Fouma System is a very exciting project born out of the collaboration between Dakar based griot vocalist Mustaf Mbaye and Danish producer Exampler. The two met on several occasions both in Dakar and Copenhagen, and despite the language barrier they strongly connected, as both shared not only common ideas about music, but also a passion for food and café touba. The full story will unfold in the coming weeks as we prepare the release of their debut EP Mind Mi Dem June 17. For now, let the music do the talking:
Lyrics (this is phonetic wolof spelling, not in any way proper!):
Chorus
Xamal sa bopp
know yourself
Xamal saion
know your way
Xamsa bopp xam kinga don
understand yourself
and acknowledge the human you are
Xamal sa bopp
know yourself
Xamal saion
know your way
Xamsa bopp xam kinga don
understand yourself
and acknowledge the human you are
Kouchi nekh tinion
Each one of us
Xamsa bopp gën nou wala wachla kinga don
should know that understanding yourself is better than being told about yourself
Xamal sa bopp
know yourself
Xamal saion
know your way
Xamsa bopp xam kinga don
understand yourself
and acknowledge the human you are
First Verse
Xamsa bopp
Understand yourself
Xamsa mbokk
Understand your origin
Linga top
The path that you strive to be on
Ak lila top
and the destiny that might catch up with you
Xamal saion
know your way
Xamel ou bonn
Know what is harmful to you
Xamal sonon
Know your enemy
Doxe freedom
Knowing this makes you live in freedom
(X2)
Xam lou dakh nou sakala
Acknowledge your purpose
Lofidjef de yaw mi genula
Your actions will come back to you
Gou xamatul fanga djëm
If you don’t know where you are going
Delu finga dju ge wal
Go back to where you came from
Chorus