Aṣa (pronounced Aasha) means "little hawk". She was born in Paris to Nigerian parents, but after two years she moved with her parents to Nigeria and grew up in the capital of Lagos. Her music is thus linked to her time in Western Africa. Asa grew up under the influence of her father's record collection, which included legendary artists such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and Aretha Franklin.
At the age of twelve years, her mother gave her the opportunity to attend one of the best music schools in the country. Aṣa not only developed her voice and her technique, over time she also discovered more about the musicians who fascinated her. When she came home, she discovered Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Femi Kuti, and Angélique Kidjo, in whose footprints she dreamed of following.
At the age of 18 she secretly signed up for the Peter King’s School of Music and learnt to play the guitar in six months. In 2004 Aṣa met her manager and friend, Janet, who introduced her to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, who in turn became her musical partner and producer. He enabled Aṣa, the free spirit, to find her bearings. She wrote songs in both English and Yoruba, with the music falling somewhere between pop and soul, inspired by her musical heritage. Particular care was paid to the melodies reflecting the feeling she puts into it.
Her texts talk about her country, the things in life, the things in her life, all delivered with feigned naïveté and real irony. She states "I like writing or thinking about my texts on the bus, or the molué, as we call it. 49 seats, 99 passengers standing up, as Fela described it. Everyone’s squashed up together and mini-dramas break out all the time. And, at the end of the day, we still manage to laugh, that’s where our strength lies..."
It was at this stage of her life that Aṣa finally returned to Paris. This was her chance to test out her talent on the French musical scene, playing with artists such as the Nubians, Manu Dibango, Doctor L and Tony Allen. In the meantime, back in Nigeria, her first single, Eyé Adaba, then Jailer, were beginning to get airtime. MTV chose her as the ambassador for South Africa. Her popularity became big, that when she came back to Nigeria she opened for Akon, John Legend, Beyoncé and Snoop Dogg amongst others.
Aṣa soon signed to the 'Naïve label'. Partnered by Cobhams, and with the new involvement of Christophe Dupouy, she produced a magnificent debut album, ASA a 12 track album with chartstopping tracks. R&b rubs up against pop, with reggae also making an appearance on 'Fire On The Mountain', the first track released from the album, an impertinent and barely-disguised metaphor for an ignorant and indifferent world. "Jailer", another highlight of the album, reinterprets the old adage “you reap what you sow”. This emblematic song with its irresistible refrain opens the album by denouncing modern slavery in all its forms.
Bi'ban Ké
Aṣa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel it I see it as you leave
When we kiss I want deep but you far away
Bi' Ban Ké bomi ban san fimi sile
Bi' Ban Ké bojo ban ro fimi sile
Used to be my everything
Was building a castle on me
Always lied and I believed
You said girl never be afraid
of ever ever loving me
Those words I hung on to
Oh God I was a fool
You became my bad habit
Keeping up on heresies
So you could notice
even when you suddenly
picked your things
and left the keys
that's crazy
Bi' Ban Ké bomi ban san fimi sile
Bi' Ban Ké bojo ban ro fimi sile
Bi' Ban Ké oooo togun ban ja fimi sile ye
Bi' Ban Ké oooo togun ban ja togun ban ja
Moti foro mi f'oluwa ko so ko so wa
Moti soro mi f'oluwa ko so ko so wa
Iwo iwo nikan soso
Iwo iwo nikan soso
Iwo iwo nikan soso o
Iwo iwo nikan soso
Iwo iwo nikan soso ni mo ni laye oo (Iwo iwo nikan soso)
oh oh oh
Iwo iwo nikan soso o (soso)
Iwo iwo nikan soso o (soso)
Iwo iwo nikan soso o (soso)
When I'm crying
when I'm dying
Just leave me alone
I could cry a river
I don't wanna fall
Just leave me alone
leave me alone
Moti foro mi f'oluwa
Asa's song "Bi'ban Ké" is about a failed relationship and the heartbreak that follows. The opening lines of the song express the artist's feelings of loss when her partner walks away from her. She can see and feel her partner leaving, and when they kiss, she wants something deeper, but the other person is emotionally unavailable. The song's title translates to "It's not your fault" in Yoruba, a Nigerian language, and this sets the tone for the song - the artist is not blaming her partner for the relationship's end but instead expressing her feelings.
As the song progresses, Asa reminisces about the time when she and her partner were happy. He treated her like a queen, and she believed he was building a future with her. However, he was lying, and she was blind to it. The artist recalls the false promises he made to her, and how she hung on to them, foolishly believing in him. He became her "bad habit," and she couldn't help but keep her eyes on him, waiting for him to notice her. Even when he left her abruptly, she was still holding on.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase "Bi'ban Ké," reminding the listener that it's not their fault, amplifying the idea that sometimes things just don't work out. In the final lines, Asa expresses her faith in God, asking for strength and guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake up I see you as you leave
Every morning I wake up to see you leaving
I feel it I see it as you leave
I can sense it and see it when you leave
When we kiss I want deep but you far away
When we kiss, I want to feel connected, but you feel distant
Bi' Ban Ké bomi ban san fimi sile
In my pain and sadness, I'm left alone
Bi' Ban Ké bojo ban ro fimi sile
In my joy and happiness, I'm still alone
Used to be my everything
You used to be my entire world
Treated me like I was a queen
You treated me like royalty
Was building a castle on me
You were making grand plans for our future together
Always lied and I believed
You constantly lied, and I fell for it every time
You said girl never be afraid
You told me to never be afraid of loving you
of ever ever loving me
You promised to always love me
Those words I hung on to
I clung to your promises
Oh God I was a fool
In hindsight, I realize I was foolish
You became my bad habit
You became a toxic addiction
Keeping up on heresies
I kept tabs on your lies
So you could notice
I did it so you would pay attention to me
even when you suddenly
Even when you abruptly
picked your things
Packed your things
and left the keys
And left the keys behind
that's crazy
It was madness
Bi' Ban Ké oooo togun ban ja fimi sile ye
In my pain and sadness, I'm imprisoned
Bi' Ban Ké oooo togun ban ja togun ban ja
In my pain and sadness, I am chained
Moti foro mi f'oluwa ko so ko so wa
I have prayed to God repeatedly
Moti soro mi f'oluwa ko so ko so wa
I have spoken to God repeatedly
Iwo iwo nikan soso
Only you, and no one else
Iwo iwo nikan soso o
Only you, and no one else
Iwo iwo nikan soso o
Only you, and no one else
Iwo iwo nikan soso o
Only you, and no one else
Iwo iwo nikan soso ni mo ni laye oo (Iwo iwo nikan soso)
Only you matter to me in this world
oh oh oh
(sound effect)
Iwo iwo nikan soso o (soso)
Only you, and no one else (repeated)
Iwo iwo nikan soso o (soso)
Only you, and no one else (repeated)
Iwo iwo nikan soso o (soso)
Only you, and no one else (repeated)
When I'm crying
When I'm weeping
when I'm dying
When I'm feeling helpless
Just leave me alone
Please don't bother me
I could cry a river
I could cry endlessly
I don't wanna fall
I don't want to be hurt anymore
leave me alone
let me be alone
Moti foro mi f'oluwa
I have prayed to God repeatedly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUKOLA ELEMIDE, COBHAMS EMMANUEL ASUQUO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hlengiwe Luthuli
2022 I'm still listening to her..... I don't understand what she says but I love her music....
Alex Faife
amelho das melhor