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Jain, Makeba, the “ooh wee TikTok song”: lyrics & meaning

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TikTok has become such a powerful tool for music that we can safely say that no song can be declared a hit if it doesn’t get viral on that platform. What’s remarkable is that sometimes, the big successes of years ago become again a thing today: it’s the case of Makeba, a 2015 song that got viral again in 2023, with many creators singing, “Can I get a ooh wee?” The song was released by the French singer-songwriter Jain: today, we will discover more about the lyrics and their meaning.

You can find here on TikTok the lengthy collection of dance video challenges with Jain’s Makeba in the background.

Jain, Makeba: lyrics & meaning of the “ooh wee TikTok song”

Makeba is a song released in 2015 by the French singer-songwriter Jain, and its lyrics are an homage to Miriam Makeba, also known as “Mama Africa”, a South African singer and activist. The song lyrics are in English, with the only exception of the words “ma che bella,” which are Italian for “how beautiful.” The song’s last lines contain several complicated words: they are just English words in reverse, youfind the complete lyrics at the end of this article.

Here are the lyrics you hear more often in Makeba:

Ooh wee, Makeba, Makeba, ma che bella
Can I get a “ooh wee”? Makeba
Makes my body dance for you

In the central part of the lyrics, the song makes a clear reference to Miriam Makeba:

Nobody can beat the Mama Africa
You follow the beat that she’s gonna give ya
Only her smile can all make it go
The sufferation of a thousand more

Miriam Makeba was one of the musical influences that marked Jain’s childhood. Her mother is of Franco-Malagasy origin, and the whole 2015 album Zanaka is a tribute to her.

The official music video for Makeba is a little masterpiece: it was shot in South Africa, showing many visual effects that are so cool to watch. The video was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016. You can watch it below.

Jain - Makeba (Official Video)
Watch this video on YouTube.

Below you can find the complete lyrics of Makeba song, the track that went viral on TikTok as the “ooh wee song.”

Discover other viral TikTok trends on Auralcrave

Ooh wee, Makeba, Makeba ma che bella
Can I get a “ooh wee”? Makeba
Makes my body dance for you

I wanna hear your breath just next to my soul
I wanna feel oppressed without any rest
I wanna see you sing, I wanna see you fight
‘Cause you are the real beauty of human right

Ooh wee, Makeba, Makeba ma che bella
Can I get a “ooh wee”? Makeba
Makes my body dance for you

Nobody can beat the Mama Africa
You follow the beat that she’s gonna give ya
Only her smile can all make it go
The sufferation of a thousand more

Ooh wee, Makeba, Makeba ma che bella
Can I get a “ooh wee”? Makeba
Makes my body dance for you

Ecnad ydob ym sekam
Abekam, “ehoo”? a teg I nac
Alleb ehc am Abekam, Abekam, ehooo
Uoy rof ecnad ydob ym sekam

Published by Carlo Affatigato

Carlo has been a web content creator for over 10 years. He founded Auralcrave in 2015, envisioning it as a new space capable of offering different perspectives on topics that passionate all of us. With a scientific background, Carlo developed an interest in music, cinema, literature, and art at a young age, transforming it into a complementary dimension to his professional growth. For years, he was a music journalist specializing in electronic and dance music, writing for the most important Italian magazines (both online and print). Movies and TV series have been a true obsession in many phases of his life: during university, it was not uncommon for him to set the alarm in the middle of the night to watch classic films airing on TV. With the advent of the Internet, Carlo became a keen observer of web and social phenomena, addressing light topics such as advertising, trends, fashion, and general themes. He is the main author of Auralcrave and personally manages its social media, editorial line, book publication, resource management, and business expansion. A former engineer, life coach, husband, and father, he believes that every area of knowledge has interesting stories that deserve to be told and is convinced that doing so makes the world a better place.