Ismaël Lô is a versatile singer and artist, he plays the guitar and the har… Read Full Bio ↴Ismaël Lô is a versatile singer and artist, he plays the guitar and the harmonica. He was born in Dogondoutchi in Niger on 30 August 1956 to a Senegalese father and a Nigerian mother. Shortly after Lô's birth the family returned to Senegal where they settled in the town of Rufisque, near the capital Dakar.

In the 1970s, Lô studied at the School of Art in Dakar later joining the popular Super Diamono. He left the group in 1984 to start a solo career. Over the next four years Lô recorded five popular solo albums.

In 1990 Lô signed a recording deal with Barclay and recorded in France his sixth solo album, Ismaël Lô. Thanks to the success of the single Tajabone the album became a hit in the European charts. The album launched his international career.

Iso was recorded and released in 1994, and also became a success. The album contains soft guitar melodies and traditional senegalese mbalax. The following year Lô toured in Africa. The compilation album Jammu Africa was released in 1996.

In 1999, Tajabone was featured in Pedro Almodóvar's All About My Mother.

Jammu Africa
Ismaël Lô Lyrics

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Jammu Africa

Afrika a a a Afrika mon Afrique
Sama gent gi maa ngi ñaan Yalla wonma ko bala may ñibbi barsaq
Ma ne bes du ñakk ci bes yi Afrika don benn reew
D'ici ou d'ailleurs nous somm' des enfants d'Afrique
Mêm' si le ciel tombait luttons pour la paix
Kon jammu Afrika moom lay ñaan

Mané jammu Afrika mooy suñu natange
Afrika a a a Afrika a a
Afrika a a a Afrika mon Afrique

Yow mi nekka bittim reew man mi Lô maa ngi lay ñaan
Ak loo fa meun ta am ak noo fa meun ta mel bul fatte Afrika
Ici ou ailleurs la paix prix du bonheur
Mêm' si le ciel pleurait luttons pour nos frères
Kon jammu Afrika moom lay ñaan
Mané jammu Afrika mooy suñu natange
Afrika a a a Afrika a a
Afrika a a a Afrika mon Afrique

Onon bibbe Afrika ngimode, ngimode liggo-den leydi men
Ngaccen hasi daagal yoo Alla suren e musibaadi
Yoo Alla addu jam to Ruanda
Yoo Alla addu jam to Burundi
Yoo Alla addu jam to Casamans
Lawol Mbignona yee

Traduction (les deux premiers couplets sont en wolof, le dernier est en Pulaar)

Dans mon rêve je prie Dieu pour que cela se réalise avant mon trépas
Je dis " un jour viendra où l'Afrique sera unie "
D'ici ou d'ailleurs nous somm' des enfants d'Afrique
Mêm' si le ciel tombait luttons pour la paix
Donc je demande la paix en Afrique
car avec la paix en Afrique ce sera la prospérité

Etranger, moi Lô je te prie
quelles que soient ta fortune et ta situation de ne pas oublier l'Afrique
Ici ou ailleurs la paix prix du bonheur
Mêm' si le ciel pleurait luttons pour nos frères
Donc je demande la paix en Afrique
car avec la paix en Afrique ce sera la prospérité

Vous les enfants d'Afrique, levez-vous pour construire notre pays
Que Dieu nous épargne les malheurs

Qu'il apporte la paix au Rwanda, au Burundi,
Et en Casamance sur la route de Mbignona!!!

Overall Meaning

The song Jammu Africa, by Ismaël Lô, is a call for peace and unity in Africa. The lyrics are in Wolof and Pulaar, two West African languages, and talk about the importance of fighting for peace and the prosperity it can bring. The opening lines of the song express the singer's dream that Africa will someday be united and that all its people will work together to build a better future. He goes on to say that regardless of where they come from, all Africans share a common heritage and should strive to be peacemakers.

The second verse of the song is a plea from Ismaël Lô to those who have left Africa for greener pastures to remember their roots and to help their homeland. He acknowledges that peace is not easy to come by, but that it is essential for prosperity. He asks people to put aside their differences and work together for a brighter future.

The final verse of the song is in Pulaar and addresses African youths, asking them to take ownership of their country and build a better future. It ends with a prayer that God will bring peace to Rwanda, Burundi, and Casamance, as well as to all of Africa.

Overall, Jammu Africa is a powerful call to action that reminds people of the importance of peace and unity in Africa. It is a message that continues to resonate with audiences around the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Afrika a a a Afrika mon Afrique
Afrique, oh Afrique, mon pays

Sama gent gi maa ngi ñaan Yalla wonma ko bala may ñibbi barsaq
Je prie Dieu que cela se réalise avant ma mort

Ma ne bes du ñakk ci bes yi Afrika don benn reew
Nous sommes tous des enfants d'Afrique

D'ici ou d'ailleurs nous somm' des enfants d'Afrique
Que nous soyons ici ou ailleurs, nous sommes tous des enfants d'Afrique

Mêm' si le ciel tombait luttons pour la paix
Même si le ciel s'effondrait, luttons pour la paix

Kon jammu Afrika moom lay ñaan
Je demande la paix en Afrique

Mané jammu Afrika mooy suñu natange
Avec la paix en Afrique, ce sera la prospérité

Yow mi nekka bittim reew man mi Lô maa ngi lay ñaan
Étranger, moi Lô, je te prie

Ak loo fa meun ta am ak noo fa meun ta mel bul fatte Afrika
Quelles que soient ta fortune et ta situation, n'oublie jamais l'Afrique

Onon bibbe Afrika ngimode, ngimode liggo-den leydi men
Vous, les enfants d'Afrique, levez-vous pour construire notre pays

Ngaccen hasi daagal yoo Alla suren e musibaadi
Que Dieu nous épargne les malheurs