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Bondeko

Toto Bona Lokua

NØF.39 — 2017

Tracks Credits Bio Links
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Si mwen enmen'w dépi nanni nannan

Toujou ritounen lakay

Quelques fois à mon corps défendant

Tchè an mwen pa ni répons pou ta'w

 

Ma mama mmh…

Lè mwen ka sonjé'w an pé pa atann

Ma mama mmh…

Tout kò an mwen ka mandé séré'w

Ma mama mmh…

Lè mwen ka wè'w sé ou mwen ka tann

Ma mama mmh…

Kouté, kouté sa…

 

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Nga na ke po na katisa na ebale congo

Nga na boyi nini ango eyelaki biso

Yango wana oooo

Nga na nani o na boyi na nga nde kosuana

Oooo

Oyo ya nga na yo e nkolo yahwe nde ayebi tina

Yo lobi oya nga na yo kino se liwa

Nga na boyi ya nga na yo tokotikana te

Yango wana na lobi ooo

Nga na nani oo na boyi na nga nde kosuana

Oooo

Oyo eza epayi na yo 

Nga motema na nga eza na bolingo noooo

 

Na bosani nano nionso osali nga eza na motema 

Na a leli ....

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Youwomalé doukosova wealaseakolosan

Youwilé youwila labila labila labila boeva

 

Youwomalé doukosondan wealase owesan

Youwilé youwila labila labila labila boeva

 

Djama africa mandenka yalalé Djama africa mandenka

 

Youalé you alokova ywale youwo mapo isomalé

Youma okomin adouwe youwe san

 

Youwale youwoma ko you come my babe 

You come my babe you come my babe 

 

Youwoma dukolosan wealasea kowesan

Youwilé youwila labila labila labila boeva

 

Youwoma yukosotan welala sea owesan

Youwilé youwila labila labila labila oeva

 

Youwalé youmakokoa youwalé youwoma lowisomable

You ma kokokom youma e youo

Youwalé Youwo ma pou i soma babe

You soma babe you soma babe you soma babe

 

Djama africa Mandenka Djama africa Mandenka

 

Youwoma doukoloson welalasea oweson

Youwilé youwila labila labila labila boeva

Labila labila labila boeva

Labila labila labila boeva

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Aya yayayaya je kango

Aya yayayaya  je kango

Bunya bo panisse oa je kango

Bunya bo panisse oa je kango

 

Aya yayayaya je kango

Aya yayayaya  je kango

Tapa weya o tapa to dikalando

Tapa weya o tapa to dikalaaaa

 

Woko mona e nde essapa

Nje pe e buki ngina madiba

Aheeeeeeee ya

Woko mona e nde ngum e

Dipa na nde la bane

Aheeeeeeee ya

Woko mona e nde essapa

Nje pe e buki ngina madiba

Aheeeeee

Nakolo ye nde da la midongo

Dipa natu nde la bane

 

Makono mbana mbana mbana mbana

Inde la

 

Makono mbana mbana mbana mbana

Inde la

 

Yen ediaka ya dibaka wan

Ngum’a bebolo tika njiba

Epass’ekombo eni ya be ko njiba

Janea mona di si topo pe

 

Makono mbana mbana mbana

Inde la

Mambo ma nin wase

Lambo bobe…. 

 

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Youbiguégué youbi guégué

Awanna let you call for lot

Sweel amolo down

 

Swee amale bomapo we amale son

Komabo wimase I wont will down

Souanolobolo wisofa ou amewe down

 

Owabeli obapaloka

Sweet apaluko

 

Where am I we so far 

We up awel down

Ye malabo will my sigh

Ou apale tswan

Ooma wisole wobana will down

I will love wisola eya no will down

 

Omabeli obapaloka

Sweet apaluko

Omabeli obapaloka

Sweet apaluko

 

Omabeli obapaloka

Sweet apaluko

Omabeli obapaloka

Ah ah Sweet apaluko

 

Singinling Singinling Singinlinginging ah

Wo yeah 

Yeah yeah yeah

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Anganga ma poko

Biyasona ngum nya ko

Todi ta kanande 

Boumya tenge ngum nya ko

 

La tundenlo la tundenlo

La tundenlo la tundenlo

Kulamelo

Toyso nini nya wanila

 

La tundenlo la tundenlo

Kulamelo dyamelo 

 

Ngolo wakaniou nje kango

Bounya bon ngum nya ko

 

Tokua la nandjere

Yekete ngum nya ko

 

La tundenlo la tundenlo

La tundenlo la tundenlo

Kulamelo

 

La tundenlo la tundenlo

La tundenlo la tundenlo

Kulamelo dyamelo 

Lambote lampondam

 

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Eh Tubigelong teka eh ah

Ah iye abido etiyé

Tubidadeo nokewa nawina

Dabinini na ba waye dabinini dobowi

Free p babe tanobi ete lowyé

Santobi nolo botebi betubi dadetuna ma nomoyé

 

Nanle dandimakondla

Salayé dé kinalande

Nololo pinenala napanandé

Bansinegenle bandeloko

Ina na na tindi edonloba

Pinatu kendenloko

Balatuku nendalabanko 

Endendeki kuba mandendeki

 

My world so my world

Mawouma yo e pamba

Sila e Sila we all four

We’re her ma you my her

 

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Tanbou paré

Nou pé alé

Nou ké vansé

eEnracinés

 

Tann tanbou a

I ka palé ba' w

Tann, tann pawol ta la

Si, si sé ta mwen sé ta'w

Yeah!

 

Pawol ta la

An tan lontan

Anlaria

Poto mitan

 

Fok ou tjenbé

Tjenbé gwoka

Tjenbé bèlè

Tout sé tabou a

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Mo nongele te oa

Na si ma ko iyo

O nina oa nika

Mo mpuli mwam mu ta nde na

Na be bebe na oa

Ndutu nye mba mulema

E buki mba mao

Helena o

 

Mo na bwa bongo jita

A munja mi ih nya ndolo

We pon mba mese

Mo na mende kata midongo

Bukate o be bebe na oa

Na mende kata weya

Na sibi nje nai mende no o bola

O nyola ngo e

 

Ahh maa kiana de

Bosambo bwe pon mboa na da lowina

Ahh maa kiana de

Nde kunde walo te nde kuna la boku mama.

 

Ahh maa kiana de

Masu ma ponda bobe na da lowina

Ahh maa kiana de

Bana kunde senga to maleya

 

Ahh maa kiana de

Bosambo bwe pon mboa na da lowina

Binyo lombwa nde

A gona mulato, senga maleya

 

Munkanda o bakaka

Balimba natena subu

Nimele so man matila 

Na dibe munyege…

 

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Somaya Awo

Walasa Awo

Chawanebengenese Awo

Tse tse sawo Awo

 

Samoye Ayoyawalaya napowa

Sumana nekeleba batope

Sumana nekobe sialaso

 

Pobele tolobi

Fomananawowile nawobe yobutu

 

Awo

Awo

 

Ima wolo nitanlobe you fo 

I mfo my babe ndelemanlomamo

Ima wolo yese amolole yomo

Ima yolo wombe awelo newonsombo

 

Inalalave kouto bendenebatako 

Palete wotema nala

Inelala nalate kuna tinge tekinga kingalala

Baloko nebate gaba naba te koko

Yenala malanana tounde tinde nababo

 

Awo 

Awo

 

All songs written, composed and performed 

by Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  

except 4 composed by Gérald Toto 

and 10 composed by Lokua Kanza 


Executive production, A&R - Laurent Bizot 

Painting - Jérôme Witz 

Artwork - Element(s) 


Mastering - Raphaël Jonin 

at J RAPH i.n.g studios 


 

Ma Mama  

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Vocal bass - Richard Bona 

Background vocals - Gérald Toto  

Lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Gérald Toto at Bagherra Studio 

and by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Florian Monchatre at Soyuz studio 


Naleki 

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Bass, percussion - Richard Bona 

Guitars, keyboards, background vocals - Lokua Kanza 

Lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Stephy Lokua at Piccolo studio 

and by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Vincent Bruley at Piccolo studio 


Youwilé 

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Accoustic guitars - Gérald Toto, Richard Bona 

Lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Gérald Toto at Bagherra Studio 

and by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Florian Monchatre at Soyuz studio 


Je Kango

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Drums, bass, guitars, Percussion, claps, 

and background vocals - Richard Bona 

Lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Richard Bona at Brooklyn Skyline Studio 


Love Train 

(Toto) 


Vocals and percussion - Gerald Toto  


Recorded by Gérald Toto at Bagherra Studio 

and by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio  

Mixed by Florian Monchatre at Soyuz studio 


Ngum Nya Ko 

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Bass, guitars, percussion, keyboards

and background vocals - Richard Bona 

Lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Richard Bona at Brooklyn Skyline Studio 


Thitae  

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Guitars, piano, background vocals - Lokua Kanza 

Percussion - Richard Bona 

Lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Stephy Lokua at Piccolo studio 

and by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Vincent Bruley at Piccolo studio 


Tann Tanbou A  

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Bass, rythmic guitar - Richard Bona 

All percussion - Richard Bona 

Except     Udu - Gérald Toto 

Tambour Bèlè and Ti boi - Boris Reine Adélaïde 

Acoustic guitars - Gérald Toto 

Vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Gérald Toto at Bagherra Studio 

and by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Florian Monchatre at Soyuz studio 


M’aa Kiana 

(Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Drums, bass, guitars, percussion, keyboards, 

and background vocals - Richard Bona 

Lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Richard Bona at Brooklyn Skyline Studio 


Bukavu  (Lokua)


Guitars, keyboards, flute, vocals and effects - Lokua Kanza 


Recorded by Stephy Lokua at Piccolo studio  

Mixed by Vincent Bruley at Piccolo studio 


Awo  (Bona/Lokua/Toto) 


Bass, Percussion - Richard Bona 

Guitar - Lokua Kanza 

Background and lead vocals - Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza,

and Gérald Toto  


Recorded by Stephy Lokua at Piccolo studio and by Sébastien Tondo at Bonayuma Recording studio 

Mixed by Vincent Bruley at Piccolo studio 

You can’t bottle magic. If it is ever to be repeated, it will happen organically and when the time is ripe. Which perhaps explains why we have been kept waiting more than a dozen years for the triple alliance of Gerald Toto, Richard Bona and Lokua Kanza to reconvene and record Bondeko , the belated follow-up to their acclaimed magical collaboration on 2004’s Toto Bona Lokua.

 

That album was hailed as a landmark in crossing boundaries and  traditions and blending languages and ancestral cultures to create a musical portrait that was at once  timeless and yet ultra-contemporary,  a universal expression of the rich musical diversity of the world’s African diaspora. Although the temptation might have been strong to attempt to repeat its success with an instant follow-up, all three musicians had their own solo careers to follow and the album was left to stand alone as a one-off celebration of a unique collaboration at a special moment in time.

 

The record they made together became a word-of-mouth sensation, particularly in France, where it sold impressively, despite little promotion and no supporting tour dates.  And as the years went by and the three pursued their diverse solo projects, each of them was repeatedly asked when they were going to reunite to make another album.

Although their busy schedules meant that their paths seldom crossed, the three kept in touch, as musicians do, until Gerard Toto eventually suggested that it might be time to pick up the story again. He floated the idea to Richard Bona and Lokua Kanza, who readily agreed.  It took time to surmount the logistical difficulties of synchronising  three very full diaries,  but the three eventually found a window to come together to record Bondeko . Fittingly the word translates as ‘friendship’ or ‘fraternity’ in the Congolese language of Lingala, one of the many tongues spoken by our cosmopolitan trio.

Released like its predecessor on No Format! and produced by the label’s founder Laurent Bizot,  Bondeko picks up where  Totobonalokua left off, yet more nuanced and finely detailed, marinated in the wisdom and experience of their individual musical adventures during the intervening years. 

 

Crafted but without artifice, virtuosic yet spontaneous, it’s a record which is both playful and profound. Sensual melodies and fluid, swaying rhythms overlap, as roots intersect and three distinctive musical personalities melt into one, their voices combining as felicitously as the exquisite harmonies of Crosby, Stills and Nash or the unique vocal layerings of Bobby McFerrin.

All three drink from the profound wellspring of Africa but represent different musical streams and tributaries of its mighty river.

 

Lokua Kanza was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, began his career playing in rumba bands but has a conservatoire training. Over half a dozen solo albums, he has established himself as one of the continent’s most elegant troubadours and a thoroughly 

modern griot singing variously in Swahili and Lingala, as well as in French and English.   

 

Gerald Toto was born in France to Caribbean Creole parents from the Antilles. An audacious world music adventurer, in addition to recording his own atmospheric and experimental albums, he’s worked with artists as diverse as the Algerian rai singer Faudel and Parisian hipsters Nouvelle Vague.

 

Richard Bona was born in Cameroon and has been called ‘Africa’s answer to Sting’. The New York Times described him as combining "Jaco Pastorius’s virtuosity, George Benson’s vocal fluidity, Joao Gilberto’s sense of song and harmony.” A virtuosic multi-instrumentalist who began playing at the age of four, his 2005 solo album Tiki was nominated for a Grammy award and he’s collaborated with many of the world’s top stars from Chaka Khan and John Legend to Bobby McFerrin and Quincy Jones.

 

Sometimes collaborative recordings involving great artists can end up disappointingly sounding like less than the sum of their parts. Toto, Bona and Kanza sound like they were born to play together. A summit meeting in which a shared sense of freedom and adventure shines out like a beacon.

 

A trinity of voices entwined as one, multi-faceted and yet with a united vision. 

 

Friendship. Fraternity. Bondeko. 

Trio




Gérald Toto





Richard Bona





Lokua Kanza






NØF.03 — Toto Bona Lokua

Bondeko