In 1999 Esau Mwamwaya moved to London, England has until recently run a second-hand furniture store in Clapton, East London, UK.
Esau's shop was on the same street as Radioclit's old studio, and after the Radioclit boys bought a bike from Esau they invited him to one of their house warming parties. They made friends and started working on music together. Two years later and the project has gotten its name: The Very Best.
Sites: Discogs.
Nsokoto
The Very Best Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kupata kwa ana iyo sinkasangalatsidwa nako
Mwana apate eti tiona ngati agone
Chaka chino chokha iye akagonera kumanda
M'mati n'kwere ndakwera panyumba yanthakati
Wakoma bana pawaka
Mwana akangoti agone
Kum'bwerera usiku
Thupi lonse lamangika
Kulephera kufuula
Poti adsuke mam'mawa
Thupi kunjenjemera
Mutu wanga, malungo, matenda aja akula
Wakoma bana
Wati kitasha
Wamara bana
Ichi n'chasoni
Nsokoto nsokoto
Nsokoto nsokoto
Muuze nthakatiyo namulondola ife takana
Bana bakunsokoto ise
Bana bakumulowe ise
Bana bamwakisulu ise
Bana bakaronga ise
Bana bakurumphi ise
Bana bakuchitipa ise
The song "Nsokoto" by The Very Best is a thoughtful and insightful commentary on the challenges and struggles faced by children living in poverty in Malawi. The lyrics describe the harsh reality of life in poverty, where children lack basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing, and where they are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. The opening lines, "Kumsokoto kuli mfiti imodzi inkalodza ana osalakwa/Kupata kwa ana iyo sinkasangalatsidwa nako" paint a vivid picture of the dangerous and unpredictable environment that these children live in.
The song goes on to describe the daily struggles and hardships that these children face, such as having to work late into the night, being unable to sleep because of hunger, and suffering from various illnesses and ailments. Despite these challenges, the song also conveys a sense of hope and resilience, with the repeated refrain of "Nsokoto nsokoto" serving as a rallying cry for the children to persevere in the face of adversity.
Overall, "Nsokoto" is a powerful and moving tribute to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and a reminder of the enduring challenges faced by those living in poverty.
Line by Line Meaning
Kumsokoto kuli mfiti imodzi inkalodza ana osalakwa
In the village of Nsokoto, there's a witch that harms the innocent children
Kupata kwa ana iyo sinkasangalatsidwa nako
No one is aware of what happens to those missing children
Mwana apate eti tiona ngati agone
When a child goes missing, we wonder if they've been taken
Chaka chino chokha iye akagonera kumanda
Only this year, someone was found dead in the forest
M'mati n'kwere ndakwera panyumba yanthakati
In the middle of the night, I heard footsteps inside my house
Wakoma bana pawaka
Children are crying loudly
Wamara bana nsokoto
The witch of Nsokoto is responsible for this plight
Mwana akangoti agone
A child cries out, 'Taken!'
Kum'bwerera usiku
They come in the night
Thupi lonse lamangika
They cover the entire body
Kulephera kufuula
Even when they struggle
Poti adsuke mam'mawa
Until the morning comes
Thupi kunjenjemera
The body is found all torn up
Mutu wanga, malungo, matenda aja akula
My head hurts, my body aches, and my wounds have become infected
Wakoma bana
Children are crying
Wati kitasha
'What's happening?' they ask
Wamara bana
The witch is responsible
Ichi n'chasoni
It's a mystery
Nsokoto nsokoto
Nsokoto, Nsokoto
Muuze nthakatiyo namulondola ife takana
Tell the witch we won't stay quiet anymore
Bana bakunsokoto ise
The children of Nsokoto are suffering
Bana bakumulowe ise
The children are being taken
Bana bamwakisulu ise
The children are being killed
Bana bakaronga ise
The children are being mutilated
Bana bakurumphi ise
The children are being abused
Bana bakuchitipa ise
The children are being traumatized
Writer(s): JOHAN KARLBERG, ETIENNE TRON DE BOUCHONY DE BERARD DE, ESAU MWAMWAYA
Contributed by Ava N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.