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.
Wapi Yo
Lokua Kanza Lyrics
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Tango ngaï na lelaka
Moto andima ngaï te
Tango ngaï na belelaka yo
Wapi yo
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh ye
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï okeyi wapi
Wapi yo oh wapi yo bolingo na ngaï
Soki lelo olobi yo oboya ngaï
Na kosuka wapi ye ngaï ya oh ngaï ye eh
Mama ah ah
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Ya bolingo ye eh
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï
Bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï nani
Akolinga ngaï
Ye... (wapi okeyi wapi bolingo na ngaï)
Wapi yo (bis)
Choeur: bolingo na ngaï
Voix parlée: bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï
Naniakolinga ngaï lokola yo
Nani soki yo te nani
Bolingo na ngaï
Choeurs: wapi yo
Soki otiki ngaï nani akolinga ngaï
Wapi yo (ad lib)
The lyrics to Lokua Kanza's song "Wapi Yo" are a beautiful expression of love and longing. The singer describes how he is searching for his beloved, asking where she is and hoping to be reunited with her. He talks about how he cannot sleep or eat because he is so consumed with thoughts of her. The chorus repeats the question "Wapi yo," which means "Where are you?" in Lingala, a language commonly spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of Central Africa.
The song's verses are filled with vivid imagery, such as the line "Mayi ya miso ekotanga," which means "Tears fall from my eyes." He also mentions "Na kosuka wapi ye ngaï ya oh ngaï," which means "I wander, where am I going, oh me." This line speaks to the singer's sense of disorientation and confusion as he searches for his beloved.
Throughout the song, Lokua Kanza's soulful voice is accompanied by beautiful guitar and percussion, creating a haunting and emotional atmosphere. The song's message of longing and love is universal, and its poetic imagery and beautiful melodies make it a standout track.
Line by Line Meaning
Tango ngaï na lelaka
When I was born
Moto andima ngaï te
No one knew me
Tango ngaï na belelaka yo
When I came to this world
Wapi yo
Where were you?
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Tears are falling
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Because of my love
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Who will sing for me
Ya bolingo ye eh
About my love
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh ye
Where were you, my love?
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï okeyi wapi
Where were you when I needed you?
Wapi yo oh wapi yo bolingo na ngaï
Where were you, my love?
Soki lelo olobi yo oboya ngaï
If you come back today
Na kosuka wapi ye ngaï ya oh ngaï ye eh
Where will I find you, my love?
Mama ah ah
Mother, oh
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Tears are falling
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Because of my love
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Who will sing for me
Ya bolingo ye eh
About my love
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh
Where were you, my love?
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï
Where were you, my love?
Bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï nani
My love, if you hear me
Akolinga ngaï
Love me
Ye... (wapi okeyi wapi bolingo na ngaï)
Where were you, my love?
Wapi yo (bis)
Where were you?
Choeur: bolingo na ngaï
Chorus: My love
Voix parlée: bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï
Spoken word: My love, if you hear me
Naniakolinga ngaï lokola yo
Who will love me like you do
Nani soki yo te nani
Who, if not you
Bolingo na ngaï
My love
Choeurs: wapi yo
Chorus: Where were you?
Soki otiki ngaï nani akolinga ngaï
If you hear me, love me
Wapi yo (ad lib)
Where were you?
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Lokua Kanza
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mère Josée Moziki
Quand je pleure, personne ne m'écoute.
Quand je crie. Où es tu?
J'ai des pleurs parce que mon amour s'en est parti.
Qui pourra chanter pour moi une chanson d'amour.
Où es-tu ?
Où es-tu mon amour
Que vais-je devenir sans toi
When I cry, nobody listens to me.
When I cry. Where are you?
I am crying because my love is gone.
Who will sing for me a love song.
Where are you?
Where are you my love
What will become of me without you
Angelo Igitego
Lingala lyrics
---------------------
Tango ngaï na lelaka
Moto andima ngaï te
Tango ngaï na belelaka yo
Wapi yo
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Ya bolingo ye eh
Wapi yo,
Wapi yo, ye eh ye
wapi yo oh, oh bolingo na ngaï
Soki lelo olobi yo oboya ngaï
Na kosuka wapi ye ngaï ya oh ngaï ye eh
Mama ah ah
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Ya bolingo
Wapi yo,
Wapi yo ye eh
Wapi yo, oh bolingo na ngaï
Wapi yo...
Akolinga ngaï
Ye...
Wapi yo
Bolingo na ngaï
Bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï
Naniakolinga ngaï lokola yo
Nani soki yo te nani
Bolingo na ngaï...
Wapi yo,
Wapi yo ye eh
Wapi yo, oh bolingo na ngaï
Wapi yo...
Hernany Gaspar
Ces’t parole
Tango ngaï na lelaka
Moto andima ngaï te
Tango ngaï na belelaka yo
Wapi yo
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Ya bolingo ye eh
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh ye
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï okeyi wapi
Wapi yo oh wapi yo bolingo na ngaï
Soki lelo olobi yo oboya ngaï
Na kosuka wapi ye ngaï ya oh ngaï ye eh
Mama ah ah
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Ya bolingo ye eh
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï
Bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï nani
Akolinga ngaï
Ye... (wapi okeyi wapi bolingo na ngaï)
Wapi yo (bis)
Choeur: bolingo na ngaï
Voix parlée: bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï
Naniakolinga ngaï lokola yo
Nani soki yo te nani
Bolingo na ngaï
Choeurs: wapi yo
Soki otiki ngaï nani akolinga ngaï
Wapi yo (ad lib)
Firmino Nimi
Tango ngaï na lelaka
Moto andima ngaï te
Tango ngaï na belelaka yo
Wapi yo
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Ya bolingo ye eh
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh ye
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï okeyi wapi
Wapi yo oh wapi yo bolingo na ngaï
Soki lelo olobi yo oboya ngaï
Na kosuka wapi ye ngaï ya oh ngaï ye eh
Mama ah ah
Mayi ya miso ekotanga
Bolingo na ngaï akeyi eh
Nani akoyembela ngaï nzembo
Ya bolingo ye eh
Wapi yo, (bis) ye eh
Wapi yo oh bolingo na ngaï
Bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï nani
Akolinga ngaï
Ye... (wapi okeyi wapi bolingo na ngaï)
Wapi yo (bis)
Choeur: bolingo na ngaï
Voix parlée: bolingo na ngaï soki otiki ngaï
Naniakolinga ngaï lokola yo
Nani soki yo te nani
Bolingo na ngaï
Choeurs: wapi yo
Soki otiki ngaï nani akolinga ngaï
Wapi yo
Laurence de SUSANNE
I never stop loving the music of Lokua Kanza.
Je n'ai jamais cessé d'aimer intensément la musique de Lokua Kanza.
Angélica Gékinha
This song is simply wonderfull. This song was made by God. I can't understand your words, but i can understand your meaning. Lokua, this song is a gift to me and my wife. Thank you so much to made it!
Peter Verlinden
C'est simplement d'une qualité mondiale.
Nilsa Nicholson
This music is magnificent! Amo você Lokua! 🎼💓🎶
António Valdemiro Enoque
Toca no íntimo
Benedito Manuel Quilola
Um dos melhores músicos Africanos, I like this Sir.
António Valdemiro Enoque
Dono de uma voz incrível
Die Wahrheit
Wunderschöne Musik ❤️😘
Jean Marie Dominique Fall
Un véritable génie je ne comprends pas les paroles mais trop doux
Julio Cesar Molina Acero
Hermosa Mùsica, un gran abrazo desde Colombia.Sur Amèrica.-