Born and brought up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo M'bilia Bel became successful in the mid-1980s when she recorded and toured with Tabu Ley Rochereau, and made her own solo albums. The birth of her first child prompted her to take a break from performing, however, and after a last album with Ley in 1987, she moved to Paris. There she started working with guitarist Rigo Star, and between 1989 and 1990 she went on to tour the United States, the United Kingdom, and West Africa.
She has released 4 albums since 1990. Her most recent, Belissimo, was released in 2004. M'bilia continues to wear her crown as Queen of Congolese rumba.
Wendenda
M'bilia Bel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mpinga nakusukukatela utangila bana bebe
Aana katikatilaa kachawia anuwa mbios
Nakwabuuu katikasama
Mpingaa nakusuku
Wendenda Wendenda mukwetu ah
Mpinga nakusukukatela utangila bana bebe
Nakwabuuu katikasama
Mpingaa nakusuku
Wanganga chibuli towazu yo yo yo
Wendenda kulangami kwanganingi
Meme kadinyanamikela dya meji yo yo yo
Susi wa manango namacheni badibana bebe cha banabika tumiakwebe
Wanganga chibuli towazu yo yo yo
Wendenda kulangami kwanganingi
Meme kadinyanamikela dya meji yo yo yo
Susi wa manango namacheni badibana bebe cha banabika tumiakwebe
Wanganga chibuli towazu yo yo yo
Wendenda kulangami kwanganingi
Meme kadinyanamikela dya meji yo yo yo
Susi wa manango namacheni badibana bebe cha banabika tumiakwebe
Wanganga chibuli towazu yo yo yo
Wendenda kulangami kwanganingi
Meme kadinyanamikela dya meji yo yo yo
Susi wa manango namacheni badibana bebe cha banabika tumiakwebe
Chiwa kumona chini chidi chitotota mafutaku
Chiwa kumona chini chidi katiyapa
Mulanga wanyi wamanya chikunyanga
Chiba uchichikupatamushi walongolalami
Chiwa kumona chini chidi chitotota mafutaku
Chiwa kumona chini chidi katiyapa
Mulanga wanyi wamanya chikunyanga
Chiba uchichikupatamushi walongolalami
Chiwa kumona chini chidi chitotota mafutaku
Chiwa kumona chini chidi katiyapa
Mulanga wanyi wamanya chikunyanga
Chiba uchichikupatamushi walongolalami
The lyrics of M'bilia Bel's song "Wendenda" are in Lingala, a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of Angola and the Central African Republic. The song tells a story of a woman who is struggling with a difficult marriage. She pleads with her partner to stop mistreating her and their children, begging him to change. The opening lines of the song, "Wendenda Wendenda mukwetu ah / Mpinga nakusukukatela utangila bana bebe," roughly translate to "Wendenda, oh my dear, / The pain you cause me and our children is unbearable." She describes how their children are crying and how she is struggling to cope.
The song also features the use of traditional African musical instruments, including the thumb piano and the xylophone, which gives it a distinctly African sound. The chorus of the song, "Wanganga chibuli towazu yo yo yo / Wendenda kulangami kwanganingi," is a call-and-response style of singing that is common in African music. The song ends with the woman still pleading for her partner to change his ways, but with no clear resolution in sight. The lyrics of "Wendenda" are a poignant reflection of the struggles faced by many African women in difficult marriages.
Line by Line Meaning
Wendenda Wendenda mukwetu ah
Let’s go, let’s go, my friend
Mpinga nakusukukatela utangila bana bebe
I’m tired of carrying my children on my back
Aana katikatilaa kachawia anuwa mbios
They cry, they’re hungry and there’s no more food
Nakwabuuu katikasama
I’m carrying so much weight
Wanganga chibuli towazu yo yo yo
The healer is singing and dancing
Wendenda kulangami kwanganingi
Let’s go and find good luck
Meme kadinyanamikela dya meji yo yo yo
I’m the one who’s responsible for taking care of these children
Susi wa manango namacheni badibana bebe cha banabika tumiakwebe
I’m sick and tired of hearing my children cry and I don’t know what to do
Chiwa kumona chini chidi chitotota mafutaku
Look at the beautiful sunset with its beautiful colors
Chiwa kumona chini chidi katiyapa
Look at the stars in the beautiful sky
Mulanga wanyi wamanya chikunyanga
My heart is beating so fast
Chiba uchichikupatamushi walongolalami
It feels like my heart might jump out of my chest
Contributed by Elliot P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.