Suriname folk-lore

[p. 590]

c) Awasa.¹

1 The Awasa dance songs are of a semi-religious character, in that they are often sung as a preliminary to the religious dances. In their secular aspect the words are introduced to comment on current happenings, as in the Sɛkɛti songs. Saramaka tradition tells that the Awasa was learned from the Djuka tribe of Negroes. In the Ashanti country, the dance is called Awisa, and is said to be of Hausa origin.

89.

Tɛ mi go na o to nyo Pa - pa-ka - yo da-yo da-yo Tɛ mi
go na - o to nyo Pa - pa-ka - yo da-yo da - yo Tɛ mi
go na - o to nyo Pa - pa-ka - yo da - yo da - yo ye
ye ye ye ye ye - ye (3 times)

[p. 591]

90.

(4 times)
Si gi - d'ai ba - ka -
lu tan - yo ye - ye - ye Si - - gi-d'ai ba-ka - lu tan - yo
ye - (etc.)
(7 times with variations)

[p. 592]

91.

Yo yo Ka-wai̯-na, yo wa ye yo yo Ka-wai̯-na, ye
Yo kɔ̨ Nɛ̨ŋ - gre Yo kɔ̨ Nɛ̨ŋ - gre Ka - wai̯ - na, ye
Dai - mo-i ma - ti Yo kɔ̨ Nɛ̨ŋ-gre (Ka - wai̯ - na, ye) (13 times)
I - ya-o
Ba - ka-a

92.

Da mi są-o fo yu a' mi'e tan - gi f'i - ai - ye
Da mi są-o fo yu a' mi'e tan - gi f'i - ai - ye (4 times)

[p. 593]

93.

Dą mi go mio g'we Sa - ba mi ną' g'we Ma na
te mio go - Sa - ba mi na' do' Dą mi go - we, mio go-
we O lu - ku są - ni na, lu - ku są - ni,
ba Te u - ma lu - ku ba są - nia̯ de (.... tąŋ na)
lu - ku, ba, są n'ą kan-ta na Ma mie-go - (mie-go)

94.

Yu - ku Ke - dja-ma tan-dyo Yu Ku-djo Kwa-ma wa-

[p. 594]

 

dji wa-djo (.........) (7 times)

 

djo ye ye ye

 

ye -

95.¹

Ko - dyo, ko-dye da-i - y - o ko - dye
Ko - dyo, ko-dye da-i - y - o ko - dye - i
Ko - dyo, (etc.)

1 A Gold Coast informant, stating that kodyo signifies ‘sleep,’ felt that this song might be a lullaby.