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.
Mboka
Lokua Kanza Lyrics
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Baye ba vandi na zelo
Mayi ya pamba ekoma nde olo
Yo ndeko esengi te obanzaka
Mokili ezali kobeba boye
Mokili eza kobeba boye
Keba
Keba oza nde kolimwa
Mikolo na mikolo
Fungola miso na yo pe tala pembeni
Na yo
Tango ekoki ya kolamuka
Kanisa ba oyo bazangi bozwi
Naleli pasi ya boye po nini
Ebongi tolamuka
Naleli pasi ya boye esila libela
Po na libela
In the song "Mboka," Lokua Kanza sings about the struggles of separation from one's homeland. The opening line "Mboka na mwinda oza koyeba te" translates to "My country, in the evening, you are not aware." Here, the artist expresses his sadness that his homeland is not aware of all that is happening to him. He then goes on to say "Baye ba vandi na zelo," meaning "The wind has taken my friends away." The wind metaphorically represents the forces of migration that have separated the artist from his loved ones.
In the next verse, Lokua Kanza sings "Mayi ya pamba ekoma nde olo, Yo ndeko esengi te obanzaka, Mokili ezali kobeba boye." This translates to "The white man's water has become scarce, your brother cannot find any, the world is becoming a difficult place." Here, the artist is alluding to the challenges of finding one's place in a new land. He feels like a stranger and is struggling to find his way.
The chorus of the song is a call for unity and togetherness. "Keba keba oza nde kolimwa, Mikolo na mikolo, Fungola miso na yo pe tala pembeni, Na yo" translates to "Come together, come together, and let's have fun; every day, look into each other's eyes and walk together." The artist is urging his fellow migrants to stick together and support each other during this difficult time.
Overall, "Mboka" is a heartfelt and poignant song about the challenges of migration and the longing for home.
Line by Line Meaning
Mboka na mwinda oza koyeba te
You don't know your homeland even with the bright sun
Baye ba vandi na zelo
The people are suffering in silence
Mayi ya pamba ekoma nde olo
Cornmeal has become scarce
Yo ndeko esengi te obanzaka
You can't find your sibling even if you search
Mokili ezali kobeba boye
The world is turning upside down
Mokili eza kobeba boye
The world is upside down
Molimo na yo, ezangi nde moyi
Your mission is what gives you life
Keba
Listen
Keba oza nde kolimwa
Listen, this is what is being said
Mikolo na mikolo
Years upon years
Fungola miso na yo pe tala pembeni
Open your eyes wide and look to your side
Na yo
It's yours
Tango ekoki ya kolamuka
When the time comes to wake up
Kanisa ba oyo bazangi bozwi
The church bells are ringing
Naleli pasi ya boye po nini
I'm lying at the foot of the mountain, why?
Ebongi tolamuka
In the evening, we rise
Naleli pasi ya boye esila libela
I'm lying at the foot of the mountain watching the butterflies
Po na libela
Where I watch
Writer(s): Sylvain Luc, Kanza Lokua
Contributed by Landon K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.