Once upon a time, African reggae star, Alpha Blondy slunk into depression and was admitted as a psychiatric patient in an Ivorian psychiatric hospital.
While at the hospital, a very beautiful but mysterious nurse took care of him faithfully. Her name was Fanta Diallo. Curiously, every time she entered his ward nobody would be around the area. Alpha Blondy would wonder how everyone would just leave few minutes before she walks in.
Whenever she visited him, he would want to ask her for her name and where she is from and why she is attending to him. But every time he saw her, her charming smile would make him forget the question and he would fall asleep as she tended to him. He often wondered if she was single or married. She was just an angelic soul! Before long he had fallen in love with her and nursed dreams of asking her out as soon as he recovered.
Alpha Blondy was supposed to stay for a few weeks at the hospital but he ended up staying for four months for treatment. Unknown to him, throughout his period of stay in the hospital, his songs became more popular and the sales of his album were increasing.
One day, as she tended to him, Fanta Diallo asked him a question, “Do you love me, Alpha Blondy?”
He was shocked, it was the first time she had called him by his name since she started treating him.
“Yes, I love you” He replied and continued, “how about you? Do you love me”
Fanta did not reply, she simply smiled sweetly at him and walked out of the private ward.
When Alpha Blondy recovered and was discharged. He returned to the hospital to thank Fanta for taking care of him. He was shocked that nobody knew of her and he was informed that there was no record of any nurse named Fanta Diallo ever working at the hospital. He searched everywhere for her.
Alpha Blondy believed that she was an angel and decided to compose a song to thank her.
“Sweet Fanta Diallo” was released in 1987 and went on to become a hit reggae track across Africa.
Watch the evergreen Sweet Fanta Diallo video here courtesy of Alpha Blondy’s Youtube channel.
Watch the live performance at Zénith 2009 here:
Lyrics:
(Intro strings and horns)
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo (tamberine)
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
FANTA walking on the rainbow now! (strings 1st)
FANTA shivering in moon light waves (brass)
FANTA hugging me on the mountain top (strings Ist)
FANTA kissing me on the burning rocks (brass)
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
One day, one day Fanta flee away
With the sun
One day, one day, Fanta ,melt away
Under the sun
One day, one day Fanta flee away
With the sun
One day, one day, Fanta ,melt away
Under the sun
Over and over I guess (strings 2ndt)
She melt away under the sun
Over and over again I guess
She melt away under the sun
Over and over I guess
She melt away under the sun
Over again , over again
Over and over again and again
I keep on wondering (strings 3rds)
Where she’s gone
Where she’s gone, gone ,gone
I keep on wondering everyday
I keep on wondering
Where she’s gone
Where she’s gone, gone (strings)
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
FANTA walking on the rainbow now! (strings 2nd)
FANTA kissing me on the burning rocks (brass)
FANTA kissing me in the candlelight (strings 2nd)
FANTA hugging me on the burning rocks (brass)
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
(horn/piano bridge)
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
Sweet sweet Fanta Diallo
Ouh! ouh! Fanta Diallo
One day, one day Fanta flee away
With the sun
One day, one day, Fanta ,melt away
Under the sun
One day, one day Fanta flee away
With the sun
The last time I saw her
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital (brass)
Psychiatric hospital (brass) (strings 3rdt)
Psychiatric hospital (strings)
(Strings 3rd)
Now I know that I did you wrong
Now I know I did you wrong , wrong, wrong
Now I know I did you wrong
Now I know I did you wrong , wrong, wrong (strings 4th)
Now I know I did you wrong
Now I know I did you wrong , wrong, wrong
Yes I love you rainbow
And I love you rainbow ray
Yes I love you rainbow, rainbow ray
Yes I love you rainbow ray
Never leave me rainbow
You got to lead me rainbow ray
Please help me rainbow
You got to lead me rainbow ray
Please help me rainbow
You got to lead me rainbow ray (out)
Love this? You can also read the story behind Guitar boy here.
Iniobong Leroi Umoh is a storyteller, a satirist and creative writer. He blurs the line between reality and fiction and seeks to create a connection with the reader through engaging content. His works have been featured across various online and offline platforms. He hopes to one day travel around the world on a luxury yacht, sipping expensive wine and documenting all his experiences in a journal.
You can send him a mail at infoleric@gmail.com.
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