He was born in Ostrava, Czech Republic and has played guitar since he was 13. He began studies at the Technical University of Ostrava but eventually left the school. He tried various jobs and eventually ended up working as a freelance lyricist. He gained fame with his first song for Marie Rottrová, Lásko, voníš deštěm (You Smell of Rain, My Love) - it was a remake of Black Sabbath 's ballad "She's Gone". He lives in Ostrava, has a wife and two children.
In 1982 he started performing in public, a sound decision in that a number of his songs gained wide popularity. His first album, Darmoděj (Aimless), released in 1988 was an immediate sell-out. An aura of myth arose around Nohavica which survived even the crisis period of his treatment for alcoholism. His subsequent release of the lovely, slightly pessimistic Mikymauzoleum (Mickey Mousoleum), an album of mainly melancholy songs. In 1994 he live recorded an album Tři čuníci (Three Piglets), intended for children, with humoristic songs.
In 1996 Nohavica released Divné století (Strange Century). He and his producer employed new instruments and voices for the new songs on the album, and it became a huge success. Two years later Jaromír Nohavica and Kapela (ie. the Band) came out with Koncert (Concert), a record featuring Nohavica playing with a band, and this fact recognizably changed his music. The album contains mainly older material, but the new treatment gave it a new appeal. His studio album from 2000, Moje smutné srdce (My Sad Heart), contains mostly sad songs about love.
Nohavica also starred in Petr Zelenka's movie Rok Ďábla (Year of The Devil), which was awarded the main prize at the 37th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2002 and several other international film festivals.
Apart from his native Czech Republic, he also enjoys some popularity in neighbouring Poland and Slovakia.
He has just released a brand new CD called Ikarus which was recorded during his January's sets of concerts in Ostrava.
Afričančata
Jaromír Nohavica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mezi stromy je tam honí Afričančata,
Načančané Afričanče jako uhel černé je,
Ráno skočí na saranče a jede do Guineje.
Děvčata tam honí kluky a kluci zase děvčata,
K nám to mají trochu z ruky, Afričančata,
Přes moře a přes potoky,
Na kole tak dva-tři roky,
No a pěšky ještě dýl.
Průšvih je, když Afričanče
Černé jak mé boty
Narodí se naší Anče
Od nás z Dolní Lhoty,
Ale narodí či nenarodí, vždyť je to vlastně putna,
Hlavně, že nám nemarodí a že mu u nás chutná, na na na ...
The song "Afričančata" by Jaromír Nohavica is a humorous commentary on the differences in lifestyle between Africans and Europeans, particularly in terms of travel and courtship. The first stanza describes how elephants and other animals roam freely in Africa, while the African children run amongst the trees. The playful phrase "Afričančata" refers to the black children who are always running around in Africa. Their black complexion is compared to the color of coal, and they start their day by catching locusts before embarking on a journey to Guinea.
The second stanza highlights the contrast in dating practices between Africa and Europe. In Africa, the girls chase after the boys, while in Europe it is the opposite. The phrase "k nám to mají trochu z ruky, Afričančata" suggests that from the perspective of Europeans, it is quite a long journey for the African children to come and chase them. The lyrics talk about the two-thousand-six-hundred-mile journey, which would take a few years on a bicycle or even longer on foot.
The final stanza raises the humorous idea of an African child being born to a family in Dolní Lhoty, which is a village in the Czech Republic. The line "hlavně, že nám nemarodí a že mu u nás chutná" suggests that although it might be odd for a black child to be born to a white family, what's important is that the child is healthy and happy. The song "Afričančata" uses whimsical lyrics to satirize and shed light on cultural differences between Africa and Europe.
Line by Line Meaning
V Africe, tam žijou sloni a podobná zvířata,
In Africa, there are elephants and similar animals living there.
Mezi stromy je tam honí Afričančata,
Africans hunt African wildcats between the trees.
Načančané Afričanče jako uhel černé je,
Black as coal, these African wildcats are dressed up.
Ráno skočí na saranče a jede do Guineje.
In the morning, they jump on locusts and travel to Guinea.
Děvčata tam honí kluky a kluci zase děvčata,
Girls chase boys and boys chase girls there.
K nám to mají trochu z ruky, Afričančata,
African wildcats are a little far from us.
Přes moře a přes potoky,
Across the sea and across the rivers,
Dva tisíce šestset mil,
Two thousand six hundred miles away.
Na kole tak dva-tři roky,
It would take two or three years by bike.
No a pěšky ještě dýl.
And even longer on foot.
Průšvih je, když Afričanče
It's a problem when African wildcats
Černé jak mé boty
Are as black as my shoes.
Narodí se naší Anče
If our Anča gives birth to one,
Od nás z Dolní Lhoty,
From our town of Dolní Lhota,
Ale narodí či nenarodí, vždyť je to vlastně putna,
But whether she will give birth or not, it's all just a gamble.
Hlavně, že nám nemarodí a že mu u nás chutná, na na na ...
The most important thing is that it doesn't get sick and that it likes it here with us, na na na ...
Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mentiri
Tuláci Klatovy, tábor Afrika 2003 (+/-), naše táborová hymna toho roku... A i po té době si pořád pamatuji slova... Takových vzpomínek, co se najednou vyplaví na povrch, ani bych nevěřila, že bych si je kdy mohla znovu vybavit, ale stačí jedna písnička a všechno je zpět.
Děkuji za tu písničku! :)) Vehnala mi na tvář úsměv a do žil vlila elán na další přípravy pro letošní tábor - Řecko 2015! :D
Satan
+Mentiri Však já jsem starší ročník a vzpomínám si, jak jsme si ji taky pořád hráli u táboráků... nádherné vzpomínky.... :D