[Intro - Spoken over light congas]
Papa Kiko here — this is for my wife Charity, and my children.
From Isoka to Mafinga, from Lusaka with love.
(Hum) Ah—ah—
[Verse 1]
Charity's morning tea, your laugh at the gate,
You fold the dawn like sun and make our days bright and great.
Imelda firstborn, your smile is the parade,
Mack Sylvester (Mack) kicks dust in the yard, unafraid.
Sam Zeko Joseph whistles while he runs the mile,
Cydel Hatia Emma hums and lights the room with her smile.
These small hands hold the map of every hope I trace,
I sing your names in rhythm, every heartbeat finds its place.
[Pre-Chorus]
Simple moments, golden — bread on the table, steady fire,
We rise in steady chorus, lift the voices higher.
[Chorus - Tight, singable hook]
I love you, my people — we rise
I love you, my children — we fly
From dawn to stars, our love will guide
Together — family, side by side
[Post-Chorus - Call & Response, crowd participation]
Lead: Pasaka mwa lalembapo!
Crowd: Eh-yo, eh-yo — pasaka!
Lead: Pasaka mwa lalembapo!
Crowd: We sing, we go — pasaka!
[Verse 2]
Grandpapas, grandmamas — Lusaka keeps your songs,
Uncle Kwenje, Uncle Masa — your wisdom makes us strong.
Market mornings, mango shade, the bell in distant light,
Mrs. Zeko's laugh a bell that carries through the night.
I remember walking home with shoes worn at the heel,
Now I build our future strong with every honest meal.
Papa Kiko's promise steady, whispered in the fields,
We'll keep the fire burning — destiny is what we build.
[Bridge - Intimate then rising]
I'll wake for you at morning, I'll stride for you at noon,
We'll stack our little victories beneath a patient moon.
Hallelujah to the work, hallelujah to the climb,
Muti love you — every step, we'll mark it with a rhyme.
(Spoken, warm) For Charity Banda Zeko, Imelda, Mack, Sam, and Cydel — I love you.
[Chorus - Big, layered]
I love you, my people — we rise
I love you, my children — we fly
From dawn to stars, our love will guide
Together — family, side by side
[Breakdown - Toast / Short shout-outs]
Shout: To grandpapas, grandmamas, to Lusaka city lights,
Shout: Uncle Kwenje! Uncle Masa! We hold you in our nights.
Shout: Imelda — firstborn pride; Mack Sylvester — brave and true;
Shout: Sam Zeko Joseph — laughter loud; Cydel Hatia Emma — gentle you.
[Final Chorus - Big, with harmonies]
I love you, my people — we rise (we rise)
I love you, my children — we fly (we fly)
From dawn to stars, our love will guide (guide)
Together — family, side by side (side by side)
[Outro - Warm, fading]
Lead: Pasaka mwa lalembapo — we sing, we go.
Crowd (soft): Pasaka mwa lalembapo — we sing, we go.
Papa Kiko: Forever your song, forever your guide — Papa Kiko signing off with a full heart.
(Hum and light percussion fade)
