In the early 1960s, Bebey moved to France and started work in the arts, establishing himself as a musician, sculptor, and writer. His most popular novel was Agatha Moudio's Son. His writing and music often cross-fertilised, and he performed a song by that name, as well (Agatha). He also worked as a consultant for UNESCO.
Bebey released his first album in 1969. His music was primarily guitar-based, although he integrated traditional African instruments as well. His style was groundbreaking, merging Cameroonian makossa with classical guitar, jazz, and pop, in a mix that could be intellectual, humorous, or serious. He sang in Duala, English, and French. Bebey had a strong impact on later performers. For example, he gave Manu Dibango his big break when Dibango came to work for him in Paris. Bebey released more than 20 albums over his career. He died in 2001.
La Condition Masculine
Francis Bebey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sizana, c'est ma femme
C'est ma femme puisque nous sommes mariés depuis plus de dix-sept ans maintenant
Elle était très gentille auparavant
Je lui disais "Sizana, donne-moi de l'eau"
Et elle m'apportait de l'eau à boire
De l'eau claire, hein, très bonne!
Je luis disais, "Sizana, fais-ceci"
"Fais-cela" et elle obéissait
Et moi j'étais content, je regardais tout ça avec bonheur
Ah, je te dis que Sizana, Sizana, elle était une très bonne épouse auparavant
Seulement, depuis quelques jours, les gens, là
Ils ont apporté ici la condition féminine
Il paraît que là-bas, chez eux, ils ont installé une femme dans un bureau
Pour qu'elle donne des ordres aux hommes
Aïe, tu m'entends des choses pareilles?
Et depuis, toutes les femmes de notre pays parlent de la condition féminine
Maintenant je dis à Sizana "donne-moi de l'eau"
Elle répond seulement que, la condition féminine, euh
Il faut que j'aille chercher l'eau moi-même
Je lui dis "Sizana, donne-moi à manger, j'ai faim"
Elle ne m'écoute même pas, eh!
Elle me parle seulement de la condition féminine
Bref, il faut te dire que ma condition masculine est devenue très malheureuse ici
Alors j'ai dit à Sizana
"Écoute, moi je ne connais qu'une seule condition féminine
La femme obéit à son mari, elle lui fait à manger, elle lui fait des enfants
Voilà tout"
Tu sais que Sizana s'est fâchée?
Elle est venue me parler à haute voix!
Comme si elle était un homme!
Moi je l'ai battue hein!
Elle a crié pour appeler tout le village
Moi je lui dis seulement "ne crie pas, ne crie pas, hein
Tu me parles toujours de la condition féminine
Alors, moi aussi je vais te montrer la condition masculine aujourd'hui
La condition féminine, tous les jours, tous les jours tu me dis, la condition féminine
Moi je te donne seulement la condition masucline
Hé, dis donc, la condition féminine
Est-ce que c'est même plus grand que la condition masculine?
The lyrics for Francis Bebey's La Condition Masculine describe the relationship between the singer and his wife, Sizana, and the changes that have occurred in their dynamic due to the introduction of the concept of 'la condition feminine'. The singer initially describes Sizana as a kind and obedient wife who would fulfill his every request, however, he begins to sour towards her once he becomes aware of the idea that women should have equal rights and opportunities to men.
The singer's frustration with Sizana stems from her newfound awareness and expression of her own desires and thoughts. She no longer wants to simply obey her husband and fulfill his every need, but rather wants to be treated as an equal with her own agency. The singer responds to this by becoming violent towards her, thus showcasing the toxic and oppressive nature of the systemic oppression of women.
The song is a commentary on the impact of patriarchal systems on individual relationships and the societal resistance to equality. It highlights the fear and discomfort some men feel at the idea of losing their power and control over women, and the violent and oppressive reactions that can result from this fear.
Line by Line Meaning
Tu ne connais pas Sizana
You do not know Sizana
Sizana, c'est ma femme
Sizana is my wife
C'est ma femme puisque nous sommes mariés depuis plus de dix-sept ans maintenant
She is my wife because we have been married for over seventeen years now
Elle était très gentille auparavant
She was very kind before
Je lui disais "Sizana, donne-moi de l'eau"
I used to ask her "Sizana, give me water"
Et elle m'apportait de l'eau à boire
And she would bring me water to drink
De l'eau claire, hein, très bonne!
Clear water, very good!
Je luis disais, "Sizana, fais-ceci"
I used to tell her, "Sizana, do this"
"Fais-cela" et elle obéissait
"Do that" and she would obey
Et moi j'étais content, je regardais tout ça avec bonheur
And I was happy, I watched it all with joy
Ah, je te dis que Sizana, Sizana, elle était une très bonne épouse auparavant
Ah, I tell you that Sizana, Sizana, she was a very good wife before
Seulement, depuis quelques jours, les gens, là
Only, for a few days, those people, there
Ils ont apporté ici la condition féminine
They brought here the feminist movement
Il paraît que là-bas, chez eux, ils ont installé une femme dans un bureau
It seems that over there, at their place, they put a woman in an office
Pour qu'elle donne des ordres aux hommes
To give orders to men
Aïe, tu m'entends des choses pareilles?
Ouch, do you hear such things?
Et depuis, toutes les femmes de notre pays parlent de la condition féminine
And since then, all the women of our country talk about the feminist movement
Maintenant je dis à Sizana "donne-moi de l'eau"
Now I tell Sizana "give me water"
Elle répond seulement que, la condition féminine, euh
She only answers that, the feminist movement, uh
Il faut que j'aille chercher l'eau moi-même
I have to go get water myself
Je lui dis "Sizana, donne-moi à manger, j'ai faim"
I tell her "Sizana, give me food, I'm hungry"
Elle ne m'écoute même pas, eh!
She doesn't even listen to me, eh!
Elle me parle seulement de la condition féminine
She only talks to me about the feminist movement
Bref, il faut te dire que ma condition masculine est devenue très malheureuse ici
In short, you have to understand that my male condition has become very unhappy here
Alors j'ai dit à Sizana
So I told Sizana
"Écoute, moi je ne connais qu'une seule condition féminine
"Listen, I only know one feminist movement
La femme obéit à son mari, elle lui fait à manger, elle lui fait des enfants
The woman obeys her husband, she cooks for him, she has children for him
Voilà tout"
That's all"
Tu sais que Sizana s'est fâchée?
You know that Sizana got angry?
Elle est venue me parler à haute voix!
She came to talk to me loudly!
Comme si elle était un homme!
As if she were a man!
Moi je l'ai battue hein!
I beat her, you know!
Elle a crié pour appeler tout le village
She shouted to call the whole village
Moi je lui dis seulement "ne crie pas, ne crie pas, hein
I just tell her "don't shout, don't shout, you know
Tu me parles toujours de la condition féminine
You always talk to me about the feminist movement
Alors, moi aussi je vais te montrer la condition masculine aujourd'hui
So, today, I will show you the male condition too
La condition féminine, tous les jours, tous les jours tu me dis, la condition féminine
The feminist movement, every day, every day, you talk to me about the feminist movement
Moi je te donne seulement la condition masculine
I give you only the male condition
Hé, dis donc, la condition féminine
Hey, you know, the feminist movement
Est-ce que c'est même plus grand que la condition masculine?
Is it even bigger than the male condition?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FRANCIS BEBEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alphus89
Muhahahaha....J'adore!!!
@boubacarabdou1949
Le bon vieux temps les années 80
@BirdFluorescent
great song, tho such a bummer to find out the lyrics are about him beating his wife😬
@pikachulafayette7734
I think it was meant as a joke. He was an impressive humanist.
@carlosmonterosa8174
LOL
@avunz125
I'll show her the masculine condition💪💪
@Db-eu5wk
It's obviously a satire, and its meant to denounce domestic violence