Franck wrote this song based on traditional ideas about the wedding of a lwa named Zaka. Zaka is a farmer, a “country cousin.” He is not sophisticated like city people, but he keeps everything going because he feeds us; he is like a “Minister of Agriculture.” Because Zaka works as a farmer, he understands the land. In this way, he is related to another lwa, Gran Bwa, the Forest. Both have deep knowledge about plants; they are important because they rule the miracle of photosynthesis. When important people get married, trumpets announce the event; the “papa da-da” vocables mimic this fanfare. The words that follow say that the lwas called Erzili and Ogun will serve as Godmother and Godfather at the wedding (like the Maid of Honor and the Best Man). Ezili represents love, and Ogun is the strong man out front protecting us with his big sword. Meanwhile, Zaka cultivates the land. This means that all the lwas work together: if one misses something, the other one will take care of it.
lyrics
Papa da-da-da-da-da-da daa,
Pappa dappa da-daa!
Papa da-da-da-da-da-da daa,
Pappa dappa da-daa!
Zaka k’ ap marye la!
Zaka k’ ap marye la!
Ogun ki paren,
Zili ki maren,
Zaka k’ ap marye la!
Papa da-da-da-da-da-da daa,
Pappa dappa da-daa!
Papa da-da-da-da-da-da daa,
Pappa dappa da-daa!
Zaka is getting married!
Ogun is the Godfather,
Erzili is the Godmother.
Zaka is getting married!