Sandoli 9

Koo tan ifan naa, bata tejee (measure everything according to your liken, then you will hardly make fault).

The meaning of Sankalanka

The meaning of Sankalanka----Thanks for that comment. To tell you the truth, I don't know what Sankalanka means. A very close friend of mine used to call himself by that name, and I believe it has something to do with his family legacy. His surname was Marong. I know there is a history connected with the name, and he always used it in a very proud and boastful manner.
Kay jatta said it means: “I think it is a Mandingo word about power, strength, and might...; but I stand to be corrected on this.”
Janko explain the meaning as: your explanation is correct but I think it refers to SANKALANG, adjective formed from Sangkalango, noun, object … in this case;SANGO = SkyKALANGO = Coloured; (mostly dark when referring to the colour of the sky)You know, the symbolism is that dark clouds evoke fear.SANKALANKA/ SANGKARANKAIn one of Lalo Kebba Dramé´s songs he praised one Madiba konte from Sangkarang, ”sangkarangka Madiba konté”So, from that perspective SANGKARANG is a historical place (City, town or village). Mostly used by Kora singers in praise-singing so called great families. SANGKARANG = a historical placeN`KA = Of/From SANGKARANKA then means s/he from SANGKARANG. Sangkarang could have been known for its brave, rich or great men and women.
Gainde backed kay jatta explanation: www.onegambia.com
My understanding of SANKALANKA is as Kayjatta puts it, has to do with power, might,bravery etc. SANKARANKA is a historical place and oral history has it that of the three Bojangs(surnames) in The Gambia, the Bojang Sankarankas are originally Kontehs(contehs) originating from Sankaranka Madiba Konteh. Oral history has it further that Bojang comes from the Mandinka 'Bo Dulaa Jang' translated 'coming from a distant(far away) place.
SSS went along with Janko’s explanation:
sangkalangka could mean literally sky thunder.sang meaning sky and kalangbah meaning sharp sound like thunder.as in lebah which is piercing shout.u say that sangkalanka is thundering sky.old folks will call big and towering things sankalang.thundering sky seem to it.a similar word is sangkafalash meaning the sky is flashing.falash and flash,did the english stole that word from us.i know they stole a lots of words?BO-JANG does mean from far away.

Kay Jatta discard his views and support Janko’s one:
"sankalango" and "sankalanka" are both derivatives of the root word "sankalang". If "sankalang" is the noun for the 'fierce and the mighty', "sankalanka" is perhaps one who has his/her origins (ancestry) from such 'fierce and mighty' (people);just as one who is a "sankarango" is also a "sankaranka" because he/she is originates from "Sankarang" ...Sankarang and sankalang may not have the same etymology (history).
Finally Janko hit the nail on the head. Case close:
“Sankalango” is the root word of which the adjective “Sankalang” is derived. It is very unusual to add the suffix “ka” to an adjective(sankalanka), unless it’s a slang word or a metaphor. In Sangkarang, a noun (a place) the suffix ka could be replaced by “ko”. Sango + Kalango = Sangkalango - the root wordSango kalanta janing sanjio kaa keé. Sangkarang, a place; Sangkarangka or SangkarangkoWe have to take usage and context into account and in this case I think the jaliya praise-singing “poetics is the key to understanding the relation between the two words. The Jali use metaphors in their narration especially when mystifying something or someone. Let’s be observant of the jaliya narratives for they would have invented Manding even if Manding never existed.” In jaliya sankalang, as you rightly mentioned, is a virtue credited to Sangkarangkolu. They are two different words but I think the metaphorical usage referring to the virtue, fierce and mighty credited to Sankarangkolu was invented by the Jali. I am not saying the Jali invented the root word “Sangkalango” what am saying is that they invented its metaphorical use in this context.

Mandou, one of Salifu's best song for Sekou Touray

This song is a tribute to Sekou Touray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBhtDJUVgLg&NR=1

He was saying that, what people look for, God has bless sekou with it all. From wealth to kids, to fame, so why should Sekou worry?

Manden love song by Salifu keita

this one is translated in English. very brilliant poetry by Salifu.
touching for that matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8RWJJsT3xo&feature=channel

Keita at his best...

Alla lakee, lalo Keba

Alla lakkee, moo buka tanbe wola. nin alaa yee menkee, ika isabari lee doron. Lalo keba la yin donkilo yee koto jama lesoto.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0B-WeDkkDY&feature=related
lalo keba's great hit, 'it is the doing of God'.
fadin jawoli, sinyo jawoli...