Zap Mama was founded by Marie Daulne & since the release of "7" (2002), th… Read Full Bio ↴Zap Mama was founded by Marie Daulne & since the release of "7" (2002), the project has evolved into a seven person band, with two backup singers, keyboards, bass, drums & percussion / decks. Additional current members include Nia Saw

As well as her Congolese roots, Daulne's cross-genre style may result from her varied past: Her father, a Belgian, was killed during the revolution while her mother was pregnant with her. The remainder of the family fled to the forests and found refuge with a tribe of pygmies. Daulne was raised primarily in Europe, but when she heard a recording of traditional pygmy music at age 20, she decided to return to Africa to learn about her heritage. She was trained in pygmy onomatopoeic vocal techniques before returning to Europe to found Zap Mama.

Rafiki
Zap Mama Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey , mister see the sister
Don't you let them feel you
Sticks and stones may break your bones
But now her looks could kill you
Hey , come away
Souca souca na na
Come on , come on , miss
allez , allez ,

With a souca souca mama
Oh , hey , come away
Souca souca na na
Come on , come on , miss
allze , allez .
With a souca souca maman
On , hey , come away
Souca souca na na
Come on , come on , miss
allze , allze
With a souca souca mama
Come on , come on miss ,

allze , allze
With a souca souca mama.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Zap Mama's song Rafiki in English are a plea to a man to protect his female companion from harm. The chorus, "Hey, come away, souca souca na na, come on, come on, miss, allez, allez, with a souca souca mama," emphasizes the urgency of the situation and urges the man to act quickly. The phrase "souca souca" is not a recognizable word, but rather a vocalization that adds a rhythmic and melodic element to the song.

The verses suggest that the woman's beauty has provoked jealousy and aggression. The lyric "Don't you let them feel you, sticks and stones may break your bones, but now her looks could kill you" implies that the woman's physical appearance has become a threat to her safety. The repetition of "souca souca mama" gives the song a hypnotic and spiritual quality, adding to the mood of urgency and tension.

Overall, the song Rafiki is about gender-based violence and the need for men to act as allies and protectors of women. The title "Rafiki" is a Swahili word meaning "friend," and the lyrics suggest that being a friend involves taking action against oppression and violence.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey , mister see the sister
Hey there, Mister, don't overlook the woman beside you

Don't you let them feel you
Don't let others bring you down

Sticks and stones may break your bones
Physical objects can harm your body

But now her looks could kill you
The woman's appearance has the power to severely impact you, emotionally or physically

Hey , come away Souca souca na na
Hey, let's go dance, chant and enjoy ourselves

Come on , come on , miss allez , allez
Let's go, let's go, lady, hurry up

With a souca souca mama
Dancing to the rhythm of traditional African beats

Oh , hey , come away Souca souca na na
Oh, let's go dance again, chant and enjoy ourselves

Come on , come on , miss allez , allez
Let's go, let's go, lady, hurry up

With a souca souca maman
Dancing to the rhythm of traditional African beats

On , hey , come away Souca souca na na
Come on, let's dance, chant and enjoy ourselves