Salif Keita (b. 25 August 1949), is an internationally recognized afro-pop … Read Full Bio ↴Salif Keita (b. 25 August 1949), is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer and songwriter from Djoliba, Mali. He has a reputation as the "Golden Voice of Africa", he is also a descendant of the Mali Empire's founder, Sundiata Keita.

He was outcast by his family & ostracized by the community, because he was an albino - a sign of bad luck in Mandinka culture. In 1967, he left Djoliba for Bamako, where he joined the government-sponsored Super Rail Band de Bamako (aka Super Rail Band). In 1973, Keita joined the group Les Ambassadeurs. Keita and Les Ambassadeurs fled political unrest in Mali during the mid-1970s for Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire & changed the group's name to Les Ambassadeurs Internationales. The reputation of Les Ambassadeurs Internationales rose to the international level in the 1970s and in 1977 Keita received a National Order award from the president of Guinea, Sékou Touré.

Keita moved to Paris in 1984 to reach a larger audience. His music combines traditional West African music styles with influences from both Europe and the Americas, while maintaining an overall Islamic style. Musical instruments that are commonly featured in Keita's work include balafon, djembe, guitar, kora, organ, saxophone, and synthesizer.

His album, M'Bemba, was released in October 2005.

Bobo
Salif Keita Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ni doni diya na kô lô I te nimissa, I te nimissa, I te nimissa
Ni doni goya na kô lô, I di nimissa, I di nimissa, I di nimissa
Ni doni diya na kô lô I te nimissa, I te nimissa, I te nimissa

Kanu gno, furu gno, ki ye kuma fo tugna le là
A fô, ni te na saramaya fè a fô, ki ye kuma lô tugna n'fâ
A fô, ne te na sigi gnoya fè, à fo,
Kana kè maloya là, maloya, maloya ma

Yo kana kè maloya ma, maloya, Haaa maloya ma
Yo kana kè maloya ma
Aah ni doni goya na ko lô, maloya ma
Alla ba to nimissa le ma, mô lou
Alla ka na mô nimissa, I ba don nimissa ko lô,
A bi bila kelena miri là, o doun te mô gogna fèna

I kana dji mô là, mô no tè, ma beauté
I fa no lo dji, I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté

Fa no lo dji, I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté

Makôno, makôno, makôno, makôno ye few
Gni le le fè, I ma don I duma gné

Marifa dâ tè na, oh te bunssan là, bunssa te kô, mâ forçé, oohh ni lâ kanu le lô
Fâma Alla, Alla le dyagnè le da, a ki dyagnè, haa Alla le lô I dyagnè

Yarabila là, ka yaraba là,oh ah ne le yarabila deni la,
Ah mô fila kelena miri lô dô ma gnina dô kô, I ye Alla le lô I dya la gné

Fa no lo dji, I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté
Fa no lo dji, I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté

ça fait do bien d'être amoureux, aimé, heureux

Me dya na kuma fô, kâ dya na fini don, ko gnè dya na kolou kèla, mâ se dya na ko ni bè kèla
Ni gnè la là furu gno bèrè ka, ne be gnina o bè kô
Kanâ gnina kô iye Alla le lô I diya là gné

Alla mana mi kè I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté
Alla mana mi kè I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté
Makôno, makôno, makôno, makôno ye few, (i di nimissa)
Gni le le fè,(i di nimissa) I ma don I duma gné
Ni doni goya na kô lô, I di nimissa,gni le le fè,
I di nimissa, I ma don duma gné, I di nimissa

Chérie tu me fais bobo, bobo, bobo duma gné
Bobo, chérie tu me fais bobo, bobo, I ma don duma gné
Bobo, Chérie tu me fais bobo, bobo, bobo duma gné
Chérie tu me fais bobo, bobo, bobo duma gné

Alla mana mi kè I kana dji mô lâ, mô nô tè, ma beauté

Chérie tu me fais bobo, bobo, aaaaahn.....

Overall Meaning

The song "Bobo" by Salif Keita tells a story of a man who feels pain due to the love of his life, who is unaware of his infatuation with her. The lyrics repeatedly state "Ni doni diya na kô lô I te nimissa" which translates to "I feel pain and love in my heart." The man continues to lament his love for her, describing her beauty and how it hurts him not to be with her. He also speaks of his desire for her to notice him and love him back.

Additionally, the lyrics make references to Allah, asking for his guidance and support. The phrase "Makôno ye few" is repeated several times, which means "Let's all share and live together." The song also touches upon themes of unity and togetherness, encouraging people to come together and live in harmony.

Line by Line Meaning

Ni doni diya na kô lô I te nimissa, I te nimissa, I te nimissa
I give you this love of mine, in secrets, in secrets, in secrets.

Ni doni goya na kô lô, I di nimissa, I di nimissa, I di nimissa
I give you this love of mine, in broad daylight, in broad daylight, in broad daylight.

Kanu gno, furu gno, ki ye kuma fo tugna le là
We have rich and poor, we all come together here.

A fô, ni te na saramaya fè a fô, ki ye kuma lô tugna n'fâ
We are all born with the same blood, we all come under the same roof.

A fô, ne te na sigi gnoya fè, à fo,
We were all born on the same land.

Kana kè maloya là, maloya, maloya ma
Maloya is the name of the rhythm.

Yo kana kè maloya ma, maloya, Haaa maloya ma
Oh, it is the song of Maloya, Maloya, haaa Maloya.

Yo kana kè maloya ma
It is the song of Maloya.

Aah ni doni goya na ko lô, maloya ma
And I offer you this love of mine, Maloya.

Alla ba to nimissa le ma, mô lou
God knows my secrets, and that's all.

Alla ka na mô nimissa, I ba don nimissa ko lô,
God knows my secrets, and I give them to you.

A bi bila kelena miri là, o doun te mô gogna fèna
In this world full of misery, we need to love each other.

I kana dji mô là, mô no tè, ma beauté
When you touch me there, my love, my beauty.

I fa no lo dji, I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté
When you say my name, and you touch me there, my love, my beauty.

Makôno, makôno, makôno, makôno ye few
There are things in life that make us happy.

Gni le le fè, I ma don I duma gné
It's what we give that we receive in return.

Marifa dâ tè na, oh te bunssan là, bunssa te kô, mâ forçé, oohh ni lâ kanu le lô
If we understand each other, we can work together, and maybe we can move mountains.

Fâma Alla, Alla le dyagnè le da, a ki dyagnè, haa Alla le lô I dyagnè
We all belong to God, wherever we come from, and God knows where we're headed.

Yarabila là, ka yaraba là,oh ah ne le yarabila deni la,
If we sing together, we can go farther, oh yes, if we all sing together.

Ah mô fila kelena miri lô dô ma gnina dô kô, I ye Alla le lô I dya la gné
Oh, in this world full of misery, we must love each other, and God will guide us.

Me dya na kuma fô, kâ dya na fini don, ko gnè dya na kolou kèla, mâ se dya na ko ni bè kèla
I give you my love, it will never end, even if you leave me, my love for you will remain.

Ni gnè la là furu gno bèrè ka, ne be gnina o bè kô
We are all equal, and we must love each other.

Kanâ gnina kô iye Alla le lô I diya là gné
If we all love each other, then God will be with us.

Chérie tu me fais bobo, bobo, bobo duma gné
Darling, you hurt me, hurt me, hurt me deeply.

Bobo, chérie tu me fais bobo, bobo, I ma don duma gné
You hurt me, darling, hurt me, and I give you my hurt.

Alla mana mi kè I kana dji mô là, mô nô tè, ma beauté
God loves us when we touch each other there, my love, my beauty.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MANFILA KANTE, SALIF KEITA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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