In 1989, at age 22, Bona moved to Paris and soon began working with such leading French musicians as violinist Didier Lockwood and bassist Marc Ducret as well as such African stars as Manu Dibango and Salif Keita. During his seven years in Paris, Richard refined his writing skills while further immersing himself in the music of jazz greats like Miles Davis, Chet Baker and Ben Webster.
Since arriving in New York in 1995, bassist-vocalist-composer Richard Bona has been one of the most sought-after talents on the scene.
Ekwa Mwato
Richard Bona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Tululu Ekwa Mwato
Lo windèlè nèni
Tululu a Bailato
Son lôngisè muséba
A bona Tétè
Lôndô bwaba
Di ma tungè
Miopi mèsè
Mi mondéa munja
Lo mèndè jènè
Bunya bô
To nika lé nô tuwé
Di titi njaï
Di si mèndè wô (du) mbalè
Lo wasi tè biya
Njé y'étia njiba
Mbusa bôlô wèkè ndé bi (lambo)
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Malobè a sambwa Loum
A si wèdi Ngomniga
Tu lulu wèngè (hum)
A mola lo wiyè na ngiña
Na di langwé babô mbalè
Olo ohhh wèngè (hum)
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Tululu Ekwa mwato
Mô lo windèlè nèni
Tululu uh mba ndé
Na sibi é, naï ma kwala
Miopi mèsè
Mi mondéa munja
Lo mèndè jènè
Bunya bô
Bébwéa ba minbu bénèï ba ndutu
Di si mèndè wô, mbalè
India na Kina ba tôbi y'ékwadi
Cuba n'Africa wèngè ba wô mbémbé
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Malobè a sambwa Loum
A si wèdi Ngomniga
Tululu wèngè (hum)
A mola lo wiyè na ngiña
Na di langwé babô mbalè
Olo ohhh wèngè (hum)
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
(Tô é bè ndè Mpiti
Tô é bè ndè Ndonga
Tô o Jébalè ndè
Tô o Dschang
Tô o Bavumvum)
Mboa ngô nyé ndé mboa (wonja?)
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Mola oï bwa mba,
Na mala mboa
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
Mboa ngô nyé ndé mboa (wonja?)
Mba na mala tè mboa
Mbalè loï bwa mba du"
The lyrics of "Ekwa Mwato" are in the Cameroonian language of Duala, but the overall message of the song is one of unity and celebration of diverse cultural backgrounds. The song begins with the chorus of "Tululu Ekwa Mwato," which translates to "Let us dance the Ekwa Mwato," a traditional dance of the Duala people. The lyrics go on to praise the beauty and uniqueness of different cultures, mentioning various countries such as India, China, Cuba, and Africa. The idea is that despite our cultural differences, we can come together to celebrate and enjoy each other's traditions.
In the verses, Richard Bona sings about his own personal experiences and struggles in life. He mentions his father's name, Tétè, and describes how he had to leave Cameroon to find success as a musician in Europe. The line "Miopi mèsè, mi mondéa munja" translates to "My eyes have seen many things," suggesting that Bona's travels have exposed him to a wide range of cultures and perspectives. He also mentions feeling disconnected from his home country at times ("Mba na mala tè mboa"), but ultimately finds solace in knowing that his music can bring people together despite their differences.
Overall, "Ekwa Mwato" is a song that celebrates cultural diversity and encourages people to come together and dance as a way of celebrating those differences. It's ultimately a message of hope and unity, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Tululu Ekwa Mwato
The sound of the drum Ekwa Mwato
Lo windèlè nèni
Echoing in the village
Tululu a Bailato
The sound makes you want to dance
Son lôngisè muséba
It is the rhythm of the people
A bona Tétè
I am Richard Bona
Lo méya njé
The one who knows
Lôndô bwaba
The city calls
Di ma tungè
But I belong to the village
Miopi mèsè
My eyes are open
Mi mondéa munja
I see the world
Lo mèndè jènè
My heart is happy
Bunya bô
Because of the music
To nika lé nô tuwé
Come and join me
Di titi njaï
Let's sing and dance
Di si mèndè wô (du) mbalè
Together with happiness
Lo wasi tè biya
The city is calling
Njé y'étia njiba
But my home is here
Mbusa bôlô wèkè ndé bi (lambo)
The drums are calling for us to dance (in the lambo)
Mba na mala tè mboa
I am from this land
Mbalè loï bwa mba du
The rhythm is in my heart
Malobè a sambwa Loum
I remember the land of my ancestors in Loum
A si wèdi Ngomniga
And the village of Ngomniga
Tu lulu wèngè (hum)
The sound of the drum echoes
A mola lo wiyè na ngiña
Bringing me back to my roots
Na di langwé babô mbalè
Where the music never stops
Olo ohhh wèngè (hum)
The sound echoes forever
Tululu uh mba ndé
The sound is in my heart
Na sibi é, naï ma kwala
No matter where I go, I remember my roots
Bébwéa ba minbu bénèï ba ndutu
From Asia to Africa to the Americas
India na Kina ba tôbi y'ékwadi
India and China have their own rhythms
Cuba n'Africa wèngè ba wô mbémbé
But Cuba and Africa share the same beat
Tô é bè ndè Mpiti
From Mpiti to Ndonga
Tô o Jébalè ndè
From Jébalè to Dschang
Tô o Bavumvum
From Bavumvum
Mboa ngô nyé ndé mboa (wonja?)
Do you know where you come from?
Mola oï bwa mba,
The rhythm is in your heart
Na mala mboa
You are from this land
Contributed by Audrey C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@miko3z
Je manque de mots pour m'exprimer apres avoir ecoute "Ekwa Mwato". Voici ce que j'ai fais juste apres: j'ai commande toute la discography de Richard Bona! Richard est trop bon!!!
@BassAgent
Richard is the best bass player in the world, no doubt. He's also a very nice guy to talk to!
@BlackRootsUNLIMITED
Absolutely no one can touch Bona I'm afraid. He's a freak and force of nature.
@audreylacroix7
@bemolable he sings in Douala, one of the many dialects in Cameroon wherre RB and I are from, quite beautiful
@RAFFOR01
tout simplement magnifique. merci richard!!!
@josekouadio6779
L'orchestration est époustouflante. tout s'emboite. je suis sans voix. je ne regrette nullement d'avoir assisté à deux de tes concerts sur quatre que tu as donnés à Abidjan en 2006 et 2010.
@maxwellesprit1525
C'est mémorable et impensable que dernier avec son équipe puissent attendre ce niveau. Je suis heureux lorsque je l'écoute à chaque instant. Merci
@crisjunior30
its amazing how they manage the volume sincronization!! just love it
@charlyfreestyler
Vraiment superbe! vivement le concert à gothenburg!!!
@52nenne
Richard Bona and his musicians is so amazing. Love this tune. Swept away by the keyboard solo.