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.
Tass Yakar
Ismaël Lô Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wagni lène ki
Sa bay wagnila sa yaye wagnila
Yaw ngani ya bagne
Way dégueul lii
Sa yaye wagnila sa bay wagnila
Yaw ngani ya bagne
Soralé euleuk digua yori sa diabot yaw
Say wadiour lou bakh lagn la digueeul
Bougnou sagnone ken doula gueun
Kon lou bakh lagn la yéné
Kon bok euleuk boul retiou nane
Sama yaye yé
Sama yaye boy sorina foumakay dioyé
Sama yaye yé
Sama yaye boy sorina foumakay dioyé
Koulané senguoul sa taar lala beugueul
Mané wadiour bolen défé kharit yaw
Domassa lal souf
Am bouki mané yombana lol
Wayé bou mana khalam mo diafé
Say wadiour lou bakh lagn la digueeul
Bougnou sagnone ken doula gueun
Kon lou bakh lagn la yéné
Kon bok euleuk boul retiou nane
Sama yaye yé
Sama yaye boy sorina foumakay dioyé
Sama yaye yé
Sama yaye boy sorina foumakay dioyé
Sama yaye yé sama yaye boy sorina
Foumakay dioyé
Bo bougué mouthia dagay téral say wadiour
Sama yaye yé sama yaye boy sorina
Foumakay dioyé
Bo nanguo bakh nagua dégueul say wadiour
Haléyi fofou lagnou rawanté
Ndakh wadiour kouko lébal
Bour yala fayla ba dolila yaw
Bo défé béneu am gnare
Bo défé gnare am gnint
Bo défé gnint am fouk
Bo mané témère gnagua téral say wadiour
Bo mané témère gnagua téral say wadiour
In Ismaël Lô's song Tass Yakar, the lyrics depict the struggle and hardship of the Senegalese people. The opening lines describe a mother and father who cannot provide for their child, leaving them to suffer and search for a way out of their poverty. The lyrics then move on to talk about the struggles of daily life, such as finding food and water, and the difficulties of facing illness and death. The lines "Say wadiour lou bakh lagn la digueeul/Bougnou sagnone ken doula gueun" can be interpreted as discussing the challenges of finding resources and help in difficult times.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Sama yaye yé/Sama yaye boy sorina foumakay dioyé" which translates to "My mother is/I am her child, suffering and forgotten." These lines highlight the idea that the Senegalese people feel neglected by those in power and forgotten by the rest of the world.
Overall, the lyrics of Tass Yakar are a poignant portrayal of the struggles faced by the Senegalese people and their desire for recognition and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Wagni lène ki
What do they say?
Sa bay wagnila sa yaye wagnila
They say this and they say that
Yaw ngani ya bagne
But what do I know?
Way dégueul lii
All this talk is confusing
Bo khamone do dokholè ni nagua
I am just a simple person
Soralé euleuk digua yori sa diabot yaw
Living in this world is difficult
Say wadiour lou bakh lagn la digueeul
The river flows through the land
Bougnou sagnone ken doula gueun
Fish swim and birds fly
Kon lou bakh lagn la yéné
And the land belongs to everyone
Kon bok euleuk boul retiou nane
But life is short and time is fleeting
Sama yaye yé
My mother is
Sama yaye boy sorina foumakay dioyé
My mother is my backbone and my support
Koulané senguoul sa taar lala beugueul
She has held my hand since I was born
Mané wadiour bolen défé kharit yaw
And she has taught me the ways of the river
Domassa lal souf
I am grateful for her love
Am bouki mané yombana lol
And I will never forget her
Wayé bou mana khalam mo diafé
Even as I grow older
Sama yaye yé
My mother is
Sama yaye boy sorina foumakay dioyé
My mother is my backbone and my support
Kou bougué mouthia dagay téral say wadiour
I will follow in her footsteps along the river
Bo nanguo bakh nagua dégueul say wadiour
And I will never forget the lessons she taught me
Haléyi fofou lagnou rawanté
Life is full of challenges
Ndakh wadiour kouko lébal
But the river always flows
Bour yala fayla ba dolila yaw
And we must find a way to keep going
Bo défé béneu am gnare
We must work hard and be patient
Bo défé gnare am gnint
And be careful with our words and actions
Bo défé gnint am fouk
And always keep our goals in mind
Bo mané témère gnagua téral say wadiour
I will continue to live my life by the river
Bo mané témère gnagua téral say wadiour
I will continue to live my life by the river
Writer(s): Ismaël Lo, Ismael Lo
Contributed by Audrey T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fatoumata Diatta
Hommage à nos parents ❤
Respect
Waouh je viens de découvrir cette chanson et l'aime autant que toutes les autres
Humour et la paix
Paroles sentimentale musique mélodieuse au top👍
Steel*Faith
Amazing - thanks for the music! God bless!
malick gueye
nous nous verons un jour par la grace de dieu car tu es pour moi une reference en plus tu es le meilleur des meilleurs god bless you ismael
Fatoumata Diatta
Macha allah une chanson inspirante
ngom ibrahima
une chanson qui me motive merci de tout coeur ismaila lo
ML
Loubaax lañ ñou yééné!
khadija rai
niceeee
Malik Sene
ooooo wayyy biii akh dafmay yook diome bilay yalla nangay mame iso lo