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| Western Africa: Mali | |
|---|---|
| Ka Moun Kè What Can I Do? | |
Original text | |
Ka Moun Kè Ah… Ka moun kè N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun di ma Ah… Ka moun di N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun ki yé Diyaniè mana wara nia dô ma Mô yé kèla djon lédi n'fa Ka moun kè I doussouda i yé yèlèn yé n'kanou I doussouda i yé ma foulè Waraba na la farinia o yé lamara la dô lé fé Sabadjoukouman bè wouladjan kônô o fènè na mara ba Mô kèla nia o nia ma Djon bè ni dianièbâ Wa tinia la nia o nia ma An bè nan mara bâ Ah… Ka moun kè N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun di ma Ah… Ka moun di N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun ki yé Diyaniè mana wara nia dô ma Mô yé kèla djon lédi n'fa Ka moun kè I doussouda i yèlèn yé n'kanou I doussouda yé ma foulè Bourén sanou dô bê né bolo Baba m'bodima An bè wo kè bolokan nèkè yé I yo dow néki yé Wôri moukou mî'n bi bolola O dow mobili léla Ko di dénou Mama ma Mama ni Bamako gongon mankan Ah… Ka moun kè i yé N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun di ma Ah… Ka moun di N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun ki yé Diyaniè mana wara nia dô ma Mô yé kèla djon lédi n'fa Ka moun kè I doussouda i yèlèn yé n'kanou I doussouda yé ma foulè Bazin dô bè né bolo Baba m'bo di ma An yé wô kalan Niaréla Check Fall yôrô I bo dow né ki yé Wori moukou mîn bi bolo banki I yo dow villa léla Ko di dén nou Mama ma Môkô ladowbaka ni bolo hèrè kakan Ah… Ka moun kè i yé N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun di ma Ah… Ka moun di N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun ki yé Diyaniè mana wara nia dô ma Mô yé kèla djon lédi n'fa Ka moun kè Né yé djon di Né yé wolofa niouman ka djon di Ko né yé djon di Né dé yé woloba niouman ka djon di Né yé djon di Né yé n'wolo dé ni ka djon di Né yé djon di Né dé yé fouroukè niouman ka djon di O fènè dé yé né ka djon di Sikinion niouman ka djon lé di Balima niouman ka djon lé né di Ah… Ka moun kè i yé N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun di ma Ah… Ka moun di N'diyaniè mô n'ka moun ki yé Diyaniè mana wara nia dô ma Mô yé kèla djon lédi n'fa Ka moun kè | |
English Translation | |
What can I do? What can I do for you my love? What do you desire, what do you want from me? The affection I feel for you is deep All pleasure, without measure What can I do to enchant you? What can I do? You know? Just the glow of joy in your eyes And my life becomes wondrous! There's hardly a lion that's truly invicible, Even the worst of snakes can be tamed It matters little who we are, to each their sister soul It matters little what we are, to each the person they love What can I do? What can I do for you my love? What do you desire, what do you want from me? The affection I feel for you is deep All pleasure, without measure What can I do to enchant you? What can I do? You know? Even just a smile on your face And life becomes full of wonder! All the pure gold in Bouré*, preciously guarded All that Bouré gold belongs to you, Baba! I'll fashion it into a jewel for you to wear, Which I'll take pleasure seeing about your person Because reciprocity consolidates love In turn, prove your affection to the Mama that I am By protecting me from the dust of Bamako Inside a fine automobile. What can I do? What can I do for you my love? What do you desire, what do you want from me? The affection I feel for you is deep All pleasure, without measure What can I do to enchant you? What can I do? You know? Even just a smile on your face And life becomes full of wonder! The beautiful bazins** that I own are yours Baba! Cheick Fall***, the tailor of Niaréla, Will transform them into beautiful clothes Which I'll have the pleasure of contemplating on you Because I'm Mama to your children, night and day, Because I cherish you and adorn our love You'll bear witness to me of your affection You'll work with raw spirit and courage Of which only the belovèd man is capable We'll build the house of our dreams We'll fill it with love and happiness What can I do? What can I do for you my love? What do you desire, what do you want from me? The affection I feel for you is deep All pleasure, without measure What can I do to enchant you? What can I do? Notes: *The ancient mines at Bouré were said to produce the purest gold in the days of the Mandé Empire. “The Gold of Bouré” has thus become axiomatic for the purest substance imaginable. **The richly coloured starched cloth used by Malians for their robes and headdresses. ***A famous tailor in Bamako, whose workshop is in Niaréla. Credits Song: Bambara folk music Artist: Rokia Traoré Music video: Courtesy of Ka moun kè · Rokia Traore Text & translation: lyricstranslate.com Selected by: Henry Muldrow Copyright: Fair use principle, for educational purposes. | |
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