Sabali
Amadou Mariam feat. Theophilus London Lyrics

The song Sabali by Amadou & Mariam feat. Theophilus London is a beautiful tune with lyrics that are both in Bambara and French. The repetitive chorus Sabali yonkontê means "Patience is worth it." The song starts with Anw na ku yé foli de yé which means "the silence is so big, it went around the world." This could be interpreted as a reference to the big issues in the world that are often met with indifference or silence. The next line, Anw duya yé tolo kê, translates to "a lot of people are talking about the same thing." This could imply that there are people who are aware of these issues but they are not taking action. The following line, Anw bo kê ko yan translates to "I'm not like them," which could suggest that the singer is different from those who are indifferent to the problems in the world.

The rest of the song communicates a message of love and care. The singer tells his/her partner how happy they are since they met, and that they are sending a kiss and a big hug. The repetition of “Sabali” throughout the song is a reminder that patience is important and that it is worth it to wait for good things to happen. The mix of languages in the lyrics is a beautiful way to convey a message of love, hope, and perseverance, while also drawing attention to important issues in the world.