Fatoumata Diawara - AMBÈ feat Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Mayra Andrade....

Composed during the first lockdown Fatoumata enlisted revered female musicians Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, China Moses, Inna Modja, Somi, Mayra Andrade, Thandiswa Mazwai and Terri Lyne Carrington to collaborate on the track. ‘Ambè’ meaning ‘altogether’ in Bambara, underlines the importance of harmony and togetherness in difficult and challenging times, a theme Fatoumata often explores in her work. The unique collaboration between female artists of African origin or descent sends a message of cooperation and a world without borders.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Fatoumata Diawara
2:22 SOMI
3:32 Mayra Andrade
4:41 Thandiswa Mazwai
5:26 Inna Modja
5:41 Dianne Reeves
6:49 Angelique Kidjo


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‘AMBÈ LYRICS (ENGLISH VERSION)

FATOUMATA DIAWARA (original in Bambara)

Oh my child, oh my child
Child of the country, by God my child
The sun has risen, what shall we call it?
A new day [or sun] is here, what shall we call it?
When we call, it says it doesn’t matter if you have money
This new day doesn’t care if you have gold
When we call, it says it doesn’t matter if you have diamonds
This new day doesn’t care if you are a woman
If you are black or white
If you are rich and wealthy
It just does not care

Ouh wa ah, ouh wa ah
People, ouh wa ah, hey mama

We are the same, we are all the same

SOMI (original in Runyoro-Rutooro from West Uganda)

Let it be, let it be
Let me sing for the earth
Let me sing for the earth
While I sing for the sun too
Let me sing for all that is love

I, too, sing for all that is life
Let it be, let it be

I, too, sing for all that is life
Let it be, let it be

Why would I sing alone when we can sing together?
Let’s love each other while we are among the living.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be…

We are the same, we are all the same

INNA MODJA (original in Bambara)

Whites and blacks, poor or rich
We are all worthy we all the same
A single finger cannot lift a stone on its own
We dig a well today to quench our thirst another day
We are all the same, we are all the same

MAYRA ANDRADE (original in Creole)

The day will come when the sun high in the sky
Will rise over a new world
A world where love is law,
Love is law, Love is law

Children will hear stories
of a time of many struggles and hope,
of the blood that was spilled,
So that we could leave them
a new world, new world

No matter where you come from
It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman
No matter the colour of your skin
Or the name of God in your prayer

THANDISWA (original in Zulu from South Africa)

In the teachings of the elders
We are told that each human being lives through the kindness of others
I am because of you
Say the elders
We agree and celebrate indeed.
The elders would say that every hand washed the other
We agree and celebrate indeed.
Because one needs the other
One needs the other
Hoyi hoyi
We agree and celebrate this indeed.

DIANNE REEVES (original in English)

Humanity is a blessing from the almighty
Created in all colours and ethnicity
The beauty that connect us is we are all one
The moon, the stars, the earth and the mighty sun
I sing for my sisters
And I sing for my brothers
I sing for the world that we all love one another
The beauty that connect us is we are all one
The moon, the stars, the earth and the mighty sun
I sing for the world
I sing

ANGELIQUE KIDJO (original in Fon from Benin)

Children of this World
With courage
Let's get up
Let's prepare
Let's get up
For a future
For our offspring
Every day
For this future
We are getting up
Courage we need
To tell our story
We have the strength
To get up for tomorrow
Let’s forget anger and hate
Let's form an alliance
Who will speak with one voice
For a better future

We are the same, we are all the same

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