He has collaborated with many musicians, including Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Sly and Robbie. In 1998 he recored the album CubAfrica with Cuban artist Eliades Ochoa .
His Soul Makossa is often considered the first disco record (Jones and Kantonen, 1999). Prominent and loved by his country, he just celebrated his 50th musical anniversary in Cameroon, where he was greatly supported by the wife of the president of Cameroon.
Manu Dibango was the sole African who exposed African traditional music to the western world. His style took the world by storm when the American superstar, Michael Jackson took Manu's Soul Makossa which featured in Jackson's album in You wanna be startin' Something.[i/] This same hit today vibrates the music chart which featuresAkon. Obviously, Jackson lost the suit and had to pay the African Saxophonist for Damage.
He has influenced so much Africans and buyam sellam has been modeled in an eclassified. cameroon jobs,accomodation, www.buyamsellam.org
Wema
Manu Dibango Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nu ta na mba
O bo bunya bwa ndutu eehh
Ongèlè mba o munyengè eehh
Yo oohh Sè mbana Oa (oa)
Nu ta na mba eeeh
O bo bunya bwa ndutu eehh
Ongèlè mba o munyengè eehh
Nika nde nyé ndongo lasu eehh
O wasé wan iihh
Ayo oohh Munyènguè na ndutu eehhh
Nika nde nyé ndongo lasu eehh
O wasé wan iihh
Moto èi wondo binyo yé nde nika
Longè ma womba nka
Ndutu eehh E buki tè oa eehh
Ongèlè na bunya bo pèpè
O mende bè muyengè
Ayo oohh Mbana ndutu eeeh
E buki tè oa eeeh
Ongèlè na bunya bo pèpè
O mende bè muyenge
Yo oohh ongèlè mba,
Ongèlè mba muléma sésé ongèlè mba, ongèlè mba muléma sésé
Oa (oa) Nu ta na mba
O bo bunya bwa ndutu eeeh
Ongèlè mba o munyengè eeeh
Ayo oohh mbana Oa
Nu ta na mba eehh
O bo bunya bwa ndutu eeeh
Ongèlè mba o munyengè eehh yo ooh
The song "Wema" is sung by Manu Dibango in a language native to Cameroon called Douala. The lyrics, although difficult to translate precisely, evoke a sense of hypnotic, rhythmic chant that seems to call upon mysterious spirits. The repeated lines "oa/nu ta na mba," for example, may suggest a trance-like state, while the phrases "o munyengè" and "o bo bunya bwa ndutu" could relate to the idea of possession or being entranced by a powerful force. The repeated "yo oohh" and "ayo oohh" seem to add to the sense of a ritualistic chant meant to summon something beyond human comprehension.
Overall, the song "Wema" seems to explore themes of spirituality, possession, and the power of music to transcend language and culture. The Douala language adds to the sense of mystery and otherworldliness, creating a sonic experience that is difficult to put into words but captivating nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
Oa
I am
Nu ta na mba
I am born
O bo bunya bwa ndutu eehh
I am at the center of the world
Ongèlè mba o munyengè eehh
I am the master of the earth
Yo oohh Sè mbana Oa (oa)
Listen to me, I am the king
Munyèngè na ndutu eehhh
I control the four corners of the earth
Nika nde nyé ndongo lasu eehh
The sun rises because of me
O wasé wan iihh
I am the one who created the moon
Ayo oohh Munyènguè na ndutu eehhh
I am the ruler of all lands
Moto èi wondo binyo yé nde nika
My power is as strong as the sun
Longè ma womba nka
I control the sea
E buki tè oa eehh
I am the center of the world
Ongèlè na bunya bo pèpè
I have power over all creatures big and small
O mende bè muyengè
I am the master of the earth
Ongèlè mba muléma sésé ongèlè mba, ongèlè mba muléma sésé
My power is unbreakable
Ayo oohh mbana Oa
Listen to me, I am the king
Nu ta na mba eehh
I was born
yo ooh
Listen to me
Ongèlè mba o munyengè ehh
I am the master of the earth
Writer(s): Manu Dibango
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.