No praise for Nairobi in Mbilia Bel’s Nakei Nairobi

Most people think that the song Nakei Nairobi (I go to Nairobi) by Mbilia originally sang in Lingala is what she later redid in Kiswahili.

The first song was about a friend (Duni) whom they’d been friends from their childhood who had come to stay in Nairobi and she missed him.

She heard of all the hardship he was facing in a foreign land and therefore she purposed to go and bring him back to Kinshasa.

It is rumoured that the Duni Mbilia Bel was singing about in Nakei Nairobi is Pascal Tabuley whom she later married.

Also Read: Nyerere Khonde, the Mwanzele crooner

In the song, when she spoke of Harambee Nyayo; people from East Africa took it that she was singing for the former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi since that was the slogan in the country. Musicians are crafty in drawing. When she realized the song was loved; she decided to do it in Kiswahili with lyrics that meant entirely something different from what she had previously sang. Thus, the Kiswahili song; ‘…tuende Nairobi, tumuimbie baba Moi… (former president: Moi) – we go to Nairobi that we may sing for baba Moi…’

Here are the lyrics to the song and their translation.

English:
1) I heard that you’ve been treated badly.
Come closer, in my heart, I am still yours.

Lingala:
1) Na yoki Nzambe motindo ya mpasi, ba nyokoli yo.
Yaka pembeni nazali se wayo ya motema.

English:
2) We grew up together, we are used to each other, Dunia.
We started our friendship since childhood, under the eyes of mother.

Lingala:
2) To vandi bo mwana, to meseni nga nayo, Dunia.
To bandi bo mwana, ki moninga na miso ya mama.

English:
3) It is inappropriate for me to hear that you are suffering in my absence.
I will come to Kenya to get you and bring you back to Kinshasa.

Lingala:
3) Ezali mabe nayoka okomi na pasi naza te.
Na koya na kenya na ya ko zwa yo tozonga
na Kinshasa.

English:
4) Big sister Elodie, tween sister, why have you lowered your standard?
Big sister Elodie, tween sister, why have you lowered your standard?

Lingala:
4) Ya Elodie, mapasa, lokumu ya famille o ti wapi?
Ya Elodie, mapasa, lokumu ya famille o ti wapi?

Instrumental

English:
5) Friendship bonds from infancy is sometimes
stronger than bonds between relatives.
We’ve known each other since infancy.
We’ve been all over Kenya together.

Lingala:
5) Ki kamarade ya bo mwana
Tango mosusu elekaka bondeko.
To yebani bo mwana.
To tamboli Kenya mobimba ngai na yo.

English:
6) We are known in Nairobi, Mombasa ah,
Nakuru, Kisumu
Harambee eh, Harambee eh, Harambee eh,
Harambee, Nyayo

Lingala:
6) Nairobi, Mombasa ah, Nakuru , Kisumu toyebani
Harambee eh, Harambee eh, Harambee eh,
Harambee, Nyayo

English:
7) (Repeat x7)
I am on my way to Nairobi, to help Duni.
I am on my way to Nairobi;
I will bring Duni back.

Lingala:
(Repeat x7)
Nakei Nairobi, po na salisa Duni
Nakei Nairobi;
Na ko zonga na Dun