Malaika (Miriam Makeba & Harry Belafonte)

by Josh
(Ireland)

Malaika is a traditional kiSwahili song and means "my angel". Miriam learnt it in 1962 in Kenya, during her first visit back to the African continent since living in exile in the United States.

The song had been made famous in Kenya by a man called Fadhili Williams. It is said though that it has its origin in Tanzania. Does anybody know about this?

I found this video, a duet with Harry Belafonte. It's just divine!

Malaika Lyrics

Harry Belafonte:
Malaika nakupenda Malaika
ningekuoa mali we, ningekuoa dada
mashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa Malaika

Miriam Makeba:
pesa zasumbua roho yangu
nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio
nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa Malaika

Harry Belafonte:
kidege hukuwaza kidege
ningekuoa mali we, ningekuoa dada
nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa Malaika

Both:
Malaika nakupenda Malaika
ningekuoa mali we, ngekuoa dada
nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa Malaika

Please, does anybody know the English translation of this?