A beautiful duo featuring Wassa Kouyaté, young malian musician who graduated from the National Institute of Arts and Boubacar Gouem, student and mentor at Ecole de Musique de Kirina
This song is a traditional Mandinga song called "Bani" (The Refusal) and refers to the resistance of the Mandiga asnd Sarkole people against the Fula, during the "War of Manda", at the end of the XIX Century. Bani is a popular song across Mali and Senegal and has been also associated, later on, with the resistance of the Malian people against the French.
Lyrics:
Once you have (a lot of) gold, your soul will be spoiled,
Once you have (a lot of), your soul will be spoiled !
Ah, you have always refused !
Sonko refused, he doesn't fight for money !
Sanou i yé mô do fé lambè tila,
Wari i yé mô do fé lambè tila !
Ah, i bani lé,
Sonko ban ni, wari a tè kélè la !