Remember ONE mother ~ SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE

Posted on by mxooley Posted in Senegal, SENEGAL RITUAL SPECTACLE TRADITIONTagged , , , , ,

a YOUNG man, Izibizi, from DAKAR Senegal West Africa, posted part of his poem SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE honoring his mother and all mothers, to his Facebook stream.
Although written in the Wolof and only having a piece of it, and understanding only fragments of it, I knew it held deep meaning. I contacted ‘Izi iz bizi’ and asked him if he would send me the whole poem with a translation. By the next day I had it, and went on to refine the translation. I sent it back to him asking him what he thought of my tweaking of the translation, and he was happy with it and granted me permission to put it on my blog. I really wanted to share this; knew people would LIKE to hear it. enjoy.

~ SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE by Izibizi

SO DEMER BAY BEUGA BAAYI
If you are going to abandon your past
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
Remember your past has one mother

SO DEMER BAY WAX JABAR KAAY
If you take a wife
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
remember your dear mother

SO DEMER BAY BEUG DEF FAILLE
if you are going to be sly
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
Remember your dear mother

SO DEMER BAY NEK AK SA GAAYI
If you are going to be with your friends
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
Remember your dear mother

SO DEMER BAY BEUG DEF HAAY
If you make some mistakes
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
remember your dear mother

SO DEMER BAY BEUG DI FEN
If you are going to lie
FATALIKUL SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
Don’t forget your dear mother

SO DEMER BEEY NANGO DI MAAY
if you are going to give to others
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
your past has one mother

MOU LAXOU WALA MU FEGN YAYE YA
SO DEMER BAY NARA BEUG NAAY
no matter if she still alive or dead, she will still be your dear momma
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
your past has one mother

SO DEMER BAY JOT TEY CI SA PEY
if you are going to be someone who does not give to others don’t do it and
SA GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
remember behind you there was your dear mother

SO DEMER BEUG NEK BENA SAI SAI
if you are going to give up and transform yourself into a wicked man
FATALIKUL Né PLEASE SA YAYE
please! Don’t forget, remember behind you is your dear mother

SO DEMER BEY AM TEY AY WAAY
once again, if you’re going to have the best and faithful friends
SEN GUINAW AMNA BENA YAYE
remember behind all of you are your dear mothers

YAYE YAYE YAYE / BAAY
Mother mother mother / father

Izibizi
© 2012

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