Bébé Manga started her career in 1975, singing in a night club in Abidjan, (Côte d'Ivoire) called "Son de Guitare" (Sound of a guitar). Here she discovered, and recorded her most known hit, Ami O, her interpretation of an original song written by Ebanda Manfred.
Her talents were celebrated at the Top D'Or 2005 in Abidjan, as she was voted one of the best African artists of all times
Bebe Manga was born Elizabeth Bessem Manga on the 27th of November a long time ago as she prefers to put it. She hails from Tinto, Manyu Division, of the South West province, Cameroon.
Bebe Manga made her debut in the then Bar Americain in Douala in 1979 while on a night out with some friends. Her friends impressed on the manager of the club that Bebe Manga had a good voice and could sing. After singing kissa Kissa, the manager of the club, lost in admiration for the talented singer hired her on the spot there and then, so began her professional career. From that point on, it was a roller coaster ride. Bebe Manga has performed extensively in Africa: Gabon, Senegal, Mali, Zaire, Togo, Burkina Faso etc.
Bebe Manga rose to stardom and international fame in 1980 when she replayed Ebanda Manfred's 1962 radio hit, "Amie" (meaning "friend" in French). Bebe Manga's version known as "Amio" earned her the prestigious "Maracas D'or" award from SACEM, and a firm place in history as one of Cameroon's greatest voices who has been an inspiration to a new crop of female stars such as Ruth Kotto and Jackie Biho. Most notably, Bebe Manga transformed Ebanda Manfred's little-known Radio Douala recording into a worldwide hit that has attained cult status similar to Pete Seeger's Guantaramera, that other iconic song replayed by artists as diverse as Joe dassin and Wyclef Jean.
In the last two decades, Amio has been replayed dozens of times and in different languages by musicians in Europe, the Caribbean, Latin and North America, and Africa, among them André Astasié, Nayanka Bell, Manu Dibango, Papa Wemba, Monique Séka, Jackie Biho, Bisso na Bisso, and Bebe Manga again. .
Amio
Bébé Manga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Njika bunya so mo
Huuuumm wa o ma dubè no
Na na tondi wa aahh
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
Huuuumm wa o ma dubè no
Na na tondi wa aahh
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
Huuuumm wa o ma dubè no
Na na tondi wa aahh
Amio ohoho
Njika bunya so mo
A nolam'i oohh
Wa o ma dubè no
Humm…Na na tondi wa aahh
Na lo tè jonguèlè
Muléma mu si ma koka mba
Na lo tè dutéa
Minya mi tombi nde na bwaba
Na lo tè jonguèlè
Muléma mu si ma koka mba eehh
Na lo tè dutéa
Minya mi tombi nde na bwaba
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
A nolam'i oohh
Wa o ma dubè no
Hummm…, Na na tondi wa aahh
Ya eehh
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
A nolam'i oohh
Humm
Wa o ma dubè no
Na na tondi wa aahh
Na lo tè jonguèlè
Muléma mu si ma koka mba eehh
Na lo tè jonguèlè
Muléma mu si ma koka mba eehh
Na lo tè dutéa
Minya mi tombi nde na bwaba
Na lo tè jonguèlè
Muléma mu si ma koka mba eehh
Na lo tè dutéa minya
Mi tombi nde na bwaba
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
Huuuumm wa o ma dubè no
Na na tondi wa aahh
Ya eehh
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
A ndolam'i oohh
Huuuumm wa o ma dubè no
Na na tondi wa aahh
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
Huuuumm wa o ma dubè no
Na na tondi wa aahh
Ya eehh
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
A ndolam'i oohh
Wa o ma dubè no
Hummm
Na na tondi wa aahh
Ya eehh
Amio oohhh
Njika bunya so mo
A ndolam'i oohh
Wa o ma dubè no
Hummm
Na na tondi wa aahh
Na na tondi wa aahh
Na na tondi wa aahh
Hummm
Na na tondi wa aahh
Na na tondi wa aahh
Na na tondi wa aahh
The lyrics to Bebe Manga's song, Amio, are written in Duala, a Cameroonian language. The song is a love song about a girl named Amio who the singer is in love with. The repetitive nature of the lyrics and the melody of the song give it a hypnotic feel that captures the feelings of the singer toward the subject of the song. The lyrics talk about a girl who has caught the singer's attention, and he repeats her name throughout the song as a way of showing his affection.
The song speaks of a lover's desire to be with their beloved and to show them love and affection. The singer uses Duala language to express his emotions and desire toward Amio. The repetition of Amio's name throughout the song gives significance to the subject, emphasizing the impact the person has on the singer's heart.
The song Amio has been covered by many musicians and has become a classic in Cameroonian music. The song's longevity is due to its simple melody and the way it captures the listener's attention with its hypnotic delivery. The song's popularity has spread beyond Cameroon, with people around the world enjoying its beautiful rhythm.
Line by Line Meaning
Amio oohhh
The name of the song, repeated at the beginning of each chorus.
Njika bunya so mo
I want to live my life well, in my own way.
Huuuumm wa o ma dubè no
I am not afraid of anyone or anything.
Na na tondi wa aahh
I will never be defeated.
A nolam'i oohh
I am a free spirit.
Na lo tè jonguèlè
I will not be an object to be manipulated or controlled.
Muléma mu si ma koka mba
I will not be silenced or ignored.
Na lo tè dutéa
I will not be limited by societal expectations or norms.
Minya mi tombi nde na bwaba
I will be true to myself, even if no one else understands.
Ya eehh
Exclamation of triumph and defiance.
Contributed by Alexis P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gerard laurent
1980 j’étais en Côte d’Ivoire pour mon service national.
J’enseignais l’électrotechnique au CTÉ de Bingerville.
Merveilleux souvenirs: l’Afrique était le continent de l’hospitalité, du rire, de la danse!
Abunaw Robert
Good old days
Marlyse Dick
Rectifié avec plus de professionnalisme sans vouloir surtout écorcher le grand Ebanda Manfred
Jean Jacques Lontchi
J'ai les larmes au yeux quand j'écoute cette chanson en 2021 .. l'artiste ne meurt jamais... Tu nous manques grande femme que l'Éternel des armées prenne bien soin de toi à ses côtés...
Micheline Dongmo
Une chanson qui se bonifie avec le temps...merci Bébé Manga de continuer à nous bercer de ta belle voix
mohamed kamara
Our happy childhood song in Sierra Leone. Thank you Bebe manga. Rest in peace.
Angela Lwanga
Even us in Uganda 👌🏾
Sacer Ktracho
2020 and still listening to this masterpiece.
irene flore yongni
Me too
Tchewa Officials
Me too. Its July and I am still here