Kuimba: Music/Lyrics

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

Mawingu means clouds in Swahili. Once I lived for a while in the hilly grasslands of northeastern Congo not far from Ugandan border. Here in the village of Kwandruma, the mist rising from the nearby lake creates some of the most phenomenal cloud formations I have ever seen; but after living in southern Oregon during a drought, clouds began to take on a new significance for me.

One day while looking out toward the Siskiyou Mountains, I saw a bank of Cumulous clouds that reminded me of Congo and inspired this song. This is our second version of this song. Personnel- Lark Bowerman, lead vocal, guitar, kayamba; Kris Bowerman, vocal, djembe, Ugandan drum, trombone, percussion; John Waller, conga solo; Don Keller, electric bass; Randall Walker, tuba (note at end)

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Swahili:

Kwaheri, Mama! Kwaheri, Baba! Nina tembea mbali. Kwaheri, ndugu! Kwaheri, watu! Nina ’enda safari.

(Chorus) Africa, nina kumbuka Africa — Mawingu meupe kabambi Ku ruka ndani mbinguni.

Si wezi rudi’ ku fika pale Hata na saa ngine. Nina tembea America, Fasi namuna ngine.

(Chorus)

Lakini sasa, mawingu hapa ’Na ruka vile mbingu. Lakini sasa, mawingu hapa ’Na ruka vile mbingu.

(Chorus)

English Translation:

Good bye, Mother! Good bye, Father! I’m traveling afar. Good bye, sisters and brothers! Good bye, people! I’m going on a journey.

(Chorus) Africa, I remember Africa — Enormous white clouds Flying in the heavens.

I can’t go back there Until another time. I’m traveling in America, A different kind of place.

But still, clouds here Are also flying in the heavens. But still, clouds here Are also flying in the heavens.