webPulaaku
Amadou Hampâté Bâ
Kaïdara
Translated by Daniel Whitman
With “Kings, Sages, Rogues: The Historical Writings of Amadou Hampâté Bâ”
Kaydara — Strophes 840-870
Hammadi kaa najii noon muncoɗiroyii
ko mo yiinoo e dow laawol e ko mo yii
e ley nduu suudu Kaydara gaabiriiwal.
Mo haɓɓi e ɓernde makko si naa mo annda 840
ko woni firo maale kam e sabaabu majje.
So waɗi hen kanŋe mum fuu maa mo faama
koro mum toowɗo oo nil fa mo itta kumpa.
Kaydara ɓeydi ɗaalli ɗiɗi e ɗaandi
ndi homo kala wondunoo faa rilwnda jawdi. 845
Yo ndeen ɓii leydi toɗɗaa ardoyoo ɓe.
Ɓe kimmiri yaadu nii yo be ruttotooɓe.
Yo oon tuma Demburu wii homo fuu yo haalu
ko woni nder ɓernde muuɗum wadde kanŋe.
Hammadi wii: 850
— « Banndam Demburu annii haani haalde
ko anniyi-ɗaa e ndii maa jawdi maaɗa. »
— « Mi wattan jawdi am fuu mi tewra laamu.
Mi hawjoo caƴƴe laatoo laamɗo mawɗo.
Haalam haaloyee dammbam yimoytee, 855
kala hula kam mi jaɓataa goɗɗo manoyee. »
Hamtudo wii:
— « Aan woni muutaral noon bemmboyaangal!
A anndaa laamɓe ɓuri ɓutteede torra?
Wanaa no ɓe njiiretee dow nii ɓe ngorri. 860
Walaa fuu no watta fa mi jaɓa laamu naata.
Mi huuwran kanŋe am oo huunde ɓurnde.
Mi wontan jaagotooɗo, mi sooda sootta.
Mi ɓeydan jawdi am ndii sanne heewa.
Nde Kaydara yiiti kam fuu maa mo haawnee. 865
Mi hebbina kanŋe ɓutoyoo nyeenyɓe njaaroo
ɓe mbiya: oo walɗirii sabu yaadu juunndu
e keewal makko ndaa jaagorde ɗuuɗɗe.
Diwii daɓɓoyde sasa mum hebbineede.
Nanii wuro makko kala teyfaaɓe mbatata. 870
Yo ɗoon soottooɓe pucci ngaroyta kawra.
Hammadi was astonished and fascinated
by what he had seen on the way, and still saw
in the mysterious dwelling of Kaydara.
He decided in his heart to find out
the meaning and cause of the symbols.
Even if he had to use up all his gold,
he would understand their deepest meaning before his curiosity waned …
Kaydara added two carrier-oxen to the one
carrying each man's treasure.
A subterranean spirit was charged to guide them on.
So they took the road leading back home.
At that moment, Demburou asked each
what he intended to do with his fortune.
Hammadi replied:
“Cousin Demburu, first you must tell us
what you intend to do with your treasure.”
“I will devote mine to the quest of power.
Bestowing good government, I'll be a great lord.
My praises will be sung, my name hallowed.
Everyone will fear me. I'll abide no equal.” 69
Hamtudo 70 said:
“What a fool you are!
Don't you know kings are the wretchedest of souls?
They aren't at all what they seem.
I wouldn't wield power for anything.
I'll put my gold to better use,
becoming a merchant, buying and reselling.
I'll increase my wealth to real abundance.
The next time Kaydara sees me, he won't believe his eyes.
I'll be filled with gold, griots will sing my praises,
saying, ‘he got rich after a long journey,
by his know-how, his many undertakings.
His purse is bulging at the seams.
It is said that in his yard riches meet riches,
and horse dealers come to sell their wares.
Notes (Lilyan Kesteloot)
69. Demburu manifests the ambition of power and the futility of human glory; “Only I will be spoken of in the country,” he says. Already, developments of pride, tyranny and intolerance are visible.
70. Hamtudo aspires to more concrete, material joys; wealth, opulence, for which he will have the necessary egotism and penchant for gain.