Tag: Valentine’s day

“Lovinjitis” by Wizboyy Ofuasia ft. Teeyah

On By Dr. Y.In Great MomentsLeave a comment
A box of Valentine's day chocolate
A box of Valentine’s day chocolate

Has anybody ever heard of Lovinjitis? It is a sickness that catches you unaware… it can catch you anywhere, anyhow, and without notice… It is a disease of the heart: it pierces your heart and there is no way to avoid it. When you suffer from Lovinjitis, you are love struck. Here are the symptoms of Lovinjitis: sometimes you laugh by yourself, sometimes you cannot sleep, and you really desire the contact of that special one … you cannot wait to get home to see that one, you feel a genuine rush when you are with them, you cannot get them out of your head, they embalm your every thought, you are more open to new ideas and activities, you are planning the future with them, … . In short, you are in love!

Wizboyy Ofuasia, in collaboration with Teeyah, says it all and introduces you to Lovinjitis! This song is so good… the melody so good that it will make you suffer from Lovinjitis instantly! Happy Valentine day to all of you, and lots of love to everyone… today is the day to celebrate love, not just the valentine love, but the regular love, acknowledge our loved ones and be good to earth’s children!

African Love Anthem: ‘Malaika’

On By Dr. Y.In Great Art, Great Music, Great People2 Comments
A box of Valentine's day chocolate
A box of Valentine’s day chocolate

Who has not heard of the famous African love song ‘Malaika?’ The best known version of this song is the one sung by Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba. It is a Swahili song written by Tanzanian Adam Salim in 1945, who composed “Malaika” for his very beautiful girlfriend Halima Ramadhani Maruwa. Their parents disapproved of their relationship, and Halima was forced by her parents to marry an Asian tajir (wealthy man). The song is sung by a poor young man who wishes to marry his beloved ″Angel″ or ″Little bird″ but is defeated by the bride price.

A true African beauty: Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba
A true African beauty: Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba

This song is the most famous of all Swahili love songs in Tanzania, Kenya and the entire East Africa, as well as being one of the most widely known of all Swahili songs in the world; again, it was made popular around the globe by Miriam Makeba. Malaika means “angel” in Swahili, and this word has always been used by the Swahili speakers to refer to a beautiful girl. So this is to all the angels out there for this Valentine day.

 

 

 

Malaika

Malaika, nakupenda Malaika

Malaika, nakupenda Malaika

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

Ningekuoa Malaika

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
Ningekuoa Malaika

Kidege, hukuwaza kidege

Kidege, hukuwaza kidege

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

Ningekuoa Malaika

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
Ningekuoa Malaika

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio

Ningekuoa Malaika

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
Ningekuoa Malaika

 Angel

Angel, I love you angel

Angel, I love you angel

and I, what should I do, your young friend

I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have

I would marry you, angel

I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
I would marry you, angel

Little bird, I think of you little bird

Little bird, I think of you little bird

and I, what should I do, your young friend

I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have

I would marry you, angel
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
I would marry you, angel

The money (which I do not have) depresses my soul
The money (which I do not have) depresses my soul
and I, what should I do, your young friend

I would marry you, angel

I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
I would marry you, angel

Africa’s Love Anthem: ‘AMI O’ by Ebanda Manfred

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great Music, Great People6 Comments
'Ami Oh' and its many interpretations
‘Ami O’ and its many interpretations
Coeur
Coeur

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, I would like to talk about one of Africa’s great love songs, ‘AMI O‘. Many songs have made the entire continent shake, but few have had the dimensions of ‘AMI O‘ of Ebanda Manfred. ‘AMI O‘ is to Cameroonian and African music what ‘Guantanamera‘ is to Cuban and Latin music: a world classic. But ‘AMI O‘, ‘AMIO‘, ‘AMIE OH’, or ‘AMI OH’, or ‘AMIYO‘ is first and foremost a love song. It is a declaration of love, a love anthem. It has been reprised by over 20 world class artists among which, Bébé Manga, Papa Wemba, Francis Bebey, Angelique Kidjo, Manu Dibango, Monique Séka, Bisso Na Bisso, Nayanka Bell, Jacky Biho, Naima, Henri Salvador, André Astasié, and so many more.

Ebanda Manfred
Ebanda Manfred

Where did it all start? In 1960, 24-years old Ebanda Manfred fell head over heels in love with a teenage single mother from Yaoundé, Cameroon. The girl, Amié Essomba Brigitte, had to quit school to take care of her child. Madly in love, Ebanda Manfred told her of his feelings, but she told him that she could not start a love relationship until her child was weaned. Finding the wait too long, especially since he had to return to Douala the following year, Ebanda Manfred sang his despair and asked: “Amié, njika bunya so mo, oa mo o ma dubè no, na mba na tondi oa?”. Translation: “Amié, when will you finally believe in my love?” Thus the song “Amié ” was born. It became an instant hit when it came out in 1962. A year later, it was reprised by Francis Bebey. In 1980, the great Bébé Manga made an adaptation which brought her to the international stage, as she won the “Golden Maracas.” The song will be reprised by artists around the world, from the Carribbean to Latin America, and Europe.

Bebe Manga
Bebe Manga

In celebration of Valentine’s day, I live you with this great African love song. In Bébé Manga’s English version, the song clearly states “Amie (friend) oh, you are all I ever hoped for, everything I ever dreamt of, …” So tomorrow, don’t forget to sing AMI O to that special one, that one you longed for, and dreamt of, that special one in your life.

Blood in Valentine’s Day Chocolate: Why celebrate?

On By Dr. Y.In Great MomentsLeave a comment
Chocolate
Chocolate

I was not planning on writing anything, but then I remembered the blood of Ivorians, and all the big cocoa’s sellers scheme in that country, and their influence in the current bloody atmosphere in Côte d’Ivoire, the world number one producer of cocoa… then I cringed… I had to write.  As Hallmark and the media try to make us celebrate a day when Cupidon supposedly hit us with his arrow of love, and we all then run to the store to buy chocolates, and everything lovey-dovey… I remembered that over 3000 miles away some children were dying in some cocoa plantations for people in the developed world to show love to their loved ones.

A box of Valentine's day chocolate
A box of Valentine's day chocolate

Is it really necessary?  do people need all that chocolate to feel loved?  do they need the heart-shaped box full of heart-shaped chocolates to feel loved?  and why not any other day?  could people not renew their love for each other any other day of the year?  or fall in love any other day?  does it have to happen at the expense of some kid and poor family in another hemisphere?  Well… after the event of April 11, 2011 in Côte d’Ivoire, I have decided to refrain myself from my love of chocolate… and we all should.  We can all refrain from it… there will be less wars!… and less caries!