Echantillon ya Pamba

rumbasocietyModerate

About this song

Dr Nico and African Fiesta spin a comic tale of trust betrayed. Careful Madeleine even inspected his little black book to be sure he was single before he left for Sierra Leone to prepare their wedding. Not a month later he catches her out drinking with another man. His jealousy runs "to his fingernails": better to divorce, sell everything he bought, and admit she was never more than a "sample" of a name — pencilled in, never inked.

Dr Nico1950s–1980s Watch on YouTube

Study Play

Verse

Yo madeleine

You, Madeleine

To sololaki nga nayo mokolo ya misato manso pe makoki

we talked things over on Wednesday and all was well

Olobaki na nga na lakisa buku na nga otala soki kombo ya mwasi ezali te

you asked to see my book, to check there was no woman's name in it

Sikoyo otali pe ondimi eh que nazali monzemba eh

now you've looked and you're satisfied that I'm single

Nake nanu na Sierra Leone soki nazongi toko sala mariage

I'm off to Sierra Leone; when I'm back we'll marry

Kasi soki nazongi mboka liboso na komisa kombo nayo na buku na nga ya ndako

but when I return, the first thing is to write your name in my book at home

Nako senga na yo nayo nayeba ezaleli nde na sima toko fanda

I'll want to know your character first, then we'll settle down

Verse

Yo madeleine

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To sololaki nga nayo mokolo ya misato manso pe makoki

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Olobaki na nga na lakisa buku na nga otala soki kombo ya mwasi ezali te

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Sikoyo otali pe ondimi eh que nazali monzemba eh

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Nake nanu na Sierra Leone soki nazongi toko sala mariage

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Kasi soki nazongi mboka liboso na komisa kombo nayo na buku na nga ya ndako

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Nako senga na yo nayo nayeba ezaleli nde na sima toko fanda

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Bridge

Sanza ekokaki te nakuti yo na mobali mususu

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bozali ko mela

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Sanza ekokaki te nakuti yo na mobali mususu

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bozali ko mela

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Verse

Yebaka zuwa na nga ezalaka ti na manzaka

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Ebongi na senga divorce po te na salelaka yo lisusu zuwa te

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Biloko nionso na sombaki na Sierra Leone pona mariage nako tekisa

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Soki na komisaki kombo na buku nde na tambolaka

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