1. |
Africal Calling
03:56
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Africa Calling
(By Masauko, Mongezi Ntaka, Lorraine Klaasen)
Africa is calling you
back to the strength in your soul
Africa is calling you
come back inside and be whole
(Chorus)
That's you in the spotlight
with the world watching
Do you know who you are?
That's you in the spotlight
Do you know who you are?
Africa is calling you
people unite and make change
Africa is the root of rhythm and spirit
come dance
That's you in the spotlight
with the world watching
Do you know who you are?
The brothers are killing each other
for political reasons
They don't know who they are
(Chorus)
That's you in the headlights
with a train coming
get on or get out of the way
That's you in the spotlight
Do you know who you are?
Children be well where you are
Love is your birthright African stars
Follow your ancestors now
Sing for your freedom
Dance filled with pride
Africa is calling
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2. |
Old Shackles
04:01
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Old Shackles
(Lyrics adapted from a Parliamentary speech by Henry Masauko Chipembere, 1964)
(By Masauko and Mongezi Ntaka)
Freedom is meaningless
unless people can see change
Make it visible and tangible
we've been suffering
Today we must enjoy some liberty
that's just what we need
This is what we want to see
break the old shackles
(Chorus)
Freedom is meaningless
unless people can see change
Economic and otherwise
handicaps still survive
We'll show great gratitude
to the leaders who ain’t satisfied
(Chorus)
Freedom is meaningless
unless people can see change
Stop saying this is independence
we're ruled from the outside
Start changing this Babylon
for the betterment of the people's lives
(Chorus)
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3. |
Come to Life
04:27
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Come to Life
(By Masauko)
Wake up and see yourself inside this dream
come to Life, come to life
When everybody turns around and tells you
that they don't believe
come to life, come to life
Mwana wanga kutakataka (my child get active/busy)
O pour water upon this seed
come to life now, come to life now
Get out, get it going, give it everything
you've got to give
come to life, come to life
Living a life that you're loving
and loving the life you´re living
inside of your purpose
come to life, come to life
Mwana wanga kutakataka
O pour water upon this seed
come to life now, come to life now
O nature the growing dream
come to life now, come to life now
(Chorus)
I think I can I know I can
I'm deeper than the average man
an African who knows he can can
come to life, come to life
These are the toughest times
and they just might drown you
if you don't let that light inside you
come to life, come to life
(Chorus)
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4. |
Makolo
05:29
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Makolo
(By Masauko and Mongezi Ntaka)
We have come to share the wisdom of a people
Speaking Spear singing in rhythmic tongues
to bring some elevation
We have come protected by those
that came before us
We are from spaces inside of
God's own heart, come know
the greenness
of love's touch
Makolo akale (the ancestors)
Ndinu mbuye wanga (You are my gods)
(Chorus)
We have come to open the door
that you keep closing
Come get some of everything
that these spirits have to offer
a community at peace
(Chorus)
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5. |
Selassie and Chipembere
04:05
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Selassie and Chipembere
(By Masauko)
It says a lot
Selassie and Chipembere
It says a lot, it says selah, it says a lot
(Intro)
Life got lessons for the ones that's blessed
Gotta keep on manifesting ´cuz there will be tests
You might walk through a window
a wall you can't see
Share your scars, you're a star
means your gonna live free
On the way to everywhere that you need to be
travel light, be the light that dances on the sea
Ride these sound waves of love towards your destiny
In Africa the rhino's name is Chipembere
Out on the corner of Chipembere and Haile Selassie
up in Malawi, a part of my destiny was spelled out to me
through a message from my ancestry
(Chorus)
See the sister on the corner screaming at the sky
Reminding me there's more to these words I see on high
They are those that protect the way and the path
Those who come to suffer, strong enough to outlast
the last of the enemy's tricks for the mind,
poisonous food and disease by design
Sister screaming on the corner is
Chipembere and Selassie's daughter,
mother of the water,
reminding me that I am the son of my father
with work to do
Hurt my mama when I came out the womb
so I'm in no rush to reach the tomb
I speak the spear from my spirit
Sister I remember you so I'm gon let there hear it
(Chorus)
"If we take the view that because someone is too strong, he must
not be criticized, he must not be denounced and so on. Then all
sorts of evil regimes, evil systems are going to survive in the world
because people are too timid to take a stand against them."
(Henry Masauko Chipembere, 1973)
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6. |
Welcome Home
04:11
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Welcome Home
(By Masauko and Mongezi Ntaka)
Welcome home
This is our hour
This is our place
This is our time,
let's show some grace
This is my heart
This is my head
This is my bed,
What else is there?
(Chorus)
Welcome home
Beyond the surface is the soul
Where nothing is false,
and we are whole
(Chorus)
Come share this life
Let me be the only star tonight,
guiding you home
(Chorus)
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7. |
Ichi Chakoma
03:38
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Ichi Chakoma
(By Masauko and Mongezi Ntaka)
Ichi chakoma, ichi chakoma
(This is tasty or that is tasty)
pusi adagwa chagada
(the monkey fell on his back)
Zovuta kwambiri iwe
(it's a big problem)
chonde, chonde bambo
(please, please father)
Zovuta kwambiri iwe
pepa, pepa mai
(sorry mother)
zovuta, zovuta
(problems, problems)
This song is from an old Malawian proverb about making decisions. The monkey is a metaphor for a man who cannot choose one woman. He is said to be like a monkey standing between two trees with ripe bananas. He is so busy looking back and forth with excitement he may get dizzy, fall on his back and lose everything.
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8. |
Building
03:15
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Building
(By Masauko)
I've been waiting all my life for
the cipher
disciples singing
songs of revolution
the circle
the drums keep ringing
louder for the spirit
awake now
it's love we're bringing
in the form of freedom
come down now
the devil is bleeding
We grow from seed to tree
Me and my people building
(Chorus)
I've been waiting for the one day
not someday
But today we need
something strong to build on
a foundation
a nation of gods (Gods)
giving more than taking
backs breaking
O my people come on
share the love you're saving
stop hazing
life could be amazing
(Chorus)
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9. |
Chilembwe
03:32
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Chilembwe
(By Masauko and Mongezi Ntaka)
Who will start this fire
Who will burn your big house down
Raise the spirit higher
Bring this empire to the ground
Hey Chilembwe
John Chilembwe
Wa Chilembwe
We gonna strike a blow for Africa anyway
(Chorus)
Who will stir this rage
Break the locks on our mental cages
Take the devil's head
and make the devil dead
(Chorus)
Don't go mentioning freedom
without mentioning his name
Don't go mentioning freedom so
Africa would never be the same without
(Chorus)
Who will start this fire
Raise the flames of the people's desire
(Chorus)
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10. |
Watch This Woman
04:27
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Watch This Woman
(By Masauko)
Watch this woman walk outside
into a world that's hard at heart
Watch this woman walk outside
with ancestral gifts of light
Watch this woman walk outside
knowing her own potential
knowing love is elemental
it's the feeling that you put
into your song
it's her song
Yenda yenda yenda (go forward)
Limbikani mtima (take courage)
(Chorus)
Watch this woman walk outside
without the fear of pain to lead her
Watch this woman walk outside
into a world that knows it needs her
Watch this woman walk outside
a history with no future,
step into the now with posture,
live the truth that frees her spirit
through her song
it's her song
(Chorus)
Watch this woman coming
with the force that fuels the flower
bringing balance to the hour
it's the consciousness she wears
that is her song
it's her song
(Chorus)
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11. |
Birds Will Sing
03:08
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Birds Will Sing
(By Masauko)
One day my bird will sing
a song to heal us all
The song will give us wings
The song won´t let us fall
When my bird does sing,
the people will come one,
come all into the love
and let that love be strong
One day my bird will sing (Chorus)
One day my bird will sing
and every ear will hear
The song the spirit brings
a song that feels no fear
When my bird does sing
the people will come one,
come all into the love
and let that love be strong
(Chorus)
And when we finally sing
that healing song they'll say
This is the day we have worked
We have prayed
Here inside the wings of melody
where love can fly
Here inside where peace resides
no longer living lies
(Chorus)
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12. |
Ilala
04:34
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Ilala
(Traditional melody with music and additional lyrics by Masauko)
Takwera ilala, ilala,ilala
(We are going on a ship)
Takwera ilala iye
(Chorus)
Wa ife, wa ife, wa ife
(He is ours)
ngati Chipembere, a-Chipembere
(like Chipembere)
(Chorus)
Wa ife, wa ife, wa ife
(He is ours)
Ngati Ortin Chirwa, ngati a-Chiume,
(like Ortin Chirwa and Chiume)
ngati a-Chisiza, ngati John Chilembwe
(like Chisiza and Chilembwe)
(Chorus)
My family was forced to flee Malawi by ship into exile before I was born. The ancestors whose names are called here all suffered for the liberation of Malawi. Many of them also had to flee for their lives. With this song I am claiming them, naming them and thanking them.
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Masauko Costa Rica
Masauko is Malawian-American singer/songwriter, born in Los Angeles while his parents were in political exile. His music is
a bridge between his African past and his American present. His primary instruments are the acoustic guitar and the voice. His music has allowed him to work in Los Angeles, South Africa, Malawi, New York and currently Costa Rica.
His new LP is called Masauko.
... more
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