SYNOPSIS

"Testament Ya Bowule" is a heartfelt elegy written in 1986 by Simaro Massiya Lutumba and performed by Franco and Le T.P.O.K. Jazz, featuring vocals by Malage de Lugendo (and sometimes Carlyto Lassa). Composed in Lingala, it laments the death of Bowule, a friend of Simaro, through the testimony of her bereaved sister. Simaro then digests this, conveying deep grief, questions about mortality, and the powerlessness of money against death. A cornerstone of Congolese rumba, its evocative lyrics and moving performance have solidified its status as a timeless classic, widely revered for its emotional resonance and cultural importance within the T.P.O.K. Jazz catalog.

In the song, Simaro is in disbelief, questioning God and the purpose of life and death. The opening lines, "Oh God, you have created life / People become ill / White men make medications, for people to heal," express a feeling of helplessness and frustration, especially when medicine couldn't save Bowule. The line, "If it were only for money, Bowule wouldn’t have died," portrays how the family did everything they could, highlighting the tragedy of a life lost regardless of effort or wealth. He further seeks to know where people go after death.

The song is a powerful exploration running from grief, love, and loss. It shows how the death of one person can have a ripple effect, causing emotional and even spiritual turmoil for those left behind. The references to friends, family, and specific places like Matonge (a neighborhood in Kinshasa) and Brussels, Paris, and Rome ground the song in a real-world context are a part of painting a picture of true events. This is a true reflection of relatable events in our daily life, making the pain feel even more personal, relatable, and universal.

Listen to the song here

LET'S NOW DIVE INTO THE LYRICS

Oh Nzambé 
(Oh God)
Osala bomowi bwa moto
(you have created life)
Moto akoya ko kutana na malade
(People become ill)
Mondelé pe asali kisi po moto abika
(White men make medications for people to heal)
Vraiment soki ezalaki po na mbongo ndé Bowulé a kufi té
(Really, if it were only for money, Bowule wouldn’t have died)
Po famille asali nioso
(Because the family did everything)
Nzambé , pona nini liwa?
(God, why death)
Ah somo, na ndimaki té, hum
(Ah, scary, I didn’t believe, um)

Testament.. ba ndeko na kotanga na ko zongela eh
(Testament, fellows, I am reading and rereading it)
Maloba ya Bowulé baninga na kotanga nako lela eh
(The will that Bowule wrote, friends, I am reading while crying)
Nazangi na mokili oh ba famille bosali nga mabé
(I lost.. family, you have done me wrong)
Massiya na sala fielé wapi oh mokili esilisi nga lolendo lelo na ndimi
(Massiya, how can I show off? The joke is on me.)

Testatement.. ba ndeko na kotanga na ko zongela eh
(Testament, fellows, I am reading and rereading it.)
Maloba ya Bowulé baninga na kotanga nako lela eh
(The will that Bowule wrote, friends, I am reading while crying.)
Nazangi na mokili oh binemi bo liesi nga poison
(I lost.. rivals, you fed me with poison.)
Luambo na sala fielé wapi oh mokili esilisi nga lolendo lelo na ndimi
(Luambo, how can I show off? The joke is on me.)

Liwa ya Bowulé sango lokola nkaké na motoyi eh
(The death of Bowule was like a lightning sound in my ear.)
Epesi nga liboma, na zangi likambo nga na sala
(I went crazy not knowing what to do.)
Mbongo eloko pamba, ekoki ko somba liwa te
(Money is useless; it cannot purchase death.)

Ya Bowulé.. lobi na pasi otali nga oseki
(Ya Bowule oh, yesterday, while you were ill, you looked at me and laughed.)
Opekisi nga ko lela eh, kasi olakaki nga okobika
(You stopped me from crying, and you promised me that you will be well.)
Nzoka oyebaki ozali kokende
(Whereas you knew that you were about to die.)
Okosi nga nde ko kosa, nakeyi kolala yo okati motema
(You lied to me, while I was asleep, you passed away.)
Ata liloba ya suka, Josée yo méchante mama
(Without saying a last word, Jose, you are bad.)

Ya Bowulé lobi na pasi otali nga oleli
(Ya Bowule oh, yesterday, while ill, you looked at me and cried)
Obombeli nga sekele oh kasi oyebaki oko kufa
(You kept the secret, you knew that you would die)
Olobi na nga na kende kolala eh
(You told me to go to sleep)
Okosi nga nde ko kosa, sima na nga y’okati motema
(You lied to me, you died while I was gone)
Olingaki na zala te, Josée yo méchante mama
(You didn’t want me to be there, Jose, you are bad)

Ya Josée, oh Bowulé osali ngaï mabé
(Ya Jose oh, and Bowule, you have done me wrong)
Ngaï Mathy eh na somba ndeko na mboka nini oh
(Me, Mati, eh, where can I purchase a relative?)
Baninga nioso moto na ndeko nayé
(All friends have relatives)
Josée osilisi nga lolendo eh na lala wapi oh mama
(Jose, you have removed my pride, what can I do)

Nzela ya Bruxelles, Paris na Rome bako tuna ngaï
(Brussels, Paris, and Rome are asking me)
Nako zanga eyano liloba nini otiki na yebisa bango ngaï mayi na miso eh Josée
(I have nothing to say to them. What do you want me to tell them? I am crying, Jose.)
Ya Bowulé oh butu ya lundi na moni yo na ndoto
(Ya Bowule oh, you appeared in my dream on Monday night)
Olati kitoko eh pe osalisi feti ya mo néné sima ya mwa ngonga obengi nga pembeni eh
(You were well dressed and gave a big party. After a while, you called me on the side.)
Olakisi nga nde bana kasi oboyi kotala nga na miso
(You showed me the kids, but you didn’t want to look me in the eyes)
Bowulé na nga osiliki nzoka ndoto ya mokouya mama ah
(My Bowule, you were upset, it was a bad dream)

Ya Bowulé oh mardi na midi oyambi nga na koseka
(Ya Bowule oh, you greeted me with a laugh on Tuesday)
Yo na pasi ya liwa kasi olingaki ngaï na yeba te oh
(You knew that you would die, but you didn’t tell me)
Olobi na nga oyoki mwa nzala eh, na lambela yo pepe soupou
(You told me that you were hungry and ordered some soup)
Nakeyi ko lamba sima okati motema
(While I was gone, you passed away)
Olingaki na zala te liwa eyoki nga soni mama
(You didn’t want me to be there, death was shy)

Bowulé na ngaï eh butu wana kutu na lalaki te oh
(My Bowule, I didn’t sleep that night)
Ba mboua ba kolela eh suki ekomi ko telema
(Dogs were barking, my hair straightened)
Sima ya mwa ngonga ba beti ndanko eh
(After a while, I heard knocks on the door)
Nake mbangou ko fongola na moni famille mobimba ba ko lela
(I rushed to open it, and I saw the whole family crying)
Bowulé na nga okufi Bowulé okosi nga eh mama
(My Bowule, you are dead, you lied to me)

Bowulé na ngaï eh butu wana kutu na lalaki te oh
(My Bowule, I didn’t sleep that night)
Ba ndoto mabé oh nase ya pongi nakomi ko nganga
(The night was full of bad dreams, and I began to shout)
Sima ya mwa ngonga ba beti ndango eh
(After a while, I heard a knock on my door)
Nake mbangou ko fongola na kuti famille mobimba ba ko lela
(I rushed to open it, and I found the whole family crying)
Bowulé na nga okufi Bowulé oboyi biso eh mama
(My Bowule, you are dead, Bowule, you don’t want us anymore)

Ya Bowulé oh mardi na midi oyambi nga na koseka
(Ya Bowule oh, at noon on Tuesday, you greeted me with a laugh)
Yo na pasi ya liwa kasi olingaki ngaï na yeba te oh
(You were fighting with death, but you didn’t want me to know)
Olobi na nga oyoki mwa nzala eh, na lambela yo pepe soupou
(You told me that you were hungry and ordered some soup)
Nakeyi ko lamba sima okati motema
(I went to cook, and you died while I was gone)
Olingaki na zala te, Josée oyoki nga soni mama ah
(You didn’t want me to be there, Jose, you were shy)

Malou ya lumambé na Bowulé botiki Suza nako lela
(Malu ya Lumambe and Bowule, you left Suza crying)
A zangi ba camarades, moziki 100 kilos balati nde mokouya
(She lost friends, Rebate 100 kilos has lost someone)
Liwa ezaki nzela ya moto nioso eh bino boweli kokende
(Everyone dies, you have preceded us)
Mboka bokeyi biso to yebi te oh
(We don’t know the town that you went to)
Bo bombela biso esika mokolo toko ya oh Malou na Bowulé oh
(Malu and Bowule, save places for us)

Ba mama ya Fekoza eh likambo lizwinga lileki mo néné
(Team FECOZA, I am faced with a problem)
B’ami ya Matongé likambo lizwinga epesi nga liboma eh
(Friends from Matonge, this problem drives me crazy)
Moziki 100 kilos likambo lizwinga eleki nga nzoto
(Rabate 100 Kilos, this problem is too much)
Kusala ema Lusansou likambo ekomisi nga zoba
(Kosala Emma Lusansu, this problem drives me crazy)
Nga ma Josée mwana ya nsuka nakota 100 kilos likolo na yo eh
(Me, Ma Jose, last born, I gained 100 Kilos because of you)
Nakomi ko mi tuna eh soki na se ya liwa toko kutanaka
(I begin to wonder if people meet again after death)
Est-ce que nako mona Bowulé lisusu atiki liloba te oh Josée wa ba santu mama
(Will I see Bowule again? She didn’t leave any instructions.)

Oh yahweh
(Oh God)
Ndengué osala biso otinda biso awa na mokili
(We all have preferences; you sent us to this world)
Moto na moto azali na lingomba na yé a sambelaka 
(Each person is part of a particular religion)
Ba mosusu basambelaka na Catholique
(Some people are Catholic)
Ba mosusu na mission Protestante
(Some Protestant)
Ba mosusu na Armée du salut
(Some Salvation Army)
Ba mosusu na ba Musulmans
(Some Muslim)
Ba mosusu na Kimbanguiste
(Some Kimbanguist)
Ba mosusu na Mpevé ya longo
(Some Mpeve Ya Longo)
Ba mosusu na Mahikari
(Some Maikari)

Nzambé ndengué to yokaka mangomba nioso wana na tangi
(God, we hear that, all these religions)
Bayebi que soki moto a kufi ba yebi epayi moto akendeke
(Know where we go when we die)
Est-ce que Yahweh okoki ko yebisa bango mokolo mosusu
(God, can you ask them to tell us one day?)
Ba yebisa biso epayi to kendeke té ?
(Where we go)
Nzambé po to yebi epayi to wutaka te mais to yeba quand meme epayi tokendeke
(God, we don’t know where we come from, can we know at least where we go next?)
Oko mona mwasi na mobali ba vandi 
(You will see a couple together)
Moko na bango akeyi, oyo ako tikala nzoto be ko kondo ko kondo
(One of them dies, the one who will stay alive carries on losing weight)
Mikolo eko leka te alandi moninga
(A few days later, he/she also dies)
Nzambé mawa
(God, it’s sad.)
Toyebi epayi tokendeke te 
(We don’t know where we go)
Nzambé, to yaka ko tala obe yo
(God, we rely on you)
Bowulé pesela biso mboté na bango banso oyo to yebi oyo bakendè
(Bowule greet everyone who has died)
Bino ba Angelus bato bozali pene pene ya Nzambé bo yebisela biso ye té ? 
(On our behalf, you angels, the people who are closer to God, why don’t you talk to him?)
ah pitié
(Ah, sad)

By Papa Juma

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