Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a video of and lyrics to Jah Bouks' 2013 Reggae song "Angola".
This post also includes my attempt to "translate" the lyrics of this song to somewhat standard American English.
I've made this attempt because I think it would add to people's understanding and appreciation of the song to have such a translation and I haven't found any other article that has "translated" those lyrics. However, I'm fully aware that I'm not the best person to post such a translation, since I'm not a Rasta or Jamaican, and the little Iyaric (Dread-talk) that I know is mostly from online sources.
Additions and corrections to this "translation" would be greatly appreciated.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes and not for religious or political reasons.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Jah Bouks for this song, and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, particularly the poster of the lyrics to this song.
This post is a companion post to http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/definitions-examples-of-rastafari-word.html "Jamaican Patois & Rasta Talk In YouTube Comments About Jah Bouk's Videos" and to http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/definitions-examples-of-rastafari-word.html "Definitions & Examples Of The Rastafari Word "Iley" "
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Jah Bouks - Angola (Director's Cut)
.
FabrikatedProjex Published on Apr 18, 2013
Dir: Wayne Benjamin
Cinematographer: Wayne Benjamin
Producer: Wayne Benjamin
-snip-
Click http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Singer-Jah-Bouks-finds-his-calling_15688672 for an article about Reggae artist Jah Bouks and his first recording "Angola". That 2013 article indicates that the then 38 year old Reggae artist has never been to Africa. That article also notes that "Jah Bouks was born Warin Smith in Winchester, St Thomas; he grew up in Portmore where he worked the sound system circuit. Much of his exposure, however, came at one of the Sunshine City's most popular clubs".
Also click http://www.reggaeearthunited.com/2013/11/07/jah-bouks-illey-rasta-for-africa-listen-the-hit-tune-angola/ for more information the concept that infuses Jah Bouk's song "Angola" as well as some history about that African nation.
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LYRICS- ANGOLA
(Jah Bouks)
Yes Rasta, all a mi grand people dem belong to Africa
So a so we a wuk fi di giddion hot, Haili
Angola, Angola papa mama Africa Gola, Angola
Angola, Angola papa masha mala Gola, Angola
Mi bun di fire hot pon babylon
Nah tek no chat from Babylon
Cause a you corrupt the ghetto yutes wid unno wicked act unno babylon
When mi walk i trample down babylon
Talk and rawt down babylon
Unno always deh yah wid you clans and plans
Wah come trap binji man
Unno tink unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
No unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
No unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
True religion unno bomb down a Lebonon
Lick yuh self and a blame Afghanistan
Wid unno try and cons implement a plan
Dem you go dig down Saddam
Mi see you a draw nearer and nearer
But the oil mama got nah go share yah
Oh mi nah get scared fi defend di square
Opressah Marlon Gayle
Unno tink unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
No unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
No unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
Dem nuh like when we yad inna di hills
Dem wah we stay yah fi pay dem bills
When you think you a save little cabagge
Dem alone a count off the mills
Its an authentic reggae beat
Mek mi skank off the shoes affa mi feet
A get three Peter Tosh, Two Bob Marley and di little Beres Sound sweet
No unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
Unno tink unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
No unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
Unno tink unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
So di binji can a call
Angola, Angola papa mama Africa Gola, Angola
Angola, Angola papa masha mala Gola, Angola
Mi bun di fire hot pon babylon
Nah tek no chat from Babylon
Cause a you corrupt the ghetto yutes wid unno wicked act unno babylon
When mi walk i trample down babylon
Talk and rawt down babylon
Unno always deh yah wid you clans and plans
Wah come trap binji man
Unno tink unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
No unno can come tek mama Africa from we again
Source: http://www.dancehallreggaeworld.com/reggae-singer-jah-bouks-angola-lyrics-video.html by DHRW
(Jamaica)
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ATTEMPTED "TRANSLATION" OF JAH BOUKS' "ANGOLA" INTO AMERICAN ENGLISH
Editor's Note:
This is only a partial "translation", with lyrics that I'm not certain of left in their original form.
The words or lines that I don't know and don't want to guess at I've left as. I've also left some of the Rasta words that are complicated to define and/or that are more familiar in the USA (such as "Babylon") in their original forms and added definitions below this "translation" with a citation of the source or sources that I'm using for that word or words. Those words or phrases are indicated by asterisks.
I've numbered each of the lines to this song to help make referencing additions and corrections easier.
Some of my translations are guesses. I've written a question mark in brackets after those "translations".
Please help with this attempt by posting additions and corrections in the comment section. Thanks!
ANGOLA
(Jah Bouks)
1. Yes Rasta*, all of my great people, they belong to Africa
2. And that is why (and so) we work to make Gideon** hot [to anger to destroy?] Gideon** Haili***
3. Angola, Angola father, mother Africa Gola, Angola
4. Angola, Angola papa masha mala Gola, Angola
5. I burn the fire hot upon babylon****
6. I don't take any talk from babylon
7. Because you corrupt the ghetto youth with your wicked ways [acts], you babylon
8. When I walk I trample down babylon
9. Talk and walk [?] down babylon
10. Your always there with your clans and plans
11. Trying to trap binji man*****
12. You think that you can come (and) take mama Africa from us again.
13. No you can't come (and) take mama Africa from us again
14. You can't come and take mama Africa from us again
15. No you can't come and take mama Africa from us again
16.True religion wouldn't bomb down Lebonon
17. [Then] boast about yourself and blame Afghanistan
18. Why do you try and cons [conspire to ?] implement a plan
19. Then you go [hunt up?] Saddam [Hussein]
20. I see you coming nearer and nearer
21. But the oil mama got (she) won't share with you
22. I'm not scared to defend my square [neighborhood?]
23. Opressah Marlon Gayle
24. You think (that) you can come (and) take mama Africa from us again.
25. No you can't come (and) take mama Africa from us again
26. You can't come and take mama Africa from us again
27. No you can't come and take mama Africa from us again
28. They don't like (it) when we [hide ?] in the hills [to do guerilla warfare)
29. They want us to stay and pay their bills (that they charge us)
30. When you think you have saved a little money
31. They are the ones that count off the mills [the millions?]
32. Its an authentic reggae beat
33. Make me dance the shoes off my feet
34. My sweet sound is three {parts) Peter Tosh, Two (parts) Bob Marley and a little {bit of) Beres (Beres Hammond)
35. You think that you can come (and) take mama Africa from us again.
36. No you can't come (and) take mama Africa from us again
37. You can't come and take mama Africa from us again
38. No you can't come and take mama Africa from us again
39. So this binji can call
40. Angola, Angola papa mama Africa Gola, Angola
41. Angola, Angola papa masha mala Gola, Angola
42. I burn the fire hot upon babylon
43. I don't take any talk from Babylon
44. Because you corrupt the ghetto youths with your wickeed ways, you babylon.
45. When I walk i trample down babylon
46. Talk and walk [?] down babylon
47. You're always there with your clans and plans
48. You want to come and trap binji man
49. You think (that) you can come (and) take mama Africa from us again
60. No you can't come (and) take mama Africa from us again
-snip-
ASTERISKS NOTES
*Rasta - "Members of the Rastafari way of life are known as Rastas, or the Rastafari. The way of life is sometimes referred to as "Rastafarianism", but this term is considered derogatory and offensive by most Rastafari, who, being highly critical of "isms" (which they see as a typical part of "Babylon culture"), dislike being labelled as an "ism" themselves."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari_movement
**giddion (Gideon) "Amagideon/Gideon is a Rasta theological concept meaning the general state the entire world is in now, and has been getting progressively deeper in since 1930, and especially since 1974. This is a slight mutation of Armageddon, a name appearing in Revelation." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyaric [hereafter given as Wikipedia: Iyaric]
***Haili = Haile - The Dread talk word "ily" ("iley", "illy") comes from that name.
"ILY/ILLY/ILEY: From the Emperors name Haile, also meaning Ganja Herbs."
From http://www.collegetermpapers.com/TermPapers/S/History_of_Rastafari.html
-snip-
Update: October 9, 2014
"Ily", "illy", iley is also defined as "holy".
"Iley" -in all of its spellings- is pronounced "i-LAY" [as heard in other Jah Boukes videos].
A pancocojams post on the Rasta word "iley" will be published ASAP. A related post on comments using Dread talk in the Jah Bouks video "Angola" and in other Jah Bouks videos will also be published ASAP.
-end of Update-
****"Babylon" = 1. the corrupt establishment, the "system," Church and State 2. the police, a policeman
http://niceup.com/patois.html; Also read the definition for Babylon in Wikipedia: Iyaric.
*****binji man = probably from the word "Niyabinghi"
Niyabinghi is one of the mansions (branches) of Rastafari.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansions_of_Rastafari
Also ""NIYAMEN" is a name for Rastas referring to Niyabinghi warriors of East Africa" http://www.assatashakur.org/forum/rastafarian-reasoning/34526-dread-dictionary-rasta-words-expressions-slang.html
ADDED October 8, 2014: "When Rastafari come together to drum and chant it is called Nyahbinghi, and is one of the most important form of worship or prayer within this faith.
Reggae music is based on Nyahbinghi, and is used by many Rastafari to sing about their beliefs and the social conditions they live in. Many Rastafari believe that reggae is divine music, while other Rastafari do not"...
From https://members.scouts.org.uk/factsheets/FS185075.pdf "The Rastafarian community In Scouting"
Note: Compared with most on-line sites, this article provides in-depth information about Rastafari history, beliefs, and culture, including festivals
-snip-
Update: October 11, 2014
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkdxQ3TiWLE "Justice Sound. Jamaican Nyahbinghi Churchical Chant & hymns, Sabbatical Order. Jamaican Gospel"
[justicedagreat (the video uploader's) comment]:
"Nyahbingi as a Rastafarian lifestyle, In Rasta overstanding, Nyahbingi is the mystical power of the Most High to mete
justice throughout the universe. Although the genuine origin of the word that means "she possesses many things" is Ugandan, as a
concept and theology, Nyahbingi has come down to the Rastaman to signify "death to the oppressors, both black and white". Therefore, it is through prayer, music and biblical
reasonings that the Rastaman chants bingi, calling on the forces of nature to destroy the powers of wickedness."...
end of update
-snip-
I'm particularly curious about the meaning of the line "Opressah Marlon Gayle". Does the word "oppressah" = oppressor? I thought that word wasn't used in Dread-talk. And is the word "Oppressah" in Jah Bouks' "Angola" song a continuation of the preceding line so that that line actually reads "Oh mi nah get scared fi defend di square, Opressah".
Intially I thought that "Marlon Gayle" was a referent for the African American Soul singer Marvin Gaye. But that referent makes no sense in the context of that Angola song. I googled that name and came across a 2012 article about a Jamaican man named Marlon Gayle who is "a former middle distance runner turned coach, has been the quiet unassuming force behind the rise of the throwing dynamo that the Edwin Allen High School track and field programme has become." http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Marlon-Gayle--the-man-behind-Edwin-Allen-s-rise-in-the-throwing-events
I wonder is this the Marlon Gayle that Jah Bouks' meant? Is the name "Marlon Gayle" a short hand way of saying that there are other guiet unassumig forces that can be successfully brought to bear in overthrowing babylon?
I hope that someone who knows this culture adds to these comments.
****
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Tuesday, 7 October 2014
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