Music and Propaganda; Candidat na biso Mobutu by Franco Lyrics and Translation.

Today, we look at Franco’s candidat na biso Mobutu Sese Seko lyrics in English. More importantly, we get to understand the cost of propaganda. People often go very far to advance their political agenda and for Mobutu Sese Seko, no length was too far or enough.

In the 1984 elections, of which Mobutu was the only contestant, he tasked Franco to compose for him a propaganda song that stands unmatched to date in terms of length (a whole 19 minutes) as well as in terms of aggressive advancement to the masses.

Back then; this song was distributed to every Zairian for free across the entire nation and in the just concluded 2022 Kenyan elections, musical propaganda played a very big role as every local artist jumped on the next available opportunity to cash in on this once-in-a-while opportunity.

Despite all this massive propaganda, of course, which gave him a 99% win against himself, Mobutu’s rule has been defined as ‘kleptocratic’ and one of clandestine exploitation. It remains to us now, the lyrics of the song to unravel us the mysteries governing politics and political propaganda.

Here is Franco’s version translated into English:

1) Zairoise pe Zairois
Bima na balabala eh
Panzana na ba zone
Ganga lokola kake
Po na candidature ya Marechal
Mobutu Sese Seko

1) Women and men
Go outside
Spread yourself in counties
Shout loud like lightning
For Marshall’s application
Mobutu Sese Seko

2) Zairoise pe Zairois
Bima na balabala eh
Panzana na ba zone
Ganga lokola kake
Po na candidature ya Marechal
Mobutu Sese Seko

2) Women and men
Go outside
Spread yourself in counties
Shout loud like lightning
For Marshall’s application
Mobutu Sese Seko

3) Tozala sincere tozala franc
Hypocrisie to boyi
Ingratitude to boyi
Nani akoki ko sunga ekolo
Soki Mobutu te nani mosusu
Mobutu Sese Seko

3) Let’s be honest
Let’s be frank
We are against hypocrisy
We are against ingratitude
Who can can look after the country
If not mobutu who else
Mobutu Sese Seko

4) Tozala sincere tozala franc
Hypocrisie to boyi
Ingratitude to boyi
Nani akoki ko sunga ekolo
Soki Mobutu te nani mosusu
Mobutu Sese Seko

4) Let’s be honest
Let’s be frank
We are against hypocrisy
We are against ingratitude
Who can can look after the country
If not mobutu who else
Mobutu Sese Seko

INSTRUMENTAL

5) Zairoise pe Zairois
Bima na balabala eh
Panzana na ba zone
Ganga lokola kake
Po na candidature ya Marechal
Mobutu Sese Seko

5) Women and men
Go outside
Spread yourself in counties
Shout loud like lightning
For Marshall’s application
Mobutu Sese Seko

6) Tozala sincere tozala franc
Hypocrisie to boyi
Ingratitude to boyi
Nani akoki ko sunga ekolo
Soki Mobutu te nani mosusu
Mobutu Sese Seko

6) Let’s be honest
Let’s be frank
We are against hypocrisy
We are against ingratitude
Who can can look after
the country
If not mobutu who else
Mobutu Sese Seko

7) Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese
Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
Nzambe a tinda yo
Comite central, bo keba naba ndoki
Etumba naba ndoki esili te

7) Our candidate, Mobutu Sese
Our candidate, Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
God sent you
Central committee watch out for sorcerer
The fight against them is not over

8) Tango boko retenir candidat mobutu
Botalana bino na bino na miso
Mobutu, ba ndoki ba silite

8) After you vote for him again
Look at one another in the eyes
Mobutu, sorcerer a still there

9) Janvier ti na mois de Mars
Conscientisation, sensibilisation ya ba peuple
Mars ti na mois mai
Responsalisation ya ba militantes na ba militants
Mois de mai ti na mois de novembre
Propagande electoral poya ko pona president ya MPR
Moto na moto a sala examen de conscience
A kanisa epyi to uti
um

9) From January to March
Population awakening and awareness
March till May
Military duty awareness
From May till November
Propaganda
For reelecting the MPR president
Each individual shall examine his consciousness
Think about where we come from
hum

10) Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese
Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
Nzambe a tinda yo
Comite central, bo keba naba ndoki
Etumba naba ndoki esili te

10) Our candidate, Mobutu Sese
Our candidate, Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
God sent you
Central committee watch out for sorcerer
The fight against them is not over

11) Tango boko retenir candidat mobutu
Botalana bino na bino na miso eh
Mobutu, ba ndoki ba silite

11) After you vote for him again
Look at one another in the eyes
Mobutu, sorcerer a still there

12) Belela, belela kombo ya Mobutu
Eko couter you rien, rien
Ganga, ganga na kombo ya mobutu

Azali candidat na biso
Naba zando, na bilanga, na misala epayi bozali
Candidat na biso Mobutu
Bana ya kelasi boyebisa ba tata na ba maman
Candidat na biso Mobutu

Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese
Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
Nzambe a tinda yo
Comite central, bo keba naba ndoki
Etumba naba ndoki esili te

12) Shout shout the name Mobutu
It will cost you nothing, nothing
Scream, scream the name Mobutu

He is our candidate
In the markets,
In the fields
At your offices
Our candidate is Mobutu
Student tell your parents
Our candidate is Mobutu

Our candidate Mobutu Sese
Our candidate Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
God sent you
Central committee
Watch out for sorcerer
The fight against them is not over

13) Tango boko retenir candidat mobutu
Botalana bino na bino na miso
Mobutu, ba ndoki ba silite

13) After you vote for him again
Look at one another in the eyes
Mobutu, sorcerer a still there

14) Belela, belela kombo ya Mobutu
Eko changer bino rien
Comite centrale, bureau politique na ba commissaires du peuple

Candidat na biso Mobutu
Conseille executif, la magistrature na armee nationale
Candidat na biso Mobutu
Ba gouverneurs na ba commissaires de zone nyoso eh
Candidat na biso Mobutu

14) Shout, shout the name Mobutu
It will not change you
Central commitee
Political bureau
And people’s Commissar

Our candidate is Mobutu
Executive council
Majustructure
And National Army
Our candidate is Mobutu
Governors and Mayors, our candidate is Mobutu

15) Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese
Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
Nzambe a tinda yo
Comite central, bo keba naba ndoki
Etumba naba ndoki esili te

15) Our candidate Mobutu Sese
Mobutu Sese Mobutu, Mobutu
God sent you
Central committee watch out for sorcerer
The fight against them is not over

16) Tango boko retenir candidat mobutu
Botalana bino na bino na miso
Mobutu, ba ndoki ba silite

16) After you vote for him again
Look at one another in the eyes
Mobutu, sorcerer a still there

17) Ganga, ganga na kombo ya Mobutu
Eko couter bino rien
Mobutu a zongisa unite nationale
Tambola na kati ya Zaire mobimba
Loba mokoko nyosa yo olingi
Moto a ko tune yo azali te
Est-ce que kala ezalaka bongo
Tala elengi ya unite nationale

17) Scream, scream
the name Mobutu
It will cost you nothing
Mobutu restored national unity
Go all over Zaire
Speak any language
Nobody will question you
Did it use to be like that
This is the fruit of national unity

18) Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese
Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
Nzambe a tinda yo
Comite central, bo keba naba ndoki
Etumba naba ndoki esili te

18) Our candidate Mobutu Sese
Mobutu Sese Mobutu, Mobutu
God sent you
Central committee watch out for sorcerer
The fight against them is not over

19) Tango boko retenir candidat mobutu
Botalana bino na bino na miso
Mobutu, ba ndoki ba silite

19) After you vote for him again
Look at one another in the eyes
Mobutu, sorcerer a still there

20) Belela, belele kombo ya Mobutu
Azongisa la paix na Zaire
Mobutu flambeau ya la paix

Tambola ba region nyoso o mona eh
Mitema ya bato etonda bisengo na la paix

Zairois a boya mobulu na ko bomana
Kimia ekota na mboka eh
Mobulu elongwa

20) Shout, shout the name Mobutu
He brought back peace in Zaire
Mobutu the peace torch

Go to all the regions and find out
People are full of happiness and peace

Zairians don’t like trouble and killing
one another
The country has found peace
Troubling time is over

21) Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese
Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
Nzambe a tinda yo
Comite central, bo keba naba ndoki
Etumba naba ndoki esili te

21) Our candidate Mobutu Sese
Mobutu Sese Mobutu, Mobutu
God sent you
Central committee watch out for sorcerer
The fight against them is not over

22) Tango boko retenir candidat mobutu
Botalana bino na bino na miso
Mobutu, ba ndoki ba silite

22) After you vote for him again
Look at one another in the eyes
Mobutu, sorcerer a still there

23) Belela, belela kombo ya Mobutu
Eko couter bino eloko te
Ganga, ganga na bala bala kombo ya Mobutu
Azali candidat nabiso

Awa ngai nazali koyemba eh
Ba ndoki ba koti nase ya ba drap
Oh Luambo Mobutiste
Nalinbi na tuna bino bozalaka ba nani

23) Shout, shout the name Mobutu
It will cost you nada
Scream, Scream Mobutu on the street
He is our candidate

As I am singing
Sorcerer are covered in their blunketts
Oh Luambo is a Mobutist
What political party do you belong to

24) Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese
Yabiso candidat Mobutu Sese, Mobutu
Nzambe a tinda yo
Comite central, bo keba naba ndoki
Etumba naba ndoki esili te

24) Our candidate
Mobutu Sese x2
Mobutu
God sent you
Central committee
Watch out for sorcerer
The fight against them is not over

25) Tango boko retenir candidat mobutu
Botalana bino na bino na miso eh
Mobutu, ba ndoki ba silite

25) After you vote for him again
Look at one another in the eyes
Mobutu, sorcerer a still there

26) Bino batu bozali na kati ya bus pe ba voiture
Candidat na biso Mobutu
Ozali ko kende voyage na kati ya train avion to masuwa
Candidat na biso Mobutu

26) You people on buses and cars
Our Candidate is Mobutu
If you are travelling by train,
airplane or boat our candidate is Mobutu

27) Ba patient nyoso na kati ya ba opitaux
Candidat na biso Mobutu
Ata ko ozali na kati ya boloko po osalaki mabe
Tango bokobima candidat na biso Mobutu

27) All patients in hospitals
Our Candidate is Mobutu
Even if you are incarcerated because of a crime
As you come out, our candidate is Mobutu

Listen to the song by clicking this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T33rO0ZgUUo