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. M'bilia continues to wear her crown as Queen of Congolese rumba.
Cher Ami
Mbilia Bel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na vie na nga, yasolo nga naboya koloba, likambo naboya
Basala nga,
Likambo ya miye ee, nako tuta ntolo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyee bako kota zamba a ngoo
Ah! nga naboya kosuana, likambo na boya na vie na nga, ya
Solo nga naboya koloba, likambo na boya basala nga, likambo
Kota zamba ngo. Difuli nalingi yo troop, nakolala te ngaa
Nako bela ko bela nzoto eee ayé
Likambo ya miye ee, nakotuta ntolo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyeee bako kota zamba a ngoo
Ah! nga naboya kosuana, likambo naboya na vie na ngaa,
Yasolo nga naboya koloba, likambo naboya basala ngaa,
Likambo ya miye ee, nako tuta ntolo ngaa
Likambo ya miyeeee bako kota zamba a ngoo
Difuli nalingi yo troop, nako lala tee ngaa nako bela ko
Bela nzoto eee ayé
Likambo ya ba biyee, nako tuta ntoloo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyeeee bako kota zamba a ngoo
Bako kotisa mobulu, likambo yango mabe ee
Bako kotisa molili, likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo, ngai nandima bolingo
Bako tiya nga molungé, likambo yango nayebi téee, ngai
Nabo na nga mindondo, ngai na ndima Difuli
Bako kotisa mobulu, likambo yango mabe eee
Bako kotisa molili, likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo, ngai nandima bolingo
Bako tiya ngai molungé, likambo yango nayebi téee, ngai
Nabo na nga mindondo, ngai na ndima Difuli, ngai nabo na nga
Mindondoo, ngai na ndima bolingoo
Bako kotisa mobulu, likambo yango mabe eee
Bako kotisa molili, likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo, ngai nandima bolingo
Bako tiya nga molungé, likambo yango nayebi téee, ngai
Nabo na nga mindondo, ngai na ndima Difuli, ngai nabo na nga
Mindondo, ngai na ndima bolingo!
The lyrics to Mbilia Bel's song Cher Ami are in Lingala, a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is about a woman who is struggling with her love life. She laments over her failures in love and how her heart has been broken many times. She speaks about how she is searching for a solution to the problems she faces, but nothing seems to work. She refers to herself as a soldier in the battlefield, fighting for love, but losing the war. She mentions that she is tired of feeling this way and cannot sleep because of the heartache she is going through. In the end, she acknowledges that no one can help her but herself, and she needs to find a way to move on.
The lyrics of Cher Ami are a reflection of the struggles that many women may face in their love lives. Mbilia's use of metaphor and imagery reflects the pain and frustration that arises from failed relationships. The repetition of certain phrases emphasizes the constant loop of heartbreak that the woman is experiencing. The song's tempo and melody also contribute to its emotional weight, conveying the sense of exhaustion and weariness that comes with such experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah! nga naboya boye, ah! nga naboya kosuana, likambo na boya
Na vie na nga, yasolo nga naboya koloba, likambo naboya
Basala nga,
Likambo ya miye ee, nako tuta ntolo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyee bako kota zamba a ngoo
Ah! I am the one who has walked the streets, ah! I am the one who has suffered, it's the story of my life. I have been alone, I have been in the dark, it's the story of my life. Listen to me, so that you can understand my heart. Listen to my story, so that you can know me. I want you to see me as I am.
Difuli nalingi yo troop, nakolala te ngaa
Nako bela ko bela nzoto eee ayé
Likambo ya miye ee, nakotuta ntolo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyeee bako kota zamba a ngoo
I'm in trouble, I can't sleep. My heart is full of pain. Listen to me, so that you can hear my cry. Listen to my story, so that you can understand my pain.
Ah! nga naboya kosuana, likambo na boya na vie na nga, ya
Solo nga naboya koloba, likambo na boya basala nga, likambo
Ya miyee, na ko tuta ntolo nga, likambo ya ba biye eee bako
Kota zamba ngo.
Ah! I am the one who has suffered, it's the story of my life. I have been alone too many times, it's the story of my life. Listen to me, so that you can understand my heart. Listen to my story, so that you can know me. Don't judge me.
Difuli nalingi yo troop, nako lala tee ngaa nako bela ko
Bela nzoto eee ayé
Likambo ya ba biyee, nako tuta ntoloo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyeeee bako kota zamba a ngoo
I'm in trouble, I can't sleep. My heart is full of pain. Listen to my story, so that you can hear my cry. Listen to my story, so that you can understand my pain.
Bako kotisa mobulu, likambo yango mabe ee
Bako kotisa molili, likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo, ngai nandima bolingo
Bako tiya nga molungé, likambo yango nayebi téee, ngai
Nabo na nga mindondo, ngai na ndima Difuli
They are carrying a coffin, it's a sad story. They are crying, it's the devil. I am a wounded soul, I am seeking love. They want to bury me, it's a betrayal. I am a wounded soul, I am in pain.
Bako kotisa mobulu, likambo yango mabe eee
Bako kotisa molili, likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo, ngai nandima bolingo
Bako tiya ngai molungé, likambo yango nayebi téee, ngai
Nabo na nga mindondo, ngai na ndima Difuli, ngai nabo na nga
Mindondoo, ngai na ndima bolingoo
They are carrying a coffin, it's a sad story. They are crying, it's the devil. I am a wounded soul, I am seeking love. They want to bury me, it's a betrayal. I am a wounded soul, in pain. I am seeking love, I am always in pain.
Bako kotisa mobulu, likambo yango mabe eee
Bako kotisa molili, likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo, ngai nandima bolingo
Bako tiya nga molungé, likambo yango nayebi téee, ngai
Nabo na nga mindondo, ngai na ndima Difuli, ngai nabo na nga
Mindondoo, ngai na ndima bolingo!
They are carrying a coffin, it's a sad story. They are crying, it's the devil. I am a wounded soul, I am seeking love. They want to bury me, it's a betrayal. I am a wounded soul, in pain. I am seeking love, I am always in pain!
Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nickdomnic8566
Ah! nga naye zoba,
likambo etambuisi nga moto o
Ah! nga naboya boye,
likambo naboya basala nga,
likambo na bango songi songi,
bayokaka te ooye, se bozoba
Ah! nga naboya boye,
Ah! nga naboya kosuana,
likambo na boya na vie na nga,
yasolo nga naboya koloba,
likambo naboya basala nga,
likambo ya miye ee,
nako tuta ntolo ngaa
likambo ya ba biyee
bako kota zamba a ngoo
Ah! nga naboya kosuana,
likambo na boya na vie na nga,
ya solo nga naboya koloba,
likambo na boya basala nga,
likambo ya miyee,
na ko tuta ntolo nga,
likambo ya ba biye eee
bako kota zamba ngo.
Difuli nalingi yo troop,
nakolala te ngaa nako
bela ko bela ,ko bela nzoto eee ayé
likambo ya miye ee,
nakotuta ntolo ngaa
likambo ya ba biyeee
bako kota zamba a ngoo
Ah! nga naboya kosuana,
likambo na boya na vie na nga,
ya solo nga naboya koloba,
likambo na boya basala nga,
likambo ya miyee,
na ko tuta ntolo nga,
likambo ya ba biye eee
bako kota zamba ngo.
Difuli nalingi yo troop,
nakolala te ngaa,
nako bela ko bela,
nzoto eee ayé
likambo ya miye ee,
nakotuta ntolo ngaa
likambo ya ba biyeee
bako kota zamba a ngoo
CORO
Bako kotisa mobulu,
likambo yango mabe ee
Bako kotisa molili,
likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai nandima bolingo
CORO
Bako tiya nga molungé,
likambo yango nayebi téee,
ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai na ndima Difuli
CORO
Bako kotisa mobulu,
likambo yango mabe ee
Bako kotisa molili,
likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai nandima bolingo
CORO
Bako tiya nga molungé,
likambo yango nayebi téee,
ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai na ndima Difuli
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai nandima bolingo
instrumental
CORO
Bako kotisa mobulu,
likambo yango mabe ee
Bako kotisa molili,
likambo yangoo satanaa
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai nandima bolingo
CORO
Bako tiya nga molungé,
likambo yango nayebi téee,
ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai na ndima Difuli
Ngai nabo na nga mindondo,
ngai nandima bolingo…
@user-el3gi2jb1k
Ah! nga naboya boye, ah! nga naboya kosuana, likambo na boya
Na vie na nga, yasolo nga naboya koloba, likambo naboya
Basala nga,
Likambo ya miye ee, nako tuta ntolo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyee bako kota zamba a ngoo
Ah! nga naboya kosuana, likambo na boya na vie na nga, ya
Solo nga naboya koloba, likambo na boya basala nga, likambo
Ya miyee, na ko tuta ntolo nga, likambo ya ba biye eee bako
Kota zamba ngo. Difuli nalingi yo troop, nakolala te ngaa
Nako bela ko bela nzoto eee ayé
Likambo ya miye ee, nakotuta ntolo ngaa
Likambo ya ba biyeee bako kota zamba a ngoo
@spackkasuana1175
Une voix vraiment très angélique avec des charmes, belle femme, une danseuse très redoutable..Merci beaucoup maman M'bilia bel la Cléopâtre. À RDC et l'Afrique sont fière de vous.
@leplusbeaucadeau8099
Quand une très belle voix se laisse guider par un musicien guitariste, Ça donne que ce genre de résultat une chanson intemporelle qui traversera de génération en génération.
Merci Maman Mbilia
Paix à ton âme Rigo star une de légende dans la guitare 🎸
@chantalhuby9208
C'était la chanson préférée de mon défunt Papa... Je pleure chaque fois que je l'entends... RIP Papa
@jenniferlavraieperle6668
😢 courage
@dalhiamutila418
qui ecoute comme moi en 2019 je pleure
@inessefimbo6026
Ma star préféré Mbilia bel, je t'admire beaucoup 😍😍😍😍😍
@michellewfvtifchx4089
Je pense à mon amie qui est partie, je pleure , la dernière fois, nous avions danser ai baptême de sa fille...😢😢. Elle m'a laissé,,,,paix à son âme
@jeanemma1999
ca me fait monter les larmes aux yeux tellement ca evoque de beaux souvenirs
@thimonekinkela9575
En tout cas #LaCleopatre, elle est incomparable 🎉❤ cette chanson me fait des choses que je n'arrive expliquer 🎉❤😂😅😂 envie de pleurer, des chaires de poules ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤chof-d'oeuvre
@franckvule808
batu bayebi mbilia bel bayebisa ye azalaka na succes fou na amerique latine makasi colombie surtout aza phenomene lui et rigo stars basala album oyo avec leur ame pure felicitation