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.
O Sen Sen Sen
Richard Bona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ni mbalè nku, ya nongo mba na
Muléma ngiña ba s'ombwé to mbusa
Ni mbalè nku
Endalle muna'am mo, sénganè mba iyo
Lambo ngéa, sè ndutu mama timba won
Ba wondi wa na tè tè tè, o ñamisè muna bwam
To'o numa mabongo
Bato bé ndé nika
Malinga na tè na kwédi
To maladi muléma
Dibolanè tè na, éya ndondo
Sèlè loko nyolo i, ndo dutéyé
Nèni o ma boléa no
Muna muléma^ésèlè ni ngéa bobé na mapan
Endalle wé ndé o wasa jé^o mbènè na bato
Na bi ndutu ñé pon o Mbengè
E ma léiyè biso makanè
Endalle Oi senga
Jé ba ma langwa no o wan
Mama to nin mbulédi
Ombwatè wa sopo
Na nu mwanu mabu mwa njonga
Lo boléa babo na ba bè mbwan
Mba n'o sen sen sen
Mo nia bato
To maladi muléma mo
Ke ndut'a nunè ba ko mbwan
Mba n'o sen sen sen
Kalatuku ni nia bato
A mun'Ewande, son timba mboa
Ebajan'ba sibi
Munia mwa kwan ndé^édiè na
Dikata mo'asima, asima kata mulopo
Makom ma bobé né kéngé
Ba sibi munia mwa kwani umba
Dikata mo'asima, asima kata mulopo
...
Dikata mo'asima, asima kata mulopo
Esè tumba maya bobé
Lambo o ma nongo no nd'o bènè umba
Dikata mo'asima, asima kata mulopo
Mba n'o sen sen sen
Dikata mo'asima, asima kata mulopo
Mba n'o sen sen sen
The song "O Sen Sen Sen" by Richard Bona is a composition that is sung in the Duala language of the Sawa people of the littoral region in Cameroon. The song is a call to the younger generation to be proud of its cultural heritage and uphold it. The first verse of the song speaks of the transformative nature of traditional songs on the younger generation. The lines "Esè bobe bato beno nin wenge ni mbale nku" translate to "These old songs are like medicine for the soul."
The second verse touches on the power of music to bring people together. The chorus "Mba no sen sen sen, mo nia bato" means "let us come together as one people." The rest of the song is a call to preserve the cultural legacy and proud identity of the Duala people who have long been marginalized in Cameroon. The lines "Na nu mwanu mabu mwa njonga, lo bolea babo na ba bè mbwan" translate to "We hold our customs dear and hand them down to future generations."
Overall, the song is a stirring anthem to cultural pride and unity that beckons the listener to appreciate the value of traditional wisdom and music.
Line by Line Meaning
Esè bobé bato béno nin wèngè
The ancestors are watching over us
Ni mbalè nku, ya nongo mba na
And this life we live is a journey of learning
Muléma ngiña ba s'ombwé to mbusa
We must honor those who came before us
Endalle muna'am mo, sénganè mba iyo
Our memories guide and teach us
Lambo ngéa, sè ndutu mama timba won
The world is a beautiful place but also full of challenges
Ba wondi wa na tè tè tè, o ñamisè muna bwam
We have friends and family to support us in tough times
Nyol'a ngo ñé ndé longo mama timba wonè
We should cherish those who are close to us and hold them dear
To'o numa mabongo
We are all connected
Bato bé ndé nika
People are the same no matter where they come from
Malinga na tè na kwédi
We should not judge others based on their appearance or background
To maladi muléma
We should respect and remember those who have passed
Dibolanè tè na, éya ndondo
Life is full of surprises and challenges
Sèlè loko nyolo i, ndo dutéyé
We should embrace change and adapt to new situations
Nèni o ma boléa no
We should show compassion for others
Muna muléma^ésèlè ni ngéa bobé na mapan
The spirits of the ancestors are always with us
Endalle wé ndé o wasa jé^o mbènè na bato
Our traditions and culture should be passed down from generation to generation
Na bi ndutu ñé pon o Mbengè
We are all children of the universe
E ma léiyè biso makanè
We are all connected, regardless of our differences
Jé ba ma langwa no o wan
We should celebrate diversity and learn from each other
Mama to nin mbulédi
Mother Earth is our home
Ombwatè wa sopo
We must protect our planet and its resources
Na nu mwanu mabu mwa njonga
We should listen to and learn from nature
Lo boléa babo na ba bè mbwan
We must care for future generations
Mba n'o sen sen sen
Let us come together
Mo nia bato
As one people
Kalatuku ni nia bato
With hope in our hearts
A mun'Ewande, son timba mboa
For a better tomorrow
Ebajan'ba sibi
Let us forget our differences
Munia mwa kwan ndé^édiè na
And work towards a common goal
Dikata mo'asima, asima kata mulopo
If we come together, we can achieve great things
Makom ma bobé né kéngé
Our homeland is everything
Ba sibi munia mwa kwani umba
We must reconcile with each other to build a better future
Esè tumba maya bobé
Our ancestors are still guiding us
Lambo o ma nongo no nd'o bènè umba
We can build a beautiful and peaceful world together
Contributed by Joseph L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DaMorg3
Yesssss bring the fire Mr. Bona! My 2 year old son is obsessed with you!
He yells “Bonaaaaaa! Bonaaaaaa!”
@RichardBona
😂😂😂🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽👍🏽
@DaMorg3
@@RichardBona He won’t even let me brush his teeth unless I play your music! He loves Te Dikalo and Jokoh Jokoh. Here’s the proof! https://youtube.com/shorts/gkcWL3miM38?feature=share
@heartbeat_corporation
The legend has spoken again. Proud to be Cameroonian like you
@rebecca.j.tickle
What a delicious mix!! 🥰
@samuelolapoju2832
That pianist knows his onions!!!!
@volkerkonz327
Fantastic!!! please all listen to the grandios Richard Bona with his fantastic piano player, wow!!!!!!
@spinix3744
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
@man_mab2260
Bob saap killing it on the piano
@EugeneSkeef230650
Musicians bring the medicine of love and human harmony to this world that is otherwise fragmented. Bravo, Richard Bona and your beautiful band!