Lyrics of Sala Keba by Papa Wemba and Lokua

About Sala Keba

Composed by: Lokua Kanza and Papa Wemba
First Album: Emotion, 1995
Label: Real World Records

Lyrics and Translations

Moninga na nga yo yo, Atiki nga moko na kati ya esanga

My friend left me alone on the island

Baweli se mosolo ya mbango

They all rush for quick money

Bokima mbangu, sala keba okozoka moninga

Run, but be careful, you might hurt yourself, my friend.

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful

Sala keba yo moninga na nga (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful my friend

Mokili mayi ya bwatu yo

Life’s like a canoe on the water

Ozwi lelo lobi okoki pe kozanga

You can be lucky today and unlucky tomorrow

Bokimaki mbangu mbangu yo

You rushed too fast,

Tala lelo osuki se na nzela

You see, you could not make it to the end!

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful, Be careful my friend

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful

Sala keba yo moninga na nga (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful, Be careful my friend

Baninga ba nga yo oh

My friends

Batiki nga moko na kati ya esanga

Left me all along on the island

Baweli se mosolo ya mbangu mbangu

They all rush for very quick money

Okima mbangu, sala keba bokozoka ba ninga

Run, but be careful, you might hurt yourselves, my friends.

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful, Be careful

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful, Be careful my friend

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful, Be careful

Sala keba yo moninga na nga (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful, you, my friend, Be careful my friend

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful, Be careful

Sala keba yo moninga na nga (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful, you, my friend, Be careful my friend

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo yo)

Be careful, Be careful

Sala keba yo moninga na nga (Sala keba yo moninga)

Be careful, you, my friend, Be careful my friend

Sala keba moninga na nga (Sala keba)

Be careful you my friend, Be careful

Sala keba yo moninga (moninga na nga)

Be careful, Be careful, you, my friend

Sala keba yo yo (Sala keba yo)

Be careful

Mokili ezali, mbanga ya ntaba bongola bongola

The world is a perpetually shuffling place (Congolese proverb)

Mokili ezali

The world is…

Mokili ezali

The world is…

Satana alingi aboma mibeko ya Nzambe…

The devil wants to hinder God’s rules…