Suriname folk-lore

[p. 529]

F. Bush-Negro songs

[p. 531]

1. Religious Songs.

a) Kromanti.¹

1 A secret cult among the Bush Negroes. The word itself is derived from the Gold Coast Coromantyn. The organisation of this cult among the Bush Negroes points to its being a warrior society, whose symbol is iron. The dancing of the Kromanti group is more violent than that of any other, and it is in the frenzy of Kromanti possession that exhibitions of imperviousness to cuts by iron, glass, thorns, is demonstrated. This group also includes Obia-Kromanti songs. Cf. Herskovits, M. and F., (V), 322ff.

1.

Sa-ma-we, Sa-man-yo, ye - grįn - ya - e Sa-mawe, Sa-man-yo,
to grįn - ya [-e] Sa-man-ya - na

2.

A kom - bo-yo Sa-bi na b'o - koa - ya-wa o bo - a kog-bwe-tio
Sa - bi na b'o - koa-ya - wa 'ban'-ba kog-bwe-ti -o.

[p. 532]

3¹.

A - ya - wa Da - da ya - wa Da - da - o -
A - ya - wa Da - da ya - wa Da - da - o -
A - ya - wa Da - da K'o man - ti ma'o kǫ wi - dio ya - o
[Ta - ta To - nio]
(3 times)

1 The translation of this song was given by Africans to whom the words were read as follows:

‘Ancient Ayawa,
Ancient Ayawa - o,
The Kromanti people
Will fight to save you.’

4.

Nya-mio-o Ka-ria gri - gri - o A bon-ya mio-bia-e Ka-ria gri - gri
Nya-mio - o Ka-ria gri-gri-i A bon-ya mi - i Ka-ria gri-gri
Nya-mio - o - o Ka-ria gri-gri-o A bon-ya mi-o ten tye-e Ka-ria gri-gri

[p. 533]

5.

Bu - si wa - na - bi - wą gan-ga - o - a wa-ni ba - e
Bo - su wa - na - bi - wą oan - ga - a bo - si - bi - sa - o -
Bu - si (etc.)

[p. 534]

6¹.

Yɛ m'o - bi'e - i ye m'o-bi'yo ye m'o - bi'yo ye m'o - bi'yo
Ɛ m'o-bia dy - e - ye ɛ m'o-bi'yo ye m'o-bu dya ɛ m'o-bi'yo

1 In Twi, Ye m'obia e dja would signify

‘We give again, father,
Here it is again.’

7.

Yo grin - ya - o a ba - na - we ba ma - ni Yo grin - ya-a
o - bia ba - na - we ba man-ya na yo grin - ya - o

8.²

O - ru - ma We-de O - ru - ma We-de kwa Ko-dyo

2 It is probable that the classification given for this song is incorrect; from internal evidence, it would seem to be a song for a snake deity.

[p. 535]

 

O - ru-ma We-de kwa Kodyo O - ru - ma We-de kwa Ko-dyo.

9.¹

U - sa - fō tu - tu fo - ma - nio 'sa - fō ye sa - fō tu-
tu fo-ma - nio 'sa - fō ye U - sa - fō tu - tu (etc.)

1 One Fanti informant referred this to a campaign of Osai Tutu, translating it as

‘General Tutu
Start a campaign.’

Another Fanti gave its meaning as,

‘O warriors gather,
And give it to him,’

(i.e., the unnamed enemy).

10.

Te-i-go -, Dya-dya man-yio Te - i - go -, Dya-

[p. 536]

 

dya man-yio Te - i - go -, Dya-dya man-i a - go

 

Te - i e - go, Dya - dya man - yo

 

Ku-ma tio, na - wo kwa-ya wa tįn -tįn ya-vo-du na - bo

 

kwa-ya ya-wa tįn tį-įn Ku - mątio nab - wo kwa - ya - wa

 

Vo - du sab-wo, kwa - ya-wa Kro-man-tio tįen tįę-ę Vo - du, na-

 

wo kwa - ya-wa-o A - ya - wa ko' tįe̯įe̯n tįe̯įe̯n, nab - wo kwa-ya

 

Dya-dya man - yio -

11.

A - ye mu da - e Kwa-si kwa-dyo (etc.)

[p. 537]

 

A - ye mu da - e - o - (etc.)

 

(Repeated 3 times with variations).

 

A - ye mu da - e - (etc.)

 

A-ye mu da-e - o - (etc.)

 

A - ye mu da - e -

 

ye mu da-e - o -

[p. 538]

12.

Ya si - ki si Dya-dya u - si dya si bu - bu
Ya si - ki si Dya-dya u - ni dya si bu - bu

13¹.

Ya - wa nu-a sa - fō ya - wa nu - a nu

1 Called a ‘Djuka Kromanti’ song. The Twi-speaking translator rendered the meaning of the words as

‘Here we are, warriors,
Here we are.’

14².

Kod-yo, kod-yo - o sa - ba sa - ba wa sa do - a

2 If the accent on saba is on the first syllable, the meaning is

‘Kodyo, Kodyo, have you come with love,
Or have you come to kill me?’

[p. 539]

 

kod-yo - o sa - ba-a kum-yo sa - ba wa sa do

 

Kod - yo, kod - yo - o sa - la - e kum - yo - o

 

sa - ba - wa sa do - a - o sa - ba - wa sa do

15.

O Ma - to Sya - ba ga - du we - o we - a
Ma - to Sya-ba ga - du we - o we

16.¹

A - fi - mu da-dye a ye - a - o Am-ba-o san-yo - A-

1

‘The year has come to a close
Amba, here are our tears.
The years has come to a close,
Save us today,
Amba, we come to you for aid.’

Amba is the female Saturday day-name. Here reference is either to a goddess or ancestress.

[p. 540]

 

-fi-mu da-dye - a - yo Da-dyo-de - Am-ba-o su-yo -

 

Am-ba on-dye A - - fi-mu da-dye - ai - yo A - - fi-mu da-

 

dye-on-dye Da-dyo-ndye fi-mu da dye - a - yo Am-ba-o,

 

sub - wa 'fi-mu da-dye - a - yo Da-dyan-de - 'fi - mu dadye-a - yo

17. see p. 541.

18.

A-na-mu Dya - dya-e - - o - - i A-na-mu Dya-dya - o - i
Ma - na tu ku - ma na - mu - ba We ma-ma - o ma - i (3 times)

[p. 541]

17.¹

Bod'-bo, bod'-bo, a - di - ka - a bod'-bo Bo-dyi A - nan-si 'dji ka bod'-bo
Bod'bo (etc.)

1 One informant stated that Bodji is a Fanti ‘strong name’ for Anansi, but he could not say what it signified.

[p. 542]

19.

A-ma-nu Dya-dya-e - ye - o A-ma-nu Dya - dya - o o -ye
(............) ku-ma le - u - ku mo wu-e ma-ma-e o - o - u
A-ma - na - u (etc.)
A ye ne Ga - du - lu- ku na mu Dya-dya ti - de Ma na
mu bɛg' yu lu - ku na mu Dya - dya - o e -
Ma Ga - du wą' su - ku ma luu - ku - mo me ma - ma - e

[p. 543]

20¹.

A - na-bo bio A - na - bo bio A-na-bo bio Tat' An-do [Tat' Fa-ku] [Tat'Adjai̯-ni].
A - na - bo - bio A - na - bo bio A - na - bo bio -
A - na - bo bio A - na - bo bio A - na - bo Ta - ta - o
A - na - bo bio A - na - bo bio A - na - bo bio
A - na - bo bio - A - na - bo - bi An-do A - na - bo bio
A - na - bo bio A - na - bo bio A-na - bo Ta-ta - o

1

‘Have you come again, Ando?
Have you come again, Faku?
Have you come again, Adjai̯ni?’

Adjai̯ni is a ‘strong name’ for ‘brave man.’

21.

[p. 544]

 

O kɔ̨m ny - ą' gwąm - bǫ - kɔ̨m ny - ą' tɛ -

 

dɛ-dɛ ki-ye Ogwąm-bǫ ko-to mi - e - o kɔ̨m ny-am tɛ -

 

dɛ - dɛ - ki - e - mum ba-o - (- - - - - -.) (4 times with variations)

22¹.

Dąn - kio Nyąn-kɔ̨m-pǫn Dąn-kio Nyąn-kɔ̨m-pǫn e Dąn-kio Nyąn-
kɔ̨m-pǫn [kɔ̨ pi - ki] Dąn - kio - Nyąnkɔ̨mpǫn (etc.)

1 Either ‘Turn’ or ‘Thank you, Nyankompon [come speak]’ - last addressed by the soloist to the chorus.

23.

Ta - ta lu-ku ąn-ka - mą - o ti - de Ya tą lu-ku ąn -ka - mą
Ya-e - - o Ya - o [Kɔ̨m pi - ki] Ya-o tąn lu-ku ąn -ka - mo

[p. 545]

 

Ya-o tąn lu - ku ąn -ka-mo ti - de Ya (...) Ya-o - e

 

Ya-o - e Ya-o tą luk' ąn-ka-ma-o Ya tą luk' ąn - ka-ma-o ti-de

 

mi o-g'a lu-ku ąnka-ma-e - y-e

24¹.

Dąn-kio Na - na - o - ye - A - ya - we dyąn-kio luk' Dąn-
kio lu - ku Na - na - o - ye Na - na mi dan - kiyo Na - na wɛnt'
Dja-dja - e - Dąn-kio - Na-na-o - e - ye U Dąn-kio
Na-na-o - e - ye Na-na-na - u Dąn-kiyo-o Na-na - e - - e - o dan-kie

1 See Song 22.

‘Nana ancestors
Nana went' Djadja-e ancestral Djadja winti.’

[p. 546]

 

Dąn - kio Na - na - o - Na-na Yąnkɔ̨mpǫnu Ti-de mi dąn-kio

 

tę Na - na - o O - bia tu mi dąn-kio te Na-na-we Dya-dya-o

 

Dąn-kio - o - Yan-kɔ̨m-pǫ U Dąn-kio - Na-na-o - - ye

 

Na - na (...) Dąn-kia - o - Na - na - e Dya-dya - e

25¹.

O - pe - te kwa-sio A - djai̯-nie - o - e - o O - pe - te
kwa - sio A - djai̯ - nio o - bia - o O - pe - te kwa - si
tid' A - djai̯ - ni węn - ti kwao kwao kwao kwao

1

‘Sunday Vulture, O mighty one,
Sunday Vulture, O mighty spirit of magic,
Sunday Vulture, today the mighty winti
Kwao, Kwao, Kwao. [Said to be call of the vulture.]
Sunday Vulture, O mighty one, greetings.
Sunday Vulture, look at the mighty obiamᾳn.’

[p. 547]

 

(O)- pe - te kwa - sio A - djai̯-nio - yi O - pe - te kwa-se

 

A-djai̯ - nio - o - yo O - pe - te kwa-sio A-djai̯ - nio ku - mau

 

O - pe - te kwa-sio lu-ku A-djai̯-ni-e o - bia-mau O - pe - te kwa-sio

 

ti-de d'A-djai̯-ni O - pe-te kwa-si ti-de da A-djai̯-ni we-ti kwao

26.

'U ku - ya Ga - do, Wu-du-bai-yu, Lu - ku - ku - ya - e -
Ga - du O kō - kō - - o - ya O ku -
- ya ti - dɛ lu - ku ba'i-yo-o kō - kō - e o - bia.

[p. 548]

 

O kō - kō U ku - ya (.......) Wu - du - bai - yu,

 

Lu - ku - ku - ya - e - Ga - du - e - O kō

 

A ye ma ye -, o ma bu - si¹ A - la - da

 

mi da o kō - kō - e - - o - mu ya

1 ‘O ma busi - I bring you Kola.’

27.²

Kɛ - dia-ɔn - so Kɛ-diąm-po - nu Kɛ - dia - ɔn - so -
Kɛ - diam - p'o - di - o sa - ki na - ya - wa [o - bia - we]

2 ‘Accept water, Kediampon,’ etc.

[p. 549]

 

Kɛ-dia - ɔn - so - e - Kɛ - diam - po - nu Kɛ-dia-diam-

 

po Kɛ-diam - po - nu (...........) ya - wa - e (3 times)

 

Kɛ - dia - o - no- na moi

28.

O - da ya - we - o - dwa ya - we - ob-ia - o-dwai ya
wi wai ya-ob - ia - wei
We pi - ki trąŋga kɔ̨' o - bi-a-'bia wi o-bi-a'o dwai-ya
(...........) o-bamba Wa ya oe - o-dwai-yao-we -

[p. 550]

 

o dwai - ya - o wai - ya - o de - i -

 

(.....) o - bi - a - o o - bi - a kan - tia da ban-ka-ma

 

wa - ye e pi - ki trąŋ - ga kɔ̨' o - bi - a pi - ki yan - ka - mo

 

o - ko - e kyu o - bia o dwai ya-o bam-ba A ya we -

 

o - dwai ya - we - o - dw-ai ya wi wai a - o - de - i

29.¹

A Nu-ma-o - Wɛn-ti-a Nu-ma - o - we A Nu-ma - o -
Wɛn - ti-ba-a Nu-ma-o 'Sant' o - bi-a Nu - ma kom - fo mi Wɩn-

1 The meaning of the first part, according to Gold Coast translators, is

‘Bird winti, come,
Ashanti obia,
Priest of the bird-god come.’

Anumai has the meaning of ‘this bird’; ayeba is a black pot used for sacrifices.

[p. 551]

 

tia Nu - ma - ba A Nu-ma-i A Nu - ma - e -

 

Wɛn-tia Nu-ma-o A Nu-ma-we - Wɛn-tia Nu-ma, ba

 

A-sant' o - bi-a Nu - ma Kɔm - fo Wɛn - tia Nu - ma-a

 

ba A Nu - ma - i (.........) A Nu - ma - e

 

Wɛn - tia Nu-ma O - pe - te kwa - si a g'i ba - ka

 

te a-ye - ba A Nu-ma-o - o - bi-a Nu - ma - o

 

'Sant' o-bi-a Nu-ma- i kɔm-fo mi Win-tia Nu-ma-ba A Nu-ma - i

[p. 552]

30.¹

Dąn-kio, Na-na - e - o - e - Dąn-kio Na-na- o o - bi - a - o
Ye mu ta- fa - ra Na - na, mu ta - fer' a - di - o Kɛ-dia-mo-a
Ų dan-kio Na-na - o - e - Ų dan - kio Na-na - o o-
bi-a-e - Ta-fe - ra Na-na, mu ta-fer' a - di - o Kɛ-diam-po - e
Dan-kio Nana, wa yem ku-mi-ba Ta-fe - ra Nana, mi ta-fe - ra gi.'
Dan-kio Na - na - o man ku-mo ta - f'a yo to ga-wɛ a Man-dɛ²

1 (See Songs 22 and 24.)

‘Dankio ancestors - e
Dankio obia of the ancestors
You must forgive us ancestors,
Must forgive and save us, Kɛdiamo.
Dankio ancestors,
Do not kill my children.
Forgive us, ancestors,
You must forgive and save us.
Dankio ancestors,
Do not kill me,
................
Dankio ancestors of the Awana bush,
Dankio ancestors of Tata Weneki,
Dankio Kromanti ancestors.’

2 Yo to ga-we a mande could not be translated by the Fanti, who understood the remainder of the song; this line was said by them not to be Fanti.

[p. 553]

 

Ų dan-kio Na - na - o - o - ye A - wa - na bu - si Ų dan-kio

 

Na-na- o - o - yo Ta-ta Wɛ-nɛ-ki Ų dan-kio Nana-o, K'omanti - o

 

Gi mu ta - fe - ra Na - na mu ta - fe - ra-di - o Kɛ-diam-po-a

 

Ų dan-kyo, Na-na - e - Ų dan - kyo Na - na- o o - bi-a - o

 

Ta - fa - ra Na - na, mu ta - fer' a - di - o Kɛ - diam - po - e

31.

Ma-wu - le - ye Te - da Ku-dya - ni ku- ma - o (- - - -
- -) Ma - wu - lo kɔ dia me we Ma wu - lo - e - o -
Ma- wu - lo Ga - du me ko - di Ma-wu - lo u-dyon - gi

[p. 554]

 

Dyan ka - ta - sų ko Ma - wu - lo-o Ti - de u dɛ ko Ma - wu - lo Ke-

 

dya - ni - i (- - - - -)

32.¹

A dya mi-a dizɔ̨n-go mąn go mą Komą'-ti Kɔ̨n-go mąn ma-u lų-tu Na-na
ga-e-a mino mo ye - e ga-du! Sa - ve - - e Sa-ve-e-e - o
A - dyai - ni a di zɔ̨n - gō mąn go - mą Ko - mą' ti Kɔ̨n-go - mą'
ma lųn-tu Na-na ɔ̨n-za an - zi - nya-ma Sa - ve - e Sa-ve

1 There is reason to believe that this has been classified incorrectly, and is not a Kromanti song.

33.

(O) mą djɛ - ni o - bia dy-e ma dje-ni no-ho o - bi - a ma - ye
Am-ba djɛ - yi o-bia mi yi yi (- - - -) (o-bia) (- - - -)

[p. 555]

 

O ma dje - ni o- bia mi yi man dje-ni no-ho o-o-bia mo - ye

 

Am-ba dje - ni o - bia- i yɛ man dje-ni no-ho (o - bi-a - i).

34.

Ma ya - o - wi-sia ma-ma-o Ma ya - o - wį-ga ma - ma
Ta Azanku nya ma-ma ku-ma nwį - (.................)
Ma ya - o - wi-sia ma-ma-o A ya - o - wįn-sia ma-ma
Ma no m'a g'w'a Nɛ̨ŋ-ge kɔ̨n-de (.......) (...........)
Ma ya - o - wįn-sia ma-ma-o mi kuma-ni A ya - o - wįn-sia
ma-ma Ma no m'a g'wa Nɛŋ-ge kɔ̨n-de (.................)