If you are a music lover like me, you will have a lot of songs you love without understanding a single word in them. KitweOnLine offers this page as a way of Zambians helping to deepen and broaden the experience of Zambian music lovers worldwide.

You can submit your translation of the lyrics of Zambian songs into another language. This can be from Lozi into Nyanja, Kaonde into English or any combination of languages. You don’t have to know all the lyrics. The idea is to share, and other readers can fill in the gaps for you. Just put dots where you are not sure.

If there’s a song you would love to know the lyrics, submit your request below, and the Zambian community will pool together to supply the lyrics.

Are you a musician? We want to hear from you. Send in the lyrics to your songs and help your audience appreciate the full depth of your offerings. Please supply the title and artist if possible.

Are you a music promoter, you can supply your contact details here so that readers know where to buy the music from.

If you spot any mistakes in the lyrics submitted here, please feel free to drop us a line with your correction. Feel free to use the comments box below and let’s all enjoy!!

An added bonus to this approach is that people can use the lyrics to learn another Zambian language!

JK

…………………………..

ACKIM SIMUKONDA

Bana Bandi (English: My Children) by Ackim Simukonda

That’s the way it is
That’s the way it is
(That’s the way it is)
Hmmm all the time

Bana bandi eh, sunganeni (My children, look after each other)

Bana bandi, eh, temwaneni (My children, love each other)

Bana bandi, eh, ishibaneni (My children, get to know each other)

Bana bandi, eh, icindikeni (My children, respect yourselves)

[Ifilimba fya tuta] – (Guitars!)

Mu mikalile yandi na mukupa kwandi (In my life style and in my marriage)

Nalisangilemo ubwafya no bulanda (I came across difficulties and sadness)

Bana bandi, eh, mwila nseka (My children, do not deride me)

Bana bandi, eh, mwila lila (My children, do not cry)

Ukufyalwa mwa fyalwa (The way you were conceived)

Cila muntu na nyina umo (Each one from their own mother)

Fwe bamo incito shali tuletelela (Some of us have got misfortune from our careers)

Twalisulwa, eh, inshila shonse (We are looked down on, in all ways)

Banyinenwe nabo pakutusumina (And your mothers who said “yes” to us)

Balipuminwe noku tukwa (Were beaten and insulted)

Eico ndemilomba bana bandi (That is why I am begging you, my children)

Icalo cesu, we, ala na cafya (Our world is a difficult place)

[Ifilimba fya tuta] – (Guitars!)

Bana bandi, eh, sunganeni ( My children, look after each other)

Bana bandi, eh, temwaneni (My children, love each other)

Bana bandi, eh, ishibaneni (My children, get to know each other)

Bana bandi, eh, icindikeni (My children, respect yourselves)

[Ifilimba fya tuta] – (Guitars!)

Ukufyalwa kwenu, eh, bana bandi (Your conception, my children)

Kwali mumaka yakwa Lesa (Was in God’s power)

Eico ndemilomba bana bandi (That is why I am begging you, my children)

Cindikeni, eh, a bafyashi benu (Respect your parents)

[Ifilimba fya tuta] – (Guitars!)

Bana bandi, eh, sunganeni (My children, look after each other)

Bana bandi, eh, temwaneni (My children, love each other)

Bana bandi, eh, ishibaneni (My children, know each other)

Bana bandi, eh, icindikeni (My children, respect yourselves)

Mwiumfwila, eh, ba cilandelande (Do not listen to gossipers)

That’s the way it is all the time

Bana bandi, icitemwiko pali banyinenwe naine chali chacishinka (My children, the love

         between your mum and me was true)

Nomba insoselo shabantunse, isha bantu bambi, eshatupusenye (But the talk of

        others, of various people, is what led to our estrangement)

Bana bandi ukufyalwa kwenu muno calo ( My children, your birth into this world)

Kwali suminishiwe na Lesa Kabumba wesu (Was allowed by God the Creator)

Temuntunse iyoo (Not by a human being, no)

Eico ndemilomba bana bandi nati cindikeni banyinenwe (That is why I am begging you

       to respect your mother)

Naine wine ne wishinwe ( including me, your father)

Ilyo tucili pano pa calo, (While we are on this earth)

Nangula fye ilyo twafuma pano pa calo (And even when we depart from this earth)

Ili ‘funde bana bandi lyenu (This teaching, my children, is for you)

Nabana mukaleta muno calo, epela (And for the children you will bring into this world,

that is all)

That is the way it is

Bana bandi eh, sunganeni (My children, look after each other)

Bana bandi, eh, temwaneni (My children, love each other)

Bana bandi, eh, ishibaneni (My children, get to know each other)

Bana bandi, eh, icindikeni (My children, respect yourselves)

Mwiumfwila, eh, ba cilandelande (Do not listen to gossipers)

That is the way it is, all the time

That is the way it is

…………………………..

UBWINGA (Wedding)

– MADALAS BAND songs

…………………………..