Malaika (Swahili Traditional Song) – “Shozaloza African Voices”

Bukelwa Velem ,Babongile Manga, Miranda Tini, Lusindiso Dubula and Lindile Kula Jr
and Jazz Band:
Albert Combrink (Piano & Musical Director), Darryl Andrews (Bass), Alvyn Dyers (Guitar), Ivan Bell (Drums).

To book the Musicians, please contact albertcombrink@gmail.com

Read more about the original show HERE.

See photos from the shows HERE.

Live Amateur footage from the Oudelibertas Amphitheater Show, Stellenbosch, South Africa, February 2014
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More about the song “Malaika”

I grew up in Apartheid South Africa, and much of my South African musical heritage was lost on me – in my ignorance, or simply from never being in contact with it. I had heard of the wonderful South African singer Miriam Makeba, and it was in my varsity years, when the policital questions became too loud to remain unanswered, that I discovered the magical artistry of this woman, a singer who was living in political exile. I fell in love with her and with this song, the first moment I heard it. It had a melancholy which was iresistible.

“My baby, I love you, and if ony I had enough money to afford to come and get you, I would have married you

How simple. How touching. How absolutely heartbreachingly tragic. Sung by a woman far from her homeland, missing her family and loved ones, forbidden even from entering the borders of the land where her ancestors are burried. Heard by a boy exiled in all but name from a community that simply could not or would not connect with his political, social or sexual views. When she sang, she sang my sadness too. The sadness of incomprehension which a child feels when it knows there is something terribly wrong, but it has neither the experience, nor the vocabulary to understand it, let alone do anything about it.

Malaika is a Swahili song. Malaika generally means angel in Swahili. As is the case with many Swahili words, it is ultimately derived from Arabic. An alternative Swahili meaning is a “baby” or “small child“,hence at least one particular traditional version of the song titled Malaika being commonly used as a lullaby throughout East Africa.

An_Evening_With_Belafonte_Makeba

“Malaika”: Lyrics in English and Swahili

Malaika, nakupenda Malaika
Angel, I love you angel
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika
Angel, I love you angel
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio
and I, what should I do, your young friend
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
Ningekuoa Malaika
I would marry you, angel
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
Ningekuoa Malaika
I would marry you, angel

Kidege, hukuwaza kidege
Little bird, I think of you little bird
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio
and I, what should I do, your young friend
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
Ningekuoa Malaika
I would marry you, angel
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
Ningekuoa, Malaika
I would marry you, angel

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu
The money (which I do not have) depresses my soul
Pesa zasumbua roho yangu
the money (which I do not have) depresses my soul
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio
and I, what should I do, your young friend
Ningekuoa Malaika
I would marry you, angel
Nashndwa na mali sina, we
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have
Ningekuoa Malaika
I would marry you, angel

 

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