Lokua Kanza is a singer, songwriter, and composer from the Democratic Repub… Read Full Bio ↴Lokua Kanza is a singer, songwriter, and composer from the Democratic Republic of Congo (the greater Congo). He is known for his soulful, folksy sound, which is atypical of the dancefloor friendly soukous music that is common in Congo.

Lokua Kanza was born Pascal Lokua Kanza in 1958 in Bukavu, in the province of Kivu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the eldest of eight children, with a Mongo father and a Tutsi mother from Rwanda. In 1964, the family went to live in Kinshasa (Congo's capital) in a middle class area, until the day when Pascal's father, a ship's captain, died. His mother then moved to a much poorer area of the city, and Lokua, the eldest, had to work to feed the family. He therefore went to school part time, and took odd jobs, as well as singing in churches. Lokua Kanza sings in French, Lingala, and English.

Liteya
Lokua Kanza Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Lokua Kanza)
Mwana na ngaï soki lelo to lobi ngaï na we
Liteya nini na koki kopesa yo
Batela bomoyi na yo sala ngele
Moto nionso na mokili akoluka akoma na bomengo
Kasi bomengo ya solo mwana na ngaï
Eza bomengo ya molimo yoka eh
Mwana na ngaï

Mwana na ngaï kumisa nzambe
Akela yo pe batela bomoyi na yo
Koboma moto te epayi nionso yo
Okokendeke
Mwana na ngaï sala ngele epayi yo okotiya ma kolo

Sala ngele ye mwana na ngaï yo (bis)
Mwana na ngaï (bis) sala ngele mwana na ngaï

Overall Meaning

In Lokua Kanza's song Liteya, the lyrics are sung in Lingala, a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of Central Africa. The song begins with the line "Mwana na ngaï soki lelo to lobi ngaï na we," which translates to "My child, if today I don't tell you." The song is essentially a conversation between a parent and child, with the parent offering advice and guidance to their child.

The main message of the song is about the importance of staying true to oneself and not being swayed by external forces or the opinions of others. The line "Batela bomoyi na yo sala ngele" translates to "Protect your life, keep it for yourself," emphasizing the need for self-preservation and not being too influenced by others. The line "Moto nionso na mokili akoluka akoma na bomengo" translates to "Everyone in the world is looking for their place," and highlights the universal desire for belonging and finding one's purpose.

In the chorus, Lokua Kanza encourages his child to trust in God and not give up, using the phrase "Mwana na ngaï kumisa nzambe" which means "My child, trust in God." The final lines of the song express the parent's love and support for their child, ending with "Sala ngele mwana na ngaï," or "Keep your life for yourself, my child."

Line by Line Meaning

Mwana na ngaï soki lelo to lobi ngaï na we
My child, if today I'm not here with you

Liteya nini na koki kopesa yo
What kind of gift can I give you?

Batela bomoyi na yo sala ngele
Give your life to God

Moto nionso na mokili akoluka akoma na bomengo
Everyone in the world is looking for happiness

Kasi bomengo ya solo mwana na ngaï
But my child, true happiness

Eza bomengo ya molimo yoka eh
Comes from the love of God

Mwana na ngaï
My child,

Mwana na ngaï kumisa nzambe
My child, praise God

Akela yo pe batela bomoyi na yo
Only He can give you eternal life

Koboma moto te epayi nionso yo
Don't depend on anyone else

Okokendeke
Be strong