Dear Alpha:

Thanks for this wonderfully written poem. The need for a "national" and
"popular literature" grounded in our languages is urgent.  May this
inspire those so inclined to do the same.

Abdoulaye





Alpha Robinson wrote:
>
> After listening to Pa Dacosta's cassette on the April massacre, I felt
> inspired
> by his ability to express himself with eloquence and in a poetic manner.
> Again,
> Pa Dacosta reminded me of how little interest we show in developing the
> ability
> to communicate in our various, rich mother tongues; to discuss abstract
> ideas and
> science without recourse to our "great" command of her majesty's mother
> tongue
> and most of all reaching our very people using phrases and symbols known
> to them
> for generations. In his book "Decolonising the mind" Ngugi described
> how ordinary people met in places they usually meet, reading his works
> in Kikuyu
> and enjoying it so much, embracing it as theirs. Without underplaying
> the essence
> of knowing other languages I thought that by beginning to pay attention
> to this,
> we will not only be boosting our collective sense of identity but will
> also
> contribute to the demystification of the often nurtured notion that our
> languages
> cannot be used for scientific expressions etc.
>
> This Poem is therefore a tribute to the longing for that day when we
> will take
> our languages seriously and develop them as media of communication in
> schools
> etc. as much as it is a tribute to the massacred students for whom Pa
> Dacoster
> stood and spoke with dignity, sincerity and heroism.
>
> I hope to be able to translate the poem into English soon. I must
> shamefully
> admit that sometimes I am not even sure of the spelling. The phonetics I
> leaned
> on were developed, I think, by the curriculum development unit.
> Nonetheless it is
> a start and I cannot express how it feels thinking in my mother tongue
> directly
> and not having to translate my thoughts.
>
> I hope we will refocus our attention on the urgent task of restoring
> justice and
> contributing to the elevation of  the awareness of our people to reach
> such
> heights that no person on earth will ever keep them oppressed and
> ignorant. This
> massacre cannot be just another passing event!
>
> METIT (Pain)
>
> Tunde bele lumu sorri sorri
> Helako gena sorri
> Gëj lum rey rey
> Metit munako opa
>
> Baken nimu nexey
> Nga jëlko ci ngalaw
>
> Yaangi melni ku jogey ci benen jamano
> Hanaa xamuloone ci tey leñ necka
>
> Te halel moi magi ëlëk
> Te baken bu mos dunda
> Dina mos deh
>
> Bon nak Adina potindaa la
> Ku naan joh sa morom
> Ken du jur bopaam
> Te ken du suul bopam
>
> Hanaa xamuloone
> Nit lumu touti touti
> Mo gena maga taahi-kow
> Tas tabax amoon nafi
> Wai deh deki musu fe am
>
> Yaangi fenafen be Yabi
> Melni xobi warga bu saali
> Fu ngalaw fouf nga jublu
> Xoolalmala
> Ngai yoloos yoloosi
> Melni bukki burus
> Nooma xoleh ëlëk?
>
> Tekat Tan tanehnala
> Ngir moon lu deh la lekka
> Wai yow yangma lekka
> Te deyanguma
>
> Hanaa Xamuloone fi "be faw" amatufi
> Xew xewi rek mofi sah
> Bon ndook bul melni puruh
> Nyam binga ne feef
> Ci suma loho la jaar
>
> Nganaan ñun nga buga selmal
> Te xamulooneh fi jantabi feñnafi
> Wai bu bor setey
> Ku rus ñaw
>
> Yalna sa adina baña seda
> Benga gis lorangeh ginga warral
> Tek ko xaleh yu hamul dara
> Balaa la suuf di sedey ëlëk
>
> Yalna ñu ëlëk tannal jamano
> Ni Xaleh bi di tanney malo mi
> Seppi tilim bici suñ bir
> Ngir suñ ëlëk naak
>
> Alpha Robinson
>
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