Femi was born in London on 16 June 1962 and grew up in the former Nigerian capital Lagos.
Like his father, Femi has shown a strong commitment to social and political causes throughout his career, but he differs in his religious views.
In 2001, Femi collaborated with a number of US musicians such as Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright, on his Fight to Win album. This album was widely regarded as the most influential Neo-Afrobeat album of the early 21st century.
Pà Pá Pà
Femi Kuti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want you to listen to me wella
As I stand before you
I want you to hear me wella
You see this our life, huhn-huhn
Our lives move very faster
Our lives in this life, ah
Our lives move very faster
Is why we must face the government oh
Government must not waste our time
Is why we must face the government, hmm-hmm
Government must not waste our time
When government waste our time
Government waste our life, brothers and sisters
When government waste our time-′me
Government waste our life, ah
If government no fit do their job (pà pá pà)
Make them comot for there (pà pá pà)
Make them comot for there (pà pá pà)
If government no fit do their work (pà pá pà)
Make them give us electricity (pà pá pà)
Make them repair all the roads ohh (pà pá pà)
Made them give us good health care (pà pá pà)
Make them give us clean water to drink (pà pá pà)
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Come on now
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Everybody, very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Get down, get down, come on everybody (pà pá pà)
Get down, come on get down (pà pá pà)
Get down
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Get down, get down (pà pá pà)
Get down, come on get down (pà pá pà)
Get down, down, down-down, huhn
Yeah-awhoo
Femi Kuti’s song "Pà Pá Pà" is a powerful political commentary, advocating for African citizens to hold their governments accountable for their actions. The lyrics describe the fast-paced nature of life and the urgency of addressing government inefficiency, which can be detrimental to the livelihoods of everyday people. Femi Kuti urges everyone to listen to his message carefully and emphasizes the importance of taking action against government officials who waste time or fail to perform their duties.
The chorus, "Pà Pá Pà," is a Nigerian onomatopoeic phrase that imitates the sound of a gunshot, symbolizing the urgency and abruptness of the message. The verse explicitly calls on the government to provide basic necessities such as electricity, clean water, well-maintained roads, and healthcare, and Femi Kuti demands that the government be held accountable if they fail to deliver. The song encourages people to take responsibility for their rights and to demand the provision of these basic needs.
"Pà Pá Pà" is a song that ignites passion and activism, and its message is relevant not only in Africa but worldwide. It encourages individuals to take a stand against the inadequacies of political leaders and advocate for social justice. Femi Kuti’s artistry and ability to connect with his audience are evident in the song's lyrics and melody, which create a powerful and emotive listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
As I stand before you
In this moment, I speak to you
I want you to listen to me wella
I urge you to pay attention to what I say
I want you to hear me wella
My words are important and must be heard
Our lives move very faster
We live in a fast-paced world
Our lives in this life, ah
Our time is limited in this life
It's why we must face the government oh
The government must be held accountable
Government must not waste our time
The government must use our time and resources effectively
When government waste our time-′me
When the government wastes our time, it wastes our lives
If government no fit do their job (pà pá pà)
If the government cannot do its job
Make them comot for there (pà pá pà)
They should be removed from power
Make them give us electricity (pà pá pà)
We demand proper infrastructure, like electricity
Make them repair all the roads ohh (pà pá pà)
The government should fix all the roads
Made them give us good health care (pà pá pà)
We need access to quality healthcare
Make them give us clean water to drink (pà pá pà)
We demand clean drinking water
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Fast and urgent action is needed
Get down, get down, come on everybody (pà pá pà)
Let's take action together
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
The urgency cannot be overstated
Everybody, very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Everyone must act urgently
Get down, come on get down (pà pá pà)
Let's take action together
Down, down, down-down, huhn
Action must be taken, and fast
Yeah-awhoo
Let's do this!
Writer(s): Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti
Contributed by Joseph L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@baileyarohunmolasejr.606
As I stand before you
I want you to listen to me wella
As I stand before you
I want you to hear me wella
You see this our life, huhn-huhn
Our lives move very faster
Our lives in this life, ah
Our lives move very faster
Is why we must face the government oh
Government must not waste our time
Is why we must face the government, hmm-hmm
Government must not waste our time
When government waste our time
Government waste our life, brothers and sisters
When government waste our time-'me
Government waste our life, ah
If government no fit do their job (pà pá pà)
Make them comot for there (pà pá pà)
Make them comot for there (pà pá pà)
If government no fit do their work (pà pá pà)
Make them give us electricity (pà pá pà)
Make them repair all the roads ohh (pà pá pà)
Made them give us good health care (pà pá pà)
Make them give us clean water to drink (pà pá pà)
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Come on now
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Everybody, very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Get down, get down, come on everybody (pà pá pà)
Get down, come on get down (pà pá pà)
Get down
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Get down, get down (pà pá pà)
Get down, come on get down (pà pá pà)
Get down, down, down-down, huhn
Yeah-awhoo
@gbengaomosebi3495
Every time you listen to FEMI Kuti, you just have the joy and happiness that his father never really died. Great tune, excellent message. God bless Afro Beat.
@BARTFUNKBASS
Great song and an awesome bassline!
@platio23
It's very jazzy. I love it. Good to see you again sir. 🎼🎵🎶🎷🎺
@breakthroughmoment1647
Yes, you can tell he’s got a background in Jazz composition.
@huguesc.3380
The Shrine ! I hope one day I'll be able to come to see you and/or your brother Seun play there :-)
@chantalolivain636
I>^
@baileyarohunmolasejr.606
As I stand before you
I want you to listen to me wella
As I stand before you
I want you to hear me wella
You see this our life, huhn-huhn
Our lives move very faster
Our lives in this life, ah
Our lives move very faster
Is why we must face the government oh
Government must not waste our time
Is why we must face the government, hmm-hmm
Government must not waste our time
When government waste our time
Government waste our life, brothers and sisters
When government waste our time-'me
Government waste our life, ah
If government no fit do their job (pà pá pà)
Make them comot for there (pà pá pà)
Make them comot for there (pà pá pà)
If government no fit do their work (pà pá pà)
Make them give us electricity (pà pá pà)
Make them repair all the roads ohh (pà pá pà)
Made them give us good health care (pà pá pà)
Make them give us clean water to drink (pà pá pà)
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Come on now
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Everybody, very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Get down, get down, come on everybody (pà pá pà)
Get down, come on get down (pà pá pà)
Get down
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Pà pá pà oh-ohh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Very fast oh (pà pá pà)
Get down, get down (pà pá pà)
Get down, come on get down (pà pá pà)
Get down, down, down-down, huhn
Yeah-awhoo
@breakthroughmoment1647
Femi you are too hip and the message is on point!
@TPMTheDarkDragon
Great song as always Femi.
@sanelesibeko4520
This jam feels like a super combination of "Shewere" and "Bang Bang Bang"🙏🏾😎❤