One of the songs that I created early on in the conceptualisation of this album. I wanted to end the album on a high note, and I decided to make the end a celebration of the continent that many of us left because of circumstance but still means the world to us.
I made the original beat that I wrote to but by the time I was recording I passed the production to Janne Halonen who also suggested Vivalda Ndula for the feature.
lyrics
Kwame Nkrumah said
I’m not African because I was born in Africa
But because Africa was born in me
The road winds and at times it can humble you
We all climb inclines, gotta struggle through
My soul finds quietude even when trouble brews
Though I may be battered and bruised, Im still a part of you
The mother who saw her seeds scattered till they’d forgotten you
With loving you’d imbued them with a beauty of the darkest hue
See how this world won’t acknowledge what they got from you
Plotting you on maps they understating your magnitude
Deny your majesty go to lengths just to smother truth
Discard the proof of civilisations where learned monarchs ruled
Passed on the heritage to all of those who come from you
The strength to withstand and shatter every manacle
Had them kissed by the sun so they can touch it if they wanted to
Made of your magic so breaking them is impossible
And through this song, guess the only thing Im trying to do
Is just to honour you, and to shower you with gratitude
Rielu, muene uala henda ni ndabji
Ua ngi bana babáh
Ua ngi bana babáh
Rielu, muene uala ni ndabji
Ua ngi bana babáh
The language I speak is hiphop its the originator is Herc
But you can find traces of its DNA within her
Graffiti on caves, griots had a way with their words
There were block parties to celebrate what came from the earth
Where they beat drums and swayed, spit praises and twerked
Before the boats came carrying those who came to disturb
Interrupted her history tried erasing their worth
But she so resilient, it ain't no way it could work
Kidnapped the people, stole the minerals
Killed the noble leaders, leaving rogues and criminals
Looted temples and libraries, robbed the citadels
The fact she still alive is nothing short of a miracle
Her relics overflow in foreign museums
But when you read about her story all the glory is missing
Siphon her riches, equate her with strife and disease
I guess they love the fruits while despising the tree
Rielu, muene uala henda ni ndabji
Ua ngi bana babáh
Ua ngi bana babáh
Rielu, muene uala ni ndabji
Ua ngi bana babáh
Nga sakidila
Muene ji va
Maji ka ji ria
Muene ji va
Ka ji ria
Ka ji ria
She is the hunger in my spirit, the fire in my soul
The power that I yield, the truth that I uphold
The poetry that lifts me, the drums that signal war
The love that keeps me warm in a world thats winter cold
The laughter of the children, the wisdom of the old
The sun that dries my tears, the vision that I hold
The strength to be a pillar, the will to reach the goal
The individual indivisible from the whole
Kutenda, nga sakidila
Kutenda, nga sakidila
Kutenda, nga sakidila
Nga sakidila
Kutenda, nga sakidila
Kutenda, nga sakidila
Kutenda, nga sakidila
Kutenda
credits
from A Travel Guide For The Broken,
released March 10, 2022
Featuring : Vivalda Ndula
Additional lyrics : Vivalda Ndula
Arrangement and production : Janne Halonen
Additional production : Synik
supported by 6 fans who also own “Kutenda (ft Vivalda Ndula)”
Just a beautiful jazzy rap album with buttery smooth flows versed with huge talent. It's not only lovely to the ears, but the lyrics are profound and empowering about the struggles that she faces. zhangtastic
supported by 5 fans who also own “Kutenda (ft Vivalda Ndula)”
As soon as I heard the song Like Really I just had to buy the album. Then I finished listening to all the songs, and knew I made a good choice. Oddisee is one of the best hip hop artists on bandcamp. Devin Anderson
Deeply textured experimental hip-hop from Burkina Faso with an electronic flourish; engineered to blow speakers and open minds. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 12, 2023