Suriname folk-lore

h) ɩ̨ŋgi wɩnti

171.

A - Gɛ - dɛ - ų - su, na mi Tąn - do fa - nu - a ko - bi̯o
Miɛ̮ - dɛ go na yɛ - rɛ - to Na yɛ - rɛ - to, mar-wa
Mi'ɛ - dɛ go na yɛ - rɛ - to

[p. 642]

 

A Gedeusu, my Tando take it back again,¹

 

My head goes on the bier

 

On the bier, marwa

 

My head goes on the bier.

1 This line was translated by Gold Coast informants; the phrase Fa nua ko bio meaning ‘take it back again’ is used to signify the taking away of the spirit at death.

172.²

Yan-kio pre man - do ke yan - kio pre man - do ke
yan - ki pre - man - do na yan - ki e - go pre man - do
Yan-kio (etc.)
(6 times)

2 Not enough words of this song were translatable by Suriname informants to attempt a rendition of it here.

[p. 643]

173.

Miɛ̮-go pre A - gi - da tɛ - dei̯ Miɛ̮ - go pre A - gi - da tɛ - dei̯
Kop-si pur' 'a wi - si fo ka - ka a ba - ro Miɛ̮- go pre A-
gi - da tɛ - dei (etc.)
(6 times with minor variations)

I will play the Agida (drum) today,
I will play the Agida today - o!
Kopsi will remove the evil magic,
That the cock may crow - o!
O I will drum on the Agida today,¹
I will change into the Agida today - o,
Kopsi will remove the evil magic,
That the cock may crow - o!

1 These last four lines are a translation of a variant of the original words not given above in taki-taki.

[p. 644]

174.

Miɛ - go dɛ-dɛ na li - ba pɛ-man - dɛ - Miɛ-go dɛ-dɛ na tu - na
pe-man - dɛ li-ba

I will die on the river,
Pemande;¹
I will die on the water,
Pemande.

1 Not translatable. Occurs in Indian wɩnti songs. One informant said the word dɛdɛ in former times also meant ‘softly’, and that the song had reference to running away under the protection of the water Indian wɩnti spirits who rule the inland waters.

175.

Gu - ru - ya da - da A - ya - ya A - gi- da - o yo A-
gi - da wo - ye A - gi - da - o ye - o Go - ro wiɛn -
ti no kɔ' 'ɛte n'A - gi - da o - ye M'A - i - sa no
kɔm Ga - dō Ma - ya A - gi - da - o ye - (....

[p. 645]

 

...............) Go - ro Ga - dō no kɔ̨' yɛ-te

 

A - gi - da wo - yo M'A - i sa no kɔ̨' yɛ - te

Guru ya da-da
A ya-ya Agida-o-yo.
Agida wo-ye, Agida-o ye-o.
The earth wɩnti have not come yet,
Agida o-ye.
Mother Aisa has not come yet,
? ? ?
The earth gods have not come yet,
Agida wo-ye.
Mother Aisa has not come yet.