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
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.
“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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