With a multi-octave vocal range and a dynamic stage presence, the 190 cm (6 feet 3 inches) and 136 kg (300 pound) vocalist recorded more than three hundred songs and twenty albums during his two decade-long career. Known affectionately as "the elephant of African music" and "La Bombe Atomique", Kalle entertained audiences with his robust performances.
His musical career started with African Jazz, the band of Grand Kalle. He later become the lead singer of Lipua Lipua, where he sung alongside Nyboma Mwandido. In 1972, Kalle along with Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex, left Lipua Lipua to form their own band named Empire Bakuba. Empire Bakuba took its name from a Congolese warrior tribe, and it pointedly incorporated rootsy rhythms from the interior, sounds that had long been sidelined by popular rumba. The band was an instant hit, and together with Zaïko Langa Langa they became Kinshasa's most popular youth band. With hits such as Pepe Kalle's Dadou and Papy Tex's Sango ya mawa, the band was a constant fixture on the charts. They also created a new dance, the kwassa kwassa.
On their tenth anniversary in 1982, the band was voted Zaïre's top group. Throughout the early 1980s, Empire Bakuba continued to tour extensively while releasing no less than four albums a year. By the mid eighties, they had a large following throughout Francophone Central and West Africa. His 1986 collaboration with Nyboma labelled Zouke-zouke was one of the years top selling albums. But it was his second collaboration with Nyboma, Moyibi (1988), which launched his popularity throughout Africa.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kalle fused elements of the fast paced version of soukous produced in Paris studios. His 1990 album, Roger Milla, a tribute to the exploits of the great Camerounian footballer, is a classic example of this arrangement.
In 1992 the band faced its first major calamity when Emoro, the band's dancing dwarf, died while on tour in Botswana. Despite this setback, Pepe Kalle's popularity continued to soar in the nineties as he released albums like Gigantafrique, Larger than life, and Cocktail. He also collaborated with other legends like Lutumba Simaro and Nyoka Longo.
Pepe Kalle died of a heart attack in November 1998.
Nina
Pepe Kalle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Atonda boboto
Abimaka naye mingi te
Kaka na ndako
Abengaka ngai Tantine
Mwana ya Mayi Ndombe
Nina Moseyi oh
Ata ba sali nyoso
Nasi na lula yo
Lelo na zui ya nga mobali
Famille esepeli
Na longoli bino soni oh
Depuis na lanca mama eh
Bongola ngo motema
Mokili echanger oh
Tubela ngo masumu
Ba limbisa yo na Nzambe
Bondelaka makasi
Papa to bota eh
Bongola ngo motema
Mokili ehanger
Tubela ngo masumu
Ba limbisa yo na Nzambe
Sambelaka Masiyai
Papa to bota eh
Suki ya moto etelemi hi
Oh, papa eh
Ba mbanda ba saleli nga likita
Po yo oboya ngaBokasi ya biso bana ya lac
Se na losambo
Bako lakisa nga misapi
Tango na bimaka na yoNina Mosiyi oh
Nga na lingi yo
Ata ba sali nyoso
Nasi na lula yoLelo na zui ya nga mobali
Famille esepeli
Na longoli bino soni oh
Depuis na lanca mama ehBongola ngo motema
Mokili ehange
Tubela ngo masumu
Ba limbisa yo na Nzambe
Bondelaka makasi
Papa to bota ehBongola ngo motema
Mokili ehanger
Tubela ngo masumu
Ba limbisa yo na Nzambe
Sambelaka Masiyai
Papa to bota ehOsimbi ozoki
Yoka eloko oyo
The lyrics to Pepe Kalle's song, Nina, tell a story of a woman named Nina and her lover. The song starts with the singer identifying the man in Nina's life and expressing that he is happy for her but wishes he could be in his place. He muses that she is always at home and does not go out much, indicating that she is a reserved person. The singer then reveals that he knows Nina's family, and she is the daughter of Mayi Ndombe. He declares his love for her and expresses that he would never leave her.
Later in the song, the singer talks about how he longs to be with Nina and promises to be with her forever. Despite the challenges they may face, he says that they will overcome them together. The song ends with the singer asking Nina to remember the love they share and how they have always been there for each other.
Overall, the lyrics to Nina are a love letter to a woman named Nina, expressing the singer's love, admiration, and willingness to overcome any obstacles that come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Mobali na linga mama
A man who loves his mother deeply
Atonda boboto
Behaves gently
Abimaka naye mingi te
Doesn't argue much with her
Kaka na ndako
Only at home
Abengaka ngai Tantine
My aunt came to ask for my hand
Mwana ya Mayi Ndombe
She is the daughter of Mrs. Ndombe
Nina Moseyi oh
My love for Moseyi
Nga na lingi ye
I love her
Ata ba sali nyoso
Even if everyone leaves
Nasi na lula yo
I will stay with you
Lelo na zui ya nga mobali
Today at my husband's house
Famille esepeli
The Eseperi's family
Na longoli bino soni oh
I missed you so much
Depuis na lanca mama eh
Since I lost my mother
Bongola ngo motema
My heart is broken
Mokili echanger oh
The world has changed
Tubela ngo masumu
Let's kneel down
Ba limbisa yo na Nzambe
They pray for you to God
Bondelaka makasi
They bless you with strength
Papa to bota eh
Father is watching over us
Sambelaka Masiyai
They bless Masiyai
Suki ya moto etelemi hi
The fire of love is burning
Ba mbanda ba saleli nga likita
Enemies want to harm me
Po yo oboya nga
But you protect me
Bokasi ya biso bana ya lac
Our heritage is from the lake
Se na losambo
And from the forest
Bako lakisa nga misapi
They want to make me lose my way
Tango na bimaka na yo
When I am with you
Osimbi ozoki
A wise decision is needed
Yoka eloko oyo
Find that right path
Writer(s): Nyboma Mwandido
Contributed by Alexandra R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@GeorgioBD
Intemporelle !!! Depuis Dallas-USA je ne cesse d'écouter cette musique en boucle depuis deux semaines. Mon Dieu quelle emotion. 2075 Qui est la???
@mamadouky969
1989-1990 je n'oublierai pas! La boss à outrance en Terminale couronnée par le BAC A2 à Bouaké, puis les premiers pas à l'Université de Ouagadougou ! Cette musique m'a bercé et donné de la motivation ! À jamais Nyboma et Pépé, des grands dans le Panthéon de la musique africaine !
@kennedymukongoro3231
Aq
@mansaldouto237
J'étais au cm2 en ce moment et je chantais ce son
@gonano1
Je valide vos propos mon frère 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@oscaraugustin2639
l'Afrique qui gagne vraiment, un arrangement de son révolutionnaire pour l'époque, instruments impeccable
@joedoe8065
Nha mano🙏🏾🇨🇻🙏🏾💝💝💝
@veroniquehounon1321
Une belle musique que j'adore.Les années 88-90 étaient des années où le soukous et la rumba ont véritablement révolutionné le continent africain.Paix à l'âme de pépé kalle
@amirpasha5464
I miss former zaire . I used to live in gombe area. My dad was a sudan diplomat to Zaire. We miss that country and its music
@kessiodoudou
Que des souvenirs... Que Dieu bénisse abondamment l'Afrique, la RDC merci pour ce temps là mes Doyens.