N'Goma was first exposed to music by his father, a teacher and harmonium player. Although he took his first music lessons when he was eight years old, he began performing for audiences after moving to Libreville to attend school. While taking classes in accounting, he joined the Capo Sound, the school band, where he learned to play guitar. The group played at formal dances and balls, teaching N'Goma the art of performing on stage.
N'Goma was a poor student, devoting himself to music and cinema instead of his classwork. His love of film lead to a job with Gabon TV, who sent him to France in 1988 where he was trained as a cameraman. While spending a winter in Paris, he finished work on music he'd written in Gabon. He shared his music with Manu Lima, a well-known record producer for African music. Lima was impressed with the young man's work, and handled the artistic direction of N'Goma's first record Bane.
The album enjoyed modest success at first, until an African radio station began to play his songs. The title track scored large success in Africa, France, and the French West Indies, and continues to rank as a party anthem in those areas. It enjoys success comparable to Mario by Franco or Yeke Yeke by Mory Kante. The album is one of the best-selling African albums to date.
N'Goma released a second album, Adia in December of 1995, again working with Manu Lima. Five years later, his third album Seva debuted. A greatest hits complation, Best of Oliver N'Goma was released in 2004.
Icole
Oliver N'Goma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ibile nge nine sisi
Mugatsi na bane b'ami
Ibile nge nine sisi
Tate na mame
Ibile nge nine sisi
Biburu bi'ami biotsu
Ibile nge nine sisi
Ibile nge nine sisi
Buale bu'ami
Nitse ya wa ti ngeyu
Na uva mbe bissalu
Nitse ya wa ti ngeyu
Na uva mbe bissalu
Icole eh eh
Ni so nioge wa n'agu
Nitse ya wa ti eh
Ndzil'ami uva sole
Va diedi bive n'agu
A diedi uva mvila vale
Bane na mugatsi
U ba gulua bua mo mussinge
Duniru du'ami ununu
Dune wale na makuku na yotsi
Dia bi nitse u si wandi
Ah, Ah Vasa diambu
Ka ni tsukmange
Dibandu yeni na mupatagu
Icole eh-eh
Icole vasa diambu
Icole eh-eh
Icole vasa diambu
Olivier nge na uva tassi ya N'Goma eh
Lusa eh, Na bane b'ami eh
Moussavou nge na uva tassi Bonos ah-eh
Gege eh, Na bane b'ami eh
Mighagha nge na uva tassi Jeanne d'Arc ah-eh
Ilatsi y'ami niva tassi eh
Okindja Clément na uva bala eh
Jeanne d'Arc na bane b'ami eh
Denise agnossi na uva bala eh
Murim'ami na bane b'ami eh
Balebea na uva tassi Marcel ah-eh
Ivumunu y'ami niva tassi eh
(Bis) Iyo lele, iyo le ah
Iyo lele, iyo le ah
Iyo lele, iyo le ah
Lengounga eh, Na Alphonsine Legnongo eh
Olende eh, Na Jupiter Iffoundji eh
Mbele, ndolo
Mbouloungou eh, Na Ajaurys ah-eh
Mbaribabouma na Rebouka eh
Dina ongonwu
Jean-Claude Sendje na Nguema Alain
Sho-sho-sho-sho tchikitaaaah'
The song "Icole" by Oliver N'Goma is sung in the Fang language, spoken in Gabon and Cameroon. The lyrics indicate the importance of family and cultural heritage. The chorus, "Icole eh eh, ni so nioge wa n'agu" means "Icole, my home, welcome me back." The verses convey the names of family members and friends, who are all significant to the singer. The first verse states "Icole usa muboti, ibile nge nine sisi," which translates to "Icole, my village, where I come from." The second verse is about the singer reconnecting with people important to him.
Interestingly, the song and its phrases have been used in Gabonese politics as a campaign slogan for local candidates. "Icole" has become a symbol of homecoming and returning to one's roots.
Line by Line Meaning
Icole usa muboti
Icole, come let's dance together
Ibile nge nine sisi
Let's celebrate and sing
Mugatsi na bane b'ami
All my friends are here with me
Tate na mame
My dad and mum
Biburu bi'ami biotsu
My family members are also here
Bambatsi b'ami
My siblings are present
Buale bu'ami
My grandmother is also here
Nitse ya wa ti ngeyu
Let us get together and dance under the moonlight
Na uva mbe bissalu
As we dance we sing with joy
Icole eh eh
Oh Icole
Ni so nioge wa n'agu
I want to dance with you until dawn
Nitse ya wa ti eh
Let us come together
Ndzil'ami uva sole
And sway our bodies as we dance
Va diedi bive n'agu
Until the morning light shines on us
A diedi uva mvila vale
The sun will rise and our spirits will be freed
Bane na mugatsi
My friends, let's all sway to the rhythm
U ba gulua bua mo mussinge
And let's forget all our sorrows and worries
Duniru du'ami ununu
Let's enjoy the moments and have fun
Dune wale na makuku na yotsi
Until our feet cannot hold us anymore
Dia bi nitse u si wandi
Let's dance until we are satisfied
Ah, Ah Vasa diambu
Oh, oh Vasa diambu
Ka ni tsukmange
I want to spend my life dancing with you
Dibandu yeni na mupatagu
With you by my side, I will never be alone
Olivier nge na uva tassi ya N'Goma eh
Olivier is dancing with you, N'Goma
Lusa eh, Na bane b'ami eh
Come on everybody, let's dance
Moussavou nge na uva tassi Bonos ah-eh
Moussavou is dancing with Bonos
Gege eh, Na bane b'ami eh
Everybody, let's dance
Mighagha nge na uva tassi Jeanne d'Arc ah-eh
Mighagha is dancing with Jeanne d'Arc
Ilatsi y'ami niva tassi eh
Ilatsi is dancing with us
Okindja Clément na uva bala eh
Okindja Clement is playing the drums
Jeanne d'Arc na bane b'ami eh
Jeanne d'Arc is dancing with us all
Denise agnossi na uva bala eh
Denise Agnossi is playing the guitar
Murim'ami na bane b'ami eh
Murim'ami is dancing with us all
Balebea na uva tassi Marcel ah-eh
Balebea is dancing with Marcel
Ivumunu y'ami niva tassi eh
Ivumunu is dancing with us
Iyo lele, iyo le ah
Yes, let's dance
Lengounga eh, Na Alphonsine Legnongo eh
Lengounga is dancing with Alphonsine
Olende eh, Na Jupiter Iffoundji eh
Olende is dancing with Jupiter
Mbele, ndolo
Come forward, my sweetheart
Mbouloungou eh, Na Ajaurys ah-eh
Mbouloungou is dancing with Ajaurys
Mbaribabouma na Rebouka eh
Mbaribabouma is dancing with Rebouka
Dina ongonwu
Let's dance together
Jean-Claude Sendje na Nguema Alain
Jean-Claude Sendje is dancing with Nguema Alain
Sho-sho-sho-sho tchikitaaaah'
Sho-sho-sho-sho tchikitaaaah'
Icole vasa diambu
Oh Icole, come let's dance together
Writer(s): Manu Lima, Oliver N'goma
Contributed by Luke G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
royopiyo
this is a great sound still listening 2019. Already got the playlist I need the car Lord.
@ananemensah9494
Who is here listening to this beautiful masterpiece ❤2024
@joseteixeira8001
🙋🏽♂️ 🇧🇷 2024
@thechosen4748
Me too
@NKASHAMA243
From Lubumbashi D R CONGO ..i'm listening till now ❤
@erastusiita8593
Me😅
@swaycuts666
Reminds me of daddy..2024 🇳🇦
@annmarto8169
Who is still enjoying and dancing on this beautiful rhythm with me in 2024?
❤❤❤👍🏻👍🏻
@didiermouegniivolo3040
I do How to refuse to dance this song coming from the deep of our soul.
We can also dance with Adia music
@charlymadouma3665
Je me souviens quand j'ai annoncé à ma grand mère que j'allaiS quitter le pays pour les études. J'était triste de laisser toute la famille et c'est la qu'elle m'a fait découvrir cette chanson pour m'encourager et me dire que je ne suis ni le dernier ni le premier et que c'est la vie. Dans l'avion je n'ai écouter que ça. Et aujourd'hui cette musique représente toujours une force pour moi par la quintessence des paroles et par la jolie voix d'Oliver. Merci à ma famille, merci à Oliver N'GOMA, merci au Gabon.