Toko Telo .Monika Njava...Joël Rabesolo...Teta

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#3: Transglobal World Music Chart June 2018
#13: Transglobal World Music Chart 2018 Top 100
#6: MixedWorldMusic 2018 Top 10

Tsy Tea Raho (I Don’t Like It)
After a night of partying a reveler is ready to return home. He admonishes the wagon driver to hitch up the zebu correctly. He may be drunk, but he still wants to avoid an accident. Composers: Monika Njava, D’Gary

Manoro
Manoro fought in a local conflict. Everyone thought he was dead. But one day he reappeared in the village, very weak. I recognized him: my father, who brought me into the world. Composer: D’Gary

Zaza Somondrara (Young Girl)
Young girls from different villages speak. “We dream of going out with men but it’s forbidden here.” “I love the soldiers even when they’re just trying to pick me up.” “My husband goes out looking for fun, so why not me?” Composer: D’Gary

Mpembe
All us kids in the neighborhood played Mpembe, an elaborate guessing game about snakes, flies and birds. It’s been so long, but I’ll never forget singing and playing in the moonlight. Composer: Régis Gizavo

Menimeny (Fed Up)
Years of relentless effort, dripping sweat, lots of promises, but always no results. My father and mother warned me it would be difficult work, but I wanted to do my own thing. Composer: Monika Njava

Diavola (Moon)
People walk and talk. Lovers wander hand-in-hand. Thieves go out to burgle. Everyone wants to take advantage of the full moon. But it’s already midnight. Composer: D’Gary

Oka Niny (Go, Girl)
This is a common phrase of encouragement in the dialect of the Vezo people living on the southwest coast of Madagascar. Composer: D’Gary

Zay Gny Raha (It’s Like That)
I don’t like you sleeping outside on the ground. I’d like you to sleep on a bed, but I’m struggling. I don’t like you leaving with someone else. I’d be seen as a fool and I might hit someone. Composer: D‘Gary

Tsindria-miepo (Resilience)
I’m sad when I think of my family and the problem there with bandits. Armed only with spears, to escape the Kalashnikov shots people zig-zag like cars around potholes. They are crushed, but when the bandits leave they bounce back. Composer: D‘Gary

Ndreto Zahay (We Are Here)
Instrumental. Composers: D’Gary, Joël Rabesolo

#1: Spin The Globe Top 10 Albums June 2017
#1: Global Village Top 40 Albums July 2017
#1: Transglobal World Music Chart August 2017
Mundofonías Favorites August 2017
fRoots compilation CD August/September 2017
Top 10: World Music Charts Europe October 2017
#7: Transglobal World Music Chart 2017 Top 100

Hainao Moa (You Know)
After a night of partying a reveler is ready to return home. He admonishes the wagon driver to hitch up the zebu correctly. He may be drunk, but he still wants to avoid an accident. Composers: Monika Njava, D’Gary

Raha Hita (Something Seen)
That nice-legged woman. She’s dresses fashionably. She goes out a lot. I see everything. I hear everything. I’d like to tell people what I see. But I keep it to myself. Composer: D’Gary

Be Tepotepo (Fearful)
A man wants to return to his village. But he’s afraid of the cattle rustlers, who are a growing threat in the area. Composer: D’Gary

Relaza
Among 15 children Relaza is the eighth. The Malagasy word for this number has a second meaning: enemy. Don’t judge him by this, the singer urges. Relaza is nice to everyone. Composer: Régis Gizavo

Jiny Karo Karo
A young woman dreams of wearing jiny karo karo (plaid jeans) and suffers because she doesn’t have the means to buy them. Composer: Monika Njava

Mpiarakandro
The sun is setting. The mpiarakandro (herders) are hungry. After guarding the zebu all day it’s nice to return home to the family and a warm meal. Composer: D’Gary

Toy Raha Toy
An everyday expression meaning, “Here it is,” in this song toy raha toy is given a raunchy connotation by a brazen woman trying to provoke a reticent man. Composer: D’Gary

Mikea
Because of relentless environmental destruction, the Mikea people – inhabitants of Madagascar’s southwestern forests – are disappearing. Composer: Régis Gizavo

Rapolany
A woman sings about her separation. About going out to meet men and not returning until sunrise. About the neighbors whispering behind her back. Her life floats up and down like a rapolany (airplane). Composer: Monika Njava

Raha Fa Ela (Things Past)
Back then, my eyes were often red from sadness because my child frequented cattle rustlers. I never liked wearing a short skirt because my legs looked like cornstalks. But despite it all, I miss my past life in the village. Composers: Monika Njava, D’Gary

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