In 1971, two brothers from the coastal region of Tanga, Tanzania, Wilson and George Kinyonga formed a band they would call Simba Wanyika, a Swahili for Savannah Lions. Due to unsteady economic conditions in [Tanzania] in the 70s which strained the music industry, most of the artists of that time migrated to Kenya and other neighbouring countries in search of greener environments. It's no wonder that some of these artists became citizens of those countries. During that time, travelling between the two countries was made easy by the East African community, a tripartite agreement of understanding among Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. After the collapse of the community in 1977, border crossings were made difficult, hence the eventual establishment of permanent base in Kenya by the group. With its development and growth, the band created several offshoots, but most notable was/is Les Wanyika. It's one thing for an artist to migrate in search of career betterment and quite another when a country falsely claims ownership of certain artists who belongs to another country for the sole purpose of looking good and seeking prominence. The so can be said of the song Malaika which originated in Tanzania, cartoonist Geofrey "Gado" Mwampembwa who is a Tanzanian working for the Nation Newspaper in Kenya and the overall location of the mount Kilimanjaro. The Kenyans have been very good on this profession. With Les Wanyika, new members of the group included both Tanzanians and Kenyans. The famous John Ngereza, Issa Juma and Omar Shabani were all from Tanzania, and one Tom Malanga was from Kenya. This band established a permanent base in Nairobi, playing in nightclubs and on various resorts. Most of the group members have either died or fallen victims of age toll.
In 2006, the group was reformed with a new line up
Barua Yako
Les Wanyika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nia yako tupendane wawili oo
Sikatai lakini kitu kimoja
Naogopa ee naogopa
Wanaokupenda watanipa taabu
Mimi masikini ee naogopa
Hali yangu ya unyonge sijiwezi oo ah mama
Mabaya mengi yatanifuata fuata
Na mimi mwenzio kamwe sijivuni oo
Nakuomba ee ufikiri oo ah mama.
Nakupenda lakini naogopa, Naogopa
Barua yako nimekwisha ipata sheri,
Nia yako tupendane wawili oo
Sikatai lakini kitu kimoja
Naogopa ee naogopa
Wanaokupenda watanipa taabu
Mimi masikini ee naogopa
Hali yangu ya unyonge sijiwezi oo ah mama
Elewa wazi kama tutapendana oo
Mabaya mengi yatanifuata fuata
Na mimi mwenzio kamwe sijivuni oo
Nakuomba ee ufikiri oo ah mama.
Ukweli nakupenda lakini naogopa
Kwani sitoweza kukabili wale wako
Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda
Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga
Kupendana raha takapotupata balaa
tuepuke mama, bibi mama, tuepuke mama ,mama tuepuke
Ukweli nakupenda lakini naogopa
Kwani sitoweza kukabili wale wako
Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda
Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga
Kupendana raha takapotupata balaa
tuepuke mama, bibi mama, tuepuke mama ,mama tuepuke
Ukweli nakupenda lakini naogopa
Kwani sitoweza kukabili wale wako
Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda
Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga
The song Barua Yako by Les Wanyika talks about a man who has received a letter from someone he loves but is afraid of committing to the relationship. The first verse talks about how he has received the letter from his love interest and his intention is to love her back. However, he is afraid of the challenges that may come with being in this relationship. He is scared that those who love her already will cause trouble for him because he is poor and cannot defend himself. He acknowledges that he is weak and this situation could cause him trouble.
In the second verse, he continues to plead with his love interest to understand that they can love each other but he is afraid of the repercussions. He knows that people who love her already, including family members, will make it difficult for him to be with her. He, therefore, asks her to think about it before making any decision. The third verse is a repetition of the first and second verses.
The song is a cautionary tale about the challenges of love when there is no financial security. The man is in love but is afraid of the financial responsibilities that come with it. He is afraid of borrowing money for a wedding that he may not be able to pay back or being unable to take care of his partner in hard times. The lyrics encourage people to think about the financial implications of love before committing to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Barua yako nimekwisha ipata sheri,
I have received your letter, but it has caused me trouble
Nia yako tupendane wawili oo
You want us to love each other
Sikatai lakini kitu kimoja
I don't refuse, but there is one thing
Naogopa ee naogopa
I am afraid, I am afraid
Wanaokupenda watanipa taabu
Those who love you will give me trouble
Mimi masikini ee naogopa
I am poor and I am afraid
Hali yangu ya unyonge sijiwezi oo ah mama
I am in a state of weakness, I cannot do it, oh mother
Elewa wazi kama tutapendana oo
Understand clearly that if we love each other
Mabaya mengi yatanifuata fuata
Many bad things will follow me
Na mimi mwenzio kamwe sijivuni oo
And I, your equal, will never be proud
Nakuomba ee ufikiri oo ah mama.
I beg you to think about it, oh mother
Nakupenda lakini naogopa, Naogopa
I love you but I am afraid, I am afraid
Ukweli nakupenda lakini naogopa
The truth is, I love you but I am afraid
Kwani sitoweza kukabili wale wako
Because I cannot deal with those who love you
Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda, Wanaokupenda
Those who love you, those who love you, those who love you, those who love you
Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga
Borrowing for a wedding to pay for a funeral
Kupendana raha takapotupata balaa
Loving each other now will bring us trouble later
tuepuke mama, bibi mama, tuepuke mama ,mama tuepuke
Let's avoid mothers, grandmothers, let's avoid mothers, let's avoid
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dozsinah
I love the song remind me back to innocent days congratulation Les wanyika.
Jmutua
Old School songs are the best for me!
@user-wd9gq3lu1s
Kama bado una tizama hizo ngoma gonga like zako hapa
@farecogero7622
2023 Who is here for this jam 🔥
@clintonodera5311
It's June 2023 and the song is still 🔥 👌
@sofianjozi7791
Faya
@jackbelle8211
I'm here in 2024. It's still relevant and oozes wisdom and truth.
@henrychaula1174
Gorgeous, please like as many as possible if you agree with me that the guys made an everlasting very loving song
@danielotieno9252
This song reminds me the period of radio cassete,great wall TV,pasi ya makaa na blueband ya mkebe.God bless Kenya
@adhiambogorrety3807
I see my mom dancing whenever I listen to this song🎉😂.