Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Dan bila kaa cha, fansung jamano

mandinka keebali laa ka cha, fansung jamano. Ibadin maa gainde meen bee Gambia kilin. ali ilanmoi kaa chala :
http://www.onegambia.com/orahist.php

scroll down to fansung jamano. Mr D's exploit.

Saturday, 27 June 2009

Sandoli 4

Kitimbantio yea din din men kulu, sin kanbaa bukawojakali koten (what one is use familiar with, no one can scare him with that)

Kono karita nyo koma kunpa dunta (this statement is referring to people who switch topic as soon someone came into the room or place of discussion. This is to avoid the person finding out what is being discussed.)

Kano diya muu lan nyoleti (Lalo Keba) (the sweetness of love is mutual trust) Nin kanumal man laa nyola, kano man ban ban. If the trust is gone in any relationship, the love might be on its way as well.

Tulo tee bakoo bari aka bako kumo moi (lalo Keba) (the ear is not at the other side of the river but it can hear the echoes of the voices from there

Befo mandiya kumoyee (lalo keba) (to say all is not liked by a word) This statement is closely connected by another saying that “kacha merin leka larandan daa mafofen bondi” (Badibu Saying) a prolong chat reveals secrets. Here in the first case, when having a conversation, limit the duration if not you wouldn’t have any else to say. The solution ends up talking about the confidential issues.

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Sandoli 4

1. Bankiran koli- ( a proper translation of this word is needed. It is use for the Nyanchos mainly, a Kabuu dialect i think.)
2. Turo (seed) or geneology or future offspring.
3. Abarakaah (bless you). the root of this word is Arabic in origin. Barakah means blessing.
4. Iininbara (thank you) good work, good afternoon. This is universal mandingo greeting for many occasions.
5. Sankilin kuma kilin (one year, one word)

Sandoli 3

1. Bonoto kalafii anyonwlela (people in loss want more of like them). This statement implies losers want more people like them so that no one make fun of them.
2. Aman kutute' (under achiever). The term refers to lazy people, higly dependent folks
3. Sondomo wararo (low capacity to think or too much pride)
4. Doutala foforo (late night whisling). A surprise gesture, a sad and disappointing incident.

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

A detail history of griout tradition of Mandingo by Erci Cherry

Eric Cherry la nyin booko be londo jama lediya akaranna nala. Ala kata alyeh booko nyin googlu.
This google book has detail accounts of Eric Cherry's indept research into the griout traditions of the Mandingos. An interesting book.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_gA9a3qkglwC&pg=PR24&lpg=PR24&dq=mandinka+phrases&source=bl&ots=jDg-JEoPKx&sig=O3StEJB7J8ZO8psvOYtVr6Kvxck&hl=en&ei=98pASvjPJJ68jAe7koCPCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4

See how some christian groups use the Mandinka langauge

kurumatoli bee mandinka kanwu lee kee kan kawandi ranwuti. Ilafita kaa bibulo lee foo mandinkoliyee, bari mandinkoli yee misilimeya lee kaanu adun wolemu tonyati fanan.

The missionary recordings of mandinka langauge from bible text. This is to chritianise those who don't understand english. mandinkas on the other hand are mostly muslim, they have chosen that faith long ago and it is intertwine with many of their hesritage.

http://globalrecordings.net/program/C01641

Nghansin bondo, mandinka traditions

nkhansin bindo, nin imanta kewuloto, woto, londo doo soto jaan,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6Wev0T1kE&feature=related

Nghansinwu kela dumale.

Kankuran men kanfata. wuulaa baa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v1vb17PhBA&feature=related

fan bondi men be janbokon, kifara lomu.

Mandinka tantan donwu

Nyin vidoe muu mandinka tanatanwu leti, ite famata nyin sifa jubela. Bari nna adoo bebandine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOwFwF58Ds&feature=related

This is an old traditional mandinka drumming dance with women leading the way. I haven't seen things like this for ages.

A Youtube video of the state of mandinka language today

This video demonstrate how youths are incapable of speaking proper mandinka without inserting uncommon language. The mandinka men in the video have a Kombonka accent, but they have not articulate the proper usage of the mandinka words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIpu1CwDORc

Sandoli 2 .Mandingo proverbs 2

6. Moo kendo Danwu Doyata (good people are fewer now). This statement means that there are large numbers of people around but good ones are few.
7. Keba loto dibola, nin momejee, Ifanwu yaa fanjele (an elder standing in the dark, knows his place even if others don’t). These statements are remarks to connote one knowing his/her status and condition even if no one knows.
8. Buntalo sungw lemu bundirotee (it is the reputation of a scorpion to sting people). This means, every person has its reputation that precedes them.
9. Ten ten ka ten ten betilee (a basket can cover another basket). This comment best describe the power of people. However strong and powerful you think you are, there is somebody who can overpower you.
10. Nyri kunto meeta baakono nya wo nyandin aah buka keno banbotii (however long a wood spent in a river it cannot change into a crocodile) This statement implies the impossible scenarios. There some people, when they travel, they change to try being like their host. Some will abandon their heritage and roots in the name of modernism and rational thoughts. The statement indept means, in as much you try immitating others, it may not be possible to be like them in appearance and actions.

Monday, 22 June 2009

sandoli

1. Aah modomokeno banta (his share of food is finish) a coded word for death. This type of statements are made when children are present in the place of announcing an obituary.
2. Aah mingioyodoya (His share of drink in finish). Another word to disguise news of death.
3. domota (suto, ika foo koyele domota, men kadomo) salt is referred to as domota (that which is eaten at night, it is a superstitition).
4. Kootee koo-danila (salt owner yet begging for salt). The curiosity of women, they go asking for salt just to know what food other women are cooking. This happens in local communities.
5. Sin-noh laseeya Nin Moo laseeya Tekilintii. (The high number of footsteps doesn’t signify a high number of people). This is true because footsteps indicate people but does it mean many footsteps are a direct result of large number of people?

Sory Kandia la denkilo. keme burama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIuH_fs2bvw&feature=related
Keme Burama muu Almamy Samory domaleti. Keme burama lakekendeya woo laya kendi ika afoyaye keme. keme, wolemu ati kilin muu kee keme leti. woto Keme burama muu jatoleti.

kuma kan jama lebe denkilo nyinto.

Lalo Keba la denkilo, Alalakee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0B-WeDkkDY some translation from the song on weblink.
Lalo Keba layin denkilo yee mandinka kumaba jaama lesoto akono. Ako dinwu la juloba analela.
Alake muu kumaba leti. (a child's future prospect is attached to the mother)
Ako duya koloya nin sonoya (this world is about good times and hard times)
Sinyo jawoli manbeti, kafunyo jawoli manbete (enemies that are close neigbours are dangerous and an enemy who is a cl0se associate is a risky thing to do).
Musu mansa mansiya nari akanda siyalata (women rullers are few but women with strong voices and authourity are many).

AL-SAMAA

Ibadin mandinkoli aah nan kanwu moi lilalu, ibali kontonna. Nyin buloko muu albele tati. ilafita mandinka talin aah nin sandoli see lon jamayee.
Al-ninbara fo nyato.