Oumou Sangaré (born February 25, 1968 in Bamako) is a wassoulou musician fr… Read Full Bio ↴Oumou Sangaré (born February 25, 1968 in Bamako) is a wassoulou musician from Bamako, Mali, sometime referred to as "The Songbird of Wassoulou." Wassoulou is descended from traditional hunting songs, and is accompanied by a calabash. Many of Sangare's songs concern love and marriage, especially freedom of choice in marriage. Her 1989 Moussoulou album was an unprecedented West African hit. In 1995, she toured with Baaba Maal, Femi Kuti and Boukman Eksperyans. Other albums include Ko Sira (1993), Worotan (1996), and a 2-CD compilation Oumou (2004), all released on Nonesuch Records.

Oumou's latest album "Seya",(Joy) released in 2009,has taken around two or three years to come to fruition. "I choose my songs very carefully. I learn how to put them across first on the stage." Her music is bold, seductive, funky and vibrant, but it's her lyrics that open people's eyes. "For me, the lyrics are more important than the melody. I write almost all my own words. I also perform the classics of Malian tradition. I draw a lot of inspiration from what happens in society. As soon as I see or feel something, I write it down. I say what I want, and what I think, because I am a free woman. I believe that my music has had an impact on the life of African women." "It's true that when I sing it's joyful but in amongst that joy I always take the opportunity to slip in messages that educate my nation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oumou_Sangare

Baba
Oumou Sangare Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

PERE

(Baba)

Père de mes enfants,
Tu écrases mes côtes, en me serrant si fort dans tes bras!
Ô mon amour, desserre ton étreinte sinon tu briseras mes os!

L'amour d'une femme portée à la colère est de courte vie.
L'amour d'un homme violent ne durera pas.
Un homme coléreux ne gardera pas longtemps son travail.
Un artiste coléreux jamais ne deviendra un virtuose.
Un commerçant qui se dispute avec ses
Clients jamais ne connaîtra la prospérité.

Ô mon amour, desserre ton étreinte sinon tu briseras mes os!

Si El Hadj Habo ne vient pas, mes vœux ne seront pas exaucés.
El Hadj Habo, tes ennemis jalousent ta réussite!
Ô mon cher Habo, ignore ceux qui t'envient!
Car dans la vie chacun suit son destin.
Oumou, ignore ceux qui te jalousent!
Dans la vie, chacun suit son destin.

Ô père de mes enfants, tu as toujours combler le vide, dans ma vie!
Tu as l'art de remplir ma vie de bonheur.

Sans toi, ô père de mes enfants, j
E suis comme une fleur qui cherche son parfum

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Oumou Sangare's song Baba express the complex emotions and experiences of a woman in a relationship with a man she calls "père de mes enfants" or "father of my children." The woman speaks directly to her partner, telling him that his physical affection is too intense and constricting. She warns that her love is fleeting and will not tolerate abuse or violent behavior. She also observes that anger and aggression are not conducive to success and prosperity, whether in the workplace or in personal relationships.

The woman then shifts her focus to a man named El Hadj Habo, who is apparently a successful person that many envy. She implores him to ignore the jealousy and negativity of others and to pursue his own destiny. She parallels this advice to herself, telling herself to ignore those who envy her and to continue to focus on her own path in life. The song ends with the woman expressing gratitude to her partner for filling the "void" in her life and bringing happiness into her world.

Line by Line Meaning

Père de mes enfants,
Father of my children,

Tu écrases mes côtes, en me serrant si fort dans tes bras!
You crush my ribs, holding me so tightly in your arms!

Ô mon amour, desserre ton étreinte sinon tu briseras mes os!
Oh my love, loosen your grip, or you will break my bones!

L'amour d'une femme portée à la colère est de courte vie.
The love of an angry woman is short-lived.

L'amour d'un homme violent ne durera pas.
The love of a violent man will not last.

Un homme coléreux ne gardera pas longtemps son travail.
An angry man will not keep his job for long.

Un artiste coléreux jamais ne deviendra un virtuose.
An angry artist will never become a virtuoso.

Un commerçant qui se dispute avec ses Clients jamais ne connaîtra la prospérité.
A merchant who argues with his customers will never know prosperity.

Si El Hadj Habo ne vient pas, mes vœux ne seront pas exaucés.
If El Hadj Habo does not come, my wishes will not be granted.

El Hadj Habo, tes ennemis jalousent ta réussite!
El Hadj Habo, your enemies envy your success!

Ô mon cher Habo, ignore ceux qui t'envient!
Oh my dear Habo, ignore those who envy you!

Car dans la vie chacun suit son destin.
Because in life, everyone follows their own destiny.

Oumou, ignore ceux qui te jalousent!
Oumou, ignore those who envy you!

Dans la vie, chacun suit son destin.
In life, everyone follows their own destiny.

Ô père de mes enfants, tu as toujours comblé le vide dans ma vie!
Oh father of my children, you have always filled the void in my life!

Tu as l'art de remplir ma vie de bonheur.
You have the art of filling my life with happiness.

Sans toi, ô père de mes enfants, je suis comme une fleur qui cherche son parfum
Without you, oh father of my children, I am like a flower searching for its fragrance.

Writer(s): Oumou Sangare

Contributed by James T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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