The Afrofunk Music Forum

By Marc Bruner

By David McDavitt


TABLE OF CONTENTS


1. BEASTS OF NO NATION
2. COFFIN FOR HEAD OF STATE
3. COLOMENTALITY
4. FEAR NOT FOR MAN
5. J’EHIN J’EHIN
6. INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF
7. KALAKUTA SHOW
8. LADY
9. MR. FOLLOW FOLLOW
10. MR. GRAMMARTICALOGYLISATIONALISM IS THE BOSS
11. ORIGINAL SUFFERHEAD
12. NO AGREEMENT
13. POWER SHOW
14. QUESTION JAM ANSWER
15. SORROW, TEARS, AND BLOOD
16. TEACHER DON’T TEACH ME NONSENSE
17. TROUBLE SLEEP, YANGA WAKE AM
18. WATER NO GET ENEMY
19. ZOMBIE

________________________________________________________
BEASTS OF NO NATION


Ah- Let’s get now into another, underground spiritual game
Just go to help me the answer, go to say, “Aiya-kata”- Oh ya

O’feshe-Lu
[CHORUS] AIYA-KATA *(after each line)
O’feshe- g’Ba
*(2x)

O’feshe-Woh
[CHORUS] AIYA-KATA *(after each line)
O’feshe-Weng
Aiya kata
Aiya Koto
Aiya Kiti
Aiya Kutu

O’feshe-Lu
[CHORUS] AIYA-KATA *(after each line)
O’feshe- g’Ba
*(2x)

Oh-----.......

Basket mouth wan start to leak again, oh-
[CHORUS] BASKET MOUTH WAN OPEN MOUTH AGAIN, OH
Abi** you don forget I say I sing, ee-oh **(is it not)
[CHORUS] BASKET MOUTH WAN OPEN MOUTH AGAIN, OH
Oh, I sing, I say, I go my mouth like basket, ee-oh, Malan Bia-gbe-re
(stanza 2x)

Basket mouth wan start to leak again, oh-
[CHORUS] BASKET MOUTH WAN OPEN MOUTH AGAIN, OH

Fela, wetin you go sing about?
[CHORUS] DEM GO WORRY ME… *(after each line)
(3x)

Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry, worry, worry
[CHORUS] DEM GO WORRY ME *(After each line)
Dey wan to make us sing about prison
Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry all over da town
Dey wan to know about prison life
Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry all over da town
*(repeat stanza)

Fela, wetin you go sing about?
[CHORUS] DEM GO WORRY ME
Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry, worry, worry

The time weh I dey, for prison, I call am “inside world”
The time weh I dey outside prison, I call am “outside world”
Na craze world, na be outside world

[CHORUS] CRAZE** WORLD *(after each line) / **(crazy)
Na be outside- da police-i dey
Na be outside- da soldier dey
Na be outside- da court dem dey
Na be outside- da magistrate dey
Na be outside- da judge dem dey
Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- Buhari dey
Na craze man be dat
Animal in craze-man skin-i
Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- Idia-gbon dey
Na craze man be dat- oh
Animal in craze-man skin-i
Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- dem find me guilty
Na be outside- dem jail me five years
------------------I no do nothing
Na be outside-dem judge dey beg ee-o
Na craze world be dat, Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- dem kill dem students
Soweto, Zaria, and Ife
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat,
Na be outside- all dis dey happen
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh…..


Make you hear this one [sax responses]
War against indiscipline, ee-oh

Na Nigerian government, ee-oh
Dem dey talk ee-oh
“My people are us-e-less, My people are sens-i-less, My people are indiscipline”

Na Nigerian government, ee-oh
Dem dey talk be dat
“My people are us-e-less, My people are sens-i-less, My people are indiscipline”

I never hear dat before- oh
Make Government talk, ee-oh
“My people are us-e-less, My people are sens-i-less, My people are indiscipline”

Na Nigerian government, ee-oh
Dem dey talk be dat
Which kind talk be dat- oh?
Craze talk be dat ee-oh
Na animal talk be dat – oh
Na animal talk be dat – oh

[CHORUS] MANY LEADERS AS YOU SEE DEM
[CHORUS] NA DIFFERENT DISGUISE DEM DEY-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMALS IN HUMAN SKIN
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U TIE-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I WEAR AGBADA
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U SUIT-U
*(2x- 2nd time with lead voc)

These disguising leaders ee-oh, na wah for dem [sax responses after each]
Dem-o hold meeting everywhere, dem reach America (2x stanza)

Dem call the place, the “United Nations” [sax responses after each]
Hear-oh another animal talk
Wetin united inside “United Nations”?
Who & who unite, for “United Nations”?
No be there Thatcher & Argentina dey
No be there Reagan & Libya dey
Is-i-rael versus Lebanon
Iran-i-oh versus Iraq-i
East West Block versus West Block East
No be there dem dey oh- United Nations
Dis “united” United Nations
One veto vote is equal to 92 […OR MORE, OR MORE]
What kind sense be dat, na animal sense (2x)

[CHORUS] MANY LEADERS AS YOU SEE DEM
[CHORUS] NA DIFFERENT DISGUISE DEM DEY-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMALS IN HUMAN SKIN
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U TIE-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I WEAR AGBADA
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U SUIT-U
*(2x- 2nd time with lead voc)

Dem go hold meeting, oh, Dem go start yab human beings
Animal talk don start again
Dash dem, human rights

Dem go hold meeting, oh, Dem go start yab human beings
Animal talk don start again
Dash dem human rights
*(repeat stanza)

How animal go know-say dem no born me as slave?
How animal go know say slave trade don pass?
And, dey wan dash us human rights
Animal must talk to human beings
Give dem human rights

I beg-I, oh , make you hear me well-u well
I beg-I, oh, make you hear me very well

Human rights na my property
So therefore, you can’t dash me my property
Human rights na my property
Dey wan dash us human rights

Some people say, “Why I dey talk like dis,
No be talk like dis, dem take to carry me go prision ee-oh”
No be me dey talk, na Prime Minister Botha dey talk, ee-oh (2x)

Him say, “this uprising will bring out the beast in us”
[CHORUS] THIS UPRISING WILL BRING OUT THE BEAST IN US
(repeat stanza 3x)

Eh Ji Keke- my argument

Botha na friend to Thatcher & Reagan
Botha na friend to some other leaders too
And together dem wan dash us human rights
Animals wan dash us human rights
Animal can’t dash me human rights
Animal can’t dash us human rights

[CHORUS] MANY LEADERS AS YOU SEE DEM
[CHORUS] NA DIFFERENT DISGUISE DEM DEY-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMALS IN HUMAN SKIN
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U TIE-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I WEAR AGBADA
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U SUIT-U
*(2x- 2nd time with lead voc)

Beasts of no nation- Egbe Ke Gbe na bad society

[CHORUS] BEASTS OF NO NATION, EGBE KE GBE
[CHORUS] BEASTS OF NO NATION, OTURU GBE KE
(repeat stanza many x, lead vamp)

Easy… easy

[solos]

**Do chorus & end again…


___________________________________

COFFIN FOR HEAD OF STATE

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen

Woh! Ahhhhh Ch! Ahhhh! Ch! Ch!

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN – [AFTER EACH LINE]
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Inspiritus Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus,
Alla-hu, Waku-baru, Salem Elekum, Alla-hu
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord

So I waka waka waka** **(walk)
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA- [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I see my people
Dem dey cry, cry cry
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
I say I waka waka waka
I go many places
I see my people
Dem dey cry, cry, cry
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen


I say I waka-waka-waka-waka-waka-waka-waka
(HORNS response)
I waka any village anywhere in Africa
I waka any village anywhere in Africa
Pastor’s house na ‘im dey fine pass
My people dem dey stay for poor surroundings
Pastor’s dress na ‘im dey clean pass
Be it hard for my people for dem to buy soap
Pastor na ‘im dem give respect pass
And dem dey do bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad things


Through Jesus Christ our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN - [AFTER EACH LINE]
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Inspiritus Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus,
Alla-hu, Waku-baru, Salem Elekum, Alla-hu



So I waka waka waka
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA- [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I go business places
And I see, see, see
All the bad, bad, bad things
Dem dey do, do, do
Call corruption
And dey call “nepotism”
Inside promotions
And inside all business
I say I waka waka waka
I see, see, see
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA

So I waka-waka-waka-waka-waka-waka-waka
(HORNS Short response)

I waka any business anywhere in Africa
I waka any business anywhere in Africa
North and South dem get dem policies
One Christian and the other one, Muslim
Anywhere the Muslims dem dey reign
Na senior Allaha-ji na ‘im be director
Anywhere the Christians dem dey reign
Na the best friend to Bishop na ‘im be director
It is a known fact that for many thousand years
We Africans, we had our own traditions
These money making organizations
Them come put we Africans in total confusion

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN- [AFTER EACH LINE]
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Inspiritus Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus,
Alla-hu, Waku-baru, Salem Elekum, Alla-hu


So I waka waka waka
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA – [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I go government places
I see, see, see
All the bad, bad, bad things
Dem dey do, do, do
Look Obasanjo,
Before anything you know at all,
And for dey shout
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh mighty Lord, Oh Lord, Oh God

And den dey do bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad things
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN

I say look-a Y’aradua
I say look-a Y’aradua
Before anything you know at all
It would dey shout
Aba Allah- Aba Allah- Aba Allah- Aba Allah -
Aba Allah
And den dey do yes, yes
And den dey do bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad-bad things


Through Mohhmmed our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN
By the Grace of Allmighty Allah
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN

So I waka waka waka
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA- [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I go government places
I see, see, see
All the bad, bad, bad things
Den dey do, do, do
Den steal all the money
Dem kill many students
Dem burn many houses
Dem burn my house too
And killed my mama
So I carry the coffin
I Waka waka waka
Movement of the People
Dey Waka waka waka
Young African Pioneers
Waka waka waka
We go Obalende,
We go Dodan barracks
Reach dem gatee-o
And put the coffin down
Obasanjo dey there,
With him big fat stomach
Y'aradua dey there,
With him neck like ostrich
We put the coffin down.


Dem no wan take am
*[CHORUS] BUT DEM TAKE AM - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Dem no wan take am
Who go wan take coffin?
Dem must take am
For the bad bad bad things
Wey dem don do
Dem no wan take am
Obasanjo grab am
Y'aradua carry am
Yes, dem no wan take am
Obasanjo carry am
Y'aradua tow am
Dem no wan take am
Dem no wan take am
It der for dem office
Dem no wan take am
It der dey now now now now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
* Repeat as desired






Coffin for Head of State- Explanation

A criticism of arbitrary/artificial religious & ethnic boundaries, and of religious hypocrisy- people who invoke god, but then commit atrocities, including Obasanjo (General) & Y’aradua (Leiutentent Colonel), two of Fela’s attackers.

The poor live in squalor while the pastor lives in luxury. Fela walks (waka), & sees the unhappiness of his people,and the corruption & greed of the colonial-influenced Nigerian government. Colonial culture confuses the African people.

In 1979, when Fela’s mother (a government official & activist) dies from injuries inflicted by the Army during an attack on Fela’s compound, Fela and his Movement of the People Carry an effigy of his mother’s coffin to the barracks of two noted Fela enemies, Gen. Obasanjo & Lt.Crnl. Y’aradua. As a protest, Fela & MOP put the coffin down, and force the army to take it (Obasanjo & Yaradua eventually help to carry it). “It remains there. ”

***********************************************************************
COLOMENTALITY

Colomentality

E be say you be colonial man
You don be slave from before
Dem don release you now
but you never release yourself

Colomentality

E be so , E be so dem dey do,
dem dey overdo all the things wey dem dey do
e be so dem dey do, dem think say dem better pass dem brother.
No be so?

E be so

The thing wey black no good
na foreign things dem dey like.
No be so?
*[CHORUS] EE BE SO/ I BE SO
Dem go turn air condition and close dem country away.
Na be so?
E be so
Dem judge him go put white wig and jail him brothers away
No be so?
E be so

Dem go proud of dem name and put dem slave name for head
No be so?
E be so

Colomentality now make you hear me now

*[CHORUS] COLO MENTALITY

Mr. Ransome you make you hear
Mr. Williams you make you hear
Mr. Ali -a you make you hear
Mr. Mohammed you make you hear
Mr. Anglican you make you hear
Mr. Bishop you make you hear
Mr. Catholic you make you hear
Mr. Musulim you make you hear

Na Africa we dey O make you hear
Na Africa we dey O make you hear

Colomentality hear
Colomentality! listen!
Mr. Ransome you make you hear
Na Africa we dey o make you hear this

*[CHORUS] COLOMENTALITY –[REPEATED]



***********************************************************************
FEAR NOT FOR MAN


Doctor Kwame Nkrumah
The Father of Pan-Africanism
Says to all black people
All over the world:
`The secret of life is to have no fear`.
Now we all have to understand that

I`m a man
I`m a man
Run run run I no go run
Run run I no go run
Brothers and sisters
Na GOAT dey run, n MAN dey stand
I`m a man I`m a man

***********************************************************************


J’EHIN J’EHIN

J’Ehin J’Ehin-o** **(fool)
Wa ma ba tire lo
Wa ma ba osi e lo- o

Mo fun e ni obirin
Ekini oni o fe o

Mo fun e ni obirin
E keji oni o gba

Mo fun e l’eke ta
O wa oro so o

Mo fun e l’ekerin
O ni o Ko gba

Ma lo o ona wa
Lo pa po

Now I’m gonna
Change the rhythm of this song
It’s still the same groove



J’EHIN J’EHIN: Translation

Fool, Fool (chopteeth: teeth-eater, one who eats his own teeth)
Go away
Get your useless self out of here

I offer you a woman
You say you don’t want her
I give you a second
You refuse
I give you a third woman
You find an excuse
I offer a fourth time
You refuse to accept
Go away
Our ways are different

***********************************************************************

INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF

*[CHORUS] INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (x3)
I.T.T
*[CHORUS] INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF – [AFTER EACH LINE]
International Thief
Oh
*(CHORUS) INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (x2)　[Bass Guitar enters]
I.T.T.
*[CHORUS] INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF – [AFTER EACH LINE International rogue
Oh, eh
*(CHORUS) INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (x2)

<<[Drums change]>>

Wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella,
wella, wella, wella-- Ha (x2)

Wella**, **(this is true)
wella, wella, wella,
Wella, wella, wella, wella, wella
Wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella
Wella, wella * [Rhythmic- improvise]
Wella, wella, wella, wella, wella
Wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella, wella,
wella, wella, wella---Ha - Yeh- Ch – Ch – Ch -Ch

Mother fuckers, Bastard Mother fuckers
*(CHORUS) YEAH –[AFTER EACH LINE]
We yab** dem **(make fun of/abuse)
Hurry up der
Say, “yeah”


Wella well, na true I want talk again o
*(CHORUS) WELL WELL – [AFTER EACH LINE]
Na true I want talk again o
If I dey lie o
Make Osiri punish me
Make Ifa dey punish me o
Make Edumare punish me o
Make the land dey punish me o
Make Edumare punish me o
I read ‘em for book ee-o
I see so myself ee-o (2x on the 3rd repetition)
Well-ee well-ee o
*(CHORUS/LEAD) WELL WELL-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-ELL- WELL WELL
Well-ee well-ee o
*(CHORUS/LEAD) WELL WELL-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-ELL- WELL WELL [REPEAT STANZA 3X]



Long time ago
Long, long time ago
*(CHORUS) LONG TIME AGO – [AFTER EACH LINE]
Long, long, long, long time ago
African man we no dey carry shit
We dey shit in-side big big hole
For Yourba-land na "Shalanga"
For Igbo-land na "Onunu-insi"
For Hausa-land na "Salunga"
For Ga-land na "Tiafi"
For Ashanti-land na “Yarni"
For Ethiopia-land na "Sagara-bet"
For Voodoo-land na “Cho-Cho”
For Bemba-land na “Chimbuzi”
For Tunga-land na “Echibuzi”
Long, long, long, long time ago
African man we no dey carry shit
We dey shit inside big big hole
Long, long, long, long time ago
Long, long, long, long time ago
Before them come force us away as slaves
During the time them come force us away as slaves
Na European man, na him dey carry shit
Na for them culture to carry shit
During the time dem come colonize us
Dem come teach us to carry shit
Long, long, long, long time ago
African man weh no dey carry shit
Na European man teach us to carry shit


Many foreign companies dey Africa carry all our money go
*(CHORUS) SAY AM, SAY AM –[AFTER EACH LINE]
Many foreign companies dey Africa carry all our money go
Dem go write big English for newspaper, Dabaru we Africans
Dem go write big English for newspaper, Dabaru we Africans
I read about one of them inside book like that- Them call him name na I.T.T
I read about one of them inside book like that- Them call him name na I.T.T


Them go dey cause confusion
*(CHORUS) CONFUSION
Cause corruption
*(CHORUS) CORRUPTION
Cause oppression
* (CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Cause inflation
*(CHORUS) INFLATION

Dem go dey,
Cause oppression
*(CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Cause confusion
*(CHORUS) CONFUSION
Cause corruption
*(CHORUS) CORRUPTION
Cause inflation
*(CHORUS) INFLATION

Cause oppression
* (CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Cause confusion
*(CHORUS) CONFUSION
Cause inflation
*(CHORUS) INFLATION
Cause oppression
*(CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Oppression, Opression, Inflation, Corruption, Opression, Inflation----

Dem get one style wey dem dey use
Dem go pick one African-i man
A man with low mentality
Them go give am million naira breads
To become of high position here
Him go bribe some thousand naira bread
To become one useless-i chief
Like rat dey do, dem go,
Dey do from
Corner corner pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under pass-ee, pass-ee
Inside-ee, Inside-ee pass-ee, pass-ee
In-ee, in-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Out-ee, out-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Peep-peep, peep-peep, pass-ee pass-ee

In-ee, in-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Corner corner, pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under, pass-ee, pass-ee
Inside-ee, Inside-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Over world, pass-ee, pass-ee
Corner corner, pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under, pass-ee, pass-ee
Inside- inside
Then he gradually, gradually, gradually, gradually (2x)
Them go be:
Friend friend to journalist
Friend to friend to Commissioner
Friend friend to Permanent Secretary
Friend to friend to Minister
Friend to friend to Head of State
Then start start to steal money
Start start them corruption
Start start them inflation
Start start them oppression
Start start them confusion
Start start them oppression
Start start to steal money
Start start to steal money
Like Obasanjo and Abiola

*(CHORUS) INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF　–[AFTER EACH LINE]
I.T.T
International rogue
International thief
We fight them,


Well well
*(CHORUS) WELL WELL - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Wella wella
We don tire
to carry
anymore of
them shit
**[repeat indefinitely, add next stanza occasionally]


INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (explanation)


* Uses abbreviation of “International Telephone & Telegraph” to attack all foreign companies for stealing from Africa, and for turning Africans into human-waste carriers [agbepo]. Derides stupid Africans who are put into power as puppets of the companies. Tricked & used by these companies, they become equally greedy & ruthless.

“I still want to speak the truth. If I lie, may I be punished by Edumare (a Yoruba god), Osiris, the Ifa (Nigeria gods), & the land itself. I have read about it read it in books, I have seen it personally.

Europeans came & forced their ways on Africa. Long ago, Africans didn't carry shit, we shat in a big hole (as evidenced by words for this hole in many African tribal languages-Yoruba, Igbo, Haussa, Ashanti …). When the Europeans came to colonialise us, it was part of their culture to carry shit & taught us Africans to do it, too. They have turned us into agbepo, waste carriers (the lowest members of society).

Foreign companies confuse & trick Africans by manipulating (English) words in the newpaper. They subvert & control Africa using the same method: they find a stupid, greedy, & dishonest African, pay him a thousand Naira (Nigerian money), he bribes others to become a chief, but who acts in European interests. Like a rat, creeps here and there, gaining power by befriending journalists, religious leaders, & government officials.
Once in power, he begins embezzling, inflation, confusion, oppression...

Two examples of this are Obasanjo (Head of the military) and Abiola (CEO of International Telephone & Telegraph) . We must fight them. We refuse to carry their shit any longer.

***********************************************************************

KALAKUTA SHOW

Make we talk something
We never talk before and
We dey see am everyday
(Ahh…Ohhh….Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh)
*repeat 2x

Look de man he dey waka
*[CHORUS] GAGA GUGU GAGA GUGU
*repeat

Hungry dey run for him face
*[CHORUS] WOKO WOKO WOKO WOKO
*repeat

Him pepeye* cap for him head
*[CHORUS] PEPE PEPE PEPE PEPE
*repeat

Him khaki woolen shirt for him body
*[CHORUS] WULU WULU WULU WULU
*repeat

Him trouser dey fly above him knee
*[CHORUS] YAYA YAYA YAYA YAYA
*repeat

The people wey employ da man
Give him permit to carry the thing
Weh bad
Dem give him permit to carry baton
Dem give him permit to carry tear-gas
Dem give him permit to carry bullet
Him fit carry basket for protection too
Na so we dey see am every day
No so he dey happen every day

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY MORNING

The whole thing change

One day
*[CHORUS] 5 A.M.

One day
*[CHORUS] NOVEMBER 23

The whole thing change

One day
*[CHORUS] 1974

One day- Kalakuta Show

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY MORNING


Kalakuta Show
*[CHORUS] 1979

Kalakuta Show

Dem make sure dem
Use tear-gas, baton & bullet
*repeat

Dem use them basket
For protection too
*repeat

Dem do one thing
Dem never do before
*repeat 3x

Dem-o hire … axe-o… dem-o bring… cutlass

*[CHORUS] DEM-O HIRE… AXE-O… DEM BU-RING… CUTLASS
*repeat under verses:
Kalakuta show-o-o
Kalakuta show (una na na na na na na na na)

Kalakuta Show (2x)

Babu wire dem-o cut
Look fence dem break
Look gate dem fall
Everybody dey run
Look head dem break
Look blood him dey flow

Kalakuta show o-o
Kalakuta show
Na na na na na na na

Look loya** him dey come **(lawyer)
Him he loya him dey come
Look loya dem beat
Look loya him dey run
Look loya him dey run

Kalakuta show o-o
Kalakuta show
*Etc….

>Organ solo
>Sax solo

>End with bass/percussion under solo sax


***********************************************************************

LADY

If you call woman
African woman no go ‘gree
She go say I be Lady o

If you call woman
African woman no go ‘gree
She go say I be Lady o

She go say:
*(CHORUS) SHE GO SAY I BE LADY O – [AFTER EACH LINE]
She go say I no be woman
She go say market woman na woman
She go say I be Lady


I want tell you about Lady: (3x)
She go say him equal to man
She go say him get power like man
She go say anything man do
Him self fit do
I never tell you finish… (3x)
I never tell you…
She go want take cigar before anybody
She go want make you open door for am
She go want make man wash plate for her for kitchen
She want salute man she go sit down for chair (2x)
She want sit down for table before anybody (2x)
She want piece of meat before anybody (2x)
Call am for dance, she go dance Lady dance (2x)


African woman go dance she go dance the fire dance (2x)
She know him manna Masster
She go cook for am
She go do anything he say
But Lady no be so (4x)
Lady na Masster (3x)
Call am for dance, she go dance Lady dance (2x)
African woman go dance she go dance the fire dance (2x)
She know him manna Masster
She go cook for am
She go do anything he say

But Lady no be so (4x)
Lady na Masster (4x)
If you call am woman
African woman no go ‘gree
She go say I be Lady


She go say:
*(CHORUS- AFTER EACH LINE) SHE GO SAY I BE LADY O O
She go say I be Lady
She go say I no be woman
She go say market woman na woman
She go say I be Lady
*(repeat indefinitely)




***********************************************************************




MR. FOLLOW FOLLOW


Mr. Follow Follow
*[CHORUS] FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW,- FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW (2X)

Some dey follow follow, dem close dem eye
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE EYE, PIN- PIN- PIN
Some dey follow follow, dem close dem mouth
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE MOUTH, PAM- PAM- PAM
Some dey follow follow, dem close dem ear
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE EAR, G’BOING- BOING- BOING
Some dey follow follow, dem close dem sense
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE SENSE, BIRI- BIRI

I say dem close sense,
Dem close sense

If you dey follow follow
Make you open eye, open ear, open mouth, open sense (2x)

Na dat time
Na dat time you no go fall (2x)

If you dey follow follow dem book
*[CHORUS] NA INSIDE CUPBOARD YOU GO QUENCH (2x)

Coakroach dey, ee-rat dey, Ikan dey, darkness dey- ee
*[CHORUS] NA INSIDE CUPBOARD YOU GO QUENCH** **(destroy)

My brothers, make you no follow book-o
Look am and go your way

*[CHORUS] FOLLOW, FOLLOW (on 3,4- continues until end)

Make you open eye, open ear, open mouth, open sense
(riff/repeat as desired)

My brothers, make you no follow book-o
Look am and use your sense

***********************************************************************
MR. GRAMMARTICALOGYLISATIONALISM IS THE BOSS

Now listen to me now
My brothers & sisters- I beg you
Now listen to me now!
Oh- now listen to me now
My brothers & sisters I beg you
Now listen to me now!
Dey na be man
*[CHORUS] WHICH MAN?
Weh talk Oyinbo** well well to rule our land-o **(foreigner/white)
*[CHORUS] THAT MAN!


Oh yes
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN – [AFTER EACH LINE]
He talk Oyinbo past American man
He talk Oyinbo past French man
Me, I say he talk Oyinbo past Germany man



The better Oyinbo you talk
The more bread you go get
School starts (cest?)- na grade four bread
BA- na gradee three bread
MA- na gradee two bread
PhD- a gradee one bread
The better Oyinbo you talk
The more bread you go get

Dey na be man
*[CHORUS] WHICH MAN?
Weh talk Oyinbo well well to rule our land-o
*[CHORUS] THAT MAN!
Oh yes
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN
He talk Oyinbo past American man
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN

Hear it! (Horn responses)
One more time
First thing for early morning
Na newspaper dem give us read
First thing for early morning
Na newspaper dem give us read
The Oyinbo weh dey inside
Petty trader no fit to know
The Oyinbo weh dey inside
Market woman- na fit to read
The Oyinbo weh dey inside
Na riddle for- laborer man
Inside dey paper
Lambastical dey
Inside dey paper
Ipso facto- dey dat one na Latin
Inside dey paper,
Jar-gonism dey
Inside dey paper,
Youth delinquency dey
Who be deliquent?
Na dem be deliquent
Who be delinquent?
The Oyinbo talker delinquent
Who be delinquent?
Na be me-o

Na be man
*[CHORUS] WHICH MAN?
Weh talk Oyinbo well well to rule our land-o
*[CHORUS] THAT MAN!


Oh yes
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN - [AFTER EACH LINE]
He talk Oyinbo past American man
*He talk Oyinbo past French-e man* [Fill]
He talk Oyinbo past Germany man
Me, I say , he talk Oyinbo past French man
*REPEAT CHORUS INDEFINITELY

*Organ solo…



MR. GRAMMARTICALOGYLISATIONALISM : Explanation


A criticism of African Educational system as a ‘poor imitation’ of the Western Education system. The man who speaks better English gets paid more. The school’s grades are rated (better bread as climb). The English use words against us-- first thing in the morning we are given newspapers, they brainwash us with big words. It’s all jargon/nonsense-- irrelevant issues that have no bearing on common men. Then the leaders blame the poor’s problems on ignorance & delinquency, but it’s the (English speaking) leaders who are delinquent.

***********************************************************************
NO AGREEMENT


*(CHORUS) NO AGREEMENT TODAY, NO AGREEMENT
TOMORROW - 2X


I no go agree make my brother hungry, make I no talk
*(CHORUS) LA LA LA LA ! LA LA ! - [AFTER EACH LINE]
I no go agree make my brother jobless, make I no talk
I no go agree make my brother homeless, make I no talk


My grandpapa talk, your grandpapa talk
My grandmama talk, your grandmama talk
Your papa talk, my papa talk
My mama talk, your mama talk
Those wey no talk them they agree


I no go agree make my brother hungry, make I no talk
*(CHORUS) LA LA LA LA ! LA LA !


No agreement today, no agreement tomorrow
*(CHORUS) NO AGREEMENT TODAY, NO AGREEMENT TOMORROW – [AFTER EACH LINE]
No agreement now, later, never and ever


***********************************************************************
ORIGINAL SUFFERHEAD

Water Light
Food House
Ye paripa O** **(exclaimation of despair)
Wetin** do them **(what)
You mean you don`t know
Wetin do them
I go tell you
Wetin do them
You go hear am
Wetin do them

That means to say you no dey
For Nigeria be that
You see yourself
You no dey for Africa at all
You must dey come from London
New York, from Germany, from Italy...

That means to say you no
dey Nigeria be that
You see yourself you no de for
Afrika at all
If you dey for Africa where we dey
you go know
I go know wetin

Plenty, about water, light, food, house
I go know wetin
Plenty plenty water for Africa
Na so-so water in Africa
Water underground, water in the air
Na so-so water in Africa
Water for man to drink nko O** **(so what)

*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
E-no dey e dey
*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
Water for town
*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
Government sef e dey?
*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY

Plenty, plenty light for Afrika
Na so-so energy for Africa
Na the big-big men dey get electrica
If them no get electric dem go
If they don`t get electricity
Get plant O
Ordinary light for man nko O

*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
E-no dey e dey?

*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY

Plenty, plenty food for Africa
Food under-ground,
Food on the ground
Na so-so plenty food for Africa
Ordinary food for man for chop* nko O **(eat)

E-no dey
Government sef e dey?
E no dey
Dodo nko?
Ten kobo for one

Akara nko? twenty kobo for one (2x)
Bread nko? fourty kobo for one
E no dey
Government sef e dey?
E no dey

House matter na different matter
Those wey dey for London dem
Those wey dey New York dem
They leave dey like kings

We wey ele for Afrika
We dey leave like servants
United Nations dem come
Get name for us
Dem go call us under develope nation
We must be underdeveloped
To dey stay ten-ten in one room O
First and second dey

Dem go call us Third World
We must dey craze for head
To dey sleep inside dustbin
Dem go call us none-aligned nations
We must dey craze for head
To dey sleep under bridge O

Ordinary house for man


To leave nko O?
*(CHORUS) E NO DEY
Trouble
E yen dey** **(it is there)
Water?
E no dey** **(it is not there)
Wahala** **(affliction/trouble)
E yen dey
Food
E no dey
Trouble
E yen dey
House
E no dey
Wahala

E yen dey
Dem come turn-us to suffer-head to
Original Suffer-head
It' s time for Jefa**-Head O **(to enjoy good fortune)
Original Jefa-Head O
Dem turn us to Suffer-head O

*(CHORUS) ORIGINAL SUFFERHEAD

It' s time for Jefa-Head O

I want to tell you my brother
One bitter truth
Before we all are to Jefa-head O
We must be ready to fight for am now

Me I say sufferhead must go O O
Original Sufferhead
Jefa-Head must come

***********************************************************************
POWER SHOW

I open my eye I see for my land
*(CHORUS) NA WRONG SHOW O
Everywhere you dey
Everywhere you go
Everybody want do power show
*(CHORUS) NA WRONG SHOW O
You reach boarder immigration
officer dey immigration


Him go bluff you
*(CHORUS) YES – [AFTER EACH LINE]
Waste your time
Change him pen him pants
Some dey comb dem hair
Den tidy dem table
Den him/dem pull dem chair


Before him go know say you dey there
If you no talk quick
Him go go for shit
Him go shit come-back
And you talk to am
Then you suprise when him
Shack for you
Him go say you no go cross
You no go cross today
Na that time dem go start
Dem Power Show O O
Na wrong show
Go post office na the same
Dem go bluff you
Waste your time
Run you up
And then run you down
Dem go tire your body
And then tire your mind
And them tire your whole mind
Dem go say no change for fifty Kobo
Na that time dem go start them

Power Show O O
Na wrong show O
Motor car owner sef him go take
him car push him car push laborer
Down for road
Then him start to yab
Foolish labourer
Nonentity, him no get money
Look him sandals e don tear finish
Look him trouser e don tear for yansh** **(ass)
Look him singlet e don dirty finish
Look him body e no bath this morning
Look him pocket e don dry finish
You go suffer for nothing
You go suffer for nothing
You no know me sha?
I be General for Army Office I
I be Officer for Police Station
I be secretary for government office
You foolish laborer, you go suffer for nothing
Nonentity, you go suffer
for nothing
Na that time dem go start dem

Power Show
Na wrong show O
Power Show na wrong thing
*(CHORUS) YES

Na sad thing
Na sad thing
Na wrong show O
Power na to help your land
Na to help your mates
Na wrong show O

***********************************************************************
QUESTION JAM ANSWER

When question drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
When answer drop for mouth,
Answer run after am,
When answer jam question for road
Another thing go shale-o
Another thing go shale-o
Another thing go shale-o

When question drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
When answer drop for mouth,
Answer run after am,
When answer jam** question for road **(crashes into)
Another thing go shale-o

Why you mash my leg for ground?
You no see my leg for road?
Why you mash my leg for ground?
You no see my leg for road?

Question dem drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
Question dem drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,

Why you put your leg for road?
You no see say I dey come?
Why you put your leg for road?
You no see say I dey come?

Answer dem drop for mouth,
Answer dem start to run,
Answer dem drop for mouth,
Answer dem start to run,

When question drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
When answer drop for mouth,
Answer run after am,
When answer jam question for road
Another thing go shale-o


Dem e na na na na
**(CHORUS) ANOTHER THING GO SHALE-O - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Dem e na na na na
I now leave things to your imagination
When answer jam question for road
Dem e na na na na


SAX CALLS--- Another thing go shale-o
*(CHORUS) RESPONSE







Question Jam Answer: Explanation

People are different & unpredictable:
Mr. Question stops (jams) Mr. Answer on the road, an unexpected thing will happen.
When you ask someone a question, be prepared- you may receive an unexpected response

For example:
As you sit, someone steps on your leg,
You inquire- “why did you step on me, didn’t you see my leg?”
You expect an apology & sympathy

Instead, he responds, “Why did you put your leg in my way,
Didn’t you see me coming?





***********************************************************************
SORROW, TEARS, AND BLOOD

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Seven minutes later
All done cool down, brother
Police don go away
Army don disappear

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood (2x)
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Seven minutes later
All done cool down, brother
Police don go away
Army don disappear

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood (2x)
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
La, la, la, la

My people self dey fear too much
Dem fear for the thing we no see
Dem fear for the air around us

We fear to fight for freedom
We fear to fight for liberty
We fear to fight for justice
We fear to fight for happiness
We always get reason to fear

We no want die
We no want quench** **(destroy)
Mama dey for house
Papa dey for house
I get one wife
I get one car
I get one house
I just build house
I wan enjoy

So policeman go slap your face
You no go talk
Army man go whip your yansh** **(ass)
You go dey look like donkey
Rhodesia dey do dem own
Our leaders dey yab for nothing
South Africa dey do dem own

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK

That is why-y-y

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Time dey go
Time no wait for nobody
Police dey come
Like this
**[make siren noise with voice]

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Seven minutes later
All done cool down, brother
Police don go away
Army don disappear

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood (2x)
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK



***********************************************************************
TEACHER DON’T TEACH ME NONSENSE


A kujuba, A kujuba,
*[CHORUS]- EH____
(repeat 7x)
Yehhhh- eh!


Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-JI-KE-KE

*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke- JI- Ke-ke
CHORUS)- YAH
---------ke- JI- Ke-ke
*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke-KE- JI- Ke-ke
(repeat 3x)

Ke-RE-ke…

All the wahala**, all the problems, **(affliction/trouble)
All the things, all the things they go do,
For this world go start,
When the teacher, schoolboy & schoolgirl jam** together **(collide)

Who be teacher?
I go let you know...
(repeat 3x)

When we be pikin,
*[CHORUS] ‘FATHER/ MAMA” BE TEACHER
When we dey first school
*[CHORUS] TEACHER BE TEACHER
When we dey University
*[CHORUS] LECTURER BE TEACHER
When we start to work
*[CHORUS] GOVERNMENT BE TEACHER
Who be government teacher?
*[CHORUS] KOLU-SHOWAN TRADITION
Who be government teacher?
*[CHORUS] KOLU-SHOWAN TRADITION
Kolu-showan tradition
*[CHORUS] KOLU-SHOWAN TRADITION
Kolu-showan tradition
*[CHORUS] KOLU-SHOWAN TRADITION

Now the problem side, of a teaching student-ee
I go sing about
I don pass pikin, I don pass school, university, se-fa pass
As I don start to work, na government I must se-fa pass
Da go for France

*[CHORUS] YES SIR (*after each line) [occassionally “YES MAAM”]
Engi-land
Italy
Germany
Na dem culture
For der’
Be teacher
For dem
Go China
Russia
Korea
Viet Nam
Na dem culture
For der’
Be teacher
For dem
Go Syria
Jordan
Iran
Iraq
Na dem culture
For der’
Be teacher
For dem

Let us face ourselves for Afrika
Na de matter of Afrika
This part-ee of my song
Na all the problems of this world
In we dey carry, for Afrika

Wey no go ask-ee me
*[CHORUS] WHICH ONE?
(repeat 4x)

Problems of inflation
*[CHORUS] WHICH ONE? (after each line)
Problems of corruption
Of mismanagement
Stealing by government
Nothing dey we carry
All over Afrika
Na de latest one
Na him dey make me laugh

Posteri-
*[CHORUS] AUSTERITY *(after each line)
Austeri-
Na him dey latest one
Na him dey make me laugh
Why I dey laugh?
Man no fit cry?

Ubi ya watisha na Oyinbo
Ubi ya watisha na Oyinbo
A na false, the first election
And the second election held in Nigeria
Na the second election na it was na pass
Boba la nonsense

*[CHORUS] BOBA** LA NONSENSE (*repeat after each line) **(misinform,)
Boba la nonsense
He pass “redeem” em
He pass corruption
Which kind election be dis?
People na go vote
Dem come get big big numbers
Fellows to thousands
Millions to billions
Which kind election be dis?
Boba la nonsense

Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal(?)
Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal
Who don teach us ee dem-o-cr-azy?
(bo-ptch) Oyinbo** teach-ee us **(foreigner/white)
(yuh-ngh) Oyinbo for Europe -oh
Oyinbo teach us many many things-ee
Many of dem things I don sing about-ee
Me I no gin copy Oyinbo style
Let us think say, Oyinbo no pass me
When Shagari finish him elections
Wey dem no tell am, say him make mistake
Say this yo, no be democracy
Oyinbo dem no tell army self
Na for England-ee, I me no fit take over
I come think about this demo-crazy

Democrazy
*[CHORUS] DEMO-CRAZY (*after each line)
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration
If it no be craze
Why for Afrika?
As time dey go
Things just dey bad
They bad more and more
Poor man dey cry
Rich man dey mess
Demo-crazy
Democrazy
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration

If good-u teacher teach-ee something
And he student make mistake
Teacher must talk-ee so
But Oyinbo no talk-ee so
I suffer dem, Dey suffer dem
Dem dey say da teaching get meaning
Different different meaning
Different different kinds of meaning
That is why I say
That is the reason of my song

That is the conclude
The conclud-ee of my song

I say, I sing, I beg everyone to join my song (3x)

*[CHORUS] TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME
TEACHER, TEACHER-O, NA THE LECTURE BE THE SAME
MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE

ME & YOU NO DEY FOR THE SAME-EE CATEGORY (4X)



*[CHORUS] NOT THE SAME CATEGORY OH
Category *(repeat/Lead fills vocally)
Not the same category oh…

(KEY SOLO, etc)



Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-JI-KE-KE

*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke- JI- Ke-ke
CHORUS)- YAH
---------ke- JI- Ke-ke
*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke-KE- JI- Ke-ke
(repeat 3x)


*[CHORUS] TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME
TEACHER, TEACHER-O, NA THE LECTURE BE THE SAME
MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE

ME & YOU NO DEY FOR THE SAME-EE CATEGORY (4X)



*[CHORUS] NOT THE SAME CATEGORY OH
Category *(repeat/Lead fills vocally)
Not the same category oh…

***********************************************************************









TROUBLE SLEEP, YANGA WAKE AM

(lead vocal scats melody), sax solo, organ intro

*[CHORUS]
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA

When Trouble sleep,
Yanga go wake am,
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver**, he go get-e o **(trouble)
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

When cat sleep,
Rat go bite him tail,
Waking him dey find,
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

Tenant lost him job,
Him sit down for house,
Him dey think of job,
Mr. Landord come wake am up,
He say, “Mister, pay me your rent”
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

My friend just come from prison,
Him dey look for work,
Waka* waka day and night, *(walk)
Police man come stop am for road,
He say, “Mister, I charge you for wandering”
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

Mr. Husband marry for church,
He make big party,
Then he start to spray**, **(tip, usually musicians)
Because him love him wife,
Him say, “wife come run away”
Bank manager run come,
He say, “Mister, pay me your debt”
Waking him dey find, for Lagos e-o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

When Trouble sleep,
Yanga go wake am,
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver, he go get-e o

When cat sleep,
Rat go bite him tail,
Waking him dey find,
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver, he go get e-o

*[CHORUS]
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA

RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA


Explanation:

Don’t kick people when they are down,
Nor bother them at inappropriate times:
There is a limit to patience.

When things are calm,
Don’t start trouble by bothering people who are struggling to get by.

***********************************************************************
WATER NO GET ENEMY

To ba fe lo weh omi lo- malo <>
If you wan go wash- water you go use

Toba fe sobeh omi lo- malo
If you wan cook soup- water you go use

To ri ba ngbona omi lero lero
If your head be hot- water it cool am

Tomo ba ngagda omi lo- malo
If your child dey grow- water you go use

If water kill your child- water you go use
Tobi ba bwi nao homi lo- malo

Ko sohun tole se ko ma lomi- o
Nothing without water (repeat this couplet)

****
*[CHORUS] WATER, IT NO GET ENEMY - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Oh me a water-o
No go fight am, unless you wan die
I say water No get enemy
No go fight am, unless you wan die
O me a water-o
O they talk of Black-man power
O they talk of Black power, I say
I say water No get enemy
No go fight am, unless you wan die
I say water No get enemy
I say water No get enemy
O me a water-o
O me a water-o


_____________________________________








WATER NO GET ENEMY: EXPLANATION

The "water" is the Nigerian common people. The Government/Military must not make enemies of the populous, nor disturb their "flow" (endevours & routines)- as it is dangerous to make an enemy of the country's most essential resource. The people make everything happen.

Nothing exists without water
Water does not gain enemies
because if you fight (renounce)water, you will die

Power cannot exist without the people…




***********************************************************************

ZOMBIE


Zombie-o, zombie** **(police/army-unthinking followers)
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE-O, ZOMBIE (2X)

Zombie no go go, unless you tell am to go
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE *(after each line)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell am to turn
Zombie no go think, unless you tell am to think

Zombie-o, zombie
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE-O, ZOMBIE (2X) *(repeat last 2 stanzas)

Tell am to go straight-- Joro, Jara, Joro
No break, no job, no sense-- Joro, Jara, Joro
Tell am to go kill-- Joro, Jara, Joro
No break, no job, no sense-- Joro, Jara, Joro
Tell am to go quench-- Joro, Jara, Joro
No break, no job, no sense-- Joro, Jara, Joro

Go and kill
*[CHORUS] JORO, JARA, JORO *(after each line)
Go and die
Go and quench** **(destroy)
Put am for reverse
Go and kill
Go and die
Go and quench *(3x)


Joro, Jara, Joro- O Zombie way na one way (3x)
Joro, Jara, Joro- Ooooh


Attention
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE *(in time- average every 2-3 words)
Quick march
Slow march
Left turn
Right turn
About turn
Double time
Sa-lute
Open your hat
Stand at ease
Fall in
Fall out
Fall down
Get ready *(2x)

Ha-lt
Or-der *(Repeat 3x from "Attention")

*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE (repeat on ‘1’ of each measure as desired)
Dis-miss

Labels: Fela Kuti Lyrics Afrobeat

Permalink >> posted by David McDavitt @ 9:31 PM 2 comments | Post a comment.

By David McDavitt

Music’s universal language is often most interesting with an accent. Thus lies the brilliance of Putumayo’s latest release: “African Reggae.” This collection is in part an homage to Bob Marley, marking the anniversary of his 64th birthday (Feb. 6th). This is fitting given the boomeranging influence of the music of the African Diaspora.

Just as the Congo powers the world’s cell phones with tantalite metal, precious bits of Africa energize most popular Western music. Even reggae evolved as a fusion of jazz & R&B (both inventions of Africans in the Americas), with roots Afro-Jamaican folkloric music. Fittingly, the roots rock reggae of Marley’s era resonated strongly back in the motherland, inspiring a reggae renaissance in Africa.

At its best, fusion music’s sum is greater than its addends. Fortunately this is the case with “African Reggae.” Like early African reggae artists Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy, & Toure Kunda, the artists on Putumayo’s, “African Reggae” tantalize with catchy songwriting, and seamlessly integrating African elements into a neo-Afro-roots reggae stylee. This is a enrapturing album brimming with soul-stirring reggae representing many diverse influences. This CD powerfully augments the body of reggae with inspiring new sounds. Rockers mon!

Bottom lines:
* This album is hot- buy it now. It’ll get feet on the dance floor.
* Best fusion of Africa/Jamaica: “Krebo Cheo,” “Magno Mako,” “Vision”
* Best Jamaican style reggae: “Steppin' into Zion,” “Bo Ten Qu'Luta',” “Congo Natty”
* Best non reggae: “Jabulani,”
* Artists whose CD’s you will seek out: Ismael Isaac, Mo'Kalamity, Zoro, Nino Galissa, One Love Family

Track details :

“Magno Mako,” by Cote d’Ivoire’s Ismael Isaac is a catchy roots rock song pleasantly reminiscent of Lucky Dube’s tenor voice, whistling keyboards, and instrumental melodic responses to vocals calls. Melodic elements also suggest Cote d’Ivoire’s Meiway [Zoblazo music]. Isaac grew up in the “Treichtown” (named after Trenchtown) neighborhood of Abidjan, and has polio like Jamaica’s beloved Israel Vibration. A massive 15 piece band, creates tremendous energy. Crucial.

TRY to walk away not humming Mo'Kalamity & the Wizards’ “Vision.” Hailing from France (but born on the Cape Verde Islands, off of Senegal), Mo'Kalamity has a unique , vaguely Cameroonian sound (think Ras Sally Nyolo), mixing afropop & reggae. The band is killer! Mo'Kalamity sings of the irony of human spiritual isolation despite urban overcrowding.

“Congo Natty,” by Burkina Faso’s Bingui Jaa Jammy is a heavy rasta roots song with tasty horns, dub arrangement, and nyahbinghi repeata drum.

“Jabulani,” by Zoro (South Africa) is more R&B soul than reggae, but definitely a stand-out tune! The groove ebbs & flows like the tide, the bass, keys, and African finger-picked guitars weave beautifully around each other. Gorgeous- masterfully played by a crack outfit. Melodic runs by a melodica (blown keyboard) are rootsy & attention grabbing. "Don’t let the problems get you down." Yes I.

Labels: cd review african jamaican reggae afropop aids hiv hopehiv

By Marc Bruner

Mamadou Diabate is a virtuoso kora player from Mali and his 2008 release "Douga Mansa" is a beautiful work of art. This extremely satisfying solo album preserves the venerable traditions of Mandinka culture while also infusing those traditions with new energy and creativity, creating a sound that is profound and original. But most importantly, the songs are a delight to listen to, with gorgeous, soaring melodies that soothe and invigorate at the same time. It's amazing to think that the only sounds are from Mamadou's kora, as it often seems like there's several musicians playing at once. And the spiritual potency of the music is as compelling as Mamadou's dizzying mastery of his instrument.

By Marc Bruner

Then:



Now:

By Robert Fox:

One of my favorite bands anywhere is coming to the Black Cat in Washington, DC on Friday, January 9th: the epic Grupo Fantasma. Longtime readers of The Afrofunk Forum know that we're big fans of Grupo Fantasma's devastating cumbia and salsa. Their live shows split atoms and crumble boulders with head-spinning latin funk.

The band is touring in support of their outstanding new album, Sonidos Gold. Grupo Fantasma was at the Black Cat in June with another favorite band of mine Bio Ritmo. Grupo Fantasma put on a clinic and I can promise you that this time will be no different.

Don't believe me? Then check out the rave press reviews for their recent shows, which, if anything, understate the band's impact: "one of the sickest live bands ever" (Philadelphia Weekly); "they blast off in their own funkified, genre-breaking direction" (Billboard); "this freight train of a Latin band will knock you down with the grooves" (The Village Voice); "the decade's most important artist in the Latin genre" (Allmusic Guide). Heard enough? Then get advance tickets here and don't miss the opportunity to see them in Washington, DC, or on another stop of their current tour.

Marc Powers from MN8 provides some background on the band and on the Friday show in DC:

On Friday January 9th a sonic heatwave is set to sizzle DC as Austin's
Grammy-nominated Latin funk orchestra, Grupo Fantasma, performs live at the
Black Cat. The eleven piece unit of Grupo Fantasma is best known for their
exuberant live shows and their recent association with Prince, having backed him
on numerous occasions, including his performance on the ALMA Awards in
2007.

Grupo Fantasma, who just received a Grammy Nomination for Best Latin
Alternative Album for "Sonidos Gold," is currently touring the east-coast for a
string of winter dates. Their DC show will be set off by 2 hometown acts,
namely, Batala, a 14-piece stellar band of female drummers who will be followed
by Nayas, whose Tropical Rock always heats up the crowd. And to top things off,
VIVA 900's DJ Rockactivo will keep the party going between sets with his frentic
mix of Latin jams.

Tickets are $15 and are On Sale Now at all Ticketmaster and Ritmo Latino
Outlets. Doors Open @ 9PM for this All Ages Show.

January 6th Notice : Just informed that this show has been postponed! Please check back for the revised date!

By Robert Fox

Femi Kuti has a new CD out, Day By Day, and it's his strongest effort to date. I really like this recording, which features more confident songwriting than ever before, and a very controlled groove to the music. Some of Femi's earlier recordings had an almost frantic energy. The new material still packs a punch--particularly the richly mixed horns--but the tracks swing and move with counter-rhythms and unexpected hooks. Definitely check it out.

And if you're in the Washington, DC area, you're in luck--Femi will be in town on Friday, January 9th with his band Positive Force. He's returning to the 9:30 Club, a great place to hear live music. If you don't have tickets already, you better get them now: last year's Femi show at the 9:30 was not only sold out, there was a line of more than 100 people outside trying in vain to buy tickets. I know--I was one of them!

Washington, DC-based afrofunk group Chopteeth is releasing its debut CD on Saturday, September 20 at a special CD release show at DC club The Black Cat. If you're in the region, come to the party and be the first to own the new recording, which highlights original Chopteeth music on 9 tracks!

The Washington Post highlights Chopteeth’s new CD and the Saturday show with a recommendation from Post music reviewer David Malitz:

The band has become a local sensation—the dozen-plus member outfit cooks up a scintillating stew of Afrofunk, rumba, salsa, ska and funk. The group's live shows have been known to make even the most motionless of concert-watchers flail their limbs and do something that resembles dancing. There's no other band in the area with as funky and wide-reaching sound as Chopteeth... Saturday at the Black Cat, Chopteeth celebrates the release of its self-titled, debut album which does a fantastic job capturing the sweaty energy of the band's live show—not an easy task.

The evening will open with the massive West African percussion and dance orchestra Farafina Kan. Joining Chopteeth onstage will be Grammy-nominated griot Cheick Hamala Diabate, as well as the Mayor of DC hip-hop, Head-Roc. DJ Nitekrawler will spin funk rarities between sets.

Saturday, September 20
The Black Cat
1811 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-667-7960All ages—$15—9PM

You can hear samples of the new CD on Chopteeth's MySpace page! The CD will be publicly available on September 23.

By David McDavitt

By Robert Fox

There's a cool new band currently making waves in the Washington, DC area: King Soul. They've assembled an All-Star lineup of funk, soul and New Orleans-style pros, and these guys can really bring it, resurrecting the old-school Stax sounds with a groovy modern twist.

I saw King Soul recently in Hyattsville, MD, and had a great time with their tight rhythms, powerful horns and clever hooks. I was especially impressed with Tom Clifford's sweaty, grit-filled vocals and high-energy performance. This band keeps the audience on its feet--big fun.


Afrofunk fans who may know Stax best because of Isaac Hayes and The Bar-Kays will find a lot to love here, celebrating the classic early Memphis soul sound. From the King Soul My Space page, in the "sounds like" section:

The way it should be. The sound in your mind. The Truth. Fried Chicken. The sound in your feet. Didn't know I needed it so bad. Red Beans & Rice. That 45 you love. Today as another place, another time.!

If you live in the DC area, definitely don't miss King Soul on Friday, August 29 at Iota in Arlington, VA, which is located at 2832 Wilson Blvd. Thousand $ Car, from New Orleans, will also be joining the bill. The show starts at 9 and cover is $10. See you there

By Kenny Eaton


Searching for ‘authenticity’ in music and art creates an uproar of debate amongst those involved. As an American, how can I ever truly experience ‘authentic’ foreign culture, especially music? Experiencing Moroccan music as an American is undeniably different from experiencing it as a native Moroccan, right? For those involved in the quest for 'authenticity', questions like these are commonplace.

I was shown an intriguing article in the Guardian that addresses these issues by our good friend and music supporter, Joe Uehlein. His band, Joe Uehlein and the U-Liners, plays a variety of music in the roots-rock genre and is heavily active on the American East Coast. Check it out:

“Brian Jones had a miserable trip to Morocco. After Keith Richards stole his girlfriend, he followed Paul Bowles's advice to head into the hills above Tangier, to record pre-Islamic Berber trance music in the village of Jajouka. He made the recordings, but during a night of hashish hallucinations saw himself as a sacrificial goat ready for slaughter. On his return to Britain, he was kicked out of the Rolling Stones, then drowned in suspicious circumstances. As a memorial, the Stones issued his Moroccan recordings on their label; in my view, it was the first "world music" recording.

Recordings of "foreign" music had, until then, been sanitised exotica such as the "Banana Boat Song" and "Wimoweh", or exportable indigenous commercial LPs of Latin dance music, or academic field recordings. Jones was the first to take an exotic music on its own authentic terms for no other reason than that he thought it would be entertaining for outsiders.

His motives foreshadowed our own: he felt the Stones had lost their early R&B edge and gone soft with pop success. In Jajouka, he sought a return to the raw energy of the blues records that had maddened his parents back in Cheltenham. The rise of world music in the 1980s was triggered in part by our own disillusion with pop and a search for the kind of energy we once found in Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan or even the Stones.

World music festivals today fall into two groups. A quest for authenticity leads audiences to experience "local culture" at events in the Sahara desert, Zanzibar, Essaouira, the Spanish and Colombian Cartagenas, Rajasthan, Siberia, Hungary, Salento, Jamaica and Brazil. Then there are the various Womad and other festivals throughout the European summer that present as wide a variety as possible. The first Womad festival, held in1983 at the ICA in London's Pall Mall, included a concert that captured the range of the world's music. The opening "act" was an Aboriginal group from Arnhem Land who chanted while banging stones together. The second half was a set by the Frank Chickens, a pair of Japanese women who sang themes from monster movies to backing-track cassettes...

In Fez, I got to know a young Moroccan who restores houses - and loves traditional music. Most of his neighbours in the medina, he says, long to move to a modern apartment in the Nouvelle Ville outside the walls. But many who have moved there now tell him they want to come back. He, meanwhile, trains young craftsmen in the techniques that built this magical city, where the urban clamour includes everything imaginable save the sound of the engine. It may not change the world, but I can recommend sitting under an ancient oak listening to even older vocal and instrumental techniques as a way to gather inspiration for the struggles to come.”

By Kenny Eaton

The Gnawa people hold a unique place in the realm of Africa. Their music possesses medical, spiritual, and transcendent value in their native country of Morroco and has begun to spread to the West. Groups like Gnawa Diffusion have taken this enthralling culture to the masses, inspiring trance and musical possession in previously austere audiences in Europe and North America.

I recently checked out a film documentary called “Wijdan, the Mystery of Gnawa Trance Music” that follows the music and people that make up this incredible culture.

Here is a description from the film’s Myspace:

This film is an intimate portrait of two men who found each other like lost brothers separated by time. Time we now call history. Sibiri, bambarra musician of Mali, and Brahim, gnawa musician from Morroco. This 52 minute documentary is witness to these masters of the supernatural as they transmit secret knowledge to their children. As a testament to a fast changing Africa, we rediscover the meaning of transmission because who knows the color of the chick before it hatches?

I was intrigued by Wijdan. Already being an avid fan of Gnawan music (check out my blog post on Gnawa Diffusion), I was pumped to come across such a professional documentary of this music. The film delves into the leela possession-trance ceremony of the Gnawa and follows the stories of the musicians that stand at the heart of it. For those interested in Gnawan music, this film is extremely informative- explaining the healing process of the leela from the ground up and providing a personal look at the lives of Gnawan performers.

Check out this documentary! It is available in DVD format, so it’s very user-friendly and accessible to the masses. You can check out a preview of the documentary on Youtube: