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.
Lusa
Oliver N'Goma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
*Instruments*
Lusa!
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi la weeh,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi la weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
Ba anda chi la bwa nu furaha,
Mu tulu tila mu furi kule ngaa,
Ba anda chi la bwa nu furaha,
Mu tulu tila mu furi kule ngaa,
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi La weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi La weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
Mu limu montu sa mbugu eeh,
Omu mama monu MA mindu,
Mulimu bana molungu eeh,
Eundu alikufumbua.
*Instruments*
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi La weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi La weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
*Instruments*
Okah!
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi La weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
Ahha lusa Laa nusau ya baulua Sheri eeh,
Mina mouti mimba koma weeh,
Ahha Lusa! Laa nusau ya baulua Sheri eeh,
Mina mouti mimba koma weeh,
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi La weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
Lusa mwana mama,
La dansi La weeh,
Ukosi la du li fuchie,
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh,
*Instruments* (prolonged)
The song "Lusa" by Oliver N'Goma is an upbeat and rhythmic African tune that celebrates dance and joy. The lyrics pay tribute to a woman named Lusa who is described as a mother and dancer. The repetition of "Lusa mwana mama, La dansi la weeh" emphasizes her importance and the joy that she brings through her dancing. The next line "Ukosi la du li fuchie, Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh" roughly translates to "the drums are playing, let's hit the rhythm with our feet," further emphasizing the celebration of dance and music.
The song also makes references to other cultural elements such as "Ba anda chi la bwa nu furaha," which roughly translates to "the joy of the crowd is boundless." Other phrases such as "mu limu montu sa mbugu eeh" and "oumu mama monu Ma mindu, mulimu bana molungu eeh" suggest a sense of community and togetherness, connecting people through the celebration of dance.
Overall, "Lusa" is a lively and celebratory song that embodies the spirit of African dance and music while paying tribute to the importance of cultural traditions and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Lusa mwana mama
Lusa, oh mother child
La dansi la weeh
The dance is here
Ukosi la du li fuchie
The throne is hidden
Beu kiboko na nyo ngi eeh
With whips and chains
Ba anda chi la bwa nu furaha
The people are happy
Mu tulu tila mu furi kule ngaa
In the village, they are dancing
Mu limu montu sa mbugu eeh
In the forest, there's a lot of talking
Omu mama monu MA mindu
One mother feeds one thousand mouths
Mulimu bana molungu eeh
The gods are watching over us
Eundu alikufumbua
The night will reveal it all
Ahha lusa Laa nusau ya baulua Sheri eeh
Lusa, the one who brings joy to the world
Mina mouti mimba koma weeh
I have a song to sing
Writer(s): Manu Lima, Oliver N'goma
Contributed by Taylor F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brian Mnyaho
I'm a young Kenyan and this composition is incredible, this was among the best rhumba celebrated all over in the world
Arap Too
My favourite song
@user-ts6wr1un8g
Dem days, sigh! they don't make them like this anymore.
@alexomondi8178
Kenyans gather
@bintyconteh86
This song reminds me of the good old days.😊❤️
@ruruapeter9507
Such a great hit always 🔥, shout out from Nrb Kenya.
@joelkiplagat7683
It's nostalgic moments ❤
@abrabestie
Manu Lima on the Keyboards 👌👌👌
Dally Kimoko on the Lead Guitar 🙌🙌🙌
Lokassa ya Mbongo on the Rhythm Guitar ❤❤❤
And Miguel Yamba killing it on the Bass Guitar 🔥🔥🔥
Together with Oliver's voice and Balou Canta and the other backing vocalists 🎶🎶🎶
It can't get better than this, surely!
@nicholaswahome7711
Beautiful. Inspired. Brings back many memories.
@Tina-qg7hz
This song hits ugandans every single day 🥰🥰🥰💃💃💃🤸♂️🤸♂️🤸♂️