Likambo Ya Ngana | Other People's Affairs [Song]

Uploaded by Real World Records
Likambo Ya Ngana
By Franco Luambo

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.

Likambo ya ngana soki omoni | If you become aware of other people's affairs
Bombaka na motema | Keep it to yourself
Ekoluka ndongo, bandeko. | The fallout could be serious, brothers and sisters.

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.

Likambo eboma mboka | The stuff that destroys a place -
Bilobaloba | Gossip 
Likambo eboma mboka | The stuff that destroys a place -
Songisongi, bandeko | Rumours, brothers and sisters.

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.

Zala na mayele soki oyoki likambo | Be wise if you happen to hear stuff
Zala na mayele tango bakotuna yo, bandeko. | Be wise during discussions, bothers and sisters.

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey. | Be discreet.

Obimi, yo na moninga, bandeko | You go out, you and a friend, bothers and sisters
Bosali ndoki | You do 'sorcery'
Bombaka na motema | Be discreet about it
Ekoluka matata, bandeko. | You are inviting trouble, brothers and sisters.

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey. | Be discreet.

Okei mboka ya bato okuti likambo | You witness something at another person's place 
Soki ozongi, bandeko | When you leave, brothers and sisters. 
Bombaka na motema, bandeko. | Be discreet, brothers and sisters.

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey. | Be discreet.

Spoken words...

Ah,
Likambo eboma mboka  | The stuff that destoys a place -
Bilobaloba | Gossip
Songisongi | Rumours
Bikumbakumba | Carrying news
Bimemamema | Carrying [stuff] to and fro
Bikundolakundola | Digging here and there
Likambo bakundaki | Stuff that was buried,
Yo oke kokundola | You go and dig it up.

Ah,
Soki oke na ndako ya moninga | When you go to a friend's home
Soki okendeki kolia, lia. | If you went to eat, eat.
Soki okendeki kosenga, senga | If you went to beg, beg.
Soki okendaki po ozangi | If you went there because you are in need
Vanda. Tala | Sit. Look around
Tika kokumba makambo ya ngana | Don't carry someone's issues.

Singer: .........................
Chorus: .........................

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey. | Be discreet.

Likambo eboma mboka | The stuff that destroys a place -
Bilobaloba | Gossip
Likambo eboma mboka | The stuff that destroys a place -
Songisongi, bandeko. | Rumours, brothers and sisters.

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey. | Be discreet.

Zala na mayele soki oyoki likambo | Be wise if you happen to hear stuff
Zala na mayele | Be wise
Tango okofunda moninga, bandeko. | When you accuse your friend, brothers and sisters.

Bomba makambo ey-ey | Be discreet.
Bomba makambo ey-ey. | Be discreet.

Obimi, yo na moninga, bandeko | You go out, you and a friend, bothers and sisters
Bosali ndoki | You do 'sorcery'
Bombaka na motema | Be discreet about it
Koyebisaka te, bandeko, ah. | Keep it to yourselves, brothers and sisters.

Lyrics source and translation with minor alterations.
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A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Franco Luambo, for the words of wisdom wrapped in this beautiful song. If you find songs in the Lingala language as interesting as I do, this Lingala translator/dictionary will be useful for discovering the meanings of the lyrics.     

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Mweh ka allay!
Guanaguanare