mbila

mbila (plural mbilas)

1. (music) In Southern Africa, an instrument similar to the xylophone, played by striking the bars with mallets.
2. (music) The mbira or thumb piano.

• limba, milab

Borrowed from Kituba mbila (“a summons, a call”).

• IPA^(key): /mbi.la/

mbila m (plural mbilas)

1. (slang) jake, police
   • 2016 September 18, Ceelo Squad (lyrics and music), “Tokyo (Freestyle)”‎:

     J’ai toujours nié, j’ai nié, jamais je ne donnerai de noms à ces mbilas

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2017 May 9, Kalash Criminel (lyrics and music), “Je ne comprends pas” (track 8), in Oyoki‎:

     Kalash Criminel c’est le makila
     On passe nos journée à esquiver les mbila

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2021 March 5, WZ (BEL) (lyrics and music), “Street West #2”‎:

     Faut l’mili là, bicrave tashem hiya, harba y a les mbila, j’sème la concu dans l’virage

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)