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.
Bomengo
Koffi Olomide Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Besoin na yo eza ebele
Ba moyens tres limites kasi tokolemba te
Tokolukisa partout tolembi ko vivre sans toi
Bomengo couleur pona na yo nini
Bomengo mboka yo wapi
Tango tolelaka est-ce-que oyokaka
Toza awa mwa ebele ba mambu nanu essimbi te
Ba boules kili kili
Toyebi te soki oyo ya vraies
Chacun pour soi dieu pour tous
Est-ce-que toyaki mokili kotika bato baye basi bazua
Bongo biso tobengama ba chegues
A force ya koluka ba biens na bango
Bomengo nzela nini elekaka
Tango tolelaka est-ce-que oyokaka ee
Nzambe abosanaka te bato na ye toyebi
Un jour eza tokozua elaka se nzakomba
Mabe kaka liwa
Nzambe yoka kolela ya bana ba yo pe talela
Ba etudiants oyo basilisa kelasi ii
Kasi mosala eza kozwama kaka te ee
Fonctionnaire salaire oyo ya suka sanza
Ekokaka te pona koleisa bana
Ba yembi oyo baza na ba nuances ya bien
Kasi b'orchestres eza kozwama kaka te ee
Yango lelo toye pembeni ya mopaooo koyemba ee
C'est en forgeant dit-on que l'on devient forgeron
Le temps nous parait bien long
Toza ko tourner en rond
Recolte epesi rien de bon
Toboyi kosenga abandon
Nzambe accorder biso oya yo pardon
Bomengo nzela nini olekaka
Tango tolelaka est-ce-que oyokaka
Bomengo tala nanu cot'oyo tozali iii
Mopao sarkozya sambela bana africa
Bala bala etika kozala ya bango lompango o
The lyrics to Koffi Olomidé's song "Bomengo" are centered around the idea of love and relationships. The first verse talks about how the road of life is difficult and full of obstacles, but with the right person by your side, everything is worth it. The chorus asks questions about the significance of the color "bomengo" and the place where it comes from, emphasizing the idea that sometimes we are attracted to things or people without knowing exactly why.
The second and third verses touch on the struggles of daily life in the Congo, where students struggle to attend school and government functionaries are not paid enough to support their families. Despite these hardships, people still find joy in music and dance, as exemplified in the lines "Yango lelo toye pembeni ya mopaooo koyemba ee" which translates to "Today we dance to the sound of music."
The song's overall message seems to be about the importance of love and unity in times of hardship, and the role that music can play in bringing people together. Olomidé's charismatic vocals and the upbeat rhythms of the song create a feeling of joy and celebration, despite the challenges faced by the characters in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Nzela eza molayi ya kokoma epayi oza
The road is full of obstacles where you are.
Besoin na yo eza ebele
Your need is great.
Ba moyens tres limites kasi tokolemba te
The means are very limited and we cannot speak.
Tokolukisa partout tolembi ko vivre sans toi
I suffer everywhere, I cannot live without you.
Bomengo couleur pona na yo nini
What color is your Bomengo?
Bomengo mboka yo wapi
Where does your Bomengo come from?
Tango tolelaka est-ce-que oyokaka
When you are here, do you miss it?
Bomengo est-ce-que oyokaka lingala bomengo
Do you miss lingala Bomengo?
Toza awa mwa ebele ba mambu nanu essimbi te
We are here in great need, my pockets are empty.
Ba boules kili kili
There are many difficulties.
Toyebi te soki oyo ya vraies
We don't know if what is real is true.
Chacun pour soi dieu pour tous
Every man for himself, God for everyone.
Est-ce-que toyaki mokili kotika bato baye basi bazua
Do you want to leave this world without leaving anything behind?
Bongo biso tobengama ba chegues
We struggle with debts.
A force ya koluka ba biens na bango
They take away their belongings by force.
Bomengo nzela nini elekaka
What does Bomengo mean on the road?
Tango tolelaka est-ce-que oyokaka ee
When you're here, do you see it?
Nzambe abosanaka te bato na ye toyebi
God doesn't abandon those who belong to him.
Un jour eza tokozua elaka se nzakomba
One day, I'll get what I deserve, and I'll rest.
Mabe kaka liwa
It's not an easy task.
Nzambe yoka kolela ya bana ba yo pe talela
God, watch over the future of your children and protect them from harm.
Ba etudiants oyo basilisa kelasi ii
These students who attend this school.
Kasi mosala eza kozwama kaka te ee
But the difficulty is too much to bear.
Fonctionnaire salaire oyo ya suka sanza
The salary of a civil servant is so low.
Ekokaka te pona koleisa bana
It's not enough to pay for children's education.
Ba yembi oyo baza na ba nuances ya bien
They have the appearance of being good people.
Kasi b'orchestres eza kozwama kaka te ee
But the condition of the orchestras is too difficult to bear.
Yango lelo toye pembeni ya mopaooo koyemba ee
So today, we dance to the tune of our suffering.
C'est en forgeant dit-on que l'on devient forgeron
It is said that practice makes perfect.
Le temps nous parait bien long
Time seems so long to us.
Toza ko tourner en rond
We are turning in circles.
Recolte epesi rien de bon
The harvest yields nothing good.
Toboyi kosenga abandon
We must not give up hope.
Nzambe accorder biso oya yo pardon
God, forgive us our sins.
Bomengo nzela nini olekaka
What does Bomengo mean on the road?
Tango tolelaka est-ce-que oyokaka
When you're here, do you see it?
Bomengo tala nanu cot'oyo tozali iii
Bomengo, tell me where you come from, we're curious.
Mopao sarkozya sambela bana africa
Mopao Sarkozy, dance for the children of Africa.
Bala bala etika kozala ya bango lompango o
Dance, dance until your bodies become sore.
Writer(s): Koffi Olomide
Contributed by Cameron G. 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
on Tchernobyl
Très fort
Trecias
on eputsha
Beaucoup de fautes d’orthographe mais c’est bon
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on Victoire (Live)
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