webPulaaku
Amadou Hampâté Bâ
Kaïdara
Translated by Daniel Whitman
With “Kings, Sages, Rogues: The Historical Writings of Amadou Hampâté Bâ”
Kaydara — Strophes 600-630
Nde ɓe tilinoo mo, wii : « Haya miɗo nii yalta
kasen Il tinnee ta njawdiri hewta b naata 600
e ley boli saare wommboo yaa na warta. »
Caggal mi ɓe nyaamii, ɓe ŋoyɓiniima.
Njawdi diwi e maɓɓe fa weeyi yawti,
ndi seɓi sellaaji mi boli saare naati.
Nayewel ndomma wartil anni wuundii 605
sifa ndeendi keewndi mafii ko soodi,
ko soodani hoɓɓe muuɗum anni waddi.
Ɓeen maa hoɓɓe njaadiri hono no pooldaa.
Ndomma nayewel wii:
« Kumee tiiɗa, nanngee njawdi pati naata ley boli. 610
Miɗo niima yaha faa hannde tewta hiraande mooɗon. »
Tuma ndomma nayewel yalti, yiɗiraaɓe kala taton
kumii tentilii faa nannga njawdiri ndonkani.
Gori-mbaala diwi faa toowi yawti balaabe ɓee,
ndi sarkii e nder boli jagga dow nay ndi jarwundi. 615
Ndeen ndomma nayewel warti waddi ko nyaametee.
Mo habraa ko yani koo, hoɓɓe makko ɓe kaalni mo.
Ngel wii :
— « Ɗum haawnaaki noon du mi tikkanaali
taton sagataaɓe ndonkuɓe marde ndonto 620
so ndonkii haɗɗe njawdiri heɓde boowal.
Ngaɗiree ngaalla c nyaagortoo-mi tinnee
etoyon manngoyon daabaawa dummbee. »
Taton yiɗiraaɓe landini fa nannga njawdi.
Nde ɓattii ndee ndi waylii wonti ngaari, 625
yo ndii sappoori faa ɗiɗi yowni duuɓi,
luwe muni mawnu noon duu teeŋu seeɓi.
Ndi nyippoy hoore buurani fa'i e maɓɓe.
Kisal ɓe keɓoy ɓe kemroy d teppe gulɗe.
Nii nii ngaari ndil sarkii e saare, 630
ndi hawa gaa noon ndi hawa too limna e yimɓe
kanyum du e kuɗɗe endi mi towni hoore,
When they were served, he said, “I must leave now.
This time, make sure the ram doesn't escape,
doesn't get to the street to walk around there.”
After they ate, they were overcome with drowsiness.
The ram burst forth, stepped over them,
reached the streets and made off.
The old man returned all weighed down
with grains and food he had bought.
He presented his purchases to his guests 53.
They in turn told of their defeat.
The little man answered:
“Try to capture the ram before he gets down the street.
I'm going now, to get your dinner.”
When the old man left, the three friends
tried to capture the ram, but in vain.
The male sheep jumped over their shoulders,
took off down the street, bucking and untameable.
Then the old man returned with dinner.
He learned from his guests what had happened
and said:
“Hardly surprising, I can't get angry
over three louts unable to guard a rooster
if they can't manage to keep a ram from escaping.
In God's name, please try, attempt,
strive to catch the beast and overcome him.”
The three friends set about to trap the ram.
As soon as they got close, he changed into a bull,
a bull at its prime of twelve years 54,
with giant horns which were strong and sharp.
He lowered his head and charged at them in a fury.
Only their quick feet saved them.
Then the bull burst forth in the town,
thrusting his horns all about, knocking people down.
After these adventures he raised back his head
Notes (Lilyan Kesteloot)
53. The little, old, deformed man who indefatigably brings back food and gives out good advice, is in contrast to the three healthy men who sleep while the old man works, and who cannot even guard a rooster. The esoteric meaning of the rooster that turns into a ram, then a bull, then a fire, will be given later.
54. Complete, adult bull in all its strength; if it gets beyond twelve years old it regresses.