Bonga: Mona Ki Ngi Xica (Playing For Change)

I’ve said it many times, I love Playing For Change for their message and content. They recently dropped another inspiring video.

Bonga (vocals, dikanza) is joined by 12 musicians from around the world for this performance of “Mona Ki Ngi Xica,” which can be translated as “My Child, I Have to Leave You.” Alana Alberg is the bassist on the recording.

“Bonga’s album ‘Angola 72,’ which featured ‘Mona Ki Ngi Xica,’ is one of the most influential and impactful albums recorded, as it became the soundtrack for revolutionaries fighting for independence from colonial rule. “Mona Ki Ngi Xica,” which means “the child I’m leaving behind,” was written and recorded in the Netherlands by Bonga in exile and smuggled back into Portugal and Angola, thus becoming a pillar for representing significant political and social change. Bonga’s artistry and tenacity is a prime example of the collective force of music that brings people together, bridging gaps and inspiring action towards a brighter, more harmonious future,” Playing for Change shared.