Faux Millionaire

Tabu Ley Rochereau African Fiesta

rumbasocietyModerate

About this song

Tabu Ley and African Fiesta paint a portrait of a pretender. Desperate to outshine his rivals, he begs Matondo for a loan just to look like a big man and win respect. His secret: flash the chequebook while the account sits empty. Don't be shocked, he shrugs, if you hear he's been hauled off — the debts have simply piled too high. A wry warning that debt is a wicked thing.

Tabu Ley Rochereau1960s–1990s Watch on YouTube

Verse

Matondo

Matondo

Defisa nga mua mbongo nakoya ko zongisa oh

lend me a bit of money, I'll pay it back

Nazali na tembe na ba mbanda

I'm in a rivalry with my competitors

Nalingi na yebisa bango ngayi pe na koka

I want to show them that I'm somebody too

Wana bako banga nga

then they'll respect me

Verse

Matondo

Matondo

Defisa nga mua mbongo nakoya ko zongisa oh

lend me a bit of money, I'll pay it back

Nazali na tembe na ba mbanda

I'm in a rivalry with my competitors

Nalingi na yebisa bango ngayi pe na koka

I want to show them that I'm somebody too

Wana bako banga nga

then they'll respect me

Bridge

Matondo papa

Matondo, my friend

Bikisa ngayi

rescue me

Ngelele esi abuki ngai makolo awa

Ngelele has already cut me down to size

Million ya sango uuuhhh

the millions are all just talk, uuh

Ye ko millionnaire

him, a millionaire indeed

Verse

Matondo

Matondo

Defisa nga mua mbongo nakoya ko zongisa oh

lend me a bit of money, I'll pay it back

Nazali na tembe na ba mbanda

I'm in a rivalry with my competitors

Nalingi na yebisa bango ngayi pe na koka

I want to show them that I'm somebody too

Wana bako banga nga

then they'll respect me

Chorus

Lokola carnet ya cheque ezali na ngai

As long as I've got the chequebook

Ata ko na banque lomeya esila

even if the bank account is empty

Bango bakoyeba te

they'll never know

Soki boyoki sango oh bakangi ngai

if you hear the news that I've been arrested

Bo kamwa te ba niongo eleka nga

don't be surprised — my debts are too many

Na banque lomeya esila

there's nothing left in the bank

Chorus

Lokola carnet ya cheque ezali na ngai

As long as I've got the chequebook

Ata ko na banque lomeya esila

even if the bank account is empty

Bango bakoyeba te

they'll never know

Soki boyoki sango oh bakangi ngai

if you hear the news that I've been arrested

Bo kamwa te ba niongo eleka nga

don't be surprised — my debts are too many

Na banque lomeya esila

there's nothing left in the bank

Oh mama oh mama

oh mama, oh mama

Bridge

Niongo eloko mabe

debt is a wicked thing

Chorus

Lokola carnet ya cheque ezali na ngai

As long as I've got the chequebook

Ata ko na banque lomeya esila

even if the bank account is empty

Bango bakoyeba te

they'll never know

Soki boyoki sango oh bakangi ngai

if you hear the news that I've been arrested

Bo kamwa te ba niongo eleka nga

don't be surprised — my debts are too many

Na banque lomeya esila

there's nothing left in the bank

Faux Millionaire — Tabu Ley Rochereau | Lingala lyrics & translation | Lingala.cd