Épapala
Ndedi Dibango Lyrics


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A koko ninga
A muna ndoki é
A koko ninga
A muna mboma é
Epapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Epapala ndé ebo Pomè iiiyo
Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Wouhhh
Epapala ndé ebo Pomè iihi
Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Epapala ndé ebo Pomè, mama ooh
Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
A muna mba da o mondja é môna é
Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
Ooohhhh
Bana a muna mba da o mondja é môna é
Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
Mmhhhh
Epapala ndé ebo Pomè, mama ooh
Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Epapala ndé ebo Pomè iiiyo
Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè éhé
A muna mba da o mondja é môna é
Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
Ooohhh
Bana a muna mba da o mondja é môna é
Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
Eeeeeehhh
A koko ninga
A muna ndoki é
A koko ninga
A muna mboma é
A koko ninga
A muna ndoki é
A koko ninga
A muna mboma é
Mhhhhmm
Mhhhhmm
Nyongo kwala o é séngé
Nyongwa tchoko
O é séngé éé
Ooohhh
Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô é
Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, ééé
Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, adou oh
Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, ééé
O kanè mba loko la bobé, esta wéé
O dangwa lè mba longo o penga, esta wéé
O samwalè mba muni mwa bato, esta wé éselemba éé éhéé
Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, ééé
Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, adou ohh
Non nde wé nô non ndé wé nô, mama ohh
Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô é, adou ohh
O kanè mba loko la bobé, esta wéé
O dangwa lè mba longo o penga, esta wé éhé
O samwalè mba muni mwa bato, esta éselemba
Ah mama oho ééé iii wa
A muna ndoki
Oohhhhh
A koko ninga
A muna mboma é
Mmhhhhh
A koko ninga, ééé
A koko ninga, oohhoo




A koko ninga, ééé
O ma yooo

Overall Meaning

The song "Épapala" by Ndedi Dibango is primarily in the Duala language, with some French phrases mixed in. The lyrics describe the importance of unity and working together as a community. The repetition of "Epapala ndé ebo Pomè é" and "Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é" serves as a call and response, with Pomè being a reference to God or a higher power. The lines "A muna mba da o mondja é môna é, Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é" refer to the city of Yaoundé in Cameroon, where the song was likely written or inspired by. The lyrics also reference different African tribes and names, such as Nyongo and Nyongwa.


The song has a lively and upbeat tempo, with the use of drums, guitar, and other traditional African instruments. It is evocative of the popular Makossa music genre developed in Cameroon in the 1960s. Ndedi Dibango himself was a Cameroonian musician who was influential in popularizing Makossa music internationally. With "Épapala", Dibango showcases his ability to combine traditional African sounds with modern music styles.


Line by Line Meaning

A koko ninga
I am a warrior


A muna ndoki é
I come from the forest


A koko ninga
I am a warrior


A muna mboma é
I come from the village


Epapala ndé ebo Pomè é
The palm wine of Pomè is delicious


Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Children love the palm wine of Pomè


Epapala ndé ebo Pomè iiiyo
The palm wine of Pomè is really good


Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Children love the palm wine of Pomè


Wouhhh
Wow


Epapala ndé ebo Pomè iihi
The palm wine of Pomè is so tasty


Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Children love the palm wine of Pomè


Epapala ndé ebo Pomè, mama ooh
The palm wine of Pomè, oh mother


Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Children love the palm wine of Pomè


A muna mba da o mondja é môna é
I have seen many things in this world


Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
The life in Yaoundé is good


Ooohhhh
Oh


Bana a muna mba da o mondja é môna é
Children have seen many things in this world


Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
The life in Yaoundé is good


Mmhhhh
Hmm


Epapala ndé ebo Pomè, mama ooh
The palm wine of Pomè, oh mother


Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè é
Children love the palm wine of Pomè


Epapala ndé ebo Pomè iiiyo
The palm wine of Pomè is really good


Bana épapala ndé ebo Pomè éhé
Children love the palm wine of Pomè so much


A muna mba da o mondja é môna é
I have seen many things in this world


Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
The life in Yaoundé is good


Ooohhh
Oh


Bana a muna mba da o mondja é môna é
Children have seen many things in this world


Ekèlèté o Yaoundé é
The life in Yaoundé is good


Eeeeeehhh
Oh


A koko ninga
I am a warrior


A muna ndoki é
I come from the forest


Oohhhhh
Oh


A koko ninga
I am a warrior


A muna mboma é
I come from the village


Mmhhhhh
Hmm


A koko ninga, ééé
I am a warrior


A koko ninga, oohhoo
I am a warrior


A koko ninga, ééé
I am a warrior


O ma yooo
Oh my God


Nyongo kwala o é séngé
The world is complicated


Nyongwa tchoko
Red wine


O é séngé éé
It's complicated


Ooohhh
Oh


Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô é
We will not give up, we will not give up


Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, ééé
We will not give up, we will not give up


Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, adou oh
We will not give up, we will not give up


Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, ééé
We will not give up, we will not give up


O kanè mba loko la bobé, esta wéé
I work hard every day, that's why


O dangwa lè mba longo o penga, esta wé éhé
I study hard every day, that's why


O samwalè mba muni mwa bato, esta éselemba éé éhéé
I try my best to help people, that's why


Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, ééé
We will not give up, we will not give up


Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô, adou ohh
We will not give up, we will not give up


Non nde wé nô non ndé wé nô, mama ohh
We will not give up, we will not give up, oh mother


Non ndé wé nô non ndé wé nô é, adou ohh
We will not give up, we will not give up


O kanè mba loko la bobé, esta wéé
I work hard every day, that's why


O dangwa lè mba longo o penga, esta wé éhé
I study hard every day, that's why


O samwalè mba muni mwa bato, esta éselemba
I try my best to help people, that's why


Ah mama oho ééé iii wa
Oh my dear mother


A muna ndoki
I come from the forest


Oohhhhh
Oh


A koko ninga
I am a warrior


A muna mboma é
I come from the village


Mmhhhhh
Hmm


A koko ninga, ééé
I am a warrior




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