webPulaaku
Amadou Hampâté Bâ
Kaïdara
Translated by Daniel Whitman
With “Kings, Sages, Rogues: The Historical Writings of Amadou Hampâté Bâ”
Kaydara — Strophes Strophes 1655-1685
Gorel nayewel yanii anniima luuka
luuki fa toowi nii faa Hamma maati
tellii e hoore mum wari humpitaade
ko ɗum yani nii mo tawi manngel na luuka
mo hajii soofaaɓe deƴƴa ne'oo ti duuɓi 1655
gaɗoyɗi hogii noorol gorko mawɗo.
Mo ɓattii gorko mawɗo gariibu wii ɗum:
— « Gorkara mawɗo miɗo nii haal ko muuy-ɗaa. »
— « Yelaa am hannde Hammadi ngottoɗen ne kiirtoɗen ne
Battaa cukko Hammadi hawriti e ɗum 1660
mo sakitii e haala haalnoo gorko mawɗo,
mo wii : « Kaananke yalla jaɓan ko nyaagii
gorel nayewel ko ɗaɓɓi yo neetaraaku
ceekuɗo aadi faa nyoti aadi fuu nii.
Millam oo gariibu yo bonɓe neli ɗum 1665
hiroyɓe tefooɓe dawrude maa ɓe bonɓe. »
Hammadi jaabaaki batula mum wii :
— « Ko woni immaaɗe maa fuu min mi anndaa
ee maa gorko mawɗo! wanaa e aadam
salaade ko nyaagoyaa mi ko mbaaw-mi wadde. » 1670
Batubatulaaɓe kam e soofaaɓe kersi,
Be kiɓɓi e mawɗo teddini neetanii ɗum
a wiyan wanaa o ɓe koynoyannoo.
Ɓe mballi mo yawta dambugal ŋabba sooro.
Nayeejo nde yawtoyannoo daman ngal 1675
nyaamal makko artii mo wowli toowi:
— « Sappo e nay ɗe saahal ittu joy am!
Haayoo gudde terɗam mbaatorii-mi! »
Batubatulaaɓe kam e heddiiɓe njeebii
ko haalaa koo ɓe paamaa qiima muudum. 1680
Hammadi kam e koɗo mum yeeŋi sooro,
Ɓe jooɗii ɗoon fa gasi bottaaje ngaddaa.
Belɗe ɓe nyaami mi faa kaari palti
hiiri ɓe ŋabbi faa dow beene neemii
hiraande nde nyaamri mum weli sanne sanne. 1685
Gariibu nde lootoyannoo juuɗe muuɗum
The old man began to yell
so loud that Hammadi heard him,
came out in person to find out
what was happening; he found the little man shouting
and advising the guards to keep quiet, and respect
the years that had bent an old man's spine.
He approached the old beggar and said:
“My old fellow, here I am, say what you like.”
“I would like to have lunch with you, Hammadi, then dinner.”
Hammadi's premier courtier arrived,
overheard the old man's last words
and said, “Don't give way to the request
that this bizarre old man has made.
His prayer goes beyond all imagining.
In my opinion, this beggar is the emissary
of a few schemers who hope to bewitch you.”
Without answering the courtier, Hammadi declared:
“I know not what your intentions are, old man!
But it is not my custom
to refuse a service I am able to render.”
Courtiers and guards, all ashamed,
surrounded the old man with respect and politeness
as though they had never scorned him.
They helped him to the door and upstairs.
As he stepped across the threshold
the old man set his right foot forward and said loudly:
“By the fourteen northern lights less my senses!
Oh the orifaces of my physical body!” 114
The courtiers and others understood nothing
and attached no importance to what he said.
Hammadi and his guest went upstairs
and sat there until lunch.
They ate fancy dishes and were sated.
When evening came, they went out on the terrace
where a succulent dinner was served.
The beggar rinsed his hands
Notes (Lilyan Kesteloot)
114. “By the fourteen northern lights less my senses!” The old beggar thus invokes the nine openings of the human body; in fact, the 14 stars of the Big and Little Dippers minus the five senses yield, in esoteric numerology, the nine openings of the body.