Learning Bemba in Song
Learning Bemba doesn’t have to be serious all the time—sometimes it’s best done through music and laughter! ATM (Ifyacitile Bashi Maggie) is a lively Kalindula song that tells a funny story about panic at the ATM.
Below, you’ll find the full lyrics with English translations to help you sing along while improving your Bemba vocabulary and understanding.
Bane. Bushe mwali umfwako?
Friends. Have you heard?
Ifyacitike ku tauni!
What happened in town!
(Verse 1)
Ilyo bashi Maggie baile ku banki.
When Maggie’s dad went to the bank
Basanga abantu nabatantama pa eti emu(ATM).
He found people queuing up at the ATM
Baiminina, bala tamba.
He stood there, watching
Uko abantu balefumya indalama(batota namu lupi)
People withdrawing money (he clapped his hands)
(Chorus)
Ati kanshi efyo cili ilelo! Abantu baletapulamo fye!
He said, “Is this what’s going down today!-people just scooping it out!
Cila muntu alefumyamo indalama alefwaya!
Each person withdraws any amount they want!
Awe bane indalama shandi apa kuti ba nsendela!
No, my friends, my money is not safe here
Efyo bashi Maggie bafumishe impiya shabo shonse, batwala mukati.
That’s how Maggie’s dad withdrew all his money and took it inside
(Verse 2)
Epakweba tela ati “Umfwa wemwaume ifilecitika panse.
He said to the bank teller, “Listen, my man, what’s happening outside.”
Ibumba lyabantu nalitantama.
There’s a whole bunch of people lined up
Cila muntu alefumyamo indalama!
Each person withdrawing money!
(Chorus)
Ale mune. Indalama shandi ishi.
Here, my friend. This is my money.
Ine ndefwaya munsungile muno mukati
I want you to keep it for me in here
Mwileka bansendele!
Don’t let them get their hands on it
Panse pali akantu!
It’s a jungle out there!
(Bridge)
Ba bwekeshapo ati bushe uletesha?:
He repeated, “Did you hear me?”
Wileka bansendele icuma candi.
Don’t let them take away my wealth
Nsungileni muno mukati(napapata!)
Keep it in here for me (I beg you)
Nshilefwaya indalama shandi panse!
I don’t want my money out there!
(Chorus)
Panse apa pali sangwapo!.
It’s free for all out there!
Panse teti shipusuke.
It won’t survive out there
Impiya shandi, we tata
Here’s my money, my man
Ndekupapata, sunga muno mukati.
I beg you, keep it safe in here
(Outro)
Baleti nokuti eti emu, eti emu!
They keep going on about “ATM, ATM”
Nabatantama kwati balewamyaI Awe mukwai!
They even line up, like it was a joke. No sir!
Ine indalama shandi, mukati
My money, inside
Indalama shandi (mukati! mukati!)
My money(inside! Inside!)
