Born in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo to a Congolese mother and Ghanaian father, Koffi grew up in Kinshasa.
He went to France to study, while in Paris, he began playing the guitar and writing songs. On his return to Congo he was a member of Viva la Musica, Papa Wemba's band. Koffi repopularized the slower style of soukous, which had fallen out of fashion. He dubbed this style Tcha Tcho, and it gained popularity outside Congo. Koffi's music can be quite controversial, taking on current events and topics considered taboo in some conservative societies. He has also participated in the salsa music project Africando.
Apostolu Ya Bolingo
Koffi Olomide Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nini nga naweli
nini nga nasali
nini nga nadefi
oyo ekumbisa nga ngambo boye
eh na nzoto ahhh
nini nga nasali
nini nga naweli
nini nga nasali
nini nga nadifi
oyo ekumbisa nga ngambo boye
eh na nzoto
kombo na nga mwana amy
kombo na nga mwana pepa ngo
kombo na nga papa n'aristote
kombo na nga leki ya joniko
kombo na nga yaya na didi eh
kombo na nga antoine makila mabe
hum nyongo ya nani nadefi eh
naluka nafuta oh ahh
Nakola na maboko ya mama
na bolingo ya papa
bango bateyaki nga
boboto na boto
bazuaka moke naley pondu
bakolisa nga boye
likambo na moto te
nga nayebi eeehhhh
Nini lelo nga nasali
nani ango nga nabomi
nini oyo nga nadefi lelo
oh nini nga nasali
niniiiiiiiihhhhh
oyo ekumbisa nga boye
eh na nzoto
po bobatisa nga na kombo munguna ehh ahhh
Bakokanaka moto boye te
Bakotongoko moto boye te
bakofingaka moto boye te
bakoyinaka moto boye te
Mwasi moko na mboka moko
azalaki kitoko mingi
mibali nyonso na mboka yango
bazalaki kolula se ye
kasi bazalaki kobomba
kobanga koyebisa ye
mwasi yango mokolo azui likama
bakati yeee loboko
bakomi koyebisa ye te
bazalaka kolula ye mimi
Mokili nde boye sikoyo nga nayebi
soki ozali basekisi yo
mino babimisi
opesaka mokongo
poso na yo basilisi
soki opesi mokongo
bakomi ofinga yo
nga pe nalanda te
po nasi namesana
esala rien
oh esala rien
mokili ezali boye
sikoyo nga na comprendre
soki ozali basekisi yo
babengi yo ami
opesaka mokongo
kombo na yo e changer
soki opesi mokongo
bakomi o finga yo
nga pe nakipa te
la vie ezali bongo
esala rien mama amy azali
esala rien aristote azali
pene ya papa
mokili ezali boye
sikoyo nga na rever
soki ozali basekisi yo
mino babimisi
opesaka mokongo
poso na yo basilisi
soki opesi mokongo
dossier na yo eziki
nga pe nalanda te
po nasi namesana
le chien aboit
la caravane passe
Humanité nga nalela, humanité
humanité, nga namituna
humanité oooohhhhhooohhh lélé
The lyrics to Koffi Olomide's song Apostolu Ya Bolingo express the artist's personal reflections on life, love, and family, and the role these things play in his sense of self. The first verse, which repeats the lines "nini nga nasali, nini nga naweli, nini nga nadefi" ("what have I come from, what am I doing here, what will I leave behind"), speaks to the universal human question of existence and purpose. Olomide then goes on to list the names of various family members, including his mother, father, and siblings, emphasizing the importance of kinship and lineage in his life. He also references a woman who is "beautiful" and "lovely" but ultimately chooses not to be with him, further highlighting the theme of love and relationships.
The middle section of the song focuses on the way society judges and categorizes people based on their background and status, with Olomide condemning this narrow-minded mindset. He also reflects on the fleeting nature of life, using the metaphor of a dog barking at a passing caravan to express that everything eventually passes, and we must make the most of our time while we have it. The song concludes with Olomide returning to the theme of humanity and our interconnectedness, ultimately emphasizing the need for love and compassion.
Overall, "Apostolu Ya Bolingo" is a poignant meditation on the human experience, exploring themes of love, family, purpose, and mortality. The song's nostalgic tone and introspective lyrics make it a standout track in Koffi Olomide's extensive discography, showcasing the artist's emotional depth and songwriting prowess.
Line by Line Meaning
Nini nga nasali
What am I thinking?
nini nga naweli
What am I doing?
nini nga nadefi
What am I saying?
oyo ekumbisa nga ngambo boye
That which is revealing to me beyond my understanding
eh na nzoto ahhh
Oh, in my heart
nani yango azokana nga
What will become of me?
kombo na nga mwana amy
My name is Amy
kombo na nga mwana pepa ngo
My name is Pepa Ngo
kombo na nga papa n'aristote
My name is Papa Aristote
kombo na nga leki ya joniko
My name is Leki ya Joniko
kombo na nga yaya na didi eh
My name is Yaya na Didi eh
kombo na nga antoine makila mabe
My name is Antoine Makila Mabe
hum nyongo ya nani nadefi eh
The voice of who am I saying?
nakola na maboko ya mama
I got it from my mother
na bolingo ya papa
With the love of my father
bango bateyaki nga
They taught me
boboto na boto
Patience and wisdom
bazuaka moke naley pondu
They prepared me well
bakolisa nga boye
They showed me love
likambo na moto te
It's not about worldly things
nga nayebi eeehhhh
I don't know, eeehhhh
Bakokanaka moto boye te
They don't know this life
Bakotongoko moto boye te
They don't understand this life
bakofingaka moto boye te
They don't touch this life
bakoyinaka moto boye te
They don't experience this life
mwasi moko na mboka moko
One woman from one village
azalaki kitoko mingi
Was very beautiful
mibali nyonso na mboka yango
Everyone in that village
bazalaki kolula se ye
Talked about her
kasi bazalaki kobomba
But they criticized her
kobanga koyebisa ye
Because she refused them
mwasi yango mokolo azui likama
That woman was always mindful
bakati yeee loboko
They clapped for her
bakomi koyebisa ye te
They gave her respect
bazalaka kolula ye mimi
They envied her
mokili nde boye sikoyo nga nayebi
In this world, I don't know
soki ozali basekisi yo
If you're a criminal
mino babimisi
The police will catch you
opesaka mokongo
They'll bring you before the judge
poso na yo basilisi
You'll be sentenced
soki opesi mokongo
If you bribe the judge
bakomi ofinga yo
They'll put you in the fire
nga pe nalanda te
I can't deny it
po nasi namesana
Then we'll call each other
esala rien
Don't worry
mokili ezali boye
This world is
sikoyo nga na comprendre
What I don't understand
babengi yo ami
Will surprise you
kombo na yo e changer
Your name will change
dossier na yo eziki
Your file will be thick
le chien aboit
The dog barks
la caravane passe
The caravan passes
humanité nga nalela, humanité
Humanity, I cry for humanity
humanité, nga namituna
Humanity, I'm disappointed in you
humanité oooohhhhhooohhh lélé
Humanity, oooohhhhhooohhh lélé
Contributed by Hunter N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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on heros national
The smile
Jake
on Aubergine
Your love is on a plate
I am lying down and thinking of you now
My eggplant, my eggplant
My eggplant, Blaise Mawengue
I have been calling you for days now, my darling
Even if the days go by, I will never get tired of waiting for you
But I can't be left hanging like this
Why do you keep playing with my eggplant, my dear?
She said the beating of her heart for her loved one is like that of an eggplant
But you won't let me stand up and get going
You had me search for love everywhere, in lifts and staircases
You can go as slow as you want but not too slow
If they don't want you, you're like an old engine
Keep going, go ahead like King Georges' palace
If they don't hire you, you're like a car with no engine
He catches you off guard
We were lost in the rain... silent Mawengue
I begged you to love me, but you played me instead
You are the apple of my eyes, sweetheart
Where can I take you to show my love? Any suggestions?
My love, I only have one child, and I call him Daddy
God gave him life and he speaks
If he insults me and you don't defend me, I'll leave
God is on my side
Look, today I am wearing Mawete's clothes
Look today and see
A three-day-old baby doesn't cry
We take care of him but he is still a baby
Even a slight fever makes him cry
I keep making things complicated and confusing myself
That's why I love and desire you, Blaise
The wise man told me that I won't die of love sickness
My friend told me to say: my darling, I love you
Take care of the baby, he is still young
All these days, it's only been me and the baby
Today, change my food
All these days, you've been taking, my darling. Today it's my turn
I'm searching for ways to win you over, as I always have
I am counting and recounting all the times we've been together
If counting the times I've loved you is counting
I will go and get us tickets to see each other
People are normal but I always seem to have a C-section
My darling, tell me
Do you want to or not? I will go and get us tickets
Stop playing with my eggplant
Nkusu said that you were never meant to be together
The goat said he smelled bad and never took a bath
The ant said he tasted sour
The mouse said he was too skinny and never ate enough
My love, it's time to share
My love is good
It looks like you are calling out for help, and everyone hears
The shoes I have are like old, worn-out tires
Corn is my favourite thing to eat, but it's expensive
It's coming from my heart and my worries, too ...
Aigle 0041 77 814 10 69
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Très fort
Trecias
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Beaucoup de fautes d’orthographe mais c’est bon
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ok