Read the Nakupenda lyrics meaning. Our translation explains the Zulu, Swahili, and Nigerian Pidgin in the TxC and Davido song featuring Zlatan and Scotts Maphuma.
The lyrics for “Nakupenda” serve as a direct reflection of its collaborative nature, designed for singalongs that cross language barriers. The song’s core phrase, “Nakupenda,” is Swahili for “I love you,” while the Zulu counterpart “Ngiyakuthanda” repeats throughout the chorus. This linguistic pairing makes the hook instantly recognizable across East and Southern Africa. Davido’s verses operate primarily in Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba, with lines like “Kilode?” and “no be China” referencing common phrases in his catalog that fans use worldwide. His lyrics depict a familiar theme of attraction and high-life enjoyment, mentioning “Martell” and “shayo,” which tie the track to a broader Afropop narrative of celebration.
txc, davido, scotts maphuma, shoday nakupenda
Zlatan’s verse employs his characteristic playful pidgin, with nonsensical, rhythmic phrases like “willy-willy wana-wana” that prioritize vibe over literal meaning, a staple in Nigerian street-hop. The South African contribution from Scotts Maphuma introduces specific cultural weight. He performs in Zulu, mentioning “lobola,” the traditional bride price practice, and “amagold ak’9,” a local reference. This section provides authentic texture, ensuring the track resonates deeply within the amapiano heartland. Shoday’s lines blend English and Pidgin, maintaining the track’s dancefloor focus. The lyrics collectively avoid a complex story, opting instead for a festive, repetitive, and physical celebration of dance and admiration, using “bunda” as a recurring, universally understood term within the genre. This strategic simplicity allows listeners from Lagos to Johannesburg and beyond to participate in the call-and-response, making the song effective for karaoke and communal listening.
Produced by D3an, Smeez & TxC
12 December 2025
1 song, 5 minutes
℗ 2025 TXC Enterprises (PTY) LTD., under exclusive license to LVRN Records (Love Renaissance)
Lyrics
[Intro: Davido]
(Mmm) Baddest
[Verse 1: Davido]
I fit to pull up on you right now
Baby, right now (Uh)
Original, e no be China o (Mmm)
This one no be China (Uh)
From today, I wan dey-dey where you dey
Kilode? Kilogbe?
Kilogbe s’eyin?
You want dey wound person (You want dey wound)
All of my sexy ladies
A gb’ọmọ lò, a ma gb’ọmọ wá (A ma gb’ọmọ wá o)
We still dey ball on a daily
But we dey find where we go waste the kpa
Shayo dey all night
We no get problem, we just wan high
Even if I dey shy, plenty kele go still dey full my side
[Pre-Chorus: Davido]
Martell don dey scatter my eye
Fine-fine girls don dey enter my eye
Mini skirt don dey enter my eye
Big bunda don enter my eye, eye (Big bunda)
Na one puff wey I drag, e dey do me like I dey for trance (Mm-hmm)
A’udhu billahi, you know say me I no go fit kpai
Lai-lai
[Chorus: Shoday, Zlatan]
Ngiyakuthanda (Chee)
Nakupenda (Chu-chu-chu)
Me I like bunda
Big soft, soft bunda (Mmm)
Ngiyakuthanda (Chee)
Nakupenda (Chee)
Me I like bunda
Big soft, soft bunda (Ye)
Ngiyakuthanda (Astale, astale)
Nakupenda (Back and front)
Me I like bunda (Ayi)
Big soft, soft bunda (Je’on mo)
Ngiyakuthanda (‘Yakuthanda)
Nakupenda (‘Kupenda)
Me I like bunda (Ah)
Big soft, soft bunda (Ibile)
[Post-Chorus: Zlatan]
Ah, say
She gimme willy-willy wana-wana, tinini-tanana (Kilowi)
Amapiano, this one no be galala (Olo so)
She no dey give me wahala
She love me steady, dey chop all my banana
Willy-willy wana-wana (Willy), tinini-tanana (Tanana)
Amapiano, this one no be galala (Galala)
She no dey give me wahala (Astale)
She love me steady, dey chop all my banana
[Bridge: Zlatan]
Oh my god, what is this? (What is what?)
What is the size of your backside? (Oh my god)
I no fit touch, ride
Fit make a pastor to backslide (Okay)
Oh, baby, what is this? (Nice)
(What is what?) I want to die here
(The world is shaking in this, this is my diet)
This is your diet? [Wetin don inside here?][2:25]
Okay, let me test it
[Verse 2: Scotts Maphuma]
What do you want? Tell me now
Athi go, and where to now?
Fana-fana, [go man sha/commercial?]
Haibo, hai wena
Ufun’ukthin? Uthi khamban?
Ayy, ngizok’nika amagold ak’9
Bathi’sukile yama castavas (Ayy)
Uyang’faka nom’uyang khipa
Hai uyang’faka nom’uyang khipa
ITxC, yona ungay’khona?
IDVD, yona ungay’dlala
UAl Xapo, yena ungam’qonda
Angithi mayisukile siyay’khipa
Ulobola ngey’nkomo nama hyena
Ay baba noma ungamphika
Lo owam yena ngiyamthanda
[Verse 3: Shoday]
You call me on phone right now
You know say me I miss your big bunda (Eh, ngizok’ ngawena)
My shawty no be [puta?]
But she fuck me well, she no dey calm down (Down)
You make me want to dey cry anytime she ride on my cucumber (‘Cumber)
Take it slow, amigo
Ride me slow, amigo (Yeah, yeah)
[Pre-Chorus: Shoday]
Martell don dey scatter my eye
Fine-fine girls don dey enter my eye
Mini skirt don dey enter my eye
Big bunda don enter my eye, eye
Na one puff wey I drag, e dey do me like say I dey for trance (Ooh)
A’udhu billahi, you know say me I no go fit kpai
Lai-lai
[Chorus: Shoday, Zlatan]
Ngiyakuthanda (Astale, astale)
Nakupenda (Back and front)
Me I like bunda (Ayi)
Big soft, soft bunda (Je’on mo)
Ngiyakuthanda (‘Yakuthanda)
Nakupenda (‘Kupenda)
Me I like bunda (Ah)
Big soft, soft bunda (Ibile)
[Post-Chorus: Zlatan]
Ah, say
She gimme willy-willy wana-wana, tinini-tanana (Kilowi)
Amapiano, this one no be galala (Olo so)
She no dey give me wahala
She love me steady, dey chop all my banana
Willy-willy wana-wana (Willy), tinini-tanana (Tanana)
Amapiano, this one no be galala (Galala)
She no dey give me wahala (Astale)
She love me steady, dey chop all my—
[Refrain: Zlatan]
Oh my god, what is this? (What is what?)
What is the size of your backside? (Oh my god)
I no fit touch, ride
Fit make a pastor to backslide (Okay)
Oh, baby, what is this?
(What is what?) I want to die here
(The world is shaking in this, this is my diet)
This is your diet? [Wetin don inside here?][4:27]
Okay, let me test it
[Outro]
Ngiyakuthan—, nakupen—
Me I like ‘kupen— (Mm-hmm)
Ngiyakuthan—, nakupen—
Me I like ‘kupen— (Mm-hmm)
