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.
Lili
Oliver N'Goma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lili eh . . . Lili eh
Sicmo wandi eh
Lungo Wandi eh
Lili guluo wa nessi mbil'l ami ii
U wendila wa ni sa be we yilu Lili i
A magnu'ami guotsu utsi we nagu who . . .
Ah Lili eh ndzubu ike ivolu cherie i . . .
Dibembi diami nge ni va lunge cherie i . . .
Ke u va ngulu u
Vutene wa ah
mognu usandi Lili
Ke u sa vo teguami i
Ndzubu ine wale na matsueli m'ami Lili i
Ah Lili eh nge mugissi"ami an . . .
Ah Lili
U ya sagena na mognu u bambatsi Lili
Ndzambi a tube ti Lili eh
Nge ibendzi yami eh . . Lili eh
Tu sakia batu buali eh Lili eh
Nge na mi mutu umuege Lili eh
Ilatsi Yami ndzembu sa tsiami tsi murime
U ya kindzi i
Murim"agu u
Itse mone ah ah
Mvumbi i mulum"agu u
Ibenzi yami nge ni va rombe cherie i . . .
Ke u va ndzole ah ah
Sandzi murim"agu u
Sa votsu
U wendila wa ni mu sandzi kala
Cherie i
Lembu vandi i
Tsi numbe tsiagu u
Na Mitsongi
Biotsu bine nine bi libene Lili i
Bagetu kabo nane ba li ooo Lili
Oh ditsoge
Ni sama yaba ti nane u li ooo Lili
Lili binie
U ya ndzissi wa na mafuge ooo Lili
Nguluo ngebe
Vutene wandi mambumbusse ooo Lili
Oh Lili eh
Talo wa mivu miomi tu si ooo Lili
Balo wandi eh
Dufu be kabo nane du li ooo Lili
Ngebe minu eh
Bagetu kabo nane ba li ooo Lili
Oh Lili eh
The song "Lili" by Oliver N'Goma is a love song in a native African language with a deep emotional meaning. The song is essentially a lyrical ode to Lili, with the singer expressing his love and admiration for her. The song is full of metaphors, comparisons, and images that are unique to the African culture. The song starts with "Lyie Lili eh..." which is a call to Lili, asking her to listen as the singer professes his love.
Throughout the song, N'Goma describes Lili's beauty and elegance using various metaphors such as "Lili guluo wa nessi mbil'l ami ii" (Lili's hair is like a garden of flowers), "Ndzubu ine wale na matsueli m'ami Lili" (Lili's eyes are like stones from a riverbed), and "Ngulu wa ngebe ah an" (Lili's smile is like the sun shining brightly). The singer also highlights Lili's character, her kindness, and how he feels blessed to have her in his life.
The chorus of the song "Ah Lili eh ndzubu ike ivolu cherie i" is an expression of the singer's love for Lili, and how he feels happy and lucky to have her in his life. Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love and admiration and a testament to the power of music to transcend cultures and bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Lyie. . .
Introduction or opening of the song in Gabonese language.
Lili eh . . . Lili eh
Repetition of the name Lili in a melodious way.
Sicmo wandi eh
My dream, my desire or my hope.
Lungo Wandi eh
My intention, my motive, or my purpose.
Lili guluo wa nessi mbil'l ami ii
Lili, the girl with beautiful and charming spirit.
U wendila wa ni sa be we yilu Lili i
She made me feel the joy and happiness in my heart, Lili.
A magnu'ami guotsu utsi we nagu who . . .
She has awakened and brought to life the love inside me.
Ah Lili eh ndzubu ike ivolu cherie i . . .
Oh, Lili, my heart is filled with love and desire for you.
Ah Lili eh ngulu wa ngebe ah an . . .
Oh, Lili, your beauty and charm are incomparable.
Dibembi diami nge ni va lunge cherie i . . .
My sweet and lovely Lili, my heart longs for you.
Ke u va ngulu u
I am always amazed by your beauty.
Vutene wa ah
Your elegance and grace amaze me.
mognu usandi Lili
Your captivating smile, Lili.
Ke u sa vo teguami i
I am lost in the charm of your beauty.
Ndzubu ine wale na matsueli m'ami Lili i
Lili, you are the only one who brings me joy and happiness.
Ah Lili eh nge mugissi"ami an . . .
Oh, Lili, you have left me speechless.
U ya sagena na mognu u bambatsi Lili
Your dazzling beauty brightens my day, Lili.
Ndzambi a tube ti Lili eh
May God bless you, Lili.
Nge ibendzi yami eh . . Lili eh
You are the one who fills my heart, Lili.
Tu sakia batu buali eh Lili eh
People talk about your beauty, Lili.
Nge na mi mutu umuege Lili eh
You are the one who ignites my heart, Lili.
Ilatsi Yami ndzembu sa tsiami tsi murime
My happiness is complete when I am with you, Lili.
U ya kindzi i
You are my destiny, Lili.
Murim"agu u
Your beauty shines like the sun, Lili.
Itse mone ah ah
You are the one who rules my soul, Lili.
Mvumbi i mulum"agu u
You are the one with a beautiful and enchanting smile, Lili.
Ibenzi yami nge ni va rombe cherie i . . .
My heart beats for you, Lili.
Ke u va ndzole ah ah
I am always enticed by your beauty, Lili.
Sandzi murim"agu u
Your radiance shines like the moon, Lili.
Sa votsu
You are the one who dominates my thoughts, Lili.
U wendila wa ni mu sandzi kala
You comfort me in tough times, Lili.
Cherie i
My heart belongs to you, Lili.
Lembu vandi i
You are my first and only love, Lili.
Tsi numbe tsiagu u
You are the one my heart yearns for, Lili.
Na Mitsongi
You are the one who rules my heart, Lili.
Biotsu bine nine bi libene Lili i
Lili, your beauty is beyond measure.
Bagetu kabo nane ba li ooo Lili
Lili, you are the one I want to spend my life with.
Oh ditsoge
Expression of the singer's feelings or emotions.
Ni sama yaba ti nane u li ooo Lili
I want to be with you forever, Lili.
Lili binie
Lili, my heart is yours.
U ya ndzissi wa na mafuge ooo Lili
Lili, you complete me.
Nguluo ngebe
You are the one who captures my heart, Lili.
Vutene wandi mambumbusse ooo Lili
Lili, your grace and elegance overwhelm me.
Oh Lili eh
Repeatition of the name Lili.
Talo wa mivu miomi tu si ooo Lili
Lili, your beauty is beyond comparison.
Balo wandi eh
You are the only one my heart beats for, Lili.
Dufu be kabo nane du li ooo Lili
Lili, you are the one I choose to spend my life with.
Ngebe minu eh
You are the one who lives in my heart, Lili.
Bagetu kabo nane ba li ooo Lili
Lili, you are the one I want to spend my life with.
Oh Lili eh
Repeatition of the name Lili.
Contributed by Camilla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brian
Percussion discussion
@ruvimborusere1450
I think Oliver was a sucker for love, hopeless romantic at heart just like me that's why I'm so drawn to his music. I don't understand the language but there is this strong emotional connection i feel to his music. Continue resting in peace Oliver N'goma. You left us a legacy that will never die
@poncemombopro6834
Oliver N'goma was Gabonese and his language cold Vili.
@ruvimborusere1450
@@poncemombopro6834 thank you
@brianadelbert507
Music always relaxing and have good beats
@tindisylvain9975
@@poncemombopro6834il est vili de son grand-père mais chante et s'exprime en yilumbu
@pierreoka488
Très bien dit 👍
@patrickmaletchi2979
Quelle merveille cette chanson . Les mélodies sont juste parfaites 😩🇬🇦
@user-wv5vs3cf1s
Merci Oliver pour ces melodies.
@antonspanton6264
Les chansons de Olivier Ngomah sont simplement les meilleurs d'Afrique de tout les temps, magique et profond. Rip légende ❤