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.
Bimpé
Aṣa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ofowo sinu business mi
Emi ire ko legbe
Oko saju mi bimo ni
Mogbo npe o momi loju
Oun nla ni gboa nipa business mi
Oro emi ire ko le ni
Egbon re ton femi lowo ni o
Mo ti ya fun
Egbon re egbon re ha
Ebami so fun baby yen
Fun baby yen
Ton wo le yen
Ebam ki lo fun
E ki lo fun ye
Ebami so fun sisi yen
Fun sisi yen
To kun atike
Ebam ki lo fun
E ki lo fun yeah
Bimpe rin mi fin
Oun wuwa omo ai si imoye
Mo ronu piwada
Omo inu mi lon bamiwi
Ile ano mo re l'oyo
Wan kuku jekin si mi
Ire o la pon le
O de fe ke yan fe e sile
Egbon re ton femi lo ni o
Moo ti ya fun
Egbon re egbon re
Ebami so fun baby yen
Fun baby yen
Ton wo le yen
Ebam ki lo fun
Ekilo fun se
Ebami so fun sisi yen
Ton be be lo
To kun a ti ke
Ebam ki lo fun
E kilo fun ye
Ebami so fun baby yen
Ko fo so ke
Ko rin ni le
Ti ko ba wan
Ko la ri mo le
Ebami ki lo fun
Ki lo fun yeah
Ebami so fun baby yen
Ko fo so ke, ko rin ni le
Ko rin lo ofa
The lyrics to Asa's "Bimpé" talk about personal struggles with financial instability and the sacrifices one must make to maintain stability. The chorus repeats "Bimpe nba mi wi" which can be translated to "I call on Bimpe" and is likely a reference to someone who can help resolve financial issues. The verses describe the challenges faced by the singer in their business endeavors, as well as their family life, with references to a sibling who has helped financially in the past.
The second verse brings in more characters, including a potential love interest referred to as "baby yen" and a "sisi yen," with the singer trying to secure their affection through financial gestures. The bridge sees the singer reflecting on their situation, expressing that they feel like they are drowning and feeling stress and pressure over their circumstances. The song as a whole is a powerful reflection on the struggles that many people face in staying afloat financially and the lengths we sometimes have to go to maintain our lives and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Bimpe nba mi wi
Bimpe, my friend, listen to me
Ofowo sinu business mi
Money is in my business
Emi ire ko legbe
I won't stumble in blessings
Oko saju mi bimo ni
My husband is the father of my child
Mogbo npe o momi loju
They think I'm naive
Oun nla ni gboa nipa business mi
They massively talk about my business
Oro emi ire ko le ni
I won't lack in blessings
Egbon re femi ni
My brother Femi tells me
Egbon re ton femi lowo ni o
His brother has helped him financially
Mo ti ya fun
I have heard
Egbon re egbon re ha
The brother's brother really helped him
Ebami so fun baby yen
Let me tell you about that baby
Fun baby yen
About that baby
Ton wo le yen
The one you are watching
Ebam ki lo fun
Let me tell you
E ki lo fun ye
What I'll tell you is this
Ebami so fun sisi yen
Let me tell you about that girl
Fun sisi yen
About that girl
To kun atike
Whose waist is like a basket
Ebami so fun baby yen
Let me tell you about that baby
Ko fo so ke
Doesn't speak much
Ko rin ni le
Doesn't care
Ti ko ba wan
If you don't need her
Ko la ri mo le
You won't see her around
Ebami ki lo fun
Let me tell you
Kilo fun yeah
What I'll tell you is this
Bimpe rin mi fin
Bimpe asked me quietly
Oun wuwa omo ai si imoye
If she should lose her child, what would she do?
Mo ronu piwada
I thought deeply
Omo inu mi lon bamiwi
My inner child is beckoning
Ile ano mo re l'oyo
I have a roof over my head
Wan kuku jekin si mi
But someone is always envying me
Ire o la pon le
I won't lack in blessings
O de fe ke yan fe e sile
If you want to talk, talk to the point
Ton be be lo
Whose breasts are soft
Ebami so fun sisi yen
Let me tell you about that girl
Ebam ki lo fun
Let me tell you
E kilo fun ye
What I'll tell you is this
Ko rin lo ofa
Doesn't care about a throne
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abimbolaagboluaje6644
Asa's best track. so much going on...at the thematic and musical levels. How does this butter babe have so much insight into the life's of Nigerian working class (the masses, not professionals !) ?
@adekoyaaweda9346
She must have had an interesting childhood.
@adekoyaaweda9346
This and brother ole are some of my favourite Asa tracks.
@AyodeleDamilola-wc9vn
I really love this song out of her songs🥰
@mrakacolimtd1556
The best of her best. I really love this song even though I dont understand the meaning .
@vincenttheophile-catherine6291
Génial! J'adore!
@s.venegas
Contenta de escucharte por primera vez gracias al programa "Tellement Courteau" en Ici-Musique de Radio-Canada.
Saludos desde Montreal.
@princeampofo4573
The beat ever. Missed the chance to be at his visit to ghana.
@akejufoluwasho8361
I love you Asa
@borisgouma3994
eternal!!!