webPulaaku
Amadou Hampâté Bâ
Kaïdara
Translated by Daniel Whitman
With “Kings, Sages, Rogues: The Historical Writings of Amadou Hampâté Bâ”
Kaydara — Strophes 1180-1210
faa cofe mawna keba puda nyiiye muusu,
faa maayooji njooroya hono no baamle. »
Hamtudo e Demburu ƴeewondiri.
Ɓe ɓinnyi gite, Demburu wii: 1180
— « So laatii ndunngu maa laataaki ndunngu,
wanaa pene pelletii miin kiirndoyooɓe.
Walaa fuu ko keddani maa aan e wadde
so naa taw huunde wootere ɓamde sawru
nduu woni kedde ngalu maa mawɗo keɓ-daa 1185
to Kaydara leyɗe muuɗum kaawnoyiiɗe.
Foocu ndu dow balaaie palaa ndu juuta
pawdaa ɗiɗi juuɗe maa dow mayru weeltaa
ndewaa e amen ngaa hono mbabba temmbaa,
cefo-ɗaa ɗuuɗa ɗii meereeji teɓ-ɗaa 1190
e mobbo mo licce ana waɗi ƴuugo caggal
hoƴƴudu ƴuugo koyɗe ogiiɗe janngin maa
mobbo maa kanŋe njoɓ-daa kanŋe dimo ɗor.
Gere am noon e gere Hamtuuɗo heɓataa
fugaaru fugoo ɗiɗon raaɓaaɓe njomra a 1195
jeegom diiwle kanŋe melew waɗoytaa.
Mi woondiroyaa Geno ɗum ɗimmitoytaa
golle mugooje faamoy suɓa ko muuy-ɗaa. »
Hammadi jaabii cunaaɗo ɓuri ko bilaa :
— « Mi suɓiima waaltude janngo teewna. 1200
Mi hewtoto on ɓuran on yaawde yaadu.
Walaa ko ndoondii-mi hewtoto sette ɗaalli
jeegom mawɗi njeɗɗuɗi diiwle kanŋe. »
Hamtuuɗo e Demburu ɗoon nii ndiiwndi ɗaalli
ɗi jeegom fuu ɓe ummii paati gorgal 1205
wakkati naange ana fotondiri e tiinde.
Hammadi kanyum tan ley bantineeje
cukkuɗe tayɓinaaɗe yo keddoyiiɗo,
bereferi sullondirde walaa ko si'ata,
wanaa carfal wanaa toɓe huunde nyotataa. 1210
Hamtuuɗo e Demburu caggal nii ɓe ndillii,
ɓooynoo seeɗa Hammadi sooynii sette
until chicks grow cats' teeth
or until the oceans harden like termite hills!”
Hamtudo and Demburu looked at each other.
They winked, and Demburu said:
“This afternoon, rainy season or no,
truly, at all cost, we're leaving this place.
As for you, there is only
one thing to do: take your staff,
all that remains of your wealth
acquired in Kaydara's miraculous land.
Lay it over your shoulders,
put your arms over it hanging astride it,
and follow us like a donkey without its load.
Then you can rattle on to us about the bountiful harvest
that your master in rags, hunchbacked,
crooked-necked, twisty-legged taught you
at the price of your pure gold.
As for myself and Hamtudo,
such scum won't find a second victim,
and six loads of gold won't be our price.
I swear by Geno that this won't happen another time.
Consider yourselves warned, and do as you will.”
With sadness but certainty, Hammadi answered:
“I'll spend the night here and wait for tomorrow,
I'll walk fast and catch up to you.
I have no load to carry 89, and can catch a caravan
of six carrier-oxen weighed down with gold.”
Hamtudo and Demburu then loaded
their six carrier-oxen and started out toward the west
at the hour when the sun is at forehead level 90.
As for Hammadi, he stayed behind,
under the thick-leaved tree, so bushy
that no light could penetrate.
Neither sunlight nor rain could break in.
After Hamtudo and Demburu had left,
Hammadi soon saw men in line
Notes (Lilyan Kesteloot)
89. They say, “he who is not weighed down dances well.”
90. A way of indicating the hours; there is also: the sun in the middle of the head (noon); the sun at one or two spearlengths high; when all shadows pass underfoot; when the shadows are twice as long as men; etc.