Voice of Lele Releasing Upbeat New Version of Melanesian Classic E MAMBO

Leading West Papuan singer-songwriter, Voice of Lele, is set to release a song close to her heart – a reimagined version of the traditional Melanesian song E MAMBO.

To be released on Friday 16th May 2025, E MAMBO was written by the late Arnold Ap, a West Papuan activist, cultural leader, anthropologist and musician who advocated for cultural identity. The legacy of Ap, and music from the band he founded, Mambesak, are still popular in West Papua today.

Sung in South Papua dialect, Lele who is based in Melbourne, says the time-honoured, classic tune was the first song she learnt to perform as a young cultural performer has a special place in her heart.

“It’s got an uplifting beat which just makes you want to dance and sing along to the colourful harmonies,” she says. “When I toured in the band Black Sistaz which I formed with my sisters Petra and Rosa, we used to open our shows with this song and it’s a real crowd pleaser.”

E MAMBO is about two brothers who go missing in the jungles of West Papua. “Like many of our traditional songs there’s a deeper meaning behind that,” explains Lele. “It basically conveys that across West Papua we are essentially a lost people yearning for self-determination due to conflict with the ruling government. However, it’s ultimately a joyful song celebrating the freedom we hope to one day achieve.”