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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Feb 2009 : 03:19:03
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Farang Tamba
The cooking pot is empty
The barn too is empty
The rice field is bare
Nothing came in as earned crop
Greedy lazy birds fed off my field
Which they did not sow
Pity! share some grain with poor me
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
I am not a lazy farmer
Seen that look of disdain
I can hear the taunting remark
All calling me lazy and work shy
Yet Farm I did
Alas greedy lazy birds fed off my field
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
Do not let my children
Go sleepless from pangs of hunger
I too tried my best
But greedy lazy birds fed off my field
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
Must we then suffer
That surely is not fair
Please give us a share
We the unfortunate side of your being
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
If I was as fortunate as you are
Believe you me
That if you too were to fall in my place
I shall be more generous to you
My pot is empty
So too is my belly
The worms inside scrambling for a feed
Feed off my being
Whilst you feast in abundance
My kids and I sit and cry; hungry
The empty bag cannot stand
So on the ground it goes to rest
Waiting for aid
Which does not seem forthcoming
This is a hard place to be
But this is the world we live in
And it is called reality
Farang Tamba
Kolior
But then they sing
"Farang Tamba
Kolior na,yea!
Musu bara bally la
Kumbo moi bang!
Kunolu beng na
Maano bangna, Farang Tamba !yea"
A fate taunting song
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Edited by - kaanibaa on 28 Feb 2009 18:09:10 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 28 Feb 2009 : 14:33:49
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| The flavor was just what was missing and you added it spot on. I enjoyed the Kora music of that great griot , he was a master in that art and his contribution to our cultural richness is immense. May Allah grant him jannah, though he is gone he left his mark for ever for all to savor. |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2009 : 11:50:33
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Thanks Kaanibaa for this poem inspired by the song (Farang Tamba) of Lalo Kebba Drammeh, the Gambia's immortal kora maestro. I have always loved his music and the deep meanings of his words. I spent my childhood between my conservative fathers home (where everthing was a matter of business) and my flamboyant uncle's home (where there was constant music and tea). I developed a taste for Lalo Kebba at my uncle's home. Lalo Kebba was clearly a musical genius.
And Momodou, thanks for providing the actual music. Could someone lead a discussion about the meanings of some of Lalo Kebba's words, especially these I have listed below and maybe more. Please excuse me if I mis-quote some of his lines here as i have said that English has destroyed my Mandingo now and because of that Turk calls a sell-out which I completely disagree with...
1. "Alinfu sembo laa, kooni doolu be lakira".
2. "Konoo karataa nyokomaa kumpaa duntaa".
3. "Sonkaa banbaali kaali kanoo banneh".
4. Aali duniyaa suumung, danteh duniyaa laa...". |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2009 : 12:59:45
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Thanks kayjatta for your input,I also do not wish to be seen as an expert in the mandinka lingo but would give it a try:-
"Koonokara nyokoma kumpa dunta" for me could mean literally that the stomach was sewn in the absence of others ,thus those present know what it contains and those absent do not ;so secrecy is set. What I can gather from this is that unless one is present at an event what transpired there could not be known to one except what one is told about it and even that; can only be taken at face value but not with any certainty.You have to be physically present at an occurrence to be certain about its happening otherwise what one says about it would be hearsay. Lalo Kebba was a genius and grand master of the traditional music art;Kora. I have been to his home village in the Casamance and it is called Foni Sumbundu and met his ex wife in the Gambia ,whom he so dearly called Kurambesaan, a lovely lady with an equally lovely voice.I hope I have got this one right and leave others to chip in, I bet 1000 bututs; Suntou would win coming in with answers to all your questions. |
Edited by - kaanibaa on 02 Mar 2009 13:01:02 |
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2009 : 15:12:57
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| Kay I think you are spot on on the quotes. You still got it bro! On number 3. "Sonkaa banbaali kaali kanoo banneh". I think we can take this one on face value. Constant quarrelling does in fact end love between two people. |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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admin
130 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2009 : 16:44:46
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<! Reply merged with this topic by Admin>
Originally posted by Santanfara
1. "Alinfu sembo laa, kooni doolu be lakira". Kay i will try, although in a hurry.
I am collecting mandinka proverbs and phrases i cannot reach into my files to give the must accurate answers but off head question 1 means. Alinfu means (lend me), doolu be lakira (some are gone or deseased). what he meant here is that, you the living should take pride of your ancestors. Be proud and do big things. borrow courage from the brave one who are dead.
2. "Konoo karataa nyokomaa kumpaa duntaa".Here the phrase means, when a group of people are talking or discussing, then someone new came in. the group goes silent. here the new comer is at lost as what the talk was about. as kaani stated, 'kumpa' is the wondering as to what the group were talking about.
it can also mean, when people change topic at the sight of a someone.
3. "Sonkaa banbaali kaali kanoo banneh".
Kay, lalo was a lover man. he was among the early mandinka singers to compose love songs. the conversative mandinka would like to leave love talk in coded words or pasin, but lalo went the Camara kunda route. he was warning the socall strict men who can quarell at every little issue. the frequent quarelling with ones wife can easily result in love lost. the love and admirations disappears and hate takes over. i know Jatta kundas would rather say to the lady, i don't mean it that way. ifanan, this will help safe the darkness.
4. Aali duniyaa suumung, danteh duniyaa laa...".
here the words convey the living to enjoy the world. be happy and jolly. dante duniyala, is a figure of speech. the world he say continues, but only for a duration for you. then you will depart but for others, life goes on. |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 08:26:59
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| Thanks Admin, Mansasulu and Kaanibaa for your takes. I think you guys got it all right. Good analysis! |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 08:36:15
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quote:
Originally posted by kayjatta
Thanks Admin...
Kayjatta, that was Santanfara's take. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 09:14:19
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Okay Good, you guys got me on that one, Momodou ...
Thanks Santafara for the explanation. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 03 Mar 2009 09:16:26 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 10:08:52
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These might have some historical but cultural context as well. I promise I will leave it here .
1. Musu bung naani kankarang keeling (Dembo beh laaring baari aaning maaloo teh laakira.
2. Neh fing lunko yeh kewolu bang neh.
3. Allah taalah yeh sango nii banko daa, baari amang kaanoo nii fing daa. |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 21:50:24
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quote:
Originally posted by kaanibaa
Farang Tamba
The cooking pot is empty
The barn too is empty
The rice field is bare
Nothing came in as earned crop
Greedy lazy birds fed off my field
Which they did not sow
Pity! share some grain with poor me
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
I am not a lazy farmer
Seen that look of disdain
I can hear the taunting remark
All calling me lazy and work shy
Yet Farm I did
Alas greedy lazy birds fed off my field
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
Do not let my children
Go sleepless from pangs of hunger
I too tried my best
But greedy lazy birds fed off my field
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
Must we then suffer
That surely is not fair
Please give us a share
We the unfortunate side of your being
Farang Tamba
Of Kolior
If I was as fortunate as you are
Believe you me
That if you too were to fall in my place
I shall be more generous to you
My pot is empty
So too is my belly
The worms inside scrambling for a feed
Feed off my being
Whilst you feast in abundance
My kids and I sit and cry; hungry
The empty bag cannot stand
So on the ground it goes to rest
Waiting for aid
Which does not seem forthcoming
This is a hard place to be
But this is the world we live in
And it is called reality
Farang Tamba
Kolior
But then they sing
"Farang Tamba
Kolior na,yea!
Musu bara bally la
Kumbo moi bang!
Kunolu beng na
Maano bangna, Farang Tamba !yea"
A fate taunting song
Kaanibaa,
That is superb! The discussion and Momodou's inputs add tasteful flavour. Very rich. |
Karamba |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2009 : 14:58:29
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| Thanks Karamba, you certainly live up to your name, which I guess means Karamo Baa , great teacher .I also do follow your treads on all topics , keep it up brother. |
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