Mory Kante – Ye ke Ye ke, 1987

“Yé ké yé ké” is a song by Guinean recording artist Mory Kanté. It was written by him and released on his third album, Á Paris, in 1984. A remixed version was included in his fifth album, Akwaba Beach (1987), and released as a single. The song became an international hit; it was one of Africa’s best-ever selling hits as well as being a European number one in 1988, making it the first ever African single to sell over one million copies.

Kanté adapted the lyrics from a traditional song called “Yekeke”. “All good things have many owners,” said Kanté in a 1997 interview. He added that “the song comes from a wonderful tradition we have in the villages. You know, when young griots are approaching the age of marriage, they flirt with each other through music. They court and ensnare each other through their songs and dances. These are sweet songs, I swear. ‘Yekeke’ is one of them. It’s the sound that young women make when they dance… It’s their way of communicating their interest.”
[ wikipedia ]

 
* Wolof language is a Niger-Congo language spoken by the Wolof people in much of the West African subregion of Senegambia, which is split between the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, and the Gambia. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in West Africa, with over ten million speakers.

 
[ Lyrics: Yeke Yeke ]

Bi sounkouroun lou la donkégna ah ah
Bi kamberen lou la donkegna ah ah
I madji I ma yélé
I kanan n’bila nara ro
N’bo n’bolo bila
Kanfalani yana sara le ila
Gnin kisse gbela serra le ils
Yékéké nimo yé ké yé ké
Ké woyé boli lalé
N’na doni kassi kan
Woyé boli lalé
Eh eh
Nyé n’ta soron akono mi ma ta I yonfé
Wo dén té soron lonkéléna
Sini Mory la diyandé
Timba bara wouloukounta
Souba ma kata I yala
Ah sara lila
Yékéké nimo yé ké yé ké
Djely mousso ni kédjou to wara bo
M’ba mofila téma yan féou

Mory Kanté (1950-2020) was a Guinean vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was best known internationally for his 1987 hit song “Yé ké yé ké”. The album it came from, Akwaba Beach, was the best-selling African record of its time.
[ wikipedia ]