Zamina mina (Zangalewa)
Encyclopedia
Tsamina or Zangaléwa is a 1986 hit song, originally sung by a makossa
group from Cameroon
called Golden Sounds
who were beloved throughout the continent for the dances and costumes. The song was such a hit for Golden Sounds that they eventually changed their name to Zangaléwa, too. The song pays tribute to African skirmisher
s (a.k.a tirailleur
s) during World War II
. Most of the band members were in the Cameroonian Army themselves and used make up, fake bellies, and fake butts for comic relief.
The song was used extensively in the frontlines by the Nigerian Army during the Nigerian Civil War
(1967–1970). It was also popular in some Nigeria schools as a marching song in the 1970s and 1980s. The Nigerian Army Band, The Mercuries, based in Kaduna also did cover this song in the 1970s on live Television appearances.
The song is still used today almost everywhere in Africa by soldiers, policemen, boy scouts, sportsmen, and their supporters, usually during training or for rallying. It is also widely used in schools throughout the continent especially in Cameroon as a marching song and almost everyone in the country knows the chorus of the song by heart. The song was also popular in Colombia where it was known as "The Military" and brought to the country by West African DJs in Cartagena .
The men in the group often dressed in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with pillows to appear like they had swollen butts from riding the train and fat stomachs from eating too much. The song, music historians say, is a criticism of black military officers who were in league with whites to oppress their own people. The rest is Cameroonian slang and jargon from the soldiers during the war.
According to Jean Paul Zé Bella, the lead singer of Golden Sounds, the chorus came from Cameroonian "sharpshooters who had created a slang for better communication between them during the Second World War". They copied this fast pace in the first arrangements of the song. They sang the song together for freedom in Africa.
The lyrics, which are in a Central African language called Fang
, read like this:
Zamina mina eh eh
Waka waka ehh eh
Zamina mina zangalewa
Anawam ah ah
Jango ehh eh
Jango ehh eh
Zamina mina zangalewa
Anawam ah ah
Makossa
Makossa is a type of music that is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. It is similar to soukous, except that it includes strong bass rhythm and a prominent horn section. Makossa, which means " dance" in Duala, originated from a type of Duala dance called kossa, with significant influences...
group from Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
called Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds or Zangalewa is a makossa group from Cameroon. It was led by a career member of Cameroon's presidential guard, Jean Paul Zé Bella. The men in the group provided comical musical entertainment, often dressing in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with...
who were beloved throughout the continent for the dances and costumes. The song was such a hit for Golden Sounds that they eventually changed their name to Zangaléwa, too. The song pays tribute to African skirmisher
Skirmisher
Skirmishers are infantry or cavalry soldiers stationed ahead or alongside a larger body of friendly troops. They are usually placed in a skirmish line to harass the enemy.-Pre-modern:...
s (a.k.a tirailleur
Tirailleur
Tirailleur literally means a shooting skirmisher in French from tir—shot. The term dates back to the Napoleonic period where it was used to designate light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns...
s) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Most of the band members were in the Cameroonian Army themselves and used make up, fake bellies, and fake butts for comic relief.
The song was used extensively in the frontlines by the Nigerian Army during the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
(1967–1970). It was also popular in some Nigeria schools as a marching song in the 1970s and 1980s. The Nigerian Army Band, The Mercuries, based in Kaduna also did cover this song in the 1970s on live Television appearances.
The song is still used today almost everywhere in Africa by soldiers, policemen, boy scouts, sportsmen, and their supporters, usually during training or for rallying. It is also widely used in schools throughout the continent especially in Cameroon as a marching song and almost everyone in the country knows the chorus of the song by heart. The song was also popular in Colombia where it was known as "The Military" and brought to the country by West African DJs in Cartagena .
The men in the group often dressed in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with pillows to appear like they had swollen butts from riding the train and fat stomachs from eating too much. The song, music historians say, is a criticism of black military officers who were in league with whites to oppress their own people. The rest is Cameroonian slang and jargon from the soldiers during the war.
According to Jean Paul Zé Bella, the lead singer of Golden Sounds, the chorus came from Cameroonian "sharpshooters who had created a slang for better communication between them during the Second World War". They copied this fast pace in the first arrangements of the song. They sang the song together for freedom in Africa.
The lyrics, which are in a Central African language called Fang
Fang language
Fang is the dominant Bantu language of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. It is related to the Bulu and Ewondo languages of southern Cameroon. Fang is spoken in northern Gabon, southern Cameroon, and throughout Equatorial Guinea. Shakira used this language in her song, "Waka Waka .".There are many...
, read like this:
- Tsa mina mina eh eh
- Waka waka eh eh
- Tsa mina mina zangalewa
- Ana wam ah ah
- Zambo eh eh
- Zambo eh eh
- Tsa mina mina zangalewa
- Wana wa ah ah
Zamina mina eh eh
Waka waka ehh eh
Zamina mina zangalewa
Anawam ah ah
Jango ehh eh
Jango ehh eh
Zamina mina zangalewa
Anawam ah ah
Meaning of the words in Fang language
- Tsaminamina means Come.
- Waka waka means Do it - as in perform a task. Waka is pidgin language meaning walk while working.
- Tsaminamina zangalewa means Where do you come from?.
- Wana means It's mine.
- Zambo means Wait.
Covers
Many artists around the world have previously sampled or recorded their covers of this song. Among them:- Las Chicas Del CanLas Chicas Del CanLas Chicas Del Can is an all-female merengue group from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Originally created by Wilfrido Vargas, several teams of female vocalists and musicians have alternately performed under the name Las Chicas del Can throughout the group's history.Originally founded in 1982,...
- El negro no puede - Beatmachine (Suriname) - Samina Mina
- Adane Best
- Los Condes
- Vic Nees
- Tom Pease in Daddy Starts To Dance! (1996)
- Trafassi (Suriname), El Negro No Puede (Waka Waka) (in the album "Tropicana (disc 1)" - 1997)
- Blacks à braque and the Tambours majeurs from the album Les Hauts de Rouen percutent...
- Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
- Waka Waka - Laughing Pizza in Pizza Party (2004)
- Nakk in Zamina (2006)
- ZamanZamanZaman may refer to:*Zaman A large ornamental tropical American tree with bipinnate leaves and globose clusters of flowers with crimson stamens and sweet-pulp seed pods eaten by cattle ....
in Zamina (2006) - Didier AwadiDidier AwadiDidier Awadi is a Senegalese rapper and the most visible figure of Francophone West African Hip Hop. As a founding member of Positive Black Soul with Duggy Tee, Awadi toured around the world contributing to the international popularity of Hip Hop Galsen. Awadi works as a solo artist accompanied by...
- Zamouna from the album Sunugaal (2008) - BB DJ - Enfant Poli
- ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
- Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)"Waka Waka " is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, featuring South African band Freshlyground. It was the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, along with its Spanish language version, entitled "Waka Waka "...
(official anthem of the FIFA World Cup 2010) - Mr. Tucker - Zamina Zamina Pele
- Massamba Diouf