N'Dour was born in Medina in Dakar, Senegal, in 1959 and started his music career singing in small clubs in Dakar in the Wolof language, which is predominantly spoken in Senegal and Gambia. He's most popular for his mbalax beat which gave him the title "Roi de Mbalax" (King of Mbalax), and is a household name in Senegal, Gambia and neighbouring countries in West Africa with a long list of hits from the early days in the 70s to date.
In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar. His early work with Etoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Etoile de Dakar, featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam.
N'Dour was introduced to the Western audience when Peter Gabriel had him appear on his 'So' album (in 1986) and theb took N'Dour and The Super Etoile de Dakar on the road with him in a subsequent world tour. N'Dour has also collaborated with a lengthy list of influential artists including Paul Simon, Neneh Cherry, and Branford Marsalis.
He is endowed with remarkable range and poise, a composer, bandleader, and producer with a prodigious musical intelligence. The New York Times most recently described his voice as an "arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority". N'Dour absorbs the entire Senegalese musical spectrum in his work, often filtering this through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.
Youssou N´Dour is currently the new minister of Culture of Senegal as a reward for his campaign against the former president of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade who was defeated by Macky Sall in February 2012.
Bamako
Youssou N'Dour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi ngui sanguo seur
Té beut yi di takkeu,
Ma dal di koye nougnou
Mou dal di maye faye ,
Dal di maye yédeu ci adouna bou yakhou bi
Mane douma fatté!
Man douma fatté bamako lii mani lii mani!
Mane douma fatté!
Kerok lama khamal louma khamoul woone ci diamono bou yakhou bi yénene ak yénene;
Balaa maye dougeuti mane ci loumou meuneu doone
Dinaa fattélikou ndaw sossou
Limouma wakhoone!
Souy souy sou sou sou sou sou sou souy!!
Ci gare bi lako fekkeu mi ngui sanguo seur té beut yi di takkeu,
Ma dal di koye nougnou
Mou dal di maye faye dal di maye yédeu,
Maky yé maky maky yé maky yééééé!!!!
Waw kérok lama khamal louma khamoul woone ci diamono bou yakhou bi,
Balaa maye dougeuti ci loumou meuneu doone,
Dinaa fattéli ko maky yé maky maky yé maky yéé!!
Ah mani ah mani!
Douma fatté bamako lii mani lii mani!
Mane douma fatté bamako
The lyrics of Youssou N'Dour's song Bamako reflect the artist's sentiments about his hometown, the capital city of Mali. The song starts with the lines "Si gare bi lako fekkeu, Mi ngui sanguo seur," which translate to "At the station, I wait alone." The singer is waiting alone at the station, perhaps waiting for a train or bus, symbolizing his feelings of loneliness and separation from the city he loves so much.
The next line "Té beut yi di takkeu, Ma dal di koye nougnou" means "The people are raising their voices, but I am silent." This line highlights the contrast between the city's vibrant and noisy atmosphere and the singer's quiet and contemplative state. He is listening to the sounds of the city but choosing to remain silent, perhaps lost in his thoughts.
As the song progresses, the artist expresses his love for Bamako, calling it "Mane douma fatté" (My heart is in Bamako). He celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the city with lines like "Kerok lama khamal louma khamoul woone ci diamono bou yakhou bi," which refers to the traditional dances performed in the city. He also sings about the people of Bamako, saying they are "Souy souy sou sou sou sou sou sou souy!!" (Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy).
In the end, the song is a tribute to the city of Bamako and its people. The artist acknowledges the challenges faced by the city, but his love for it remains unshaken.
Line by Line Meaning
Si gare bi lako fekkeu,
As we arrive at the station,
Mi ngui sanguo seur
I am filled with joy
Té beut yi di takkeu,
At the sight of the city,
Ma dal di koye nougnou
My heart is filled with hope
Mou dal di maye faye ,
For the new opportunities
Dal di maye yédeu ci adouna bou yakhou bi
That await us in this world
Mane douma fatté!
Oh, how I am happy!
Ah mani ah mani!
Yes, indeed!
Man douma fatté bamako lii mani lii mani!
I am so happy to be in Bamako!
Kerok lama khamal louma khamoul woone ci diamono bou yakhou bi yénene ak yénene;
The music and rhythms of this place surround us and fill the air;
Balaa maye dougeuti mane ci loumou meuneu doone
The dance begins and we move as one,
Dinaa fattélikou ndaw sossou
With joy and energy,
Limouma wakhoone!
Our spirits lifted and free!
Souy souy sou sou sou sou sou souy!!
The beat is infectious and we can't help but move our feet!
Waw kérok lama khamal louma khamoul woone ci diamono bou yakhou bi,
The music continues and we are transported;
Balaa maye dougeuti ci loumou meuneu doone,
Lost in the rhythm,
Dinaa fattéli ko maky yé maky maky yé maky yéé!!
We dance and sing with abandon!
Ah mani ah mani!
Yes, indeed!
Douma fatté bamako lii mani lii mani!
I am so happy to be in Bamako!
Mane douma fatté bamako
Oh, how I am happy to be here in Bamako
Contributed by Lillian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@that1monk
Bamako
I found her at the station
Clothed in her wrap
She beckoned with her bright bright eyes
I greeted her
And she replied
She gave me wise advice
About this earthly world
Now I understand many many things
That I did not see before
That is why I refuse absolutely
To be threatened on any side
I shall never forget
I promise you
I shall never forget Bamako
That woman has another name now
She found me straying
She brought me back to health
It was as if I had lost
Something precious
And I had fallen into acceptance
Forgetting what I had lost
And the woman brought me back to my senses
I call her Bamako
I shall never forget her
I promise you
I shall never forget Bamako
@malickndoye90
Mane douma faté
Amany (x2)
douma faté
Bamako (x2)
Wouy many
Douma faté
...
That's is the refrain. It will be hard to read it in English way. More easier in french. Translated it's :
I won't forget
Amany (x2)
I won't forget
Bamako (x2)
I repeat (stated) again
...
Sometimes he make some variations in the refrain such as after the last sentence of the refrain, if he want repeat the refrain he skip the first sentence and go straight to Amany or Bamako.
We supposed also Amany is the name of the woman he met.
@user-lt6dn8wp1q
2024 qui est la
@kaanabee813
This song is about a mysterious woman youssou met at a railway station in Bamako(Malia) when he went there with the band in the earliest stage of their carreer. He says that lady was covered up and her eyes were lightening up, he came close to her and said hi, the lady responded and there started a conversion.The lady told her a whole lot of things he was not aware of. After they separated he kept hearing her voice and what she told him. He couldn't help anymore but go back to the same station to meet her again. then when he went there the lady was no longer there. That's why by the end of this song, he keeps repeating arround 3:11: Délounaa diko séétate fékkoumako which means I went back there but could not find her.
Ah mani Ah mani means I say, I say.
Douma fatté Bamako means I will never Forget Bamako ( what happened in Bamako)!
Overall that's what the song is about.Many people believe that lady was not a human and told him things he does not share with us and that she has been a huge blessing to Youssou Ndour. I love Youssou!
@elzyowsaloncoiffuredelapla8798
It's maybe 🤔 a fiction books 📚
@nybangnybang5926
Really it is a mysterious song
I always listen this song
@maho5304
Youssou now he do something wrong because he's country is have a problem and he nt even talk about dhat because he supported the government killing the people
@papilo2
je vais ecouter en 2029 -2039-2049
dieu l a donne du talent
il me donne des frissons
god bless you king of mbalax !!!!!
@pap3345
Clasic
@paparace1485
Incha allah
@papikone9741
Inshallah
@hawadiaw6424
Je suis actuellement à bamako mais doumako fateer si je rentre au senegal