Tag: African music

Happy Mother’s Day 2017: “L’Amour d’Une Mère (A Mother’s Love)” by Patience Dabany

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments1 Comment

HappyMotherDayTo celebrate this upcoming Mother’s day, I wanted to share Patience Dabany‘s “L’Amour d’Une Mère” (A Mother’s Love) which is a classic. Patience Dabany is a baronness of African music with a career which has spun over several decades. She also served as the First Lady of Gabon from 1967 to 1988, at which time she boldly divorced her husband, the late Gabonese President Omar Bongo Ondimba. This song, “L’Amour d’Une Mère” is quite special and I dedicate it to all the mothers out there! I have translated the words to English here: Translation Dr. Y., Afrolegends.com.  Happy Mother’s Day 2017!

 

A Mother’s Love (by Patience Dabany)

The first time you opened your eyes

at that moment, God granted my wish

Holding you against me was my only comfort

oh yes my baby, it was you my gold

when the time came for you to take off

I prayed a long time for you to never fall

and if you ever, hesitate to re-open my door

remember that Mommy will always love you

Yes

Even if you went to other loves

you always have a place in my yard

we will find the strength to overcome obstacles

and if you ever stumble, I will work miracles

and since that time, when you took off

I prayed for a long time that you never fall

and if you have hairs, do not hesitate to re-open my door

You know very well, that my heart will always be open to you

A Mother’s love, never goes out

A Mommy’s love, never goes out, never, never

A Mother’s love, never goes out

A Mommy’s love, never goes out, never, never

I raised you with love, from the day you were born

And I will always give you love, love you only as mother can love

A Mother’s love, never goes out

A Mommy’s love, never goes out

even if you fly on your own wings

even if obligations call you

your place will always be in my heart, because Mommy will always love you

A Mother’s love, never goes out

A Mommy’s love, never goes out

and if life teaches you things, and that you can’t take her blows

you have to know to go back, open Mommy’s door

A Mother’s love, never goes out

A Mommy’s love, never goes out

A Mother’s love, never goes out

A Mommy’s love, never goes out

Even in the afterlife.

“Sweet Mother” by Prince Nico Mbarga

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great MusicLeave a comment

Prince Nico Mbarga2To celebrate Mother’s day this Sunday, I just wanted to bring back “Sweet Mother” by Prince Nico Mbarga. “Sweet Mother” is one of the most popular songs on the African continent, ahead of Miriam Makeba‘s “Malaika“, Franco‘s “Mario“, and Fela Kuti‘s “Lady“. What is so special about this song, is that it is an ode to all our precious mothers, it is often called Africa’s anthem sung by a child to his mother. It is a highlife song sung by Prince Nico Mbarga and his group Rocafil Jazz International, a Cameroonian-Nigerian artist, and the song has rocked many on the continent; Sung in Pidgin English, “Sweet Mother” became one of the top sellers in the history of Nigerian music.  It was voted as Africa’s favorite song by BBC in 2004, and many other programs. So, to all the mothers out there, Happy Mother’s Day and enjoy “Sweet Mother“!!!

 

“Sweet Mother“ by Prince Nico Mbarga

Sweet Mother
Sweet mother I no go forget you
for the suffer wey you suffer for me.

Sweet mother I no go forget you
for the suffer wey you suffer for me.

When I dey cry, my mother go carry me she go say,
my pikin, wetin you dey cry ye, ye,
stop stop, stop stop make you no cry again oh.

When I won sleep, my mother go pet me,
she go lie me well well for bed,
she cover me cloth, sing me to sleep,
sleep sleep my pikin oh.

When I dey hungry, my mother go run up and down.
she go find me something when I go chop oh.

Sweet mother I no go forget you for the suffer wey you suffer for me

When I dey sick, my mother go cry, cry, cry,
she go say instead when I go die make she die.

O, she go beg God,
God help me, God help, my pikin oh.

If I no sleep, my mother no go sleep,
if I no chop, my mother no go chop, she no dey tire oh.

Sweet mother I no go forget you,
for the suffer wey you suffer for me.

You fit get another wife, you fit get another husband,
but you fit get another mother? No!

And if I forget you, therefore I forget my life and the air I breathe.

And then on to you men, forget, verily, forget your mother,
for if you forget your mother you’ve lost your life.

‘So Long’ by Majek Fashek

On By Dr. Y.In Great MusicLeave a comment
Majek Fashek
Majek Fashek

I remember listening to this song on one of the Putumayo‘s CDs.  Here is ‘So Long’ by Majek Fashek.  This is a song to all Africans, and children of Africa, to arise and awake from their sleep.  This is a song about unity, and remembrance of our great heritage.  I had to share it with you all.  Enjoy! and remember what Majek Fashek says: “Arise from your sleep Africa … There’s work to be done Africa …  if we unite, we will be free … we’ve been sitting down for so ooo long … ”

Arise from your sleep Africa
Arise from your sleep America

There’s work to be done Africa
There’s work to be done America

if we unite, we will be free so long, for too long
so long, for too long

we’ve been sitting down for so oooo long
we’ve been fooling round for too oooo long
we’ve been sitting down for so oooo long

so long, so long
for too long, for too long

Oh Lord, can you hear me now
Oh Lord

Remember, remember, long long time ago
when we used to live like prince and princess

Remember, remember, the pyramids of Egypt
when we used to live like prince and princess

Remember, remember,
Who had a dream for you Africa

Remember, remember, Martin luther King
Who had a dream for you America

They say you are black, they say you are brown
They say dem white, they say you are brown

But only the Angels of God is white
But only the Angels of God is white

so long, so long
for too long, for too long
we’ve been sitting down for so oooo long
we’ve been fooling round for too oooo long

Arise from your sleep Africa
Arise from your sleep America

There’s work to be done Africa
There’s work to be done America

if we unite, we will be free so long, for too long
so long, for too long

Remember, remember, 
Who had a dream for you Africa

Remember, remember, Martin luther King
Who had a dream for you America

Remember, remember, King Selassie
Who was betrayed by his people

Remember, remember, Lord Jesus Christ
Who died for you and I for salvation

They say you are black,[do you believe?]
they say you are brown [do you believe?]

But only the Angels of God is white
But only the Angels of Jah is white

we’ve been sitting down for so oooo long
we’ve been fooling round for too oooo long

so long, so long
for too long, for too long

so long, so long
for too long, for too long