Ebale ya Zaire

Masúwa masúwa

Ship, o ship

Yo wana o memi oyo na ngáí bolingo

you there, you've carried away my love

Oyebaka na'a kozela oh

know that I'll keep waiting

Masúwa Ekonana Loseba ebeti

the siren of the Ekonana ship has sounded

Masúwa Ekonana bolingo pé nani

the Ekonana ship — and whose love is it?

Masúwa ebungi oh na kati ya londéndé

the ship is lost in the fog

Bolingo pé ebungi oh na kati ya londéndé

and love too is lost in the fog

Ngáí na libóngo na leli oh mbolé oh

at the port I mourn, oh Mbolé

Chérie, okendeke malámu mbolé oh

darling, may your journey be safe, Mbolé

Elaká okoméláká Nga soki okómí

you promised to write me once you arrived

Nayeba bolingo o bosani ngáí té oh

so I'd know my love hadn't forgotten me

Na ndima bolingo ata ndele oko zonga

I trust my love will come back someday

Nazalí sé ko zela mokóló masúwa eko zongá

I just wait for the day the ship returns

Ngáí awa, atá sángó ya pámba Jeannie oh mamá oh

here I have no news at all, Jeannie, oh mama

Ebale mozindó ekati ngámbo

a deep river runs to the far bank

Matíti eko tshola ba buato eko tshola

the grass drifts, and the boats drift too

Kasí bolingo na ngáí Enani sé Ekonana

but my only love is Enani, the Ekonana

Na zali sé ko zela mokolo masúwa eko zongá

I just wait for the day the ship returns

Ngáí awa na beli ba soucis ya l'amulo oh

here I'm sick with the worries of love

Lelo na kanisi yo mingi Jeannie

today I think of you so much, Jeannie

Na sé ya kwiti na bandi ndé ko lota

deep in drink, I began to dream

Yo olalisi motó na lipeka na ngáí

you laid your head on my shoulder

Olobeli Nga liloba na mwâ likukuma

you murmured something to me, stammering

Dizuanio, ndoto ya kwiti oh mawa mingi oh mamá oh

Dizuanio, a drunkard's dream — how sad, oh mama

Masúwa ememeli Nga bolingo oh Nzámbe

Na béngá nani lolému emesana

Kombo ya Mbolé lolému emesana

Mongóngó ya Mbolé oh matói emesana

Dizuanio, nazingi maboko na ba soucis oh mamá oh

Elóko esálí ngáí makanisi Dizuanio

To vandi ba mbúla to vandi pé ba sánzá

To vandi ba mposo to vandi pé mikolo

To mesani bolingo na monde ya libomá

Dizuanio na tangi ba plafond na ba soucis oh mamá

Photo oyo otikela ngáí na libóngo

Na kati ya motema, ekómá ndé elílí

Na monaka nzelá nionso na kokende

Na belala na mosíká elílí ebungi

Dizuanio, na beli ba soucis ya l'amulo oh mamá oh

Elóko bolingo ezángá mǐso

Moto óyo oko linga ako linga yó té

Oyo oko boya ako linga yó mingí oh

Oyo oko kima ako landa yo mingi oh

Etumbu oh, oyo ya ba pasi ya l'amulo oh tokomonaka oh

Mamá Minalewa oh mamá

Mamá na ko kufa oh mamá

Yě eh yě eh

Mamá na ko wa oh

Mamá na ko kufa oh mamá

Mamu na kufa oh mamá

Yě eh yě eh

Mamá na ko kufa oh

Mamá na ko beba