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.
Souwedi Na Wengue
Richard Bona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moto'ï (bis)
Nyango minwo
Minwula njedo wenguè
No sengui no mo
Nokassa mona munyengue.
Njemwé bodi Bo é
Nokelemo muna bangaï
Men nyendeli nino
O jakissa lende moto
Lonbè, motoï (bis)
Minyo essélè.
Essélè nikongua nyu
Eboli muè titi é
Otiti bé nyola wo
Ituèlè muna
Hum... natiti ndongo
Obuatenè mi
Konda moni notoba é
Njika lamo nji bodi
Nasson nguelè
Minya na myo djé
Tombié lu natolanbo
Wendé mundé mavo.
Nalo to gwè
Te ossimendé tu bué to muna.
Atenba muna ndu
Ndibana lam mona
Moto lawa
Nassonguelè
Minya na myo djé
Tombié lu natolanbo
Wendé mundé mavo
Nalo to gwè
Te ossimendé tu bué to muna.
Souwédy nawengué (bis)
Onyeté mba muna ngo
Di bola ne wengué I essela ngo
Onyeté mba muna ngo
Di bola ne wengué I essela ngo
Bana sengui nya o
Souwedy na wengué (bis)
Nassengui Nya o
Oyete nba muna o
Dibola ne wengué muna o, essela o
Bana eyeté na mba muna
Olandé wengué muna, essela, muna o
Nassengui nya wo'o .
Souwedy na wengué
Oyete nba muna o
Dibola ne wengué muna o, essela o
Longo,longo.
The song Souwedi Na Wengue by Richard Bona is a beautifully written piece that dives into the depths of human emotions, relationships, and communication. The song is sung in the Duala language of Cameroon and carries a complex set of meanings that can be challenging to translate. The opening verse “Nyango minwo, Minwula njedo wenguè” refers to a situation where someone is trying to communicate something important to another person but is failing to do so effectively. The next verse “No sengui no mo, Nokassa mona munyengue” draws attention to the danger of misunderstandings that can arise from miscommunication. The song warns against the tendency that people often have to talk without truly understanding each other.
As the song progresses, it delves deeper into the nuances of human relationships. “Souwédy nawengué” expresses a desire to connect with someone on a deeper level, to truly know and understand them. The song acknowledges the difficulties that come with trying to forge genuine relationships and suggests that it requires a willingness to break down barriers and communicate authentically.
Overall, Souwedi Na Wengue is a lyrically rich song that speaks to the complexities of human communication and relationships. It urges listeners to be honest and authentic in their communication to build genuine connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonbè,
Moto'ï (bis)
An expression that signifies a call to attention or a moment of reflection. The short phrase reflects on one's situation in life, where one is and what one has been doing with oneself.
Nyango minwo
Minwula njedo wenguè
An expression that refers to the existence of a supreme being who is the provider of all that man can ever desire.
No sengui no mo
Nokassa mona munyengue.
A reflection on man's state of mind and how he acts based on his emotions.
Njemwé bodi Bo é
Nokelemo muna bangaï
An expression that acknowledges the benefits of serving and trusting in a higher power.
Men nyendeli nino
O jakissa lende moto
A reflection on the inevitability of change in life, and how one must adapt to new situations and work hard to achieve their goals.
Minyo essélè.
Essélè nikongua nyu
An expression that underscores the importance of being honest and true to oneself, as opposed to pretending to be someone else.
Eboli muè titi é
Otiti bé nyola wo
An expression that reflects on the importance of community and how human beings need each other to thrive.
Ituèlè muna
Hum... natiti ndongo
An acknowledgement of the unpredictability of life and how things can change without notice.
Obuatenè mi
Konda moni notoba é
An observation about how greed and the desire for material possessions can corrupt people and lead them astray.
Njika lamo nji bodi
Nasson nguelè
Minya na myo djé
An expression that recognizes the diversity of human experience and how people can relate to each other despite their differences.
Tombié lu natolanbo
Wendé mundé mavo.
Nalo to gwè
Te ossimendé tu bué to muna.
An expression that acknowledges the transient nature of life and how nothing lasts forever. One must cherish every moment and make the most of the time they have.
Atenba muna ndu
Ndibana lam mona
Moto lawa
An expression that reflects on the challenges of life and how one must remain steadfast in the face of adversity to overcome obstacles and achieve one's goals.
Souwedy nawengué (bis)
An expression that affirms the belief in a higher power and the hope that one's prayers and supplications will be answered.
Onyeté mba muna ngo
Di bola ne wengué I essela ngo
Onyeté mba muna ngo
Di bola ne wengué I essela ngo
Bana sengui nya o
An expression that acknowledges the complexity of life and how it is intertwined with spirituality and the supernatural. It is a call for people to recognize the power of a higher being in their lives.
Nassengui Nya o
Oyete nba muna o
Dibola ne wengué muna o, essela o
Bana eyeté na mba muna
Olandé wengué muna, essela, muna o
Nassengui nya wo'o .
A reaffirmation of the importance of faith and spirituality in people's lives, and how they can find strength and guidance in the teachings of religion.
Souwedy na wengué
Oyete nba muna o
Dibola ne wengué muna o, essela o
Longo,longo.
An expression that expresses gratitude for the blessings of life and the hope that one's faith will continue to guide them throughout their journey.
Writer(s): Richard Bona, Frederic Favarel
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
George Nyavor
on Dunia E
omg!!! I have been looking for the meaning of this masterpiece that hits my spirits so hard and yet so comforting. Thanks Nathaniel for what you are doing. i am a Ghanaian and since I discovered Richard Bona, he assumed some sort of revered status in my mind. The guy is good and talented! Thanks so much for bringing the meaning of Suninga too. I wish I can pay you cos at some I linked up with a few friends from Cameroon. They didn't help much since they said the language of the song is not what they speak. I am grateful for this.
Nguebeh Collyn
on Souleymane
Mulema is a name
Yeikete is another name and means something unknown or undefined
They talk about us but we don't know what they're saying
It's a secret language that they're using
They talk about us but we can feel the energy of the gossip
We are not part of their discussion
There is a lot of drama and intrigue surrounding us
We try to stay grounded and not let their gossip affect us
We are caught in the middle of something we don't fully understand
We are not part of their conversation
We are surrounded by people who talk about us, and it makes us feel uncomfortable
We feel small and insignificant in the face of their gossip
Their gossip is like a snake that creeps up on us from behind
We feel helpless and vulnerable to their criticism
Mulema is still a part of this gossip
Yeikete is still here too
They are still talking about us
Their secret language still leaves us in the dark
We are still trying to absorb their negative energy
We still don't really know what they're saying
The drama and intrigue still surround us
We are still trying to stay grounded
We are still in the middle of something that is confusing and uncomfortable
Their conversation is about to come to an end
There is an interruption in their conversation
Someone is trying to change the subject or end the conversation
A car comes to a screeching halt nearby
The conversation comes to a complete stop
Someone interrupts to ask who we are
Our name is Souleymane, and we introduce ourselves
We repeat our name to make sure they understand
We are still part of this discussion but now we're taking control of the conversation
We are no longer in the dark about what they're talking about
We repeat our name with confidence
We are proud of who we are, even though others might not understand us
We are the ones who decide what we want to say
Our words are like flames that cannot be extinguished
We speak with authority and power
Our words echo like the beating of a drum
We are still part of this conversation, but now we are leading it
We know what they're saying, and we're not afraid
We are using our words to bring people together
Our words are a call to action
Our words are fierce and powerful
We are inspiring others to find their own voice
Our name is Souleymane, and we are taking control of this conversation
We are confident and empowered
We are no longer just part of this conversation, but leading it
We are no longer in the dark about what they're saying
We are unafraid and proud of who we are
We are taking control and making our voices heard
We are leading this conversation with power and authority
We have taken control of this conversation and will not be silenced
We are proud of who we are and will never be silenced
We are unafraid to speak up and make our voices heard
We are the ones who control the conversation now
We are the ones who will be remembered, not those who gossip about us
Our words have power and will inspire others to speak up too
Claudio
on Invocation
Lyric of Invocation is wrong. The lyric is from other song called "Dina Lam" and is the chorus of that song, from 2'47''. You can see that.