Info
When fishing in the Kasaï River, people might have to row hard in the strong currents. They sing to Béngúélà, the water spirit to help them be successful. (source: Songs from the Baobab) This song is also sung as a lullaby. (source)
Lyrics - Lingala
(Folk song from the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
//Olélé olélé molibá mákási (lúká lúká)// (repeat)
//Mbôká ná yé (mbôká mbôká)
mbôká ná yé
mbôká mbôká Kásáï// (repeat)
//Olélé olélé molibá mákási (lúká lúká)// (repeat)
//Eeo ee eeo Béngúélà áyá// (repeat)
//Béngúélà o (óyá óyá)
Yákárá a (óyá óyá)
Kóngúidjá a (óyá óyá)// (repeat)
//Olélé olélé molibá mákási (lúká lúká)// (repeat)
English Translation - Uélé River with a very strong current
//Olélé! Olélé! The current is very strong (row, row)// (repeat)
//His country and him (country, country)
His country and him
His country is Kasaï// (repeat)
//Olélé! Olélé! The current is very strong (row, row)// (repeat)
//Eeo ee eeo, let Benguela come!// (repeat)
Benguela (come, come)
The brave one (come, come)
The generous one (come, come) (repeat)
//Olélé! Olélé! The current is very strong (row, row)// (repeat)
See also
- Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Subject: rowing
- Type: lullaby
- Harmony: chords I, IV, V, vi
- Melody: mi, re, do
- Meter: 4
- Scale: hexachord
- Tones: drmfsl
- Source: Songs from the Baobab: African Lullabies & Nursery Rhymes, Chantal Grosléziat, The Secret Mountain, 2011
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
