Oumou Sangaré became the first international star and populariser of the Malian musical style known as wassoulou in the early 2000’s. Named after the Wasulu region, which crosses the borders of the Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Mali, one of the distinctive features of wassoulou music is that the singers describe themselves as kònò (songbirds).
The identification with the songbird is not only to symbolise the beauty of their singing. Unlike the heriditary griot tradition that emerged from the ancient Malian royal courts, the wassoulou tradition has roots in the hunting parties and agricultural festivals of rural life. These kònò musicians have chosen this profession and achieve their status through songs that emphasise the wellbeing of their community, whereas singers within the griot tradition tend to praise individuals.
More information about the wassoulou musical culture can be found in this BBC World Routes radio program, in which Lucy Durán accompanies Oumou Sangaré to the region of Wasulu to discuss Oumou’s roots, her music and background, as well as taking in the music of the hunters societies and of the younger generations.
The following song, Ah Ndiya (“Oh My Love”), is from Oumou Sangaré’s first album Moussolou. A translation of the lyrics follows.
Oh My Love
Oh my love,
The best part of a journey is returning home
Oh my love, Oh elders, day-to-day monotony overwhelms me
Oh my love,
Listen to me
Yes, the best part of a journey is returning home
Oh my love,
One should not confide in a slanderer
Oh my love,
Listen to me
Yes, the best part of a journey is returning home.
The word is coming, the word is coming,
The word is coming, like a river in flood
The word unwinds, the word unwinds,
The word unwinds, like thread on a spindle.
My brother, my love, my companion,
Even if you cannot respect me, don’t disrespect me
Please, never give away my secrets to a slanderer, God
The word is coming, the word is coming,
The word is coming, like a river in flood
The word unwinds, the word unwinds,
The word unwinds, like thread on a spindle.
My brothers, oh my love, my young brothers,
Even if you find it hard to respect me, do not disrespect me,
Never tell my secrets to a slanderer
Oh my love,
Listen to me
The best part of a journey is returning home
“Sorry, my father is at home, I cannot leave the house”
Little sister, you aren’t truly in love
“The town is too big, I cannot go out”
Little sister, love has not got to you yet
“If it rains, I cannot go out”
You really are not in the mood for love, Good Lord!
Oh my love,
Listen to me
The best part of a journey is returning home
“Sorry, my father is at home, I cannot leave the house”
Little sister, you aren’t truly in love
“The darkness is overwhelming, I cannot go out”
Little sister, love has not got to you yet
“If it rains, I cannot go out”
You really are not in the mood for love, Good Lord!
Listen to me.
In a large city like Abidjan
In a large city like Bamako
In a large city like Conakry
If you quarrel with your soulmate,
If you argue with your beloved,
do not confide in a slanderer.
Oh my love,
Listen to me
The best part of a journey is returning home
Oh my love
Elders, the promise of love has consumed a lot of souls
Oh my love
The best part of a journey is returning home.
Oh my love
My brother, my love, my companion,
Even if you cannot respect me, don’t disrespect me
Please, never give away my secrets to a slanderer, God
Oh my love
My brothers, oh my love, my young brothers,
Even if you find it hard to respect me, do not disrespect me,
Never tell my secrets to a slanderer
Oh my love
Even if you arrive in Daoudabougou, (1)
You leave your place of birth to become famous
Oh my love
Give big thanks to my mother
God is one unlike us humans
Oh my love
Give big thanks to my admirers,
You leave your place of birth to become famous
Oh my love
Give big thanks to my younger brothers
God is one unlike us humans
Oh my love
Tell the elders, Oumou has come to conquer
Tell the elders, it’s just an advice, I mean no disrespect
Oh my love
Tell the elders, gifted people will succeed naturally
Tell the elders, God is one unlike us humans
Oh my love
Tell the elders, it’s just my advice, I mean no disrespect
Tell the elders, God is one unlike us humans
Oh my love
Tell the elders, gifted people will succeed naturally.
This is a transcription of the lyrics in the original Bambara.
Ah Ndiya
Ah n’diya
Ah taama diya ye seginkò ye
Ko ah n’diya, mòobalu lon o lon ko lawaralen n’ma
Ah n’diya
Maasèbèrò
Ah taama diya ye seginkò ye
Ko ah n’diya
Mògò kan’i kònòròkuma don fana da n’ba
Ah n’diya
Maasèbèrò
Ah taama diya ye seginkò ye.
Kuma nakan, kuma nakan
Kuma nakan i yo bafaji
Kuma nakan, kuma nakan
Kuma nakan i yo kerènkonònò
I n’diya, n’badeni, ah n’diya n’taamanyòoni
Al’i ma ne bonya i kana n’dògòya
Kana n’kònòròkuma don fana da sa Ala.
Kuma nakan, kuma nakan
Kuma nakan i yo bafaji
Kuma nakan, kuma nakan
Kuma nakan i yo kerènkonònò
I n’diya, N’badeni, ah n’diya n’taamanyòoni
Al’i ma ne bonya i kana n’dògòya
Kana n’kònòròkuma don fana da n’ba.
Ah n’diya
Maasèbèrò
Ah taama diya ye seginkò ye
Ne fa ye luma ne tè se bò
I sèbè tè jarabi ma ye dògòni
Dugu boma, n’tè se bò
Alisa jarabi ma na dògòni
San man’ na ne tè se bò
I sèbè tè jarabi ma ye woyi Ala
Ah n’diya
Maasèbèrò
Ah taama diya ye seginkò ye
Ne fa ye luma ne tè se bò
I sèbè tè jarabi ma ye dògòni
Dibi boma, n’tè se bò
Alisa jarabi ma na dògòni
San man’ na ne tè se bò
I sèbè tè jarabi ma ye woyi Ala
Maasèbèrò.
Dugu boma i komi Abijan
Dugu boma i komi Bamakò
Dugu boma i komi Konakiri
I n’i nikanmògò ye nyògòn na
I n’i diyanyènyògòn ye kèlèla
I kan’i kònòròkuma don fana da
Ah n’diya
Maasèbèrò
Ah taama diya ye seginkò ye
Ah n’diya
Mòobalu sarati kanu mòo shaman dun
Ah n’diya
Ah taama diya ye seginkò ye.
Ah n’diya
N’badeni, eh n’diya n’taamanyòoni
Al’i ma ne bonya i kana n’dògòya
Kana n’kònòròkuma don fana da sa Ala
Ah n’diya
N’badeni, eh n’diya n’balima deninnu
Al’i ma ne bonya i kana n’dògòya
Kana n’kònòròkuma don fana da n’ba
Ah n’diya
Al’i ba se Daudabugurò
ko bòdu kun ye jamukè di
Ah n’diya
Ka ye foli di wolobabèrè ma
ko Ala kelen mògò kelen tè
Ah n’diya
Ka ye foli di n’barokènyògònyi ma
ko bòdu kun ye jamukè di
Ah n’diya
Ka ye foli di n’balimakèni ma
ko Ala kelen mògò kelen tè
Ah n’diya
E y’a ye mòobalu Umu nale yankorò
E y’a ye mòobalu ko ladili dògòya tè
Ah n’diya
E y’a ye mòobalu sabu doni kònòyarò
E y’a ye mòobalu Ala kelen mògò kelen tè
Ah n’diya
E y’a ye mòobalu ko ladili dògòya tè
E y’a ye mòobalu Ala kelen mògò kelen tè
Ah n’diya
E y’a ye mòobalu sabu doni kònòyarò.
by Oumou Sangaré,
from the album Moussolou,
World Circuit (1991).
Translation by Wilfred Willey.
Footnotes
- Daoudabougou: Refers to a neighbourhood in Bamako where Oumou used to live.
