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.

Olimbisa Ngai
Lokua Kanza Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

na ye, na ye kosenga bolimbisi eh
nandimi eh mabe nasalaki yo

moto nionso akosalaka mabe ye
moto nionso akosalaka fauti ye
limbise moninga eh

boni yo wo wo wo

olimbisa ngai

boni yo wo wo wo - yo siliki boye
boni yo wo wo wo - yo tombokaka boye eh eh
nakomemela yo floio na tanda na mabele ayi
nakokumbela yo sanza na likolo po yo ondima te
ngai nalingaka yo

yo wa ngai
Olimbisa ngai

yo wa ngai
na motemba ye eh eh eya
Olimbisa ngai

boni yo wo wo wo - yo siliki boye
boni yo wo wo wo

mama wo eh ye

mama
oh oh olibisa ngai

Overall Meaning

The song "Olimbisa Ngai" by Lokua Kanza is a heartfelt plea to God to answer the singer's prayers. In the first verse, the singer asks for God's forgiveness (kosenga bolimbisi eh) and admits his weakness and mistakes (nandimi eh mabe nasalaki yo). The next verse explores how everyone, regardless of their station in life, struggles and makes mistakes (moto nionso akosalaka mabe ye, moto nionso akosalaka fauti ye). Despite this, the singer asks his friend to pray for him (limbise moninga eh).

The chorus is a repetition of the title, "Olimbisa Ngai," translated as "Answer Me, Lord." The singer pleads for God's mercy and help (nakomemela yo floio na tanda na mabele ayi, nakokumbela yo sanza na likolo po yo ondima te), confessing his love and trust in God (ngai nalingaka yo, yo wa ngai). The final verse is a tribute to a mother figure (mama wo eh ye, mama), and a repetition of the chorus.

Overall, the song is an introspective and emotional plea for help, forgiveness, and guidance from a higher power.

Line by Line Meaning

na ye, na ye kosenga bolimbisi eh
I, I pray and ask for your mercy

nandimi eh mabe nasalaki yo
Because of my sins, I do not deserve your love

moto nionso akosalaka mabe ye
Everyone has committed a wrong against you

moto nionso akosalaka fauti ye
Everyone has gone astray

limbise moninga eh
Listen to me, my friend

boni yo wo wo wo
Look at me

olimbisa ngai
Have mercy on me

yo siliki boye
You are my shepherd

yo tombokaka boye eh eh
You are my protector

nakomemela yo floio na tanda na mabele ayi
I put my trust in you, in good and bad times