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Translations are AI-generated and unedited. AI can make mistakes. When in doubt, trust someone who speaks the language.
Shekere
Yemi Alade ft. Angélique Kidjo
English
Nigerian Pidgin
Yoruba
Fon
Intro
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I see o be | I see it / I can see | Nigerian Pidgin - an exclamation of observation |
| Yemi Alade oooo (wombolombo) | Yemi Alade (wombolombo) | 'Wombolombo' is a celebratory refrain from Angélique Kidjo's 1996 classic song of the same name, used throughout to evoke joy and dancing |
| I see o be | I see it / I can see | Nigerian Pidgin - repeated for emphasis |
| Ma ma ma (wombolombo) | Ma ma ma (wombolombo) | Exclamation of excitement; 'wombolombo' samples from Kidjo's original song |
Verse 1
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I dey hear the sound of a tambourine o | I can hear the sound of a tambourine | Nigerian Pidgin - 'I dey hear' means 'I am hearing/I can hear' |
| Talking drums and shekere combination (wombolombo) | The combination of talking drums and shekere (wombolombo) | English/Nigerian Pidgin. Shekere is a West African percussion instrument (dried gourd with beads); talking drum is a traditional West African hourglass-shaped drum |
| I see people under the tambourine o (wombolombo) | I see people under the tambourine (wombolombo) | Nigerian Pidgin - describing people gathered where music is being played |
| Dancing like sey there's a celebration (wombolombo) | Dancing as if there's a celebration (wombolombo) | Nigerian Pidgin - 'sey' means 'like/as if' |
Verse 2 (Angélique Kidjo)
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mama wa loko loko o, legbe odo | Mother has gone to the farm, beside the stream | Yoruba/Fon - describing the scene where parents are away at work |
| Hmm baba ti sere lo ona | Father has gone for a walk | Yoruba - 'baba' = father, 'ti sere lo' = has gone to play/walk |
| I'm the only one at home | I'm the only one at home | English - setting up the freedom to dance without being watched |
| All I want to do now is dance wombolombo | All I want to do now is dance wombolombo | English - expressing the irresistible urge to dance to the music |
| So I lock up and keep kokoro labe kondo | So I lock up and put the key in a safe place | Nigerian Pidgin/Yoruba - 'kokoro' = key, 'labe kondo' = under/in a safe place |
| Waka enter weli well e dey happen uh yeah | Walk in, the good music/party is happening | Nigerian Pidgin - 'waka' = walk, 'weli well' = very well, 'e dey happen' = it's happening. Going to join the celebration |
| Come see small pikin ati iya arugbo dey dance | Come see young children and old mothers dancing | Nigerian Pidgin/Yoruba mix - 'small pikin' (Pidgin) = little children, 'ati' (Yoruba) = and, 'iya arugbo' (Yoruba) = old woman/elderly mother. Everyone is dancing regardless of age |
Verse 3
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gbogbo eniyan so pe onijo kan be | Everyone is saying there's a dancer here | Yoruba - 'gbogbo eniyan' = everybody, 'onijo' = dancer. Acknowledging someone's dancing skills |
| Moni mori monini ko da mi lohun | I have money, I have sense/wisdom, nobody bothers me | Yoruba/Fon - expressing confidence and freedom from worry |
| Ile onijo pelegbe odo | The house of the dancer is beside the stream | Yoruba/Fon - referencing the location of where the dancing is happening |
| O ninu re eko network ati ija | Inside it, there's no network problems or fighting | Yoruba mixing modern reference - 'eko network' refers to phone/internet connectivity issues; 'ija' = fighting. The dance space is a place of peace without modern distractions or conflict |
| Mamawa loko loko o Legbe odo | Mother has gone to the farm beside the stream | Yoruba/Fon - repetition of the earlier line, reinforcing the theme |
| Hmm baba ti sere lo ona | Father has gone for a walk | Yoruba - repeated chorus element |
| I'm the only one at home | I'm the only one at home | English - repeated for emphasis |
| All I want to do now is dancing lonbon lonbon | All I want to do now is keep dancing | English/onomatopoeia - 'lonbon lonbon' mimics rhythmic dancing movements |
| So I lock up and keep kokoro labe kondo | So I lock up and put the key in a safe place | Nigerian Pidgin/Yoruba - repeated element |
| Waka enter weli well e dey happen uh yeah | Walk in, the good music/party is happening | Nigerian Pidgin - repeated hook |
| Come see small pikin ati iya arugbo dey dance | Come see young children and old mothers dancing | Nigerian Pidgin/Yoruba - celebrating intergenerational joy in dance |
Bridge
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I see o be Legbe odo | I see it, beside the stream | Nigerian Pidgin/Fon - observing the scene by the riverside where the celebration is |
| I see o be | I see it | Nigerian Pidgin |
| Mi oni eni ko da mi lohun | I have, nobody bothers me | Yoruba/Fon - expressing freedom and contentment |
Outro/Chorus
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I dey hear the sound of a tambourine o | I can hear the sound of a tambourine | Nigerian Pidgin - returning to the opening theme |
| Talking drums and shekere combination | The combination of talking drums and shekere | English/Nigerian Pidgin - celebrating traditional African instruments |
| I see people under the tambourine o | I see people under the tambourine | Nigerian Pidgin |
| Dancing like sey there's a celebration | Dancing as if there's a celebration | Nigerian Pidgin - 'sey' = as if/like |
| Waka weli well e dey happen uh yeah | Walk in, the good music is happening | Nigerian Pidgin - inviting everyone to join |
| Dance womobolobo (wombolombo) | Dance wombolombo (wombolombo) | Call to dance to the classic rhythm - paying homage to Kidjo's 1996 hit 'Wombo Lombo' which this song revamps |
| Dance womobolobo (wombolombo) | Dance wombolombo (wombolombo) | Repeated celebration of dance and African musical heritage |