Video + Download: Lapiro de Mbanga Overdone.
Before leaving us, Legend Cameroonian Artists, Lapiro de Mbanga brought visuals of Overdone for you and I to watch, listen, download and enjoy but that's not all.
Get more details of the message he was passing on below.
Lapiro is the one who created what we now call "Mboko language", an undecoded language mixed with french, English, pidgin and even native language, spoken mostly by wise people.
Bit of it is decoded for you in this post as you watch the old timer video below.
HOW LAPIRO WANTED US TO LEARN SURVIVAL
"CHAPTER FOR NDINGA MAN"
Lapiro is a Makossa artiste. Though of lat, he was a courageous man. Lapiro was a political activist. As someone who came from the streets and related to their struggles, Lapiro did music for the people. He stood by them till he died. Lapiro moved crowds, and he was definitely a threat to any politician. He always wanted to open the eyes of the masses, and he will come at politicians for ignoring the masses.
The chapters of the "Ndinga man" are chapters of survival. Chapters of the street man. How we can survive in the streets (life) if we obey the chapters. How we can make it through life. They are actually like life hacks. He sang about these chapters in his song "Ovadon". I will explain the chapters below.
CHAPTER ONE : NO MAKE ERREUR
The first step to stay away from trouble is if you dont start one. Looking for trouble can come with many consequences, so it will be safe if you "NO MAKE ERREUR"
CHAPTER TWO: ERREUR FOR MBUTUKU NA DAMÈ FOR NDOSS
"MBUTUKU" refers to someone who is not wise. What we also call "mbutman". people who can be easily cheated, manipulated. In the south West they'll call you "clearant".
"DAMÈ" is food in street language. Food here is symbolic. The one who is always cheated upon, and not wise becomes "Damè" (food).
"NDOSS" here is the "wise one". Ndoss is the masterplanner. He is the one always "checking sense". Smart moves. He is a hustler. He will eat the "mbutuku" if he makes "erreur" (error). Lapiro was referred to as "repe ndoss". Head of wise people. You cant outsmart him. Hope chapter two is well explained.
CHAPTER THREE: OVER DON NA MBUT
"Don" here means wiseness in street language. When they refer to you as "over don", it means you claim to be too wise, meanwhile you actually a "mbut" (which i explained earlier). So claiming to be too wise will lead you into trouble. Which means simplicity and "average wiseness" is key.
CHAPTER FOUR: MBUT NA SICK
Try to be everything except a "mbut". They are the kind the Ivorians call "les baolès" . Dumb people. Dont be dumb, because you will be cheated upon all the time. So if you dumb you get cheated upon. So being dumb is sickness. Abstain from it.
Lapiro as an activist and freedom fighter who was opening our eyes to the greater issue which was POLITICS too. He was letting us know politicians will play on your senses, so be wise. DONT LET THEM CHEAT ON YOU !!! He stood by his words till he died. Just like Fela Kuti, Lapiro is regarded as a legend by Cameroonians. Rest in peace to a legend...