After annotating and
compiling Sterns' "The
Syliphone Years" CDs, new information became available which corrects
some minor errors in the booklet texts.
These details are below. Many thanks to Geoff Bale.
Also
below are some translations of Balla et ses Balladins songs.
Updates tothe"Keletigui et ses Tambourinis. The Syliphone years"
CD.
On page 2 of
"The Syliphone years" booklet the orchestra is
shown, the photo
taken from the cover to their first LP on Syliphone. In those early
days of Guinea's (and Africa's) recording industry, the photographs
of the groups which were featured on the front
cover of their recordings did not always
present the entire
personnel. Talibé
Traoré, for example, who was the Tambourini's principal trumpeter in
the mid-1970s, missed out on being photographed for the cover of
La Rétour, Syliphone
SLP 55, as he was late for the photo
shoot!Such occurrences
make naming the musicians difficult, more so as the liner notes
to some of the Syliphone LPs name the orchestra's personnel,
which would appear definitive, but
actually
some
members of the groups were frequently omitted. This was
most often the case in the early
Syliphone SLP and SYL releases. In 2008 I
was able to name
all but one of the musicians who appear on the covers of
Keletiguiet ses Tambourinis first two LPs: Syliphone
SLP 1 and SLP 3. I was mistakenly informed,
however, that the unnamed person was
Djigui Touré, the group's first trumpeter (see below), so in the
CD booklet this incorrect information went to print. I can correct this
now, and state that the picture is not of Djigui Touré but is in
fact of Labilé Camara, the group's conga player. Labilé also went by
the name of David Camara. Therefore, SLP 1 on page 2 of the
booklet should appear as -
from left to right -
Kélétigui Traoré - chef d'orchestre, tenor sax, organ, vocals
M'Bemba Dioubaté - bass
Manfila "Dabadou" Kanté - vocals
Labilé Camara (aka David Camara) - congas
Linké Condé - guitar
Kaba Sylla - drums
Kerfala Camara - vocals
Bigné Doumbia - alto sax, tenor sax
(not pictured) Djigui Touré - trumpet
This is the
personnel of the orchestra who performed on SLP 1 and SLP 3.
The songs were recorded in 1964,
according to Keletigui Traoré. The two
LPs
were not released
until late 1966 or early 1967. Efforts to
precisely date the release of
the first Syliphone LPs (that is, SLPs 1 - 7, which were released
together) have proved elusive.
Djigui Touré was the group's
first trumpet player, not the percussionist as written in the text
to the CD. His solos are evident on SLPs 1 and 3. Kerfala Camarawas
not the lead trumpeter at that stage, and was taught
his craft by Djigui.
Kerfala Camara took over as the trumpet player in the group when
Djigui departed. No photograph of Djigui Touré is in evidence.
Linké Condé was the
sole guitarist in the
orchestra on SLP1 and SLP 3. Sékou Condé on rhythm guitar
did not join the Tambourinis until the mid 1960s.
Momo "Wandel" Soumah did not
perform on SLP 1 or SLP 3. He joined the group in circa 1965 after
being recruited from Kakilambé Jazz, the Federal Orchestra of
Conakry II.
"Petit" Kélétigui
Kourouma was (one of) the group's first bass players and vocalists (he
was the original singer of "Chiquita", among others). He is credited
as the group's bass player in the liner notes to SYL 519, 522, 523
and 524, along with the musicians Manfila "Dabadou" Kanté and M'Bemba Dioubaté.
Kerfala Camara had earlier played the double-bass
with the orchestra,
and when the electric bass was adopted into the group it was played
by "Petit" Kélétigui Kourouma.
When "Petit" Kélétiguileft the Tambourinis for Côte
d'Ivoire in 1964, M'Bemba
Dioubaté took over on bass. Thus "Petit" Kélétigui Kourouma did not
join the group in the late 1960s as indicated in the booklet, but
was actually a founding member.
Labilé Camara
(aka David Camara) was also
one of the founding members of the group, joining them much earlier
than the "early 1970s" as written in the booklet text.
Lansana Diabaté
was not an original member but joined the group in the early 1970s.
Updates tothe"Balla et ses Balladins. The Syliphone
years" CD.
On page 15 of "The Syliphone
years" booklet the cover of Syliphone SLP 2 appears. The musicians
are -
from left to right, standing -
Bamba Kourouma (bass)
Abdou Camara (drums)
Pivi Moriba (trombone)
Balla Onivogui (trumpet)
Amadou Thiam (congas)
Fodé N'Diaye Soumah (tenor sax, flute)
Sankumba
Diawara (guitar)
from left to
right, seated -
Manfila "Soba" Kanté (vocals)
Sékou "Le docteur" Diabaté (guitar)
Though an earlier photo of the group has
been published (see p. 255 in Charry's "Mande music"), the SLP 2
cover helps to clarify the group's early personnel. Missing from the
photo is Gueye Doudou (saxophone). The photo includes
Fodé N'Diaye Soumah, but
he is not named on the back
cover. Kemo Kouyaté, who is pictured on SYL 508, which was released
one or two years after SLP 2, is neither pictured nor mentioned, and
may therefore have joined the group in circa 1968.
On page 2 of the booklet the
following photo appears, taken from the cover to Syliphone SLP 31.
The musicians are -
from left to right -
Manfila "Soba" Kanté (vocals)
David Condé (aka Daouda Condé) - drums
Ibrahima Kouyaté - guitar
Emile "Benny" Soumah - vocals
On page 8
of the booklet I wrote that
Balla et ses Balladins and Keletigui et ses Tambourinis commenced
recording in the mid 1960s as the "Orchestre du Jardin de Guinée" and
the "Orchestre de la Paillote", respectively. My research at the archives
of Radio Télévision Guinée indicates that the first reel-to-reel
recording by "Orchestre de la Paillote" was
engineered by
Souleymane Kondé at the Ville
Sily in Coleah on a Nagra III on February 22 1963. The songs
recorded were "Alloué na
Gordon", "Nadiaba", "Mindia", "Abana", "Soké ma souri", "Pasa
doblé", "Mamaya" and "Kébundo". A further six tracks - "Mambo chi",
"OMCFG", "Wombéni", Paillote merengue", and "Kobini méné" - were
recorded on April 4 1963 at La Paillote by "N'Faly & Kaba & C. M.
Elvarez". The first recording by "Balla et ses Balladins" at the RTG
archive was made on February 9 1964. The songs recorded were
"Yarabi" and "Kelemagni", with one or two further tracks from that
session to be confirmed.
On
page 9 of the booklet the following photo appears, taken from the
cover to Syliphone SYL 549. The musician on the right was
incorrectly identified as Emile "Benny" Soumah. The musicians are
in fact:
from left
to right -
Sékou "Le docteur" Diabaté (guitar)
Manfila "Soba" Kanté (vocals)
On
page 12 the following photo appears, taken from the cover to
Syliphone SLP 31. The musicians are -
from left to right -
Fodé N'Diaye Soumah - tenor sax, flute
David Condé (aka Daouda Condé) - drums
Mbemba Diakité - bass
Morciré "Lopez" Camara - congas (confirmed by Emile Soumah in 2011. Yet
to confirm whether "Lopez Camara" is Morciré Camara)
Manfila "Soba" Kanté - vocals
Emile "Benny" Soumah - vocals
Ibrahima Kouyaté - guitar
Pivi Moriba - trombone, alto sax
On page 16 the opening lyric to
"Bélébélé" should be corrected to read - "Ah, wherever a gentleman
stays the night, you are in the hands of your mother". This meaning
was given to me by Balla Onivogui in 2009.
On
page 20 the cover of Syliphone SYL 508 appears. The musicians are -
.
from left to right, standing -
Sékou "Le docteur" Diabaté - guitar
Famoro Kouyaté
- bass Kemo Kouyaté
- guitar
from left to right, seated -
Pivi Moriba - trombone
Balla Onivogui - trumpet
Manfila "Soba" Kanté - vocals
On
page 34 the cover of Syliphone SYL 571 appears. The musicians are -
from left to right -
Morciré Camara - congas
Emile "Benny" Soumah - vocals
On
page 36 the cover of Syliphone SYL 572 appears. The musicians are -
from left to right -
Balla Onivogui - trumpet
David Condé (aka Daouda Condé) - drums
Manfila "Soba" Kanté - vocals
On
page 39 the cover of Syliphone SLP 47 appears. The musicians are -
from left to right -
Ibrahima Kouyaté - guitar
Sylla Souleymane - soprano sax, clarinet
Balla Onivogui - trumpet
David Condé (aka Daouda Condé) - drums
Pivi Moriba - alto sax, trombone
Manfila "Soba" Kanté - vocals
Mbemba Diakité - bass
Fodé N'Diaye Soumah - tenor sax, flute
On
page 41 the cover of Syliphone SLP 75 appears. The musicians are -
from left to right -
David Condé (aka Daouda Condé) - drums
Manfila "Soba" Kanté - vocals
Mbemba Diakité - bass
seated - Balla Onivogui - trumpet
Balla et
ses Balladins. The Syliphone years.
Some translations
from Maninka to English by Nienke Muurling and Boubakar Diabaté
Fadakudu Also
known as "Farakuru".
Thanks to Oumar Bah for some corrections.
Kamaren t’a fo
Fen te n bolo
Numukamaren t’a fo
Fen te n bolo [repeat]
Sungurun t’a fo
Fen te n bolo
Numusungurun(1) t’a fo
Fen te n bolo
I te muruni dan
I te dabani dan
I te beseran dan
I te tegeran dan
I te woroto dan
I te dagani dan Nye parata ta ta ta ta ta ta Ce fan fe fou fan fan fou fou fan Sanun yelema
Wari(2) yelema
Wari yelema
Sanun yelema Numusungurun be, numukamaren be
Numukamaren be, numusungurun be I te wari dan. Ah i te wari dan. N ye
baara
I te wari dan. Ah i te wari dan. N ye baara
I te sanun dan. Ah i te sanun dan. N ye baara
I te sanun dan. Ah i te sanun dan. N ye baara
I t’i yelema. Ah i t’i
yelema.
Fantan jofe
I ye n son wari nina
I t’i yelema. Ah i t’i yelema.
Fantan jofe
I te ne son wari nina
Fantan jo fara
Jefarima ke fara
Malado Fanta ke fara
Woriya ke fara kuru
Fara ni nege wooo
JRDA (4)
lu, JRDA lu,
an ye
baara JRDA lu, JRDA
lu, an ye
baara JRDA lu, JRDA
lu, an ye
baara JRDA lu, JRDA
lu, an ye
baara
Senekeyoro ye an bolo, an ye baara
Senekedaba ye an bolo, an ye baara
Fuganbodiya ye an bolo, an ye baara
Negeboyoro ye an bolo, an ye baara
Folifen nyuman ye an bolo, an ye baara
Fama nyuman ye an bolo, an ye baara JRDA lu, JRDA
lu, an ye
baaraa JRDA lu, JRDA
lu, an ye
baara
Jokante ke fara
Malado Fanta ke fara
Woriya ke fara
Fara ni nege wooo
The young man
does not say
I do not have anything
The young smith does not say
I do not have anything [repeat]
The young girl does not say
I do not have anything The young smith-girl does not say
I do not have anything
Wouldn’t you create a little knife?
Wouldn’t you create a hoe?
Wouldn’t you create a sword?
Wouldn’t you create a axe?
Wouldn’t you create a sickle?
Wouldn’t you create a little jar?
You have to work the forge... ta ta ta ta ta ta Ce fan fe fou fan fan fou fou fan[sound of the forge]
Gold transformed
Silver transformed
Silver transformed
Gold transformed
The smith-girl is here, the smith-boy is here
The smith-boy is here, the smith-girl is here
Wouldn’t you create silver? Ah, wouldn’t you create silver? I
will work
Wouldn’t you create silver? Ah, wouldn’t you create silver? I
will work
Wouldn’t you create gold? Ah, wouldn’t you create gold? I will
work
Wouldn’t you create gold? Ah, wouldn’t you create gold? I will
work
Don’t you turn around. Ah, don’t you turn around
?
You gave me silver (or money)
Don’t you turn around. Ah, don’t you turn around ?
Wouldn’t you give me some silver (money)? ?
The fara of the husband of Jefarima
The fara of the husband of Malado Fanta
The farakuru of the husband of Woriya
The stone and the iron wooo
To the JRDA, to the
JRDA, let us work
To the JRDA, to the
JRDA, let us work
To the JRDA, to the
JRDA, let us work
To the JRDA, to the
JRDA, let us work
We have the farmland, we will work
We have the hoe to farm, we will work
We have the place to extract nickel, we will work
We have the place to extract iron, we will work
We have good musical instruments, we will work
We have a good government, we will work
To the
JRDA, to the JRDA,
let us work
To the
JRDA, to the JRDA,
let us work
The fara of the husband of Jokante
The fara of the husband of Malado Fanta
The fara of the husband of Woriya
The stone and the iron wooo
(1)
In fact the smiths-wife
(numumuso) is responsible for the pottery. They extract the clay and
they make jars etc.
(2) "Wari" can be translated as silver or money. The first option was
chosen here.
(3) "Yelema" can be translated as "to transform".
(4) The Jeunesse du Rassemblement Democratique
Africain. The youth wing of the RDA.
Bandian Bandian was a
kelemansa - a king - in the time of the French Sudan. He is very well
known historic figure in Guinea
and Mali.
Sunkalomakonola Bandian sara
O nfa Bandian mansa l’i sarala
Koronla jelilu olu be duba la
Fa Bandian jelilu jigi l’ile di.
Ah Kariya Mansalu President birima
Ko bee Bandian
Saya te jon to k’i togo banna
Bandian Bandian Bandian Sidimé
banna
Saya te jon to la k’i togo banna.
Badubaden
Salamalenda jelilu olu be duba l’i ye
Nfa Bandian jelilu jigi l’ile di
Ah Kouroumanse waramanse mogolu Bandian
Saya te jon to k’i togo banna
Badubaden
Bandian Bandian Bandian Sidimé
banna
Saya te jon to la k’i togo banna
Badubaden
?
Bandian ?
Badubaden
Tile min bolen Mamaya(1) tile le bolen
Tile min bolen RDA(2) tile le bolen
Tile min bolen Mamaya tile le bolen
Ah jelilu ye olu fo la
?
Bandian ?
Badubaden Iyo!
Bandian died in
the month before Ramadan Oh my father Bandian, God has paid you
The griots in the east give their blessings
Father Bandian the griots’ hope is on you.
Ah Kariya Masalu’s President has died
Bandian who does everything
Nobody escapes death but your name may continue Bandian Bandian Bandian Sidimé
died
Nobody escapes death but
your name may continue.
Child blessed by the mother
The griots of Salamalenda give you blessings
My father Bandian, the griots’ hope is on you
Ah Kouroumanse waramanse people Bandian
Nobody escapes death but your name may continue
Child blessed by the mother
Bandian Bandian Bandian Sidimé
died
Nobody escapes death but your name may continue
Child blessed by the mother
?
Bandian ?
Child blessed by the mother
The era which
has passed was the era of Mamaya
The era which has passed was the era of RDA
The era which has passed was
the era of Mamaya
Ah griots that is what they say
?
Bandian ?
Child blessed by the mother Iyo!
(1) A "mamaya" is a social event which
involved youth and dancing.
(2) Formed in Bamako
in 1946, the Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (RDA) was one of West
Africa’s first political parties.
Bedianamo The song title
should have been recorded as "Bedianemo", which
is a Maninka term for "a talented person".
I…fama
Bedianemo cheri duman ye
I bara…benbaya
Bedianemo cheri duman ye
Woi i le ma lon miri ma nyi Cheri duman ye dooni
Alu nye te Laginemusow bee kan Cheri duman ye
Oh oo i le…kassila
Cheri duman ye
Oh oo i le…mirila
Cheri duman ye
I bara…benbaya
Bedianemo cheri duman ye
I bara…
Bedianemo cheri duman ye Woi i le ma lon miri ma nyi Cheri duman ye dooni
Alu nye te Laginemusow bee kan
Cheri duman ye
Oh oo i le…kassila
Cheri duman ye
Oh oo i le…mirila
Cheri duman ye
You…rich / well-known
You are a talented person, my sweet love
You will… ?
You are a talented person, my sweet love
Ah don’t you know that too much reflection is not good
My little sweet love
Don’t you see the women of Guinea
My sweet love
Oh oo you…are crying
My sweet love
Oh oo you…are reflecting
My sweet love
You will… ?
You are a talented person, my sweet love
You will…
You are a talented person, my sweet love
Ah, don’t you know that too much reflection is not good
My little sweet love
Don’t you see the women of Guinea
My sweet love
Oh oo you…are crying
My sweet love
Oh oo you…are reflecting
My sweet love
Bélébélé
Ah Bélébélé
sira fanfan,
I na le bolo(1)
I na ma kusan ce fe barola,
I na le bolo
Ah
Bélébélé
sira fanfan,
I na le bolo I na ma kusan ce fe tolona,
i na le bolo Denke nyara denke tinyena,
o i na nyininka
Ka denke ke sonyali la di, I na le bolo
Denke nyara denke tinyena,
I na nyininka
Ka denke ke banabana(3) di, i na le bolo Lutigi ceba(4) de be kuma min be fo,
Muso t’o jaabi Lutigi ceba de be kuma min bef o,
Muso t’o jaabi
Ah wherever a gentleman passes the night,
you are in the hands of your mother.
Your mother is not used to chat with her husband(2),
you are in the hands of you mother.
Ah wherever a gentleman passes the night,
you are in the hands of your mother.
Your mother is not to used to play with her husband,
you are in the hands of your mother.
Whether a child becomes successful or whether a child will be
spoiled,
you have to ask its mother.
It is the mother who makes a thief of her son.
Whether a child becomes successful or whether a child will be
spoiled,
ask the mother.
It is the mother who makes a rambler of her son.
When the big chief of the family speaks,
a woman cannot answer him.
When the big chief of the family speaks,
a woman cannot answer him
(1) "I na le bolo", (na
= ba = mother) refers to the Maninka saying "bee b’i ba boo" -
"everything is in the hands of your mother". If a mother suffers
a lot, her children will be successful in life, it is thought. A
mother has to behave right, according to the norms for being a
good spouse and a good mother, and if she succeeds, this will
protect her children against dangers, even when they should pass
the night in the bush, nothing will harm them.
(2) In earlier days the worlds of men and women were separate
worlds. It was not normal for a woman to sit next to her husband
and have conversations with him.
(3) "Banabana" means someone who wanders around (as the street
vendors with their merchandise on their head) but does not earn
anything.
(4) "Lutigi ceba" is the chef de la famille and of course in
earlier times women had no right to criticize him. In other
words wives had to obey the words of their husband, they did not
have any right to contradict him.
Ka noutea The song title should have been
recorded as "Kanoutea",
which means "loving each other" (used as a verb) or
"loved one /
beloved" (used as a subject).
Diyanemogo diyanemogo wato min?
Ala ka n diyanemogo dan Ko bee jarabi do ah deni
Dyanemogo diyanemogo wato min?
Ala ka diyanemogo diya ne
Jarabi ma nyi
I te fara
Alu le ne neni e le fe
Alu ye ma kuma la e le fe
Ni la kanoutea
don gwelema
Alu ye n gosili e le fe
Alu ye ma kuma la e le fe Soro
jigintanya don gwelema
I diyanemogo bid’i neni
O be diyane do
I diyanemogo bid’i kanu
O be diyane do
Diyane do damba temeba fene ma nyi
Ni hakilima fila benna kele ma
Diyanela dama tambiliba fene ma nyi Jarabi ma nyi
I te fara Woyi na jarabi
N be nayiri kinin ta
Njarabi le jarabi la
Ah ne la kanoutea ah deni
I b’i la pantalon nin don
Jarabi le jarabi e la
Ah ne la kanoutea ah deni
I b’i la soulier nin don
I jarabi le jarabi la sa Woyi ne la kanoutea ah deni
I b’i la montoro nin ta
Jarabi le jarabi la
Ah ne le kanoutea ah deni
Ko kelen
Ne kanu dumanu fara la
I ni diyanemogo o te
Kòkuma le kanu sala
I te fara
Ni seben I kanu duman ma
I tulo madon Kolankoman le kanu dumanu
fara la ah deni I b’i layiri kinin do
Jarabi le jarabi la kò
Ah ne la kanoutea ah deni
I b’i la montoro nin don
Jarabi le jarabi la
Ah ne la kanoutea ah deni Woyi malawuli a ma, jafa ma
Ah malawuli a ma, jafa ma
Alu ye ne neni e le fe
My love my sweetheart where are
you going to?
God created my love
And you will find everything in love my child
My love my sweetheart where are you going to?
Thanks to God I love my sweetheart
Love is not good
Let it go
They insult me because of you
They gossip about me because of you
The spirit of loving each other
it has become difficult
They beat me because of you
They gossip about me because of me
Being in the village without a sweetheart
it has become difficult
If your love insults you
That makes part of love too
If your love loves you
That makes part of love too
It is wrong to transgress certain borders in love
If two intelligent people understand each other
while having words
It is wrong to transgress certain borders in love
Love is not good(1)
Let it go Woyi my love
If I wear my shirt
My love will fall in love with me
I will fall in love with you my love
If you wear these trousers
I will fall in love with you my love
Ah we love each other my child
If you wear these shoes
I will fall in love with you my love Woyi my child we love each other
If you wear this watch
I will fall in love with you my love
Ah we love each other my child
But let us tell you one thing
Because it is one thing that is able to separate two
lovers
Between you and your sweetheart
Talking behind one’s back can destroy love
Don't listen to it
If you seriously love your sweetheart
Do not keep your ear at it
Comparing yourself with others can separate two
lovers as well my child
If you wear your shirt
I will fall in love with you my love
Ah we love each other my child
If you wear this watch
I will fall in love with you my love
Ah we love each other my child Woyi, I did not do it express, please forgive
me
Ah I did not do it express, please forgive me
They insult me because of you
(1) In the sense
that it can make you blind or if your love is not
answered it can make you very sad and hopeless.
Kogno koura
Mmm
ne e le fe Na na na janfa ma nyi
Kanunyogon
na malo ma
nyi ne janfa tinye
Ah kanunyogon ni e le nyinina
Furunyogon kanu malo ma nyi
ne janfa tinye
Ah furunyogon ne e le fe
Kanunyogon malo ma nyi janfa tinye Ah kanunyogon ne e le ko
Ne kassila mogo le fe Ne nenina mogo le fe
Mogo maloya mogo le fe
Bi ye dunya janfa
Ne gosila mogo le fe
Ne nenina mogo le fe
Mogo maloya mogo le fe
Bi ye dunya janfa
…miriko ma nyi n e le fe
N ye taafe san n bara o le san
N ye Honda san n
bara o le san
Ko n ye duruki san n bara o le san
Ko n ye robu(1) kara n
bara robu kara
Ko n ye montoro(2) san n
bara o le san
Ke di ko ko ke
N bara o ke n deni
(3) Nye mun de ke sa?
Nye mun de ke sa?
Jafa n ma Ala nole eh deni
N be soma Ala nole deni Jafa n ma Ala nole deni
…miri ko ma nyi n e le fe
N ye taafe san n bara o le san
Ko n ye Honda san n bara o le san Ko n ye robu kara n bara
o le kara
Ko n ye seni(4) san n
bara o le san
Ke di ko ko ke n bara o le k’i ye Nye mun de ke sa?
Nye mun de ke sa?
Jafa n ma Ala nole deni N be soma Ala nole
deni Jafa n ma Ala nole deni N be soma Ala nole
deni Jafa n ma Ala nole deni N be soma Ala nole
deni
Jafa n ma Ala nole
Mmm
I love you Na na na betrayal is not good
Two people who love each other shame is not good
(for them) and the betrayal failed
Two people who love each other I am looking
(searching) for you
Two married people who love each other shame is
not good (for them) and the betrayal failed
Ah my husband (my wife) I love you
Two people who love each other shame is not good
(for them) and the betrayal failed
Ah my love I will follow you
I cried because of someone
I am insulted because of someone
Somebody feels ashamed because of someone
This is today’s word and betrayal is part of
that
I am beaten because of someone
I am insulted because of someone
Somebody feels ashamed because of someone
This is today’s world and betrayal is part of
that
…too much reflection is not good, I love you
(You told) me to buy cloth and I bought it (for
you)
(You told) me to buy a Honda and I bought it
You told me to buy a boubou and I bought it
You told me to sew a dress and I sewed a dress
You told me to buy a watch and I bought a watch
Everything a husband has to do I did all that my child So what else can I do now?
What else can I do now?
Please forgive me, God did it my child
See you soon, God did it my child
Please forgive me, God did it my child
…too much reflection is not good, I love you
(You told) me to buy a cloth and I bought it
(for you)
You told me to buy a Honda and I bought it
You told me to sew a dress and I sewed it for
you
You told me to buy a necklace and I bought it
Everything a man (husband) has to do I have done
that for you
So what else can I do now my child?
What else can I do now?
Please forgive me, God did it my child
See you soon, God did it, my child
Please forgive me, God did it my child
See you soon, God did it my child
Please forgive me, God did it my child
See you soon, God did it my child
Please forgive me, God did it
(1)
Borrowed from the French word "robe".
(2) Borrowed from the French word "montre".
(3) "Deni"means literally child, but
here it is understood in the sense of "my love".
(4) Borrowed from the French word "chaîne"
in the sense of collier
Sakhodougou Sakhodougou (or Sackodugu)
is the village in
Maliwhere the Mansa Nasira Madi
was born. The rhythm to the song and the song itself is also
known as "masira madi".
Kuma te kunan
ceba min kono
Kuma te fol’i nya na
Kuma te kunan ceba min kono
Kuma te fol’aw nya na
Barado kuma(2) te kunan ceba min kono
Kuma te fola cebaw ye
Nin bara diya mogo min na,
ko te goya i la
Nin bara diya mogow min na, ko te goya aw la
A dun bara diya mogo min na, ko te goya o tigi la
RDA(3) min ? A dun bara diya bee ye
RDA bara sabati
Dinye bee ka lon
Lagine RDA lonni be Ala
A dun bara Guinee sabati
I ba kuma fo tinye la
O ye kuma de surunya
Alu ba kuma fo tinye la I nye te kuma de surunya Mogobaw kuma fo tinye la
O ye kuma de surunya
I man di lo mogo min ye,
A t’i lalila ko ma
I man di lo mogo min ye,
A t’i lalila ko ma
Mogo man di lo mogo min ye,
A t’i lalila ko ma
A Jata(4) le, I ni wula jeliya la
Saralon sirala janjonba(5)
Famaden Oh mogo oh Ah aaa
Yanmario(6)…ooo Jata!
Ah Jata, ah Jata, ah Jata, ah Jata, ah Jata le Ala I
te fili, i te nyina, i te segen, i te kori, i te
fili, e Ala
Ah jeliya la, ah
jeliya la
I man di lo mogo min ye,
a t’i lalila ko ma
I man di lo mogo min ye,
a t’i lalila ko ma
Mogo man di lo mogo min ye,
I lalila ko ma la
Ah Jata le, I ni wula jeliya la
Saralon sirala janjonba
Famaden
Oh mogo le oo
A great man
should keep the words inside
(if he is not capable of keeping secrets)(1)
Words are not spoken to you (sing.)
A great man should keep the words inside
(if he is not capable of keeping secrets),
Words are not spoken to you (pl.)
Words of the village meeting should be kept inside
(if the great man is not capable of keeping a
secret)
Words are not spoken to great men
If this pleases the people,
it won’t be difficult for you (sing.)
If this pleases the people, it won’t be difficult
for you (pl.)
If this pleases the people, it won’t be difficult
RDA which ?
It has been good for everyone
The time (and work) of RDA was successful
Everybody in the world knows that
RDA of Guinea knowledge is the domain of God
It would have succeed in Guinea.
If you (sing.) speak words of truth
The words won’t be plenty.
If you (pl) speak words of truth
You (sing.) won’t see plenty of words.
If great men speak words of truth
The words won’t be plenty.
If someone does not like you,
He won’t advise you.
If someone does not like you,
He won’t advise you.
Somebody who dislikes someone,
He won’t advise you.
Ah Jata, good evening jeliya
The great king on the road of Sierra Leone.
Son of a king Oh people oh! Ah aaa
Yanmario…oh Jata
Ah Jata, ah Jata, ah Jata, ah Jata, ah Jata le God
You don’t mistake, you don’t forget, you don’t get
tired,
you don’t panic, you don’t mistake ee God
Ah jeliya la, ah jeliya la
If someone does not like you,
He won’t advise you
If someone does not like you,
He won’t advise you
Somebody who dislikes another,
You will advice him about the affair
Ah Jata le, good evening jeliya la
Great king on the road of Sierra Leone
Son of a king
Oh people! oo
(1) The
first few lines should be read as a general advice to people - a
person who is not able to keep a secret should not hear
important words.
(2) "Barado kuma" - in the past the elders of the village met
each other occasionally outside the village ("barado") to speak
about village matters.
(3) Formed in Bamako in 1946, the
Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (RDA) was one of West
Africa’s first political parties.
(4) Jata or jara means lion, and may refer to Sunjata Keita.
(5) Many people from Mali and Guinea migrated in the direction
of Sierra Leone, which attracted people because of its diamonds
and gold.
(6) Untranslatable exclamation often used by griots.
Soumbouyaya Soumbouyaya was a mythical
figure who could eat huge quantities of food (for example: two
cows, 200 kilos of rice, etc) in
front of his public. It is said that "jina tun b'a fe" - there
were devils with him - who made it possible for him to eat as
much as he did.
Eh na mogolu
RDA(1) jamana diyara
Kabini dunya danna, jon bara... ?
Soumbouyaya yaya
Kabini dunya danna,
jon bara wulu ye juma ro
Soumbouyaya yaya Eh na mogolu feere le jamana diyara Soumbouyaya yaya Hali Laginedennu, Ala le jon
son la fen na Soumbouyaya yaya
Iyo na mogolu feere le jamana bara diya
Soumbouyaya yaya
Kabini dunya danna, ne ma Lagine o ye
Soumbouyaya yaya
Eee ne ma yala fen ye
Soumbouyaya yaya
Soumbouyaya yaya (12 x)
Kabini dunya danna, jon bara ?
Soumbouyaya yaya
Iyo na mogolu feere le jamana diyara
Soumbouyaya yaya
Ee iyo RDA jamana diyara
Soumbouyaya yaya Iyo na mogolu feere le jamana
diyara Soumbouyaya yaya O na mogolu RDA jamana diyara Soumbouyaya
yaya
Eh my people the
country flourished under the RDA
Since the world has been created, who…(inaudible)?
Soumbouyaya yaya
Since the world has been created,
who has seen a dog at the Friday afternoon prayer?
Soumbouyaya yaya
Eh my people the country flourished thanks to the
commerce
Soumbouyaya yaya
Even the people of Guinee, it is God who provides
luck (chance)
Soumbouyaya yaya
Iyo my people the country will flourish thanks to
the commerce
Soumbouyaya yaya
Since the world has been created, I have not seen a
country like Guinea
Soumbouyaya yaya
Eee to wander is good
Soumbouyaya yaya
Soumbouyaya yaya (12 x)
Since the world has been created, who…?
Soumbouyaya yaya
Iyo my people the country flourished thanks to the
commerce
Soumbouyaya yaya
Eee iyo the country flourished under RDA
Soumbouyaya yaya
Iyo my people the country flourished thanks to the
commerce
Soumbouyaya yaya
O my people the country flourished under RDA
Soumbouyaya yaya
(1)
Formed in Bamako in 1946, the Rassemblement Démocratique
Africain (RDA) was one of West Africa’s first political
parties.
