MALAIKA (SWAHILI) – Miriam Makeba, Mama Africa, 1974
NOTE: Originally written by Adam Salim, Tanzanian musician, in 1945.
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika,
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika,
Ningekuoa mali we, ningekuoa dada,
Nashindwa na mali sina we,
Ningekuoa Malaika,
Nashindwa na mali sina we,
Ningekuoa Malaika.
Pesa zasumbua roho yangu,
Pesa zasumbua roho yangu.
Nami nifanyeje? kijana mwenzio,
Nashindwa na mali sina we.
Ningekuoa Malaika,
Nashindwa na mali sina we,
Ningekuoa Malaika.
Kidege, hukuwaza kidege,
Kidege, hukuwaza kidege.
Ningekuoa mali we, ningekuoa dada,
Nashindwa na mali sina,
We Ningekuoa Malaika,
Nashindwa na mali sina,
We Ningekuoa Malaika.
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika,
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika.
Ningekuoa mali we, ngekuoa dada,
Nashindwa na mali sina we,
Ningekuoa Malaika,
Nashindwa na mali sina we,
Ningekuoa Malaika.
(ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
Angel, I love you, Angel,
Angel, I love you, Angel,
I should’ve married you, mummy, I should’ve married you, sister,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have,
I should’ve married you, Angel,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have,
I should’ve married you, Angel.
Money disturbs my heart,
Money disturbs my heart.
And what should I do? I am your fellow youngster,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have.
I should’ve married you, Angel,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have,
I should’ve married you, Angel.
Cupid, I think about, Cupid,
Cupid, I think about, Cupid.
I should’ve married you, mummy, I should’ve married you, sister,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have,
I should’ve married you, Angel,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have,
I should’ve married you, Angel.
Angel, I love you, Angel,
Angel, I love you, Angel.
I should’ve married you, mummy, I should’ve married you, sister,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have,
I should’ve married you, Angel,
I am defeated by the bride price that I don’t have,
I should’ve married you, Angel.
IMAGE: The late Miriam Makeba – Mama Africa
