Let’s do a trip down memory lane. Several years ago we published a post on the song “Les Immortels” / “The Immortals“ written and composed by the late Congolese singer Franklin Boukaka. The song honored the great Moroccan leader Mehdi Ben Barka, African resistants, and world revolutionaries. For those who do not know or remember Franklin Boukaka, you have probably heard his song “Aye Africa” which has been repeated by so many singers on the continent (one of my favorite renditions is the one by the group Bisso na Bisso). Franklin Boukaka was a freedom fighter, a poet, composer, activist, and fought for the independence of Africa both politically and in all his songs. He was ahead of his time, and a new patriot. So sad that he was murdered during the coup that deposed Ange Diawara during the night of 23-24 February 1972. He was clearly a threat to many.

As the title says it all, The Immortals honors our great leaders of the past, those who fought for our liberties, and who have become martyrs. They are now immortal. The song was so popular in those days that it was sung in schools. No wonder Boukaka was murdered for this. Please find below, the English version. Enjoy!

« The Immortals » by Franklin Boukaka

Africa mobimba e ……… The whole of Africa
Tokangi maboko e …….. crossed her arms
Tozali kotala e …….. We observed powerless
Bana basili na kokende … The loss of her children
Bana basili na kotekama e … The traffic of her children
Na banguna a ……………… near ennemies
Tolati mokuya ata maloba te … Silent, we have carried the black veil of mourning
Congo na bana Africa baleli … Congo and Africa burst into tears
(2X)
Oh O Mehdi Ben Barka … Oh ! Mehdi Ben Barka
Mehdi nzela na yo ya bato nyonso … Mehdi, your way is that of all humanity
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Lumumba … Mehdi, your way is that of Lumumba
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Che Guevara … Mehdi, your way is that of Che Guevara
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Malcolm X … Mehdi, your way is that of Malcolm X
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Um Nyobé … Mehdi, your way is that of Um Nyobé
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Felix Moumié … Mehdi, your way is that of Felix Moumié
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Nguyen Van Choi … Mehdi, your way is that of Nguyen Van Choi
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Tsoroki … Mehdi, your way is that of Tsoroki
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Camilo CienFuegos … Mehdi, your way is that of Camilo CienFuegos
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Hoji Ya Henda … Mehdi, your way is that of Hoji Ya Henda
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Camilo Torres … Mehdi, your way is that of Camilo Torres
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Abdel Kader … Mehdi, your way is that of Abdel Kader
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Coulibaly … Mehdi, your way is that of Coulibaly
Mehdi nzela na yo ya André Matsoua … Mehdi, your way is that of André Matsoua
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Simon Kibangu… Mehdi, your way is that of Simon Kibangu
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Albert Luthuli… Mehdi, your way is that of Albert Luthuli
Mehdi nzela na yo ya Boganda … Mehdi, your way is that of Boganda
Oh ya Tiers-monde … Oh ! Third world
Oh ya libération ya ba peuple … Oh ! that of the liberation of the people

Words: An old man, whom I consider always young, said to me one day : « My son, all men
should die one day ; but not all deaths have the same meaning »

Mehdi Ben Barka (XXX)
Mehdi Ben Barka (XXX)