Over the years, Tanzanians living in Kitwe have acquired a reputation for being very hard working as well as not considering any job too low for them to do. When anyone wanted a particularly rough patch of land prepared for growing crops, Kyusas were high on the list of workmen to hire. Their hoes were remarkably large and efficient. The mounds of earth they made were particularly large. Most of them lived in Wusakile. They were known to be very hard working miners.
We grew up with them and learnt a few Swahili words from them. When it came to music, one of the most memorable songs we associated them with was MALAIKA (Angel). You didn't need to speak Swahili to be touched by the sheer beauty of the song and its effortlessly flowing lyrics.
Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 10 November 2008) was one of Africa's most well known singers. In this video, she performs Malaika. Originally performed by Fadhili Williams (11 November, 1938 – 11 February, 2001), a Kenyan composer and musician, He wrote the song after a girl he fell in love with was wedded to an older man who could afford to pay the bride price.
Malaika continues to show its universal appeal to this day. There's something timeless about this song.
MALAIKA (Angel)
Malaika, Nakupenda Malaika (Angel, I love you, Angel)
Malaika, Nakupenda Malaika (Angel, I love you, Angel)
Ningekuoa mali we, (I would marry you, my fortune)
Ningekuoa dada, (I would marry you sister)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
Ningekuoa Malaika (I would marry you, Angel)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
Ningekuoa Malaika (I would marry you, Angel)
Pesa zasumbua roho yangu. (Money is troubling my soul)
Pesa zasumbua roho yangu. (Money is troubling my soul)
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio, (And I, your young lover, what can I do?)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
Ningekuoa Malaika (I would marry you, Angel)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
Ningekuoa Malaika (I would marry you, Angel)
Kidege, hukuwaza, kidege (Little bird, I dream of you, little bird)
Kidege, hukuwaza, kidege (Little bird, I dream of you, little bird)
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio, (And I, your young lover, what can I do?)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
Ningekuoa Malaika (I would marry you, Angel)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
Ningekuoa Malaika (I would marry you, Angel)
Malaika, Nakupenda Malaika (Angel, I love you, Angel)
Malaika, Nakupenda Malaika (Angel, I love you, Angel)
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio, (And I, your young lover, what can I do?)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
WoO. Ningekuoa Malaika. (I would marry you, Angel)
Nashindwa na mali sina we, (Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,)
WoO. Ningekuoa Malaika. (I would marry you, Angel)
Ningekuoa Malaika, (I would marry you, Angel)
Ningekuoa Malaika, (I would marry you, Angel)
And here is the original version by Fadhili Williams:
The Boney M version of Malaika:
And here's one you didn't see coming:
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