'말라이카'는 아프리카 스와힐리어로 '천사'라는 뜻으로 연인을 가리키는 말입니다. 아프리카에서는 예전에 청혼하는 남자가 신부의 집에 소나 염소 같은 재물을 주어야 했습니다. 그러나 가난한 사람은 이 재물이 부족하여 사랑하는 여인과 눈물의 이별을 할 수밖에 없었지요. 이 노래는 이들의 이루지 못한 사랑의 슬픔을 담고 있습니다. 이 곡은 동아프리카인이라면 거의 누구나가 다 알고 있는 대중적인 곡이며, 따라서 꽤 많은 가수들이 이 노래를 불렀습니다. 읊조리는 듯이 흐르는 Harry Belafonte와 Miriam Makeba 의 목소리는 감미롭기 그지없습니다.
< Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba>
Malaika is a Swahili song. Malaika generally means angel in Swahili. As is the case with many Swahili words, it is ultimately derived from Arabic. An alternative Swahili meaning is a "baby" or "small child", hence at least one particular traditional version of the song titled Malaika being commonly used as a lullaby throughout East Africa. Of the better known song versions is possibly the most famous love song in Kenyan pop music, as well as being one of the most widely known of all Swahili songs.
Authorship of the popular song is usually credited to Kenyan musician Fadhili William, but this is disputed; in any case, William was the first to record the song, together with his band the Jambo Boys, in 1960. It was later re-recorded at Equator Sound Studios by the British-born Kenyan music promoter Charles Worrod, who marketed the ballad to eventually becoming an internationally acclaimed song. The song went on to be popularised by international artists such as The Brothers Four, Helmut Lotti, Hep Stars, Rocco Granata, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Pete Seeger, Boney M, Usha Uthup and Angélique Kidjo. The lyrics of the song differ slightly from version to version; the title itself is subject to variation, e.g. to Ewe Malaika or My Angel.