MBIFE – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Tiakola, Genezio
• Album: FARA FARA GANG

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic way to connect with a new culture, and “MBIFE” by Tiakola and Genezio is a perfect song to start your journey with French and Bambara. The song's mix of melodic French rap and the heartfelt Bambara phrase 'Mbifê' (I love you) offers a unique linguistic and cultural experience. What makes this song special is its uplifting message of pride and empowerment, making it not just a lesson in language, but also in cultural celebration.

[English]

Shiruken Music

...

I arrive with my neck full of chains, American style (oh-oh)

Four hundred years of slavery, it's not deserved (oh-oh)

Let's dream bigger, let's say: "Yes, we can" (han-han-han)

That's amazing, oh-oh-oh

You have the most beautiful color in the world, African woman

Don't pay attention to their jealousies

Let's dream bigger, I say: "Yes, we can"

That's amazing, oh-oh-oh

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(my darling, they are strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

Woman King (yeah), high standing (yeah)

Many challenges, curvy or slender? Too many things to say (yeah)

How does it feel to go from the Yango to the limousine?

Often offline but I stay connected for you

You can count on me (you can count on me)

Nothing to offer, because on my holding

I'll put your children's names, calm down (let's go, yeah)

She's my woman, she's the street, he's my brother (yeah)

A bond stronger than Amadou and Mariam (ah)

Ready to face, exes and one-night stands (yeah)

And if you leave, I'll sing for you like Burna (Burna)

True communication, today it's rare (true communication)

Like going to the cinema every weekend (every weekend)

Fuck the past, the future is in front of you (hey)

There's more important than just that (hey)

Mbife, i cadi nié (mbife, i cadi nié)

My heart, like my card, has no limits

(my card has no limits)

For your loyalty, I'll put down some money

So you shine more than Cardi B, B, B, B

You need to deliver, you need to do well (well)

You need to deliver, you need to do well

Will she be more loyal than the gang? (po-po-po-poh)

I arrive with my neck full of chains, American style (oh-oh)

Four hundred years of slavery, it's not deserved (oh-oh)

Let's dream bigger, let's say: "Yes, we can" (han-han-han)

That's amazing, oh-oh-oh

You have the most beautiful color in the world, African woman

Don't pay attention to their jealousies

Let's dream bigger, I say: "Yes, we can"

That's amazing, oh-oh-oh

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(my darling, they are strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

African woman, you are so beautiful and pretty

I'll take you around the globe, if you're loyal like Maldini

And I've put a lot of money on you

I've put in a lot of effort, I've put in a lot of words

Many of us bet on you

But I'm the one who got the right number (don't you hear or what?)

Mbife, i cadi nié, Melyssa Kady, I get lost, I forget myself

Between curvy, skinny (al-al-always)

Congolese, I know how to dress (always)

Unlimited credit card (always)

I'm here to change your life, making you independent (always)

I have the method like the Wu-Tang

I arrive with my neck full of chains, American style (oh-oh)

Four hundred years of slavery, it's not deserved (oh-oh)

Let's dream bigger, I say: "Yes, we can" (han-han-han)

That's amazing, oh-oh-oh

You have the most beautiful color in the world, African woman

Don't pay attention to their jealousies

Let's dream bigger, let's say: "Yes, we can"

That's amazing, oh-oh-oh

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(my darling, they are strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(they are really strange)

African woman, you have so much love, even if the world turns its back on you

You impress me, in the four corners of the world

Your beauty resonates, that's amazing, oh-oh-oh

...

[French]

Shiruken Music

J'arrive le cou rempli d'chaînes à l'américaine (oh-oh)

Quatre-cent ans d'esclavages, c'n'est pas mérité (oh-oh)

Rêvons plus grand, disons:"Yes, we can" (han-han-han)

Là c'est woh-oh-oh

Tu as la plus belle couleur du monde de femme africaine

Ne donne pas de crédit à leur jalousies

Rêvons plus grand, je dis:"Yes, we can"

Là c'est trop oh-oh-oh

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ma chérie, ils sont bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

Woman King (yeah), haut standing (yeah)

Beaucoup d'enjeux, larges ou fines? Trop d'choses à dire (yeah)

Qu'est-ce que ça t'fait de passer du Yango à la limousine?

Souvent hors-ligne mais j'reste connecté pour toi

Tu peux compter sur moi (tu peux compter sur moi)

Rien à offrir car sur ma holding

J'mettrais l'blases de tes enfants, calme-toi (on y'va, yeah)

C'est ma femme, c'est la street, c'est mon brother (yeah)

Un lien plus fort qu'Amadou et Mariam (ah)

Prêt à affronter, ex et coups d'un soir (yeah)

Et si tu pars, j'chanterais pour toi comme Burna (Burna)

Communiqué, aujourd'hui s'fait rare (communiqué)

Comme allez chaque week-end au cinéma (chaque week-end)

Fuck le passé, futur est d'vant toi (hey)

Pas qu'ça à faire, y'a plus important (hey)

Mbife, i cadi nié (mbife, i cadi nié)

Mon coeur comme ma carte n'ont pas d'limites

(ma carte n'a pas d'limites)

Pour ta loyauté, j'mettrais un billet

Pour qu'tu brille plus que Cardi B, B, B, B

Faut que t'assures, qu'tu donnes bien (bien)

Qu't'assures, qu'tu donnes bien

Sera t-elle plus fidèle que le gang? (po-po-po-poh)

J'arrive le cou rempli d'chaînes à l'américaine (oh-oh)

Quatre-cent ans d'esclavages, c'n'est pas mérité (oh-oh)

Rêvons plus grand, disons:"Yes, we can" (han-han-han)

Là c'est woh-oh-oh

Tu as la plus belle couleur du monde de femme africaine

Ne donne pas de crédit à leur jalousies

Rêvons plus grand, je dis:"Yes, we can"

Là c'est trop oh-oh-oh

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ma chérie, ils sont bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

African womani, que t'es belle et jolie

J't'emmènerais faire le tour du globe, si t'es fidèle comme Maldini

Et sur toi j'ai mis beaucoup maille

J'ai mis beaucoup de peine, j'ai mis beaucoup de mots

On était plusieurs à miser sur toi

Mais c'est moi qui eu le bon numéro (t'entends pas ou quoi?)

Mbife i cadi nié, Melyssa Kady, j'me perds, je m'oublie

Entre chargée, skinny (tou-tou-toujours)

Congolais je sais m'habiller (toujours)

Carte de credit illimité (toujours)

J'viens changer ta vie en indé (toujours)

J'ai la méthode comme le Wu-Tang

J'arrive le cou rempli d'chaînes à l'américaine (oh-oh)

Quatre-cent ans d'esclavages, c'n'est pas mérité (oh-oh)

Rêvons plus grand, je dis:"Yes, we can" (han-han-han)

Là c'est trop oh-oh-oh

Tu as la plus belle couleur du monde de femme africaine

Ne donne pas de crédit à leur jalousies

Rêvons plus grand, disons:"Yes, we can"

Là c'est trop oh-oh-oh

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ma chérie, ils sont bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

Mbife, i cadi nié, mbife, mbife, i cadi nié

(ils sont vraiment bizarres)

African woman t'as trop de love, même si le monde te tourne le dos

Toi tu m'impressionnes, dans les 4 coins du monde

Ta beauté résonne, là c'est trop oh-oh-oh

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
chaînes /ʃɛn/ B1	noun - chains; a series of connected metal links; also figuratively, constraints or burdens.
esclavages /ɛsklavɑʒ/ C1	noun - slavery; the state of being a slave or the practice of owning slaves.
rêver /ʁɛve/ A2	verb - to dream; to have a series of thoughts, images, or sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep; to imagine or desire something.
mérité /meʁite/ B1	adjective - deserved, earned; something that is earned or is a proper reward or punishment.
jalousies /ʒaluzi/ B2	noun - jealousy; a feeling of envy toward someone for their achievements or possessions; a feeling of intense possessiveness or suspicion.
bizarres /bizaʁ/ A2	adjective - weird, strange, odd; notably unusual, unconventional, or eccentric.
enjeux /ɑ̃ʒø/ B2	noun - stakes, issues, challenges; what is at stake in a situation, the potential gains or losses; important issues or challenges to be considered.
compter /kɔ̃te/ B1	verb - to count; to determine the total number of a collection of items. verb - to rely on, to count on; to depend on someone or something.
affronter /afʁɔ̃te/ B2	verb - to confront, to face; to deal with a difficult situation or person directly.
rare /ʁaʁ/ B1	adjective - rare, uncommon; not occurring or seen very often; not widely known or found.
limites /limit/ B1	noun - limits, boundaries; a point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass.
loyauté /lwajote/ B2	noun - loyalty; the quality of being faithful and committed to someone or something.
brille /bʁij/ B1	verb - to shine, to sparkle; to emit or reflect light; to be outstanding or excellent.
fidèle /fidɛl/ B2	adjective - faithful, loyal; remaining constant in your support or affection for someone or something.
peine /pɛn/ B1	noun - pain, sorrow, trouble; physical suffering or mental distress; difficulty or effort.
miser /mize/ B2	verb - to bet, to wager; to risk a sum of money or valued item on an uncertain outcome.
oublie /ubli/ A2	verb - to forget; to fail to remember; to fail to think of or include.
impressionnes /ɛ̃pʁɛsjon/ B2	verb - to impress; to make (someone) feel admiration and respect.
beauté /bote/ A2	noun - beauty; a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.
résonne /ʁezɔn/ B2	verb - to resound, to echo; to be filled with sound; to be evocative of a particular idea or quality.

Key Grammar Structures

• J'arrive le cou rempli d'chaînes à l'américaine

  ➔ Past participle as adjective; Informal contraction of 'de'; Adverbial phrase of manner

  ➔ In "le cou _rempli d'chaînes_", "rempli" (filled) is a past participle used as an adjective modifying "le cou" (the neck). "d'chaînes" is an informal contraction of "de chaînes" (of chains), common in spoken French. "_à l'américaine_" is an adverbial phrase specifying the manner, meaning "in the American style".

• Quatre-cent ans d'esclavages, c'n'est pas mérité

  ➔ Impersonal construction 'c'est'; Passive voice; Informal negation

  ➔ “_c'n'est pas mérité_”: "c'n'est" is an informal contraction of "ce n'est" (it is not). "_n'est pas mérité_" uses the passive voice (être + past participle) to state that something is not deserved. The impersonal pronoun "ce" refers to the entire idea of "quatre-cent ans d'esclavages" (four hundred years of slavery).

• Rêvons plus grand, disons:"Yes, we can"

  ➔ Imperative mood (1st person plural); Comparative adjective

  ➔ “_Rêvons_” and “_disons_”: These verbs are in the imperative mood, specifically the “nous” form. It's used here to express a shared call to action or a collective wish, meaning “Let's dream” and “Let's say”. “_plus grand_” is a comparative adjective meaning “bigger” or “greater”.

• Ne donne pas de crédit à leur jalousies

  ➔ Imperative negation; Negative structure 'ne...pas de'; Indirect object

  ➔ “_Ne donne pas de crédit_”: This is the negative imperative form addressed to “tu” (implied). "_pas de_" is used instead of "pas un/une/des" before a noun in negative sentences, meaning “no credit”. “_à leur jalousies_” indicates the indirect object of the action.

• Qu'est-ce que ça t'fait de passer du Yango à la limousine?

  ➔ Complex interrogative expression; Prepositions of transition; Informal contraction

  ➔ “_Qu'est-ce que ça t'fait de_...?”: This is a common interrogative phrase meaning “What does it make you feel to...?” or “How does it affect you to...?”. "_t'_" is a contraction of "te" (you, indirect object). "_de passer du... à la_..." uses the prepositions "de" and "à" to express a transition "from... to...".

• Et si tu pars, j'chanterais pour toi comme Burna

  ➔ Conditional clause (Si + present, Conditional present); Informal contraction; Comparison

  ➔ “_Si tu pars, j'chanterais_”: This is a conditional sentence. While standard Type 1 conditionals use “Si + present, futur simple”, in informal speech and song, the "_Conditionnel présent_" ("j'chanterais") is often used after “Si + present” to express a promise, an offer, or a strong intention contingent on the condition. "_j'chanterais_" is an informal contraction of "je chanterais". “_comme Burna_” is a comparison.

• Pour qu'tu brille plus que Cardi B, B, B, B

  ➔ Subjunctive mood after 'pour que'; Informal contraction; Comparative

  ➔ “_Pour qu'tu brille_”: "_Pour que_" is a conjunction that introduces a purpose clause and requires the subjunctive mood. "_brille_" is the subjunctive form of "briller" (to shine). "_qu'tu_" is an informal contraction of "que tu". "_plus que_" is a comparative phrase meaning “more than”.

• Faut que t'assures, qu'tu donnes bien

  ➔ Informal impersonal expression 'Faut que'; Subjunctive mood; Informal contraction

  ➔ “_Faut que t'assures_”: "_Faut que_" is an informal contraction of "il faut que", an impersonal expression that signifies necessity or obligation, always followed by the subjunctive mood. "_assures_" is the subjunctive form of "assurer" (to ensure, to perform well). "_qu'tu_" is an informal contraction of "que tu".

• African woman t'as trop de love, même si le monde te tourne le dos

  ➔ Informal contraction 't'as'; Quantifier 'trop de'; Idiomatic expression; Concessive conjunction 'même si'

  ➔ “_t'as trop de love_”: "_t'as_" is an informal contraction of "tu as" (you have). "_trop de_" is a quantifier meaning “too much” or “a lot of”. "_même si_" introduces a concessive clause, meaning “even if”. "_tourne le dos_" is part of the idiomatic expression "tourner le dos à quelqu'un/quelque chose", meaning “to turn one's back on someone/something” or “to abandon”.