O INA NI KEKE

O ina ni keke mangewisako

(Oh, mother, where are you going?)

Mange aki wenang

(I am going to Manado)

Tumeles waleko
(To buy some cake - mbaleko)

Weane, weane, weane toyo

(Give me some)

Daimo siapa kotare makiwe

(You ask when there’s none left)

The meaning of the song “O Ina Ni Keke”

“O Ina Ni Keke is a song from North Sulawesi (ethnic group of Minahasa). The song
is quite famous that it is familiar for most elementary school children can sing it. I
will share with you the meaning and translation of this song.

“O Ina Ni Keke” tells a conversation between a mother and her child. The closeness
between the two of them is reflected from the question of "mangewisako" (where
are you going?). The mother responded: "Mange aki Wenang, tumeles mbaleko" (I
am going to Manado to buy some cake). It is clear that she will leave her child to
Manado (Capital city of north Sulawesi) to buy mbaleko cake. The child then asks
her mother for the cake but, unfortunately, it's too late. It’s all gone.