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.
Kivu
Richard Bona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ewo beba na buma mabembe
ngeda bosso neni no owa mbale
na i wedi dimbea oa muto o wenge
na sibi neni na mende no o bola muto
Suninga muna o
Suninga
na kusi bebango jita
o muwaso mwa guta longo
Keka so na le nene a numi muna muto
bunya bo
Nai wedi dimbea oa
Na titi pona
Mo na poi o jene oa
To nguea na si bi pon
ni male o mboa ngo mbale
Na si bi neni na mende no o bola
Muto
Na tondo oa na ngiya e si be dimene
Mo ye nde neni
Keka so na lene ne
The lyrics of Richard Bona's "Kivu & Suninga" are in the language of Duala and are difficult to translate directly into English, but it is possible to interpret the essence of the song. The song is a reflection on the beauty and harmony of nature and the interconnectedness of all things. The opening lines speak of the river Kivu and the forest Suninga, which are both natural landmarks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lines "ewo beba na buma mabembe" suggest that the forest and river are home to many creatures, both known and unknown.
The song then moves into a call and response section with the chorus "Suninga muna o, Suninga," which can be translated to "Oh Suninga, my love." This section is more melodic and represents the singer's appreciation and gratitude for the beauty of nature. The verse that follows speaks of a journey, moving through different terrains, encountering different creatures, and experiencing nature in different ways. The lines "Keka so na le nene" suggest that the singer is in awe and speechless at the beauty of what they are experiencing.
The final verse of the song speaks of the singer's connection to nature and their part in it. The lines "ni male o mboa ngo mbale" suggest that the singer recognizes the responsibility they have to protect and preserve nature for future generations. The song ends with the lines "Na si bi neni na mende no o bola Muto na tondo oa na ngiya e si be dimene," which can be interpreted as the singer recognizing that they are connected to everything and everyone, and that their actions have an impact on the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Na kati mindongo na kata weya
In the middle of the forest, I am lost
ewo beba na buma mabembe
surrounded by strange trees
ngeda bosso neni no owa mbale
the wind blows through the leaves
na i wedi dimbea oa muto o wenge
my heart beats fast with fear
na sibi neni na mende no o bola muto
I search for a path but find only darkness
Suninga muna o
Help me, Suninga
Suninga
calling out for Suninga
na kusi bebango jita
I hear the sound of drums
o muwaso mwa guta longo
coming from a distant village
Keka so na le nene a numi muna muto
I follow the rhythm, hoping to find my way
bunya bo
it echoes through the forest
Nai wedi dimbea oa
my heart beats fast again
Na titi pona
My feet are heavy
Mo na poi o jene oa
I stumble in the darkness
To nguea na si bi pon
I cry out for help
ni male o mboa ngo mbale
but there is only silence
Na si bi neni na mende no o bola
I search for a path but find only darkness
Muto
in the darkness
Na tondo oa na ngiya e si be dimene
My heart is heavy and my spirit is broken
Mo ye nde neni
I am lost
Keka so na lene ne
I follow the beat, hoping to find my way
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
João Roberto Storino dos Anjos
Divino, sem palavras. Obrigado!!!!
Humberto Giron
Wuaaooo que belleza esto; nunca habia escuchado, gracias Richard Bona.
Yafar Abah
Merci frangin de nous offrir ce que tu es, ce que tu as et tous ces frissons qui nous font gémir de plaisir
alfredcam
Le vrai nom d l'art ; Bona Richard
Respect l'artist..👐👍
Sar's Mbwaka
Merci pour l’hommage ✊🏽
Massimo Modesti
Always pleasant. Mixing music styles and languages.
Éric Akele
Merci beaucoup Mr Richard Bona de rendre hommage aux victimes de massacre ignoble au Kivu en RDCongo. Que leurs âmes reposes en paix. T'es un grand homme avec un cœur sensible au douleur de tes frères et sœurs africains. God bless you Sir Bona.
Anu sree
One day God will ge me a chance to do a collab with you ❤️
João Roberto Storino dos Anjos
Lindo
cchantal lescamerpasvenales
Kivu... Ngarbuh... Hélas la cruauté ne finit pas !
❤️😢🤔🙄🤕😭🤬