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.

Mapendo
Lokua Kanza Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mapendo tuko na tafuta iko na lala ndani ya roho yako!
Juu ya nini tuko na uwana? Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Hakuna majibu kweli! Paka ruka saa nawe!
Alakini tuta ji kaza ngufu siku moja kwa nguvu ya Mungu tumecheka!
Mapendo, tuko na tafuta, iko na lala ndani ya roho yako!
Juu ya nini tuko na uwana? Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Hakuna majibu ya kweli di! Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Oh oh! Tupendane wandugu! Leo ni siku yaku pendana!

Tuta ji kaza nguvu juu ya mapendo! Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Mapendo tuko na tafuta! Iko na lala ndani ya roho yako
Juu ya nini tuko na uwana? Leo ni siku yaku pendana.
Leo ni siku yaku pendana weeee! Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Leo ni leo, leo njo leo!

Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Fin...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lokua Kanza's song "Mapendo" carry a message of love and unity. "Mapendo tuko na tafuta" translates to "we have love and we search for it" while "iko na lala ndani ya roho yako" means that love lies deep inside one's heart. The song emphasizes the importance of love in our lives and the need to cherish and nurture it. The lines "Juu ya nini tuko na uwana? Leo ni siku yaku pendana!" encourages us to reflect on the reasons why we are alive, and to live each day to the fullest by loving and caring for each other.

The song also acknowledges that sometimes we may not have answers to life's big questions, but we can overcome difficulties with the strength and power of God. The poignant line "Hakuna majibu ya kweli di!" translates to "there are no true answers", suggesting that we should focus on what is in our control - the love we give and receive. The repeated line "Leo ni siku yaku pendana!" (Today is the day of love) reinforces the message of the song and encourages us to celebrate love every day. Overall, "Mapendo" is a soulful and beautiful song that reminds us of the power of love and its ability to heal and unite us.

Line by Line Meaning

Mapendo tuko na tafuta iko na lala ndani ya roho yako!
We are all searching for love that lies dormant in your heart.

Juu ya nini tuko na uwana? Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Why are we enemies? Today is the day to love one another!

Hakuna majibu kweli! Paka ruka saa nawe!
There are no real answers! Just jump in with both feet!

Alakini tuta ji kaza ngufu siku moja kwa nguvu ya Mungu tumecheka!
But we will persevere one day and we will laugh with the strength of God!

Oh oh! Tupendane wandugu! Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Oh oh! Let's love each other brothers and sisters! Today is the day to love!

Tuta ji kaza nguvu juu ya mapendo! Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
We will strengthen ourselves in love! Today is the day to love!

Mapendo tuko na tafuta! Iko na lala ndani ya roho yako
We are all searching for love! It lies dormant in your heart.

Leo ni siku yaku pendana weeee! Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Today is the day to love! Today is the day to love!

Leo ni leo, leo njo leo!
Today is today, today is the day!

Leo ni siku yaku pendana!
Today is the day to love!

Writer(s): Lokua Kanza

Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.