Formed between 2002 and 2007, the group began its professional career in 2008. Their performance at the Music Crossroads InterRegional Festival (IRF) in Lilongwe, Malawi,[9] won them a European tour and they recorded their first album, "Kweseka".
Their second album, Rising Tide, was produced by the Ivorian singer Manou Gallo.
In February 2017, Mokoomba released its self-produced third album Luyando on Germany’s OutHere label, a stripped-down, mostly acoustic album that took their sound in a new direction.
http://www.mokoomba.com/
Yombe
Mokoomba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
yombe yombe yalila
kukwese kwakuya yombe
tulingila kulileza yombe
yombe yombe yalila
kukwese kwakuya yombe
izhamwana wame njikuleke
eeeh eeeh
yombe yombe yalila
kukwese kwakuya yombe
tulingila kulileza yombe
yombe yombe yalila
kukwese kwakuya yombe
iyotenda munange yo
etu tunthi munange yo
iyotenda munange yo --
oo
The lyrics of Mokoomba's song "Yombe" speak about the Yombe people, who are an ethnic group from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The repetition of "yombe yombe yalila" throughout the song could symbolize the collective cry of the Yombe people, as they have endured a lot of trauma and oppression over the years. The first verse talks about the Yombe people coming and going, and the singer wonders how he can welcome them without drawing attention to their suffering. The second verse mentions "izhamwana wame" and "twayamwanawame," which are possible Yombe words or names. This could signify the singer's desire to connect with the Yombe people on a personal level and learn more about their culture and language.
One interesting fact about the song is that Mokoomba is a Zimbabwean band, but they have a strong connection to the DRC. The band members grew up in a town near the border, and they were exposed to the music and culture of the DRC from a young age. Another interesting fact is that "Yombe" was included on Mokoomba's second album, "Rising Tide," which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. The album blends traditional Zimbabwean music with other African and Western styles, and features lyrics in several languages.
Line by Line Meaning
eeeh eeeh
A non-verbal expression of emotion and enthusiasm
yombe yombe yalila
The refrain of the song, repeated to add emphasis on the importance of 'Yombe'
kukwese kwakuya yombe
Everyone is coming to Yombe
tulingila kulileza yombe
We dance and sing in celebration of Yombe's greatness
izhamwana wame njikuleke
My sister, come and dance with me
twayamwanawame njikuleke
My brother, come and dance with me
iyotenda munange yo
We are grateful to Yombe
etu tunthi munange yo
Let us lift up Yombe
oo
A non-verbal expression of emotion and enthusiasm, marking the end of the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Abundance Mutori, Coster Ndaba Moyo, Donald Moyo, Mathias Muzaza, Miti Mugande, Trustworth Samende
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind