For the ingredients to work their alchemy, Lëk Sèn needed to be at ease in front of the microphone singing very different musical material from what he was used to. His relationship of trust with his partners played a crucial role: he was accompanied by the same team that had worked on the album of his group SSK, which was a finalist at the RFI Découvertes in 2007.
Extra spice came from a selection of guests from diverse backgrounds: Amadou Bagayoko was there (without Mariam) to add a Malian flavour with his guitar, Medhi Haddad with his creative oud, the veteran Jamaican Kiddus I, and chorus singer Julia Sarr performing alongside all those African stars.
Without ever meeting him, Sèn encounters Tiken Jah Fakoly version 2010: some tracks in their respective albums are undeniable cousins. But although both emphasize an acoustic atmosphere influenced by reggae and share a similar sound (the Ivoirian singer’s sound engineer did the mixing on Burn), the Senegalese man’s songs are more wild and raw, at times heavy with rock and at others hypnotic, like in Massamba.
The vocals are deep and slightly nasal, something like Shaggy, the guitar rhythms provide the structure, and the omnipresent percussion mostly does a good job replacing the drums, with a Mellotron discreetly filling in the background.
No need to add flavour enhancer, the ingredients taste good enough on their own.
Ndobine
Lëk Sèn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ndobino bëgë naaw mais mumuko
Ndax laaf yi la kéro
Will Ndobino bëgë naaw mais mumuko
Ndax laaf yi la kéro
wadiour yi gnu ngi sét sen dome ndobine
Ndobino mom ngi sét wadiour .
wadiour yi gnu ngi sét sen dome ndobine
fi mu neek ni, yermandé la saku mom
fi mu neek ni,mom deh weet na .
Ndobino bëgë naaw ,Ndobino
Ndobino bëgë naaw mais mumuko
Ndax laaf yi la kéro
Ndobine mom li bëgue moy fly ba way home
Ndobine mom li bëgue moy fly ba way home
Dafa bëguë guiss baay ndobino
Dafa bëguë guiss yaay ndobino
Freedom yo freedom
Freedom freedom ,we all deserve to know
what is freedom
ohhh la la oh la la la lé
oh yeah mama yeah i and sing for your freedom
oh yeah Africa i and sing for your freedom
Ndobino , Ndobino , Ndobino , Ndobino
Ndobino bëgë naaw mais mumuko
Ndax laaf yi la kéro
The song "Ndobine," by Lek Sen, is a powerful statement about freedom and the struggle to achieve it. The repeated refrain of "Ndobino bëgë naaw, Ndobino" is a call to action, encouraging people to stand up and fight for their rights. The lyrics speak of the need for unity and support in the struggle, with lines like "wadiour yi gnu ngi sét sen dome ndobine" - "we need each other to win the fight for freedom."
There are also references to the sacrifices that people have made in the fight for freedom, with lines like "Ndobino mom li bëgue moy fly ba way home" - "Ndobino is flying home on the wings of sacrifice." The song acknowledges that this struggle is ongoing, with lines like "Freedom yo freedom, we all deserve to know what is freedom." Ultimately, the message of the song is one of hope and resilience, encouraging people to keep fighting for their freedom and their rights.
Overall, "Ndobine" is a powerful anthem of resistance and solidarity in the face of oppression. It speaks to the ongoing struggle for freedom and the need for unity and support in that struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Ndobino bëgë naaw ,Ndobino
Ndobino, I call your name, Ndobino
Ndobino bëgë naaw mais mumuko
Ndobino, I call your name, but no one answers
Ndax laaf yi la kéro
Where are the people who used to listen to your words?
Will Ndobino bëgë naaw mais mumuko
Do your words still have meaning, Ndobino?
Ndobino mom ngi sét wadiour .
Ndobino, you are the one who knows the truth.
wadiour yi gnu ngi sét sen dome ndobine
The truth is hidden behind the veil of Ndobino's words.
Ndobino mom ngi sét wadiour .
Ndobino, you are the one who knows the truth.
fi mu neek ni,mom deh weet na .
Even if I'm lost, I know you'll guide me.
fi mu neek ni, yermandé la saku mom
Even if I'm lost, I'll always come back to you.
Ndobine mom li bëgue moy fly ba way home
Ndobino, lead me back to my true home.
Ndobine mom li bëgue moy fly ba way home
Ndobino, lead me back to my true home.
Dafa bëguë guiss baay ndobino
We all seek enlightenment with Ndobino.
Dafa bëguë guiss yaay ndobino
We are all seeking the same truth with Ndobino.
Freedom yo freedom
Freedom, oh freedom
Freedom freedom ,we all deserve to know what is freedom
We all deserve to experience and understand freedom, and what it truly means.
ohhh la la oh la la la lé
Soulful, joyful singing
oh yeah mama yeah i and sing for your freedom
Oh yeah, mama, I am singing for your freedom.
oh yeah Africa i and sing for your freedom
Oh yeah, Africa, I am singing for your freedom.
Ndobino , Ndobino , Ndobino , Ndobino
Ndobino, Ndobino, Ndobino, Ndobino
Ndobino bëgë naaw mais mumuko
Ndobino, I call your name, but no one answers
Ndax laaf yi la kéro
Where are the people who used to listen to your words?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Puppa Lëk Sèn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hieronymus9
so how many others came here thinking it might be a cover of Youssou N'Dour's song and got blown away?
@mokhtarniang2786
Tasty as usual 🎼🎶🎧🙏🏿 !
Lëk Sèn 🇸🇳😍🙏🏿!
From Richard-Toll in the north of Sénégal 🇸🇳 !
@diery_dm
One of my friends mamadou ba ( aliou ) introduced me to your music , very good man , keep it up
@user-xh4dw5fq7q
Merci beaucoup ❤❤❤
@LekSenChampionsound
Merci pour le love les amis !puppa lek sen
@gpocobelli2807
c'est de la baume pour mon ame avec les temps qui courent....
@omarmbengue1112
LA FIERTE DE TOUT UN VILLAGE NGOR EST DERRIERE TOI béguééééé
@niakhaletraore7952
Bravo et bonne continuation.Enfin autre chose que du mbalakh.merci ,merci LEK SENE.Tres belle musique.
@fodefaye4530
Jadore lou nice
@eX1771
Still powerful after all these years.