Malik
Mokhtar Samba Lyrics

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Gal gal gui rabi
Gal gal gui rabi
Aleuk souba tel dinadem senegal
Gnonconté ya mario hé dounounia toloni
Sébé mankan
M'badé si lamalou alouni woura

Gnonconté teria doumani gnonconté

Gnonconté kanounia doumani gnonconté
M'faa

Bima douniadan bima douniadan
Niaralou anka nioromina teriala siki noconia Gnonconté
Bi ba denia gnonconté
Bima douniadan bima douniadan
Niaralou
Ibi konoro kouma fo mokodoyé
Teriala olé i djafala nénofo
Ibi i goundoro couma
Badégnala mokodoyé
Oyi djamfaladé nidara
Mokola koyi terié niyara moko
Dorabi koyékani
Gnoncogné

Hé hé hé dounounia
Gal gal gui rabi
Gal gal gui rabi
Aleuk souba tel rabi diolodiof

Gal gal gui rabi
Gal gal gui rabi
Aleuk souba tel rabi senegal

Djamyi wilikidom
Djamyi wilikidom kidom
Djamyi wilikidom
Djamyi wilikidom dom dom

Lala la la he
Lala la la he

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mokhtar Samba's song "Malik" are written in multiple West African languages and dialects, including Wolof and Mandinka. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, translates to "Praise be to God" and "The journey of life." The verses describe various scenes and experiences in Senegal and West Africa, such as people dancing and celebrating, and the natural elements of the land such as the river and the sun.

One verse mentions "Mario," a common name in Senegal, and the phrase "toloni" which means "to dance" in Wolof. The next verse talks about a person named "Gnonconté" singing and playing music, and references the instruments "teria" and "kanounia." These are both traditional West African instruments that are similar to a guitar and a harp, respectively.

The following verses include more descriptions of life in West Africa, such as the use of medicinal plants and the importance of community. The final verse encourages people to continue dancing and celebrating life, with the repetitive chants of "Djamyi wilikidom" and "dom dom" adding to the celebratory tone of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Gal gal gui rabi
My Lord is my strength

Aleuk souba tel dinadem senegal
I am calling for the ancestors of Senegal

Gnonconté ya mario hé dounounia toloni
Blessings to the great Mario, from this temporal world to the other side

Sébé mankan
I know that time is running out but

M'badé si lamalou alouni woura
I want to make the most of it before it's too late

Gnonconté teria doumani gnonconté
Blessings to those who have passed on before us

Gnonconté kanounia doumani gnonconté
Blessings to the ones who will pass away

M'faa
I want to

Bima douniadan bima douniadan
The world keeps turning and turning

Niaralou anka nioromina teriala siki noconia Gnonconté
Let's remember the ancestors who have gone to the other side

Bi ba denia gnonconté
Blessings to this world