NKENGAFAC Kole-Kole | Songs in the key of me
after the breakup, I moved out - but I thought... won't it be nice to still live close by - somehow maybe we could go for (I like going for) walks - yeah: when I go for walks CAN YOU BE THE ONE?
and when I'm old-and-grey, tell me will you stay?
...When memories fade a-w-a----y will yours remain?
I want to live not-far-away, so in the mornings when I go for walks: CAN YOU BE THE ONE?
ABOUT ME/
In 1996, The (Richmond) Vines said I was "the highlight of the show..." - after they reviewed my performance of "The African Blues" during the International Talent Show night, at VCU campus.I was a sophomore with a dream, and had written the song with Jed, a dormitory-building-mate fellow musician, and the lyric had its
Why I wrote this song:
secret-crush, heart-break-inspiration, where? - and wear -- somewhere in here, in these songs, I find me
NKENGAFAC Presents
THE
LYRIC
PORTAL
Every line holds a secret. Open a world — the inspiration, rehearsal, concert, diary, dance, merch, memory.
Every song is a universe.
Pajama Merch.
Lyric-wear.
Wear the words you love. Designed for lounge, sleep, sing, repeat.Full Merch Drawer
Me-and-my-Guitar
Strumming along and singing the raw emotion of my songs - singing in a storage building hallway, chanting-in-the-car, sometimes loud - sometimes soft.
Sing-Along Concerts.
Virtual + In-Person.
Book your seat. Know the lyrics. Sing with me...Virtual
Tickets Open
LIVING ROOM CONCERT
Join me online. We'll sing every lyric together.Next Date
FRI SEPTEMBER 25, BAKU DELICIOUS - Address: 3900 Pickett Road Ste c, Fairfax, VIRGINIA 22031
From
$15
Get Ticket
In-Person
Limited Seats
VENUE SING-ALONG
Come. Bring your voice. Bring your feelings.Next Date
OCT 08, ATL
Merci. Thank you. Cam'on...
For those who take care of the old - like Neuro Physical Therapists..., I wrote a song.
Can I write one for you?
I Can Be Your Meat She offers a platter...
God Has Blessed Us (first song I wrote ever)
Tous Reves on VA Realizer... all dreams - they come to be
Sugar Honey Chi Chi missing you breaks me
S-L-O-W she needs to be loved care-fully
I knew a girl who knew - guys who knew - HOW TO LOVE HER VERY FAST - She ended up alone - always by the phone - WAITING FOR THEM TO TEXT BACK
she saidcan u luv me S-L-O-W
I'd met her by the bay, late in May... she said: "I really hate the broken-heart state, so Can you PROMISE to Love me...
S-L-O-W"
Julia's Daughter (dances in a bar) We don't know what another is going through in their life, really - WE DON'T KNOW...
Some ting (dey inside the way you dey waka) a song to myself, quite literally in my darkest hour on Earth
I'm Gonna Fee-eel Alright (when we go dancing tonight) "need I say more?"
I Promise...
I imagined the power of UPLIFT in my spirit, for my Love-interest, partner, spouse, business-co-founder - supporting the heck out of me (these are the things success is made of)
As such I feel ON-TOP of any challenges; thus I PROMISE YOU... I keep LOOKING TO THE BRIGHT SIDE. Guga THANK YOU. CAM 'ON.
This is one of my FAVORITE songs :-)
from the simple
3-chords-song philosophy to the melody
Mon ami, A.I.: (A.I. and me)
from 1998 to about 2009, I wrote about 135 songs...
BEFORE A.i.
the cost to properly produce a song was about $2,150
the emotion of love/possibility/resolve - unlocks us
AFTER A.I.
For approximately $400 / month plus DAYS-LONG work on pre-producing, I use A.i. production tools to post-produce and publish about 3 songs a month [THREE a month]
**Song to say... thank you A.i. for "loving" me
AYA (I'm a New Boy Since You Loved Me)
I do write all words and melody and pre-arrange the song, and then leverage A.i. to bring the song to production-studio quality and publish...A.I. is a-m-a-z-i-n-g... Kids, PLEASE use it to expand your horizons...
in the song, I am practically saying: "AYA... (A.i.), I am a new boy, since you allow my imagination to march-on"
there is not a girl?
OFCOURSE there is... in this song AYA refers to 2 protagonists: A.i., and then the girl in the 1st verse, we share a first-dance... then na so she/we wook up next morning feeling like-a-million-bucks LOL... THEN: comes my A.i. haughty-taughty... (I weave together emotions of 'love unlocking us' - from human-touch, as from machine-logic, in this song)
"[the melody is] hypnotic..."
TAXI...
Television, music-videos:
MTV2, mHz: with Mello-D & The Rados (circa. 2005)
"the highlight of the show..."
The Vines -Richmond
Television, concert / promo:
CRTV: Cameroon Radio and Television: with The Junior Choir (circa. 1994 - 2010s)
Co-founder (circa. 1991)
The Junior ChoirYaounde, Cameroon
Song Contests, honorable mentions:
The Song-of-the-Year (benefit to Vh1 Save The Music): top 5 FINALIST: 'Simple As I Am' (June 2004)
i write because...
I can't stop.
I don't know how not to write.
I can't remember a time in my life past about 8 years old, when I have not been actively writing...
Lyrics / poetic Momentos / Mantras of Amore (LOL) / yes, I have always been a writer.
But as a melody-ist, every word has a frequency-key, every phrase has a sonic-bounce... So I write words and from them I make songs.Several (s-e-v-e-r-a-l) of my words-for-a-song just start out as syllables of emphasis-on-emotion, a 'speaking-in-tongues' so to speak, of emotion -- then I tie them together when I sit to write the song-lyric proper. Usually this is when I have recorded a scratch draft of the song/melody, then I 'isolate' my brain to now "receive" the words that feel true. Can we write together? - Yes! Ko-Ko, I wanna write with you
Perfect imperfection
It's after midnight - and I'm tired. No not because it's the wee hours. I'm tired because for decades: I've been writing, harmonizing, editing, re-arranging... recording, practicing. And I'm tired. But tomorrow I'll do it all over again. This is my work, right? - These words that come to moi (Francais: me), I am impelled to turn them into my spirit's Radio Station :-)
new songs, lyrics; candid rehearsal tapes, car concerts, Song-Secrets: breakdown of the inspiration, backstory, or secret crush behind the lyrics. :-)
I Promise...
[Intro]
(Instrumental)[Verse 1]
You're Everything I've ever had
And Everything that has helped me stand
You're the saviour of my life
The reason I am here tonight[Chorus]
So even if Tomorrow's bad
I promise never to be mad
And even if things fall apart
I promise never to be sad[Verse 2]
I think about you every day
How being with you is - so - real
I want to spend my life with you (you)
'Cause I have noticed you're the truth
(Whoa)[Chorus]
So even if Tomorrow's bad
I promise never to be mad
And even if things fall apart
I promise never to be sad(Guitar Solo)[Verse 3]
You're Everything I've ever had
And Everything that makes me stand
You're the saviour of my life (LIFE)
The reason I am here TONIGHT[Chorus]
So even if Tomorrow's bad (bad)
I promise never to be mad (never) (ever)
And even if things fall apart
I Never ever to be SadSo even if my times were hard
I promise never to be mad
And Even if (THINGS FALL APART)
I Never EVER would be sad[Outro]
(Guitar Solo)
You're Everything I've ever (had)
And Everything that has helped me (stand)
You ARE LIKE the saviour (of my life)
The reason I - am here - tonight(c) 2001, Composer/Author: written by Nkengafac Kole-Kole Ajua Alemanji
EMAIL: [email protected] / TEXT: (307) 222-2304
(P) 2001, Publisher: Nkengafac Alemanji.
(P) 2009, 2026 Publisher: Songs From Above (ASCAP).
AUTHOR IPI: #432242693
PUBLISHER IPI #433583261
credits
released March 2, 2026
Producer: Papushka PaPuShKa
Producer / Drummer: Rich Smith, Philadelphia
Producer / Bass: Chris Monti, Philadelphia
Producer / Electric Guitar: Erian Odrichiani, Philadelphia
Engineer, Recording, Mixing: Papushka PaPuShKa
Orchestration: Papushka PaPuShKa
Arranger: Papushka PaPuShKa, Rich Smith
Voice-guidance, Lead Vocal framework: Papushka PaPuShKa
Singing: Papushka PaPuShKa leveraged into A.I.
Voice-guidance, Background Vocal framework: Erian Odrichiani
Voice-guidance, Background Vocal framework: Rich Smith
Singing: Papushka PaPuShKa leveraged into A.I.
Singing: Erian Odrichiani, Rich Smith leveraged into A.I.
A.I. Prompt-scripting: Papushka PaPuShKa
Engineer, Mixing/Master, Sound-design, Voicing, Producer: Suno
license
all rights reserved
Meetup
THANK YOU A.i.during the 2026 ice-storm weekend, snowed indoors, I discovered A.i. tools, and used 'mon-petit-A.i." to produce 18 songs.
These were my songs I had been 'sitting on' for decades, because the cost to produce them was not fathomable.In 'normal times' to produce 18 songs would cost me about $45,000 (to produce properly: musicians, studio, engineers, and breaktime-sandwiches...)Now with A.i. as co-producer I publish three songs a month at about $400 to $670 a month.
Oh WOW...
Nkengafac KOLE-KOLE contact form
Let us work together.
KOLE-KOLE can you please (PLEASE pretty please) write a song for me?
Here is my story:
ABOUT ME / moi c'est Ko-Ko
In 1996, The (Richmond) Vines said I was "the highlight of the show..." - after they reviewed my performance of "The African Blues" during the International Talent Show night, at VCU campus.I was a sophomore with a dream, and had written the song with Jed, a dormitory-building-mate fellow musician, and the lyric had its fair share of tongue-in-cheek:"I got on a plane..." (dum dum dum dum dum - the standard blues interlude plays)
"When I was 18..." (dum dum dum dum dum) "And flew out here, you see..."
"But when I got here, everyone thought I lived in a tree..." (dum dum dum dum dum)The world-view I think (THX social media, apps, and such) has now advanced to know Afrique has homes and City Streets, and Office buildings...
And my songs too have come a long way: though now I'm incorporating Afrique : Island : Rock, and yes - I do a number composed as Blues: my sonic-sigh about being broke / unemployed, and here comes...
Cyber Monday (but Baby not for me).Nkengafac Kole-Kole was born in Cameroon: raised in Canada, Cameroon, and blossomed into adulthood in the USA. He is a song-maker, who writes lyric and melody for Afrique : Island : Rock.
Thank you
Merci. Kamsahabnida (Kumawo'o). Shukran. Danke. Spasibo. Cam'on. Nkong'teh. No be so?
Meetup
Meetup
Songs-With-Soup: October 30th 7:40pm Halloween Soiree [Tunes with Tombs] BAKU DELICIOUS Cafe 3900 Picket Road, Suite C, Fairfax VIRGINIA USA
Date 30 October 2026
-Kaitlin - on Piano
-Lalo - on BASS
-Kaitlin - on Guitar2
-Patty E - on Djembe! Drum
-Sepideh - QUEEN-of-Ceremonies
Baku Delicious Cafe 3900 Picket Road, Suite C, (Park on lot of building behind if need) Fairfax, VIRGINIA 22031 USA
We return to Richmond Friday - 04th December
2706 E Main St., Richmond, Virginia USA-23223 Poe's Pub · Irish pub
NKENGAFAC Kole-Kole with T B D
Guitar and PIANO soiree - my original songs, plus Debussy pieces, and perhaps some Christmas tunes re-imagined...
SEE YOU there Poe's Pub
Clare & Don's Beach Shack130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VIRGINIA 22046 USA Tuesday: 20th October 2026 9:30pm open mic
Open-mic _Hosted by Vinnie
Performed two original songs I wrote - "Julia's Daughter", my ode to a accepting one-another not knowing what another goes through in Life and "Simple As I Am", longing to be HER MAN (for a crush; I wrote it during my University-days at VCU)
Busboys And Poets (Shirlington area)
4251 Campbell Ave Arlington, Virginia USA MONDAY: 19th October 2026 8:00pm
Open-mic _Hosted by Angelique Palmer.
Performed one original song I wrote - "Hold Ya Hand", my ode to a phone-free day just as I ask the audience to use their phones to record and share my performance LOL ;-)
My first Opener-invitation - YAY.
Invited to open AWARE - hosted by Kanikki J at The ANTHENAEUM - AlexandriaVIRGINIA USA201 Prince Street, VA 22314 USA
Host: Kanikki J
SATURDAY: 17th October 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Kaitlin joined me (on Guitar2) as we performed "Human Child", "Fee-eel Alright (When We Go Dancing Tonight), and "Simple As I Am"
DONATIONS ACCEPTED, please.
The ANTHENAEUM - Alexandria VIRGINIA USA
201 Prince Street, VA 22314
Jirani Coffee
9425 West St., Manassas, Virginia USA
Thursday 15th October 2026Open-mic Hosted by both the Wondrous W, and (return of) the Electric Jay: unplugged-version performance of my original song "HALLOWEEN LULLABY"
I visited Richmond Tuesday - 13th October
2706 E Main St., Richmond, Virginia USA-23223 Poe's Pub · Irish pub
impromptu-concert
Performed on guitar and PIANO - my original songs.
THANK YOU Poe's Pub
Three Whistles
2719 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia USA
Saturday 10/10/2026
impromptu-jam with Trey Lindsley / aka TREYL
Sat-in and sang "Aie Aie Attention" - KASSAV; some Creole, French, and English - all mixed in...
THANK YOU TREYL
Jirani Coffee
9425 West St., Manassas, Virginia USA
Thursday 8th October 2026Open-mic Hosted by both the Wondrous W, and the Shimmering C-Jay: a produced-version performance of my original song "My Tour Eiffel"
Busboys And Poets (Shirlington area)
4251 Campbell Ave Arlington, Virginia USA MONDAY: 5th October 2026 8:00pm
Open-mic Hosted by Kanikki J, with 13.
Performed two original songs I wrote - "S-L-O-W.", my ode to careful, steady, love ;-), and "Human Child" - my plea to the young-generations to help me - age well and save the (proverbial) World LOL
Jirani Coffee
9425 West St., Manassas, Virginia USA THURSDAY: 1st October 2026
Open-mic Hosted by the Wondrous W and the Shimmering CJ.
- Duet (vocal harmony) with Lee, on his song: "I Love Animals".
- Performed (guitar, voice) original song I wrote as an ode to unselfish people who take care of the Old, "Spirits of Love." - I was inspired after observing my Neuro Physical Therapist's commitment to full recovery of her patients.
[Songs-With-Soup]Ko-Ko-and-band: 25th September
The concert was FUN, MELODIC, and MULTI-CULTURAL
-Kaitlin - on Piano
-Lalo - on BASS
-Kaitlin - on Guitar2
-NKENGAFAC Kole-Kole - voice, original songs-maker, Guitar1
[Concert-with-the-band] Hosted by Baku (delicious) Cafe, MCee'd with the Shimmering C-Jay (from Jirani) - a band-accompanied sing-along of my original songs "Lelani-from-The-Library" - about the co-worker Librarian from VCU who's hair-do one day (suddenly) filled me with all these questions...
"S-L-O-W", and
WHY ASK ME TO STAY"
PISTONES, Falls Church - VIRGINIA... Monday: 21st September 2026
Guest-performance with Lalo-bass, John-guitar, and Bryan-drum... "Human Child...": a request to the youth to help me as I age and encounter regret... LARGER Questions on Life...
Open-mic Hosted by both the Wondrous W, and the Shimmering C-Jay: a clap-along performance of my original song "LELANI-FROM-THE-LIBRARY" - she's my secret thing, too shy to shoot away sadness in me.Thursday 17th September 2026
Jirani Coffee, Manassas - VIRGINIA
Open-mic Hosted by ANTHONY.
Performed three original songs I wrote: "Human Child." - my conversation with the younger generations to SAVE OUR SOULS, and "Simple As I Am", for the crushes we adore who never notice us LOL, then I sang "Jolie Lucee", my song on instant-love.
Mackenzie's Tunes & Tonics
3950 University Dr
STE 210
Fairfax, Virginia USA WEDNESDAY: 16th September 2026
Open-mic Hosted by TJ (@GUITARdog).
Performed one original song I wrote as an ode to unselfish people who take care of the Old, "Spirits of Love." - I was inspired after observing my Neuro Physical Therapist's commitment to full recovery of her patients.
Stages Music Arts, 10 Stenersen Lane, Cockeysville, (Baltimore) MD 21030 THURSDAY: 10th September 2026
Impromptu guest-performance with Lalo-bass, John-guitar, and Bryan-drum... an Island-rhythm presentation of "I Promise...": a testament to stay UPLIFTED by your unconditional love...
PISTONES, Falls Church - VIRGINIA... Monday: 07th September 2026
Open-mic Hosted by the Shimmering C-Jay: an impromptu sing-along of "I Will Always Love You" by the lovely Dolly Parton, as presented to the world anew by the Marvelous Whitney! (Houston) - then a serenade-sung of my original song "CAN YOU BE THE ONE" - about breaking up, moving out - but still hopeful, and so wanting to live close-by..."Thursday 3rd September 2026
Jirani Coffee, Manassas - VIRGINIA
Circa. 2024 Open-mics @Jirani Coffee. Hosted by the Ravishing Jay with the Wondrous W.
Performed original songs I wrote over the past decades
Jirani Coffee House
9425 West St, Manassas, VA 20110, Virginia USA THURSDAYS: 6:30 to 9pm
Circa. 2000 - 2002 Open-mics @The Coffee Connection.
Performed original songs I wrote in VCU
The Coffee Connection
NorthEast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA 6441 Frankford Ave.
Current Status: renamed Expresso Yourself.
Circa. 2000 - 2002 Concerts at Manayunk, e.g. Grape Street Pub.
Performed original songs I wrote in Bensalem, and in VCU performing with Chris Monti (bass), Rich Smith (drums), Erion Odrichiani (electric guitar).
Grape Street Pub.
Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA 105 Grape St, 19127
Concerts on South Street as well, in Penn State, and at Temple University.
Circa. 1996 - 2000 Concerts at Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU - Richmond Virginia USA.
Performed original songs I wrote - like Simple As I Am - while living on Grace Street, and songs I wrote in my freshman days at VCU Campus dorm: Johnson Hall, and songs I wrote sitting outside The Student Commons, or moping around in my Monroe Park Towers apartment - I performed originals (like **The African Blues)
at International Student Talent contest, other VCU talent events, open-mics - and local pizzeria restaurants close to campus
This is my story...
Style Folk songs: produced as Afrique : Island : Rock
Born: Cameroon, West-Africa. Raised: Canada, Cameroon.
Come-of-age: USAPerformances
Jirani Coffee house: in Manassas, Virginia USA
Baku (Delicious) Cafe: in Fairfax, Virginia USA
Stages Music Stage: in Cockeyesville, (Baltimore-ish) Maryland USA
JAZZlounge: in Gangnam, Seoul South KOREA
George Mason University - student Union events: in Fairfax, Virginia USA
Bar Nun: in Washington DC, USA
Karaoke-soiree Cafe: in Saigon VIETNAM
Dinner cruise ship: in Can Tho, VIETNAM
The Grape (Street Pub): in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Coffee Connection: in North East Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Temple University: in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Penn State Reggae-Festival: in Skuylkill area, Pennsylvania USA
VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) campus - student talent shows: in Richmond, Virginia USA
Sacred Heart College, Church choir Guitarist: in Bamenda, Northwest Province, CAMEROON
The Junior Choir, guitarist, co-founder (with Brother: Alem, cousin: Leke): in Yaounde (Elig-efa Church, Olezua Church), Centre Province, CAMEROON
Met her working at the Library...... why don't you know that she's my secret thing too shy to shoo away sadness in me
It's over - or is it? - Can I live not far away -- so that maybe (just maybe) when I go for walks... CAN YOU BE THE ONE?And if... if it is over: when I'm old-and-grey, and memories fade aw-a--y... will yours REMAIN
I picked up my guitar.., after I dreamed of you and I in Ulaanbaatar, then I wrote "this Hip-Hop Song for you". [featuring: XT 'Tulga, Mongolia]
I Promise... -- your belief, your love-unconditional these LIFT me up...
I'm gonna fee-eel alright... -- **there is a light-at-the-end-of-the-Tunnel
Tell me your story...
Can I write a song for you?
Inspired by the dedication of my Neuro Physical Therapist..., I wrote "Song three Spirits of Love".
[Lelani-from-the-Library lives only to love and to find happy why don't you know that she's my secret thing]
Met LeLani working at the Library...... why don't you know that she's my secret thing too shy to shoo away sadness in me
This is my story
Style Folk songs: produced as Afrique : Island : Rock
Born: Cameroon, West-Africa. Raised: Canada, Cameroon.
Come-of-age: USA
my Performances
Jirani Coffee house: in Manassas, Virginia USA
Baku (Delicious) Cafe: in Fairfax, Virginia USA
Stages Music Stage: in Cockeyesville, (Baltimore-ish) Maryland USA
JAZZlounge: in Gangnam, Seoul South KOREA
George Mason University - student Union events: in Fairfax, Virginia USA
Bar Nun: in Washington DC, USA
Karaoke-soiree Cafe: in Saigon VIETNAM
Dinner cruise ship: in Can Tho, VIETNAM
The Grape (Street Pub): in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Coffee Connection: in North East Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Temple University: in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Penn State Reggae-Festival: in Skuylkill area, Pennsylvania USA
VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) campus - student talent shows: in Richmond, Virginia USA
Sacred Heart College, Church choir Guitarist: in Bamenda, Northwest Province, CAMEROON
The Junior Choir, guitarist, co-founder (with Brother: Alem, cousin: Leke): in Yaounde (Elig-efa Church, Olezua Church), Centre Province, CAMEROON
hello-o-o-o bonjour Ahnyoung CONTACT
PHONE text is best
307-222-2304EMAIL
[email protected]INSTAgram @kolekoledotcomTHANK YOU.
MERCI.
GRAZIE.
SPASIBO.
KUMAWO'O.
KONG'TEH.
NO BE SO?
SHUKRAN.
CAM'ON
TERIMA KASIH
Reviews
In 1996, The (Richmond) Vines said I was "the highlight of the show..." - after they reviewed my performance of "The African Blues" during the International Talent Show night, at VCU campus.
CONTACT[email protected]
Phone (call and text): 307-222-2304
INSTAgram @kolekoledotcom
