During his career, Tabu Ley composed up to 3,000 songs and produced 250 albums.
Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu was born in Bagata, in the then Belgian Congo. His musical career took off in 1956 when he sung with Joseph "Le Grand Kallé" Kabasele, and his band L'African Jazz. After finishing high school he joined the band as a full-time musician. Tabu Ley sang in the pan-African hit Indépendance Cha Cha which was composed by Grand Kallé for Congolese independence from Belgium in 1960, propelling Tabu Ley to instant fame. He remained with African Jazz until 1963 when he and Dr Nico Kasanda formed their own group, African Fiesta.[6] Two years later, Tabu Ley and Dr. Nico split and Tabu Ley formed African Fiesta National, also known as African Fiesta Flash. The group became one of the most successful bands in African history, recording African classics like Afrika Mokili Mobimba, and surpassing record sales of one million copies by 1970. Papa Wemba and Sam Mangwana were among the many influential musicians that were part of the group. He adopted the stage name "Rochereau" after the French General Pierre Denfert-Rochereau, whose name he liked and whom he had studied in school.
In 1970, Tabu Ley formed Orchestre Afrisa International, Afrisa being a combination of Africa and Éditions Isa, his record label. Along with Franco Luambo's TPOK Jazz, Afrisa was now one of Africa's greatest bands. They recorded hits such as "Sorozo", "Kaful Mayay", "Aon Aon", and "Mose Konzo". They performed also at the Zaire 74 and therefore are in the documentary film Soul Power.
In the mid 1980s Tabu Ley discovered a young talented singer and dancer, M'bilia Bel, who helped popularise his band further. M'bilia Bel became the first female soukous singer to gain acclaim throughout Africa. Tabu Ley and M'bilia Bel later married and had one child together. In 1988 Tabu Ley introduced another female vocalist known as Faya Tess, and M'bilia Bel left and continued to be successful on her own. After M'bilia Bel's departure, Afrisa's influence along with that of their rivals TPOK Jazz continued to wane as fans gravitated toward the faster version of soukous.
After the establishment of Mobutu Sese Seko regime in the Congo, he adopted the name "Tabu Ley" as part of Mobutu's "Zairization" of the country, but later went into exile in France in 1988.
In 1985, the Government of Kenya banned all foreign music from the National Radio service. After Tabu Ley composed the song "Twende Nairobi" ("Let's go to Nairobi"), sung by M'bilia Bel, in praise of Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi, the ban was promptly lifted. In the early 1990s he briefly settled in Southern California. He began to tailor his music towards an International audience by including more English lyrics and by increasing more international dance styles such as Samba. He found success with the release of albums such as Muzina, Exil Ley, Africa worldwide and Babeti soukous. The Mobutu regime banned his 1990 album "Trop, C'est Trop" as subversive. In 1996, Tabu Ley participated in the album Gombo Salsa by the salsa music project Africando. The song "Paquita" from that album is a remake of a song that he recorded in the late 1960s with African Fiesta.
When Mobutu was deposed in 1997, Tabu Ley returned to Kinshasa and took up a position as a cabinet minister in the government of new President Laurent Kabila. Following Kabila's death, Tabu Ley then joined the appointed transitional parliament created by Joseph Kabila, until it was dissolved following the establishment of the inclusive transitional institutions. In November 2005 Tabu Ley was appointed Vice-Governor of Kinshasa, a position devolved to his party, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) by the 2002 peace agreements. He also served as provincial minister of culture. In 2008, he was said to have fathered up to 102 children, including the French rapper Youssoupha, with different women.
He has been described as "the Congolese personality who, along with Mobutu, marked Africa's 20th century history." He was dubbed "the African Elvis" by the Los Angeles Times.
Tabu Ley Rochereau died on 30 November 2013, aged 76, at Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels, Belgium where he had been undergoing treatment for a stroke he suffered in 2008. He was buried on 9 December 2013 in the Cimetière Acropolic de la N'sele in Kinshasa, DR Congo, after receiving an official mourning ceremony at the Palais du Peuple.
Esw Yo Wapi
Tabu Ley Rochereau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Obandi kopanza nga ba sango bipayi binso, likambo oh, nga na nani eh
Na yokaki yango nandimi té, kasi na moni lelo mbala misato
Makambo oza koloba na nzoto na nga, tembe yango yo na nani eh
Ozali mobali nga na zali mwasi, tembé yango yo na nani eh
Na bangi mobali ya polo-polo lokola yo, oyo pasi eh
Obongisaki nga na ndimi, olatisi ngai pe omemi sango
Obimisaki ngai bipayi binso po ya kolakisa sé lokumu na yo moko
Okimaki nga tango nabeli, osalisi ngai ata moke té
Ba ndima mobali na mboka na biso, oyo likambo sé kosalisa ah papa
Bo sundoli nga na famille na tango ya pasi, likambo yango ezali awa na motéma
Obanga lisumu té, oza kotonga nga koloba pona soni eh
Tuna nga na yebisa yo, mosala mobali ko nini eh
Nzambe atinda Adamu na kati ya mokili, asalisa Eva
Moké opesa nga osilisi maloba, kimobali na yo ya nini, oh papa
Opesa nga lopango ata ko ba voiture, ofuti ndé niongo ya Adamu na Eva
Ba ndima mobali na santé ya mwasi pé na capacité na yé ya kolatisa
Tika nga na vanda na nga, tika na pemisa nzoto
Na bandi kozwa mopépé moké ya repos, makambo na yo na bosani eh
Oyebisi na bato'ete ngai nabala té, eswi yo wapi eh?
Ozali koloba'ete yo sukola nga, epayi wapi eh?
Ozwa nga wapi eh? Olula ngai ndenge nini eh?
Obala nga tina eh? Opesi nga nini eh?
Oyoki nga na moto, oyé ko deranger na tina nini eh?
Na lata na bonga obeli ndé liboma ya tina nini eh?
Oh, tokomi wapi eh? Mabé na nga otie ndé wapi eh?
Tango nazalaki kolela, sentiment otiaki wapi eh?
Oh na bendi nzoto eh, nabimi na kati ya nzungu eh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh? Oh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Oyebisi na bato'ete ngai nabala té, eswi yo wapi eh?
Ozali koloba'ete yo sukola nga, epayi wapi eh?
Ozwa nga wapi eh? Olula ngai ndenge nini eh?
Obala nga tina eh? Opesi nga nini eh?
Oyoki nga na moto, oyé ko deranger na tina nini eh?
Na lata na bonga obeli ndé liboma ya tina nini eh?
Oh, tokomi wapi eh? Mabé na nga otie ndé wapi eh?
Tango nazalaki kolela, sentiment otiaki wapi eh?
Oh na bendi nzoto eh, nabimi na kati ya nzungu eh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh? Oh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Oyebisi na bato'ete ngai nabala té, eswi yo wapi eh?
Ozali koloba'ete yo sukola nga, epayi wapi eh?
Ozwa nga wapi eh? Olula ngai ndenge nini eh?
Obala nga tina eh? Opesi nga nini eh?
Oyoki nga na moto, oyé ko deranger na tina nini eh?
Na lata na bonga obeli ndé liboma ya tina nini eh?
Oh, tokomi wapi eh? Mabé na nga otie ndé wapi eh?
Tango nazalaki kolela, sentiment otiaki wapi eh?
Oh na bendi nzoto eh, nabimi na kati ya nzungu eh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh? Oh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Oyebisi na bato'ete ngai nabala té, eswi yo wapi eh?
Ozali koloba'ete yo sukola nga, epayi wapi eh?
Ozwa nga wapi eh? Olula ngai ndenge nini eh?
Obala nga tina eh? Opesi nga nini eh?
Oyoki nga na moto, oyé ko deranger na tina nini eh?
Na lata na bonga obeli ndé liboma ya tina nini eh?
Oh, tokomi wapi eh? Mabé na nga otie ndé wapi eh?
Tango nazalaki kolela, sentiment otiaki wapi eh?
Oh na bendi nzoto eh, nabimi na kati ya nzungu eh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh? Oh
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh?
The lyrics to Tabu Ley Rochereau's song Esw Yo Wapi are primarily in Congolese Lingala, with hints of Swahili and French. The song is about a relationship that is on the rocks and the singer is asking his partner where they stand in the relationship. The song starts with the singer pleading with his partner to stay with him and explaining that he is willing to do whatever it takes to make their relationship work. He talks about how he has not understood some of the things that have gone wrong in their relationship, but he is now willing to change.
In the latter part of the song, the singer tries to ask his partner where they stand in the relationship. He asks where they can meet to discuss their issues, and then he starts to ask a series of questions, hoping to get some answers. He asks where they can go to make things right and what he should do to make their relationship work. He concludes by repeating the question "Eswi yo wapi eh?" (Where are you now?) several times.
Line by Line Meaning
Tika nga na vanda na nga, tika nga na benda nzoto
Wait for me to sit and bend my knee
Obandi kopanza nga ba sango bipayi binso, likambo oh, nga na nani eh
You ask me to go see the river, what do I say?
Na yokaki yango nandimi té, kasi na moni lelo mbala misato
I refused it right away, cause now it's midnight
Makambo oza koloba na nzoto na nga, tembe yango yo na nani eh
You want to talk to my heart, how will you do it?
Ozali mobali nga na zali mwasi, tembé yango yo na nani eh
You are a man and I am a woman, how will you do it?
Na bangi mobali ya polo-polo lokola yo, oyo pasi eh
I only like a real man like you, who is patient
Obongisaki nga na ndimi, olatisi ngai pe omemi sango
You begged me to go with you, promising me a nice sunset
Obimisaki ngai bipayi binso po ya kolakisa sé lokumu na yo moko
You promised me a gift that will symbolize your love for me
Okimaki nga tango nabeli, osalisi ngai ata moke té
You swore to never leave me, but you never kept your promise
Ba ndima mobali na mboka na biso, oyo likambo sé kosalisa ah papa
There are real men in our country, who keep their words, oh father
Bo sundoli nga na famille na tango ya pasi, likambo yango ezali awa na motéma
But I am focused on my family and future, this matter belongs to my heart
Obanga lisumu té, oza kotonga nga koloba pona soni eh
You are not at ease, you don't know how to speak your feelings
Tuna nga na yebisa yo, mosala mobali ko nini eh
Please tell me, what do you want from me as a man
Nzambe atinda Adamu na kati ya mokili, asalisa Eva
God created Adam from the clay of the earth, and gave him Eve
Moké opesa nga osilisi maloba, kimobali na yo ya nini, oh papa
You gave me sweet words, what is your real intention, oh father?
Opesa nga lopango ata ko ba voiture, ofuti ndé niongo ya Adamu na Eva
You gave me a ride in your car, but it's not like the garden of Eden
Ba ndima mobali na santé ya mwasi pé na capacité na yé ya kolatisa
Real men care about the health and ability of their woman to give birth
Tika nga na vanda na nga, tika na pemisa nzoto
Wait for me to sit and rest my knee
Na bandi kozwa mopépé moké ya repos, makambo na yo na bosani eh
I only want a peaceful rest, your matters do not interest me
Oyebisi na bato'ete ngai nabala té, eswi yo wapi eh?
You introduced me to your friends, but where do I stand?
Ozali koloba'ete yo sukola nga, epayi wapi eh?
You talk to them more than to me, where is our bond?
Ozwa nga wapi eh? Olula ngai ndenge nini eh?
Where are you going? You leave me confused
Obala nga tina eh? Opesi nga nini eh?
Do you care about me? What do you offer?
Oyoki nga na moto, oyé ko deranger na tina nini eh?
If you love someone, why trouble them?
Na lata na bonga obeli ndé liboma ya tina nini eh?
Is it better to sink in mud than in a peaceful river?
Oh, tokomi wapi eh? Mabé na nga otie ndé wapi eh?
Oh, where are you taking me? Maybe where I don't want to go?
Tango nazalaki kolela, sentiment otiaki wapi eh?
When I was feeling alone, where were your feelings?
Oh na bendi nzoto eh, nabimi na kati ya nzungu eh
When I bent my knee, I believed in the strength of unity
Eswi yo wapi eh? Eswi yo epayi wapi eh? Oh
Where are you? Where is your heart? Oh
Writer(s): Pascal Rochereau, Bilia Mboyo
Contributed by Audrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alexander LUOBA
on Sacramento
My best song of all time, I really appreciate the Legend Tabu
Adam
on Monsieur Malonga
Can anyone share lyrics for Monsieur Malonga?
I love how this song sounds and would really like to know what it's about. Thanks in advance!
Tony Menzies
on Kimakango Mpe Libala
I would really love to get the lyrics for Aon Aon. It's been a long time favourite of mine. From the 'Dance d'Afrique' LP's