A young man sings to the woman he loves, his “angel”, lamenting that he has no money to pay her bride price. The song is “Malaika”, and its gentle melody and simple Swahili words have travelled far beyond Kenya. Recorded around 1960 by Fadhili William, it was later sung by Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Boney M and many others. Few African songs are as widely known, and few have had a more debated history.
The song and the authorship dispute
“Malaika” means angel in Swahili. The singer tells his beloved that he would marry her, but lacks the money for the bride price. Kenyan musician Fadhili William recorded the song with his band around 1960, and his version became popular in East Africa. Others, including the Kenyan musician Adam Salim, have claimed to have written the song. The question of who composed “Malaika” has never been fully settled.
South African singer Miriam Makeba recorded the song and made it famous internationally. It became one of her signature songs.
Belafonte, Boney M and many versions
Makeba and Harry Belafonte performed it together, introducing it to American audiences. In 1981, the pop group Boney M released a version that became a hit in Europe. The song has been recorded by artists across Africa and the world, from folk singers to choirs. For many people outside Africa, “Malaika” was the first Swahili song they ever heard.
The song is often taught in schools and sung by choirs in East Africa and beyond. The authorship dispute has affected questions about royalties and credit. Its theme of love and poverty speaks to listeners everywhere.
Legacy and the melody
“Malaika” remains one of the most recognisable songs to come out of East Africa. The song’s slow, swaying melody is easy to learn and lends itself to harmony, which is one reason choirs love it. Many arrangements add guitar or piano, but it also works unaccompanied, with voices alone carrying its gentle sadness. He recorded other songs and remained a respected figure in Kenyan music.
The young man in “Malaika” could not afford his bride price. The song he sang has since earned far more than he ever wished for, though it is still unclear who should have received the money.
