two years later, the song also became a smash hit in Colombia, where it was associated to a music style called "terapia" ("theraphy"). The song itself was known in this country with the name of "El Militar" ("The Military"). Here you can hear the original, full-length version of this song, which many years later was used by Colombian singer Shakira as the basis for the recording that became the officlal song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament that took place in South Africa.

Original Colombian pressing from 1988."

Selected comments:
1. mvolo alain, 2021
"As a former scout leader we used to sing it during the parade on  Cameroon national day in Douala and Buea other versions after 1986 are fake and overuse."

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2. mvolo alain, 2021
"This original  full verion from.Cameroon  recorded in 1986 from "" Garde presidentielle  escadron musique  Ekounou- Yaounde)"

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Excerpt #4
From 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACFXs5IInQ4&ab_channel=EYEGAMBIA  "The African 'Waka Waka' many don't know about." published by EYEGAMBIA, July 6, 2020

Alexinara, 2021
"I grew with my grandparents who used to play this song almost on daily basis. As a young cameroonian pupil  back then, we will sing and march along to this song to our classrooms. Then came shakira, and then we lost our song. I still love the original more than shakiras though"

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Excerpt #5
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ih3z5eS1PI "Version Coupe du Monde 2010 / 2010 World Cup video edit" published, GroupeZangalewa, Sept. 7, 2011
Eunice Saiti, 2021
"l grew up listening to this song and enjoyed every bit of it in 1980s, Love from Malawi ❤"

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ADDENDUM: COMMENTS ABOUT KENYAN ZANGALEWA ENTERTAINERS
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47zwuOVXNQ&t=113s&ab_channel=juniorka2

1. James Luchera, 2017

"The song is from Cameroon but the dancers are Kenyan dancing and comedy group called the Zangalewas."

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2. adewale1971, 2018
"Kenyans ability to jam to this Cameroon song shows the connectiveness of Africa ; east , west , north and south ..we are all one. One day we will be the world  super power as the Real USA ( United States of Africa)!!!!!!!!

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3. John Njogu Ndegwa, 2019 
"These DANCERS brought the whole difference meaning of Dramatized  music in Kenya, in the eighties. Thank you ZANGALEWA TROOP."

** 
4. Ian Aruasa, 2021
"Events in Kenya felt incomplete without people acting as zangalewa"

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5. SynQ Electric, 2021
“If you are Kenyan and you are here, tell me, are these the same guys who used to Perform many shows here in Kenya in the past or were there copycats because in my childhood years i used to watch them perform a lot”

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6. Teresa Gladys Nalikka, 2021
"Dikula 🤣🤣🤣 that's what we used to call men who dressed up like these guys with big stomachs and white beard paint in Uganda growing up. My granny would scare us that if we didnt behave well the men would eat us🤣🤣🤣. ❤❤❤ this song

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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visiting comments are welcome.

What The 1986 Cameroonian Song "Zangalewa" That Became Shakira's 2010 Song "Waka Waka" Means In English

ChabaP237, April 18, 2020

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on the Cameroonian song "Zangalewa".

This post showcases a clip of the original Zangalewa video and documents online comments that summarize the Zangalewa song and provide English translations for some of that song's lyrics.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-cameroons-1986-zangalewa-song-and.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcase a video of the original 1986 "Zangelewa" song and video of the 2010 "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" song. 

This pancocojams post also presents some information about the songs "Zangalewa" and "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/some-childhood-memories-of-song.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a video of Kenyan comic Zangalewa entertainers. That post also presents a compilation of comments from various YouTube discussion threads about commenters' memories about the original "Zangalewa song" or covers and reinactments of that song prior to Shakira's 2010 performance of the song that she calls "Waka Waka" (This Time For Africa)". 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are associated with this video.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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WHAT THE 1986 CAMEROONIAN SONG ZANGALEWA MEANS IN ENGLISH

These comments are from various discussion threads of YouTube videos of the song "Zangalewa". These selected comments are presented in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.  

Notice that Excerpt #2, comment #3 appears to be a full transcription of the lyrics to the 1986 Cameroonian song"Zangalewa".  Unfortunately, that commenter didn't identify the languages for all of the lyrics for that song.

Additions and corrections for any of the comments given below are very welcome.

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Excerpt #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdrEisrvY7g&t=2s&ab_channel=ChabaP237

[This is the link for the video that is embedded in this pancocojams post.]

1. Timothy Talemwa, 2022
"What's the meaning of this classic!"

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Reply
2. Sylvain Andzongo, 2022
"Zangelewa comes from the Ewondo (language from th center region of Cameroon) "Za ga loh wa". It litteral meaning is: who called you? Who forces you to do this or be part of.... Since it this a song sang by soldiers, the contextual meaning of it is that: nobody forces you to enrol in the army."

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47zwuOVXNQ&ab_channel=juniorka2 "Zangalewa (Zamina mina....) Waka waka", juniorka2, Jan 28, 2011

1. lissette vivi, 2015
"traduce lo que quiere decir la cancion al castellano amigo prince"
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English:

"Translate what the song means into Spanish friend prince."

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Reply
2. Robert Matano Lok'a Masai
" @Viviana Alva  This is an encouragement song which says. .....This is hard (war) and we got into it ourselves, the army is doing hard things to us and there is no pay for it despite this we need not to give up since there will come a way out of this (war), the food I eat makes me happy and to you the enemy we will capture you, shave you and put you into prison without food......"

**
3.  clandestino, 2019

"Zangalewa (4 times)

he he he he he

Edjibe Zangalewa — [Edjibe is a general-purpose exclamation]

Edjibe na war this — [Whoa this is hard (like a war)]

Edjibe na me fanam        — [I'm the one who got myself into this]

Edjibe na army — [This army is doing hard things to me]

Edjibe djibe zangalewa

Chorus:

Edjibe djibe he edjibe djibe zangalewa

Edjibe djibe heee eh edjibe djibe zangalewa

Guy:

Edjibe zangalewa

Edibe man no run — [You don't have to give up]

Edibe money no deh — [With all this there is no money]

Edjibe na me fanam       

Edjibe djibe zangalewa

Chorus:

Edjibe djibe he edjibe djibe zangalewa edjibe djibe heee edjibe djibe zangalewa

Guy:

Zangalewa (he) zanga zangalewa (eh) (etc.)

Emile Kojidie:

Edjibe zangalewa

Dibe na war dis

Dibe war don trong — [The training is hard]

Dibe man no run

Dibe na me fanam

Edjibe djibe zangalewa

Chorus:

Edibe djibe he edjibe djibe zangalewa

Edjibe djibe he he edjibe djibe zangalewa

Emile:

Edjibe zangalewa

Tchop tchop tchop make me fine — [Food (eating) makes me happy]

Tchop tchop tchop make me glad

Hey i don taya — [I'm tired]

Hey na me fanam

Hey chief don come — [The chief just arrived (so no joking around)]

Edjibe edjibe zangalewa

Chorus:

Edjibe djibe he edjibe djibe zangalewa edjibe djibe he he edjibe djibe zangalewa

Emile:

Zangalewa zanga zangalewa (he) (etc.)

Chorus:

la la la la la la la la la la (3 times)

Guy:

A soldja (4 times)

Quand je pousse a gauche toi tu pousse a droite

Quand je pousse a droite toi tu pousse a gauche

Moustache (toujours!)

Moustache (toujours!)

En avant marche un deux trois quatre (ewa wa wa wa wa ewa)

En avant marche un deux - un deux

En avant marche un deux trois - un deux trois

En avant arret tema tema tema tema tema tema tema he

En avant arret tema tema tema tema tema tema tema he 

Say hein say hein say hein say hein ventilateur

Moustache (toujours!)

No touch my gary oh ho ho — [Don’t touch my food]

[Gary is dry cassava that can be eaten with sugar and peanuts or milk]

You sabi say i day — [You know I’m hot, right?]

Small no be sick no — [Cream for pain (such as tiger balm)]

Jean-Paul Zé Bella:

Edjibe zangalewa (he) edjibe zangalewa (he)

(French)

Les commandos zangalewa (he)

Tous ensemble zangalewa (he)

Le meme esprit zangalewa (he)

Le meme but zangalewa (he)

Zanga mina Zangalewa

Chorus:

Edjibe djibe he edjibe djibe zangalewa

Edjibe djibe he he edjibe djibe zangalewa

Jean-Paul:

Edjibe zangalewa

Les commandoes zangalewa:

[He names the members of the band, all of whom are fellow soldiers]

Andre Destin zangalewa,

Petit zangalewa,

Zé Bella zangalewa,

Si Bemol zangalewa,

Kojidie zangalewa,

Mpouli zangalewa,

A Belley zangalewa,

Mewondo zangalewa,

Jeannot zangalewa,

Ondobo zangalewa,

Clement zangalewa

Guy:

En avant marche

Sun sun sele tomba nikae sun sun ate — [in Douala]

Guy (“Big belley”):

He massa ngale (he ngale ewa)

[Massa ngale is a strict instructor who does not fool around]

Big belley ngale (he ngale ewa)

He massa ngale (he ngale ewa)

Big belley ngale (he ngale ewa)

Tu as deserter (ewa) — [You are a deserter]

On va te raser (ewa) — "

**
8. Kelody Muzyamba, 2019
"I love this song... what does it mean? Listening from Zambia"

**
Reply
9. Ella Mey Michael, 2019
"Song for army , it is written zangalewa but it's read za nga loe wa .in a fan- beti's language ( language spoken in half Cameroon , more than half Gabon and the whole equatorial Guinea) . So that just means za  nga loe wa= who calls you ?( in army)

Africa is one I m from Cameroon but I like also Ghana music especially Obibibi takea in akosombo nkanea"
-snip-
"in a fan-beti language" = The word "fan" here is a typo for "Fang".
from http://www.worldlanguage.com/Languages/Fang.htm
"Fang is the major language of three countries on the west coast of Africa. It is spoken in southern Cameroon by about 1½ million people, in mainland Equatorial Guinea by about 200,000, and in northern Gabon by about 300,000. A Bantu language, it is closely related to Bulu, another language of Cameroon.

Fang is spoken/used in the following countries:

Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea."
-snip-
Also, read the information about Beti languages that is found under comment #13 in this Excerpt. 

**

10. Deja Raines, 2020
"Could you translate the part Shakira uses in her song Waka waka"

**
Reply
11.. Justo Evans, 2020
"@Deja Raines  waka waka simply means to move."

**
Reply
12. Deja Raines, 2020
"@Justo Evans  I know that much but there’s more words than that in the song"

**
Reply
13. Justo Evans, 2020
"@Deja Raines  Ok. I'm from Cameroon but I don't speak and understand the "beti" language used by them. But I think if u keep reading through the comments u will get a better translation. I grew up as a child listening to this or watch the military use it to march and even in primary school and college we used it for march pass as well. Stay blessed and thanks for loving the music."
-snip-
Here's some information about Beti language
from https://zims-en.kiwix.campusafrica.gos.orange.com/wikipedia_en_all_nopic/A/Beti_language
"Beti is a group of Bantu languages, spoken by the Beti-Pahuin peoples who inhabit the rain forest regions of Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The varieties, which are largely mutually intelligible and variously considered dialects or closely related languages, are:

Ewondo (Yaunde)

Fang

Bulu

Eton

Bebele

Bebil

Mengisa.

[...]

There is a Beti-based pidgin called Ewondo Populaire."

****

Excerpt #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ih3z5eS1PI 

Version Coupe du Monde 2010 / 2010 World Cup video edit

GroupeZangalewa, Sept. 7, 2011

Vidéo-clip diffusé pendant la Coupe du Monde 2010 sur l'ensemble des chaînes de télévision au Cameroun / Music video aired on local TV stations in Cameroon during the 2010 World Cup

1. A R, 2020
"Video looks like a pretty savvy critique of white colonial impact in African nations such as slavery of natives, natives mimicking the colonial rulers (such as the police / soldiers) and whites taking advantage.  I don't know what the words mean.  I came after watching the Shakira version of Waka Waka and being curious about the Afro-Caribbean and African roots of the music."

**
Reply
2. Ngwesekang Neville, 2020
"From what i was told while growing up.. The song came as a result of some group of Cameroon soldiers who complained about their working conditions in the period of war (in which the fought along side the colonial army) and the response they got from a native superiors was "Zangalewa" which means "who sent you" (but in this context it takes the form of a rhetorical question and at the same time ironic so as to make the soldier reflect on his primary objective of joining the army-which is to serve the nation irrespective of the circumstance). "Waka" is a word in Pidgin English (A language mostly spoken by former british colonies in Africa mainly Southern Cameroons, Nigeria, Ghana and somehow Liberia. When the population of this countries are put together, the language could be classified as one of the most spoken languages in the world) which means Walk.. Jango is a name given to a great warrior. Edibe is like a native name. So in this context one could translate it as

 "Brave warrior, who sent you into the Army, keep walking"

Edibe zankalewa: Edibe who sent you into the army.

Edibe na war e: Edibe this is war

Edibe na me findam: Edibe i got my self into this.

Edibe na army:Edibe, this is the Army.

Edibe war done strong: Edibe, we are at the crucial stange of war.

Edibe man nor Run: the is no turning back we keep fighting."

****
This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

 

The Cameroon's 1986 "Zangalewa" Song And Shakira's 2010 "Waka Waka- This Time For Africa" Song (information and videos)

Hugo Robin de Celis
-snip-
The Cameroonian lyrics for this song are included in this video's summary.
-snip-
Statistics as of February 2, 2022 at 8:54 AM ET
total # of views-1,088,389
total # of likes - 25K
total # of dislikes -This feature is no longer working.
total # of comments -2,048 

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2:  

Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Song)

Shakira, June 4, 2010
-snip-
The lyrics for this song are included in this video's summary.
-snip-

Statistics as of February 2, 2022 at 8:56 AM ET

total # of views - 3,046,497,095
total # of likes - 16M
total # of dislikes- This feature is no longer working.
total # of comments- 1,182, 860

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series on the Cameroonian song "Zangalewa".

This post showcase a video of the original 1986 "Zangelewa" song and video of the 2010 "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" song. 

This pancocojams post also presents some information about the songs "Zangalewa" and "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/what-1986-cameroonian-song-zangalewa.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a clip of the original Zangalewa video and documents some online comments that provide English translations for some of that song's lyrics.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/some-childhood-memories-of-song.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a video of Kenyan comic Zangalewa entertainers. That post also presents a compilation of comments from various YouTube discussion threads about commenters' memories about the original "Zangalewa song" or covers and reinactments of that song prior to Shakira's 2010 performance of the song that she calls "Waka Waka" (This Time For Africa)". 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are associated with these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORIGINAL ZANGALEWA SONG

Excerpt #1

The original article that is quoted below includes a YouTube video and two illustrations. However, a YouTube video that was embedded in that article is no longer available (as of Feb. 2, 2022).

From https://afropop.org/articles/anatomy-of-a-song-zangalewa-from-african-protest-into-multiplatinum-pop

dj henri, November 5, 2020

Anatomy of A Song: “Zangalewa” From African Protest into Multiplatinum Pop 

“Think “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin-to-Die Rag” by Country Joe McDonald in 1967--a broad satire unleashed at America’s Vietnam War. Transpose that to Cameroon, and a satire aimed at the Eurocentric legacy in independent Africa: “Zangalewa.” Performed by Cameroon’s Golden Sounds in 1986, the song became an anthem across Africa, crossed the pond to Latin America, and ended up with its core message inverted in Shakira’s multiplatinum hit “Waka Waka: This Time for Africa.”

The Golden Sounds (Jean Paul Zé Bella, Dooh Belley, Luc Eyebe and Emile Kojidie), oddly enough, were active members in Cameroon’s presidential guard. The song’s lasting success stems largely from its very infectious military-march rhythms. The lyrics, due to the multilingual nature (up to 600 languages) of Cameroon, skip around between French, Douala, Pidgin English, Fang and perhaps Ewondo. Of course, there are “left, right, left right” marches, but then the song is really about the grievances of the ordinary recruit: lousy pay, bad food, punishing training, etc. And they also really lay into the brass: their fat and abusive drill instructors who scarf down a yummy assortment of sugary beignets while threatening to shave recruits’ heads and send them to prison.

Music video caught on quickly in Africa in the ‘80s. The full meaning of “Zangalewa” was actually realized in the remarkable video, which superimposes the band lip-syncing the song over Cameroonian military parades, apparently using bluescreen. The band members are wearing uniforms stuffed with pillows to create comedically large bellies and behinds, with “big belly” repeated in the lyrics. At one point a band member whirls around and appears to be hectoring a vast formation of soldiers assembled down below him.

The satiric look takes three very significant steps further: the band members are wearing pith helmets, brandishing bâtons swagger, or swagger sticks, and are in half whiteface. Bâtons are totally obsolete. They come from ancient times, Napoleon thought they were essential, and they resurfaced as hot items for Generalfeldmarchallen in the Third Reich. Swagger sticks, too. They were largely abandoned after World War I, and only egomaniacs like Patton used them after that.

The pith helmet you see on “Zangalewa”’s record label was headgear the colonial powers issued to their soldiers in the “hot tropics.” Neither swagger sticks nor pith helmets have anything to do with Cameroon’s military. So, along with the whiteface, “Zangalewa” becomes a protest against Cameroon holding onto too many pernicious colonial practices. Swagger sticks, pith helmets, and especially whiteface, strongly signal collaboration. After a nation is subjugated by a foreign power, that’s really the worst crime you can commit.

[….]

The infectious beats of “Zangalewa” were covered across Africa, from South Africa, to Nigeria, to Cote’d’Ivoire, to Ghana, to Senegal (Momar Gaye and Zaman’s being the best. Marchable, and also very danceable. Across the Atlantic, it would be heard in Suriname, the Dominican Republic, and especially Colombia.

Blacks in Cartagena, Colombia responded enthusiastically to African styles including soukous and highlife in the 1980s, developing their own champeta style. “Zangalewa” was a natural there, recorded by Los Condes. But Latin American covers of “Zangalewa” were retitled “El Negro No Puede,” with lyrics about a Black man who cannot sleep, presumably impeded by nonstop partying. No soldiers in videos for these covers, either – just women writhing in lingerie, ubiquitous in early MTV days.

[…]

No smaller controversy erupted earlier when FIFA announced superstar Shakira, backed by the South African multiracial fusion band Freshlyground, would perform the latest cover of “Zangalewa,” entitled “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” The song is beloved across Africa, so why isn’t an African artist performing it? Shakira is half Lebanese, her name means “grateful” in Arabic, and she uses Arabic scales--but that was not close enough. Like the “telephone game” in which children in a circle whisper something into the ear of the child sitting next to them, the original historical perspective and satiric thrust of “Zangalewa”’s lyrics and video were long gone in a blur of lingerie by the time Shakira got to the song. Her lyrics do not question authority in the military. Quite the opposite. From “You're a good soldier” to “You're on the front line,” they nakedly equate soccer performance with an unquestioned and unquestionable military duty.

Despite mixed reviews, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” inevitably went multiplatinum, the second success for the diva since her “Hips Don’t Lie,” and its video, with Shakira in skimpy, fringy, “African” dancewear, also topped the charts. Surviving members of Golden Sounds in Cameroon did not receive a penny from this, but they did not sue Shakira for plagiarism; one bandmember had admitted the chorus came from Cameroonian “sharpshooters who had created a slang for better communication between them during the Second World War.” A rumor circulated that the lyricist behind “El Negro No Puede” was suing Shakira, but he later denied it.

dj.henri is a New York City DJ who has performed at the Apollo Theater, B.B. King’s, Symphony Space, and elsewhere. He is also the creator of radioafricaonline.com  "

****
Excerpt #2

From https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2021/04/14/that-time-shakira-stole-waka-waka-and-settled-out-of-court-videos/ "That Time Shakira Stole ‘Waka Waka’ And Settled Out Of Court "

14 Apr 2021 by Jasmine Stone
"There’s a solid chance that I can turn around an average day by watching Siphiwe Tshabalala’s magical left foot rocket home the opening goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Throw in some K’Naan, with ‘Wavin’ Flag‘, and a few chords from Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’, and I’m transported back to those magical days.

Just a minor detail to point out, though – calling it Shakira’s song isn’t exactly on the money, given that ‘Waka Waka’ is an almost identical copycat of ‘Zangalewa’, a song by The Golden Sounds, a Cameroonian group comprising mostly military members.

The song is inspired by a popular training and rallying cry used by soldiers, policemen, and others in parts of Africa.

I was alerted to this via a TikTok video that did the rounds on Twitter, which has since been deleted, but here are the basics.

 ‘Zangalewa’ was released in 1986, and was also popular in Shakira’s native country, Colombia.

 Golden Sounds would later change its name to Zangalewa.

 According to Bakwa Magazine, the group was alerted to Shakira’s song, originally titled ‘Zaminamina’, and the striking similarities ahead of the World Cup:

In an interview with Cameroon Tribune, which ran a special report on the controversy,  Ze Bella, the leader of the defunct group declared that while they were proud that a “world music icon” had remixed their song as the World Cup anthem, they nonetheless expected to be properly credited and adequately compensated….

Faced with the barrage of worldwide negative publicity Sony and Shakira (probably with the prodding of FIFA which did not want anything that could mar the World Cup) quickly settled.

They agreed to credit Zangalewa and began working out details for a financial compensation.

The song was renamed ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’, with FIFA making the announcement that it was the tournament’s official song on May 5.

When doing so, FIFA stressed that “the song was written by Shakira, the world-famous singer from Latin America…The chorus is similar to that of a popular Cameroon song made famous by Golden Voices in particular.”

[...] 

That May 5 announcement was far from the final word on the matter:

On May 11, some members of Zangalewa held a press conference in Douala, Cameroon, to inform the media that negotiations were well underway with Sony and Shakira who had agreed to an out of court settlement and that Sony mauling over the possibility of including the single on Shakira’s next album scheduled to be released at the end of the year.

Didier Edo, the group’s manager conceded that it had not been easy to negotiate with Shakira’s manager, Sony Music, and all other interested parties.

A classic ‘out of court’ settlement, so that everyone can quickly move on.

In a 2010 interview, reports Refinery29, Shakira admitted that ‘Waka Waka’ was based on Golden Sound’s song:

“I decided to bring a little bit of my culture too which is attached to Africa with an umbilical cord…I was raised listening to music that was heavily influenced by African music.”

There’s heavily influenced, and then there’s a settlement which involves FIFA crediting Golden Sounds with the chorus.

The origin of the song wasn’t its only controversial element as the tournament loomed large:

The choice to have her perform was met with protest. It was the first year that the World Cup was ever held in Africa, with South Africa serving as host.

The South African artist’s union called for a boycott of the opening concert where Shakira performed, and after much outrage and conversations with FIFA officials, several African artists, including FreshlyGround, were added to the concert’s lineup.

Shakira addressed the controversy in an interview, saying, “I thought that in that way we could create a song that’s more emblematic of what the World Cup spirit is — that spirit of tolerance, integration, and that melting pot that South Africa is right now.”

Bingo – I can’t believe we went this long without hearing the phrase ‘melting pot’.

I don’t mean to ruin your 2010 World Cup recollections, and you can still show off your hip swaying skills whilst listening to ‘Waka Waka’ as you please, but remember to give a little credit to the song’s Cameroonian roots when you do.”…

****
This concludes Part I of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Cameroonian (Nso culture) Singer Chilli Wawaye - "My Heritage" ( 2014 Official Video with information & comments )

Randzee, Oct 20, 2014

WHEN THE WAVE OF THE DIGITAL WORLD SWEEPS OUR CULTURE AND HERITAGE AWAY AND LEAVES US WITH NO ROOT TO OUR ROOTS. IT IS THE DUTY OF YOU AND I TO SET ON THIS GREAT MISSION TO SAVE THE IRREPLACIBLE. WELCOME CHILLI IN HER DEBUT VIDEO, MY HERITAGE, COURTECY OF THE AFRO ENTERTAINMENT. COLOUFUL DREAM.

Statistics (as of Feb 24, 2021 at 2:16 AM ET
Total # of views - 70,691
Total # of likes - 545
Total # of dislikes -15
Total # of comments -39 

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the official 2014 YouTube video of song "My Heritage" by Cameroonian singer Chilli Wawaye. 

Selected comments from this video's discussion thread are 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 Chilli Wawayee  for this song and thanks to all others who are associated with this video and thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. 
-snip-
Here's a biographical statement about  that I found at https://www.afro.video/en/artist/chilli-wawaye/ [retrived Feb. 2021]

"The 24 year old folk singer Fonyuy claudette Mbinkar by artist name CHILLI hails from the north west region of Cameroon."

A video of her debut song "My Heritage" was published on YouTube in 2014. That song/video is showcased on this pancocojams post: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/02/cameroonian-nso-culture-singer-chilli.html

There are additional song/videos by Chili Wawaye on YouTube. I haven' found any other information about about Chili Wawaye other the content of her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Chilli.wawaye/. 

****
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE NSO PEOPLE OF CAMEROON
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nso_people
"The Nso are a people of the Bamenda grass fields Northwest Region of Cameroon. Their traditional language is Lamnso (language of Banso) and their capital is Kumbo – where the Palace of the Fon is found.

Summary History

The Nso’ people migrated from Tikari in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon when there was a bloody succession after the death of Chief Tinki in 1387. The enthronement of Mveing as successor of Tinki sent all rivals to the throne away from Kimi. Ngonnso’, the founder of the Nso’ dynasty, left Kimi with a few followers together with her brothers Nchare Yen and Mbombam and their respective followers. After parting company with her brothers, Ngonnso’ and her followers first settled in Mbo’nso’, then later to Ndzennso’, Kovifem, Taavisa (for security), back to Koovifem, then to Kimbo (Kumbo). The tribe got its name from Ngonnso’, and is one of the largest tribes of Cameroon.[1]

Government

The Fon is the traditional ruler. He is both the head of the traditional government and the chief religious authority in charge of keeping the ancestors happy. The Fon is supported in his duties by the seven notables called Vibais. These Vibais are Shufais, whose positions are determined by rather intricate history."...

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THAT VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

These comments are given in relative chronological order, based on their publishing date with the oldest comments given first, except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.  

1. Albert Ndze, 2014
"I love the quality of the sound and its images. Good harmony, melody and tempo. That's who we are"

**
2. Lifeline Motion Graphics, 2014
"This is where I come from. Feel like rushing home now! Good work Randzee. Keep it up!"

**
3. Elvis Sanyuy, 2014
"Very wonderful.

Good job in promoting our culture.

Keep it up"

**
4. Judith G Mckinsey, 2014
"Am very impressed...want more for my kids living thousands of kilometers frm Nso"

**
5. Shey Yundze, 2016
"keep up the good work Chi lii and congratulations. good music makes even the fon to dance"

**
6. Jeannette Leinyuy, 2018
"beri wo ya.I am just too proud of our culture"

**
7. Joel Kamdem, 2018
"I am bamileke but bc of this music I want to become banso. Afterall we are all grassfields. We have the same ancestral origin."

**
Reply
8. Yomen Dibeton, 2020
"I’m Bamileke too but I looooove this so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️music from the grass field touches my soul🙌🏿🙌🏿 it’s obvious we have the same origins✨✨✨✨❤"️

**
9. ISAIAH TFVT., 2020
"Wow i love the song. It reminds me of home is sweet😘😘😘😘😘"

**
Reply
10. Doris B, 2020
"Nso oyeeee💃💃💃💃💃"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comment s are welcome.

Nigerian/Cameroonian singer Prince Nico Mbarga - "Sweet Mother" (with selected comments from that sound file's discussion thread)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents information about Prince Nico Mbarga and showcases a sound file of and lyrics for that Nigerian/Cameroonian singer's now classic 1976 song "Sweet Mother".

Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread are also included in this post.

The contents of this post are presented for cultural, entertainment, inspirational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Prince Nico Mbarga and his band Rocafil Jazz for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this example on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

In addition, thanks to all mothers and mother figures who take care of and care for children.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/05/prince-nico-mbarga-sweet-mother-sound.html for a 2015 pancocojams post about this song. That post includes the lyrics and some standard English translations of some of the Nigerian Pidgin English words that are found in Prince Nico Mbarga's song "Sweet Mother". That post also includes 37 comments from that YouTube sound file's discussion thread. Those comments are different from those that are featured in this 2019 post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCE NICO MBARGA
From https://www.allmusic.com/artist/prince-nico-mbarga-mn0000362321/biography
Artist Biography by Craig Harris
"The death of vocalist and guitarist Prince Nico Mbarga, following a motorcycle accident on June 24, 1997, marked the passing of one of Africa's most influential performers. Although he only recorded one significant hit, "Sweet Mother," in 1976, which sold more than 13 million copies, Mbarga played an important role in the evolution of African music. The son of a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father, Mbarga embraced the musical traditions of both cultures. With his soulful vocals set to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar, Mbarga created a unique hybrid of Ibo and Zairean guitar playing and uplifting highlife rhythms.

Mbarga's musical approach was inspired by the five years he spent in Cameroon during the Nigerian Civil War of the late '60s. Sharpening his instrumental skills while playing xylophone, conga, drums, and electric guitar in school bands, he made his professional debut as a member of a hotel band, the Melody Orchestra, in 1970. Returning to Nigeria two years later, he formed his own group, Rocafil Jazz, to perform regularly at the Plaza Hotel in the Nigerian river port city of Onitsha. After releasing a disappointing single in 1973, Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz had their first success with their second single, "I No Go Marry My Papa," which became a regional hit. The band's inability to break past their local following, however, resulted in their recording contract being dropped by EMI. The label's decision proved ill-fortuned when the band signed with the Onitsa label and recorded "Sweet Mother." Sung in Pidgin English, the song became one of the top sellers in the history of Nigerian music. In the six years that Mbarga and Recotal Jazz remained with Onitsa, 1975 to 1981, they recorded nine albums.

Temporarily relocating to England in 1982, Mbarga became known for his flamboyant, '70s glam rock-inspired performances. While he continued to appear with Rocafil Jazz, Mbargar also performed with London-based highlife band the Ivory Coasters and Cameroonian vocalist Louisiana Tilda. Despite launching his own Polydor-distributed record label, upon returning to Nigeria, Mbarga and the original members of Rocafil Jazz separated after several Cameroon-born members were deported. Although he later formed the New Rocafil Jazz Band, Mbarga failed to match his early success. Leaving music, he turned his attention to managing the two hotels that he owned, Hotel Calbar and the Sweet Mother Hotel."
-snip-
I reformatted this article to enhance its readability.

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Prince Nico Mbarga Sweet Mother



visualito, Uploaded on Apr 10, 2007

One of great african hits from 70's

This song is very popular in my city Barranquilla ( Colombia ) where is known as "mazuza".
-snip-
Statistics as of May 12, 2019 at 8:04 AM
total # of views - 4,708,652

total likes - 19,000

total dislikes - 1,200

total number of comments -1, 939
-snip-
Here are a few comments from this sound file's discussion thread. These comments are posted in relative chronological order with the oldest dated comments given first, except for replies.

I added numbers for these comments on May 12, 2019 for referencing purposes only.

1. Desmond King, 2015
"Can't believe how people fight over whether its a Nigerian or Cameronian song . Who cares ? It's African music period .

A lovely song which tells of the struggles our mothers had with us , if we could only go back into time and make things easier for her . This song crosses cultural lines and you would have to be a tough SOB without a heart if this doesn't almost bring a tear to your eye, at the right time."

**
REPLY
2. Desmond King, 2015
"I am not even African , but let me tell you
I was doing a little DJ at a wedding and made the mistake of playing that song .

The bride started crying , which in turn had people crying all over the place , her mom everyone was crying . They bride always teases me to this day as to why I made her cry with that song.

I wish African Americans enjoyed some of the wonderful Music and culture in the whole African Diaspora ."

**
3. Mia Ladyy,2016
"His mother is NIGERIAN 💚💛💛. His father is from Cameroon 💚💛💚. Prince Nico Mbarga (R.I.P) was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 24, 1997, leaving behind "Sweet Mother" as the most popular song amongst Africans and their descendants worldwide. Sweet Mother is sometimes called Africa's anthem and has been voted Africa's favourite song by BBC readers and listeners. Beautiful Song!
Thanks to our Sweet Mothers, Sweet Mother Africa, Sweet Mother Earth for taking care of all of us. Sending my love to everyone enjoying this music. Call you Mum and Dad today and tell them how much you love them. Peace and Joy to you all. Keep loving and smiling. Thanks for posting this Beautiful Song!"

**
REPLY
4. MannysMyName, 2018
"Sad irony: His mother died not long after 😢"

**
5. Clive Skinner, 2014
"The original version that I remember playing in the Mambilla area of Nigeria on our old battery-powered record player in the 1970s. Happy days. This track reminds me of the pidgin English that is spoken widely in that area."

**
6. Asedri Amin Amin, 2014
"Prince Nico was African born of Cameroonian and Nigerian parents. He was raised and lived in Nigeria until he died at the age of 47 in a motorcycle accident. Tilda successful sang lyrics of Prince Nico's songs despite she's a Cameroonian. The border between Nigeria and Cameroon has people that belong to same tribe divided into two separate countries by British colonial rule. Nigeria with the biggest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the entire Africa, needs her neighbors especiatially Ivory Coast which has the highest GDP in Sub Shaharan west Africa. For Africans, Fathers not only mean a lot, but also determine their African tribal race. Prince Nico been born with Cameroonian Father and retained his Mother's Nigerian Nationality says a lot about changing cultural norms in Africa."

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REPLY
7. Kira McCoy, 2015
"@Asedri Amin Amin Okay this may come across sarcastic due to the second comment but it's not meant to be. None of my friends has ever described Nico's nationality quite so objectively. So firstly thanks for that secondly do you write about Africa a lot and if so do you have a blog?"

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REPLY
8. Diplomatic Worrior, 2015
"@Kira McCoy Sorry it took me this long to reply to your honest and highly inquisitive comment! Honestly, I do read alot about Africa, mostly about the region where I came from. But, I don't write about Africa. Africa is a continent that draws so much indirect interest, because of that, so many scholastic individuals and non-profit organizations take great interest in writing unfiltered informative articles and academic books about Africa. In return, people like you and I are left to constantly read from other people's view point where we have to filter between biased and unbiased writings and opinions."

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REPLY
9. Chuck Taylor, 2015
"+Asedri Amin Amin This is really insightful...I was born and raised in France from Cameroonian parents and I still remember my moms playing this jawn and jamming with my pops and for some odd reason I've always naturally assumed that Prince Nico was from Bamenda, which is the English spoken part of Cameroon.

Thanks for the enlightenment."

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REPLY
10. Sam Oystein, 2015
"+Asedri Amin Amin Prince Nico is perhaps more popular in Ghana than most of his Ghanaian contemporaries. The quality of his music is extremely high. He was very much gifted and talented and blended many aspects of different genres of African music. There are elements of Akan, Ewe and Fon musical traditions in his songs. His ingenuity is his ability to transpose them to modern rock music. With your elaboration on boundaries, I think there is no point in Africans choosing to live with boundaries that were set up by the imperial European powers. Let us open up and create a large market that will break us away from Europeans. As a young man, I had more identification and connection with Prince Nico than most Ghanaian artistes who sang in our native language. Unity will always bring out the best!"

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REPLY
11. Ralf Schuster, 2017
"Prince Nico is great, Cameroonian or Nigerian, what the heck! Cheers from Limbe, the "nigerian part" of Cameroun

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Cameroonian Pidgin English In Lyric Captions For Two Gospel Songs By Elizabeth Tekeh

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about Cameroonian Pidgin English and showcases two Cameroonian (West Africa) praise and worship songs performed by Elizabeth Tekeh.

A video of those songs are included in this post along with a transcription of the Cameroonian Pidgin English lyrics for those two songs (as given in captions in that video)*.

Several comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and linguistic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Elizabeth Tekeh for her musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of this video on YouTube and special thanks for including the lyrics to these songs as captions in those videos.
-snip-
*These lyrics are written in a font that is sometimes difficult to decipher. Additions and corrections are welcome.

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INFORMATION ABOUT CAMEROONIAN PIDGIN ENGLISH
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroonian_Pidgin_English
..."The terms "Cameroonian Pidgin", "Cameroonian Pidgin English", "Cameroonian Creole" and "Kamtok" are synonyms for what Cameroonians call Cameroon Pidgin English. Many speakers are unaware that this language is different from English proper. It is a variety of West African Pidgin Englishes spoken along the coast from Ghana to Cameroon. It is a vehicular language that has been in active use in the country for over 200 years. It came into being in the Slave Trade Years (1440 to early 1800s[3]). It preceded English in Cameroon: the first Baptist missionaries who arrived in Cameroon in 1845 and introduced formal education in English, had to learn Pidgin. A few decades later during the German annexation period (1884–1914), Pidgin resisted a German ban. It took flight when it became a makeshift language used in German plantations and undertakings by forced labourers who were drawn from the hinterland and who spoke different indigenous languages. With time it passed into use in the market place, and was adopted by Baptist missionaries as the language of their evangelical crusade. For many years, it has been used on school playgrounds and campuses and in political campaigns, and today it is forcing its way into spoken media. (For a comprehensive description of its linguistic features and its place in the language ecology of Cameroon, see amongst others, Kouega 2007 and 2008)."...

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: My God is Able | Elizabeth Tekeh



MyJESUStv, Published on Aug 22, 2011
Cameroon praise and worship

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LYRICS: MY GOD IS ABLE [given as song #1 in the above video]
(as sung by Elizabeth Tekeh)

Nothing no day weh this Jesus no fit do
Jesus dey here today for turn your story around
I no know the problem weh
you di go through for this life
I don mention some one
may he I no mention your own
Everyday your di cry
because of that problem for your life
You di fine solution but yet way e no day
I want for tell you say I get a good news for you
If you give your life for Jesus
e go turn your life round oh
Jesus day here today for turn your story round
Jesus day here today for wipe your tears away
Nothing no deh weh this, Jesus no fit do
Jesus day here today for turn your story round

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LYRICS: YOUR DAY GO BREAK [second song in the above video; begins at .059
(as sung by Elizabeth Tekeh)

Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine oh
When my God remember you.
Your day go break oh oh oh

sing this chorus 4x

I want to tell wone the story of my life oh
The things wah I don gone through
before I be weti weh I dey
I comot for family weh life a no be easy
Clothes for waaram na ao ao ocraka own oh
Better shoe for waaram
e no be easy for gettam
My Papa no fit move some money
e say Elizabeth, takam, go for market
Go buy shoes and clothes
rubbing oil and soap usam care for your body
Anything weh you see for my body ne ma sweet eh
I go enter benga bush
make broom sellum, fry maoora banana
boil groundnut sellum. Cook chop for sell,
work job for people them houses,
Sell salt for market for takem care for my body

My Papa no be treat we so because e be wicked
But na ignorance e be worry my Papa oh
Because of ignorance eh
I make we suffer for long
I go school from class one to seven eh
When I complete class seven
I be desire to go to school, I go tell ma Papa say
Papa put me for school, my Papa talk for me say
all yi girl pikin them
Them go. go marry for village.
I tell my Papa say
If you want no send me for school
Papa put me for work.
I want learn some hand work,
weh I go help me for life
We make arrangement
with some brother for church
E give money for three months
after three months e pass
The brother ask me some money
I go tell my Papa eh
aay the brother weh I did learn work
e say make you give me some money.
My Papa talk for me say if I mention nam again
e go go take medicin drink because I don ask
yi money eh

I be don make up my mind for serve God till I die
School or no school, work or no work
Me I be don make up my mind for serve the Lord till I die.
January till December I dey for church oh
When I come back for church,
My Papa go follow me with cain
E say make I go back for church
make Church e give me bed for sleep.
I thank God for my Mami, weh I gatam oh
If my Papa drive me for house
My Mami go open door for me
Because my Mami be know aay
I be pikin weh I get the fear og God
Even though I be di fear God
but man pikin them no be di fear me
Them di so so walker for my back
For make me deny my God

I sit down someday I want oh
oh some boy e come
He come talk for me
say sister Elizabeth
I want for make love with you because I love you
I tell that boy say hear me o o o o
I no fit sell my body God be make
ma na for one man and that
one man wah I di waitam wah
e go pay money for my head
But one day ehhhhh
I want mmm some brother e come
E come talk for me say
Papa God don make for you aay na
You go be my wife.
I tell the brother say brother oh
Before you want come today Papa God be
don make me for understand
God be don make me for you
say na you go be my husband.
I di whina today wit my husband oh
The man who God be don keepam for me
E don pay dairy for my head
You mmm me I di whina today mo tim yi ah

I want talk for young girls make wana hear oh
Make you leave your banana make
they touchem at all
If you leave ya banana they toucham
They no go buyam again

Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine, no worry
Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine, no worry.
When my God remember you,
Your day go break oh oh oh.
Your day go break, oh
Your sun go shine-oh
When my God remember you,
Your day go break oh oh oh

I no know the problem weh you
Di go through for this life
Whether you be truck pusher
make you no worry about life
When my God remember you,
Your day go break oh oh oh
Some time you di burn fish for di road.
Some time you be a farmer
Some time you be okada rider
make you no worry about life.
When God remember you, your day go break oh
When God remember you, your sun go shine eh
Make you be patient for this life, my brother
Make you no hurry hurry for life
Hurry hurry go put you for hole.
Make you just go patient for God
and he go cause your day for break
Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine, no worry
The God way e cause my day for break
e go cause your own day for break

Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine, oh
Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine, oh
When my God remember you.
Your day go break, oh oh oh
Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine, oh
Your day go break oh
Your sun go shine, oh
When my God remember you.
Your day go break, oh oh oh

Song ends and the video repeats from the beginning at 8:40.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. Quikie LaFlamme, 2012
"what a lovely testimony!!!"

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2. Dieu masterpiece, 2014
"I am so blessed with sister Elizabeth song, i tried to have it order from Cameroon but was told that the VCD is the only thing available and the first volume. I really will like to have the complete volume 1 and 2 DVD please if anyone knows how i can get them please let me know."

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3. Rita Mbangah, 2015
"Thats soo true.... I was in G.S Ekona with her. She was in class 6 while i was in class 4. She was always singing and dancing in school. I remember our school use to take first on 11th Febuary and 20th May in dancing and singing thanks to Eli (as we use to call her). She was very hard working too. Amen ohhh Eli.."

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4. Fevant Fon Fonong, 2016
"Why are all Cameroon gospel singers dancing Ibo styles when when we have different dance styles that other countries are copying and modernising? Njang, Bikutsi, makossa, benskin, chia chia meringe etc should be practiced by our gospel singers."

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REPLY
5. Alitha Doh, 2016
"@Fevant Fon Fonong I was thinking the SAME thing. I thought this was Nigerian. Its a nice song but its not true to Camer fashion at all. Cameroonian artists in general don't realize the significance our culture(s)."

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REPLY
6. Pascal Tienga, 2016
"It doesn't matter if she used Nigeria rhythm gospel. Afterwards it's the message which is very important. And maybe you don't know the history between both countries."

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REPLY
7. nicolz lami, 2013
"+Fevant Fon Fonong same people, but were divided by the whiteman!"

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REPLY
8. Arnold Akafu, 2017
"+nicolz lami where not same people only brothers and sisters"

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Liz Cassidy, 2017
9. "hello everybody, I have to say I love Elizabeth tekeh songs, some I don't understand but I try to, above all I love Lord Jesus Christ what I want to say is why are people bothered about her dance or country she is from? it doesn't matter she is dancing for the Lord, we are serving the same Jesus and God the focus should be the message, be blessed"

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Moreno Mo, 2018
10. "I just love her Songs . Wn God remembers you eh..everything will change .From her very first Song. But this Song brought alot of Argument amongst My friends and i.
Its a true story indeed but painting that Image of ur father...wat about the "honour your father and mother" Part of scripture?
A friend of mine said If she really Wanted to go to school she would have done all those jobs and paid for school not clothes and Cream...
Well i am still dancing to the Song all the same 😉"

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