Coumba Gawlo: "Pata Pata" (1998)

"Pata Pata" is a song by South African singer Miriam Makeba. The song was written by fellow southern African artist Dorothy Masuka and first released by Makeba in 1957 when she still lived in South Africa. The song was released in the United States in 1967 for her studio album of the same name. It was successful on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at #12.

The song is considered by many to be Makeba's signature hit and the song has since been covered by many artists. Originally written and sung in the Xhosa language, the song's title means "touch touch" in English.

The original version of Pata Pata is included in The Best of the Early Years (Miriam Makeba), a collection of 24 tracks released in 2002 by Wrasse, and the 40 track compilation Her Essential Recordings: The Empress of African Song (2006 Manteca). Makeba released a renovated version of the song, entitled "Pata Pata 2000", in her 2000 album Homeland.

In 2002, R&B guitarist Jonathan Butler recorded a rendition of this song from his album Surrender.

Mexican Superstar Thalía sang it for her 2000 Album Arrasando.

French-American singer and actress Arielle Dombasle covered the song featuring rapper Mokobé on her 2011 album Diva Latina.


- Lyrics:

Sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pat (pata pata) (3x)
sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata)

Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata (pata pata)
hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pa (pata pata)
a-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pat (pata pata)
a-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pat (pata pata)

Aya sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pat (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata) (2x)

Pata Pata is the name of a dance
we do down Johannesburg way
and everybody starts to move
as soon as pata pata starts to play ,hoo

Aya sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pat (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata) (2x)

Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata (pata pata) (2x)
a-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pat (pata pata)
a-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pat (pata pata)

Haji-a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga jo-ho (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata pat (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si (pata pata)

Hoo, every friday and saturday night
it´s pata pata-time
the dance keeps going all night long
til the morning sun begins to shine ,
hey aya sat wuguga sat ,wo-ho-o (pata pata)

Aya sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pat (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata) (2x)

Hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata (pata pata) (2x)
a-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pata pat (pata pata)
a-hihi ha mama, hi-a-ma sat si pat (pata pata)

Huh – a sat wuguga sat – hit it ! (pata pata)
aah – sat wuguga sat – aim not si – hit it (pata pata)
a sat wuguga sat ju benga sat si pata (pata pata) …..