Pygmy kidnapping story

Ágbagbaále.

(story opening phrase)

Wo eyé(tɛ).

We're listening.

Á li ácíbhi bɛn.

One day,

Yipɔman bɛn,

a woman,

á bha ákhúbhɛ́ lókɔn, áko édi.

there was a famine in the village.

Nmyɔ́ khu, wo khwɛn wo, wo éfɔnka bu.

The children were dying, so they would throw them away in the bush.

Áko di kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn.

The famine lasted and lasted.

Wo hɔn yipɔ lókɔn, wo lo fɔnka.

They took the child to go throw him away.

Yipɔnthe lé mɛ́n bhya ɔ́nmɔn, wo hɔn ka ahrân mɛn.

A man and his wife took their child into a car.

Wo lo bhro kábrɛn wo di ákwámɛn.

They took the child into the middle of the bush.

Wo hɔn nkɛ fɔnka bu, wo khɛ́n wo fɔnka bu

When they threw away the child,

yipɔman lókɔn, an thɔ́n nhɛ́n-ndu.

the woman started crying.

Mɛ́n bhipwɛ chɛbhri nɔ̂n a hɔn nkɛ fonka bu.

It's her little baby that they took and threw away in the bush.

Mɛ́n ca lɛ lê o, lo káne á le pɛ khɛ́n elí, ɛ lɛ lê o hɔn hɛ bhi lo fɔnka bu.

Her husband said, "there's no food, you said to take the child to throw him away.

Áko ehɔ́n mɛn lo káne.

There is a famine.

Ló mɛ́n ca a la ne, wo wa hrân mɛn, wo bha.

Her husband asked for forgiveness, and they left.

Wo ka a bha di bháthó,

When they arrived home,

ló pán áko édi khúbhɛ́, nphyó ka sé lephan khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂.

the famine continued, and spots started to appear on everyone's bodies.

Á le pɛ nnɛn khɛ́n wo elí.

There was no food to eat.

Ńbye ɛ gɛ pán, thá nɔ̂n ɛ tha o.

If you find leaves, you cut them to eat.

Nthé, ácíbhi bɛn, kúcɛ́n lókɔn, mɛ́n ń nɛ lê

One day, a hunter, he said,

'Màán no bithe, ka sé mɛn gɛ nnán bɛn, mɛn hɔ́n bhá bháthó."

I'm going to go to the bush, and if I find game, I will bring it home.

Lo ka khɛ́n ń no, yipɔsɛ lókɔn, ń di sɛ.

The boy (who had been thrown away) became a man.

Nthé lókɔn bɛn gángán nɔ̂n a bha etɛ́ yí.

There was a white man working there.

Gángán nɔ̂n a wu nkɛ o,

The white man saw him.

gángán nɔ̂n a wu nkɛ o.

the white man saw him.

án mi nkɛ bhwe fránso mɛn.

He asked him something in French.

An nɛ́n yé a.

He doesn't understand.

Ka sé ńbranmán nɔ̂n a gbɛ nkɛ o,

He was raised by animals,

nthé ńbranmán canmán an yé o.

so he only understands the language of animals.

Nthé wo ka khɛ́n gángán bha ne, gángán lo.

The white man left and came back.

Ka sé wo le wu gángán, a than nkhú se nkɛ o.

The white man built a house for him.

Nthé gángán phɛ domobi, áyí khúúnbrɛn.

The white man bought him a car, everything.

Nthé ń do nkɛ lo wo, án do nkɛ an ní júmán.

The white man brought him (to Europe), and he started working.

Avant khɛ́n a do nkɛ ń ni júmán, ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn a bha kan gotho.

Before he left, all the animals came to the forest.

Mɛ́n ka a lú khwɛ́,

When he shouted out,

wo khúúnbrɛn án che wo lo ebhá lé,

he called all of the animals,

lephan bɛn nɔ̂n ebhá ehɔ́n nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo.

to say that someone was coming to take him.

Ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn ka khɛ́n a bha,

All of the animals came.

nthé wo ébhi nkɛ, wo ebhí sɛ bhi lókɔn ebí ɛ?

They asked the man, "what's going on?"

Mɛ́n ń nɛ yipɔnthe lókɔn nɔ̂n a bha nɔ̂n mɛ́n nɔ̂n ń than khú.

He said, "It's the man there who came and built me a house."

Nthé nɛ bha lê nkɛ hɔ́n mɛn ɔ́nmɔn lo.

He came to look for me to take me with him.

Mɛ́n lɛ non.

He said "no."

Ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn, wo ka wo tɛ, lion lo tho an má thé.

The animals were angry; the lion jumped up and down.

Wú yipɔ lókɔn ɔ́n yɛn? án mi nkɛ, khɛ́n wo bha?

You know the child? he asked, "and you came here to take him with you?"

Hóò, wo bhi, wo bhi éle hɔ́n bhi.

No, he is our child, not yours.

Gángán lɛ non, yipɔ lókɔn éle hɔ́n bhi, mɛ́n ń nɛ non.

The white man said, "no, this child is not yours."

Wo ebhá, wo esán hɔ́n, Ka sé ɔ́n gɛ hɔn nkɛ sé lo hɔn nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo.

He said, "I came to ask permission of you for him to leave with me."

Mɛ́n lɛ, ho, an ché krɛnne, mɛ́n-nbrɛn an mán wú nkɛ.

The lion said, "no, the child is going to stay here", he himself will watch over the child.

Kúcɛ́n lókɔn, ń ma ne kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn, ń phɛn bhye.

The hunter, he stayed there until he got married.

Nthé án ji lephan, ń phɛn bhye.

He respects people now, he got married.

Avant que an mphɛn bhye lɔ, ń kranman ńbranmán.

Before getting married, he informed the animals.

Ńbranmán lɛ lê wo se nkɛ mɔ́nsi.

The animals gave him permission.

Kúcɛ́n lókɔn, ń ya, ń ye ló khúúnbrɛn, an wú.

The hunter, he stopped to look around at everything.

Lóka ń wu phu, ń no bháthó, ń no khúbhɛ́.

When he was done looking, he went home, he went to the village.

Mɛ́n nɔ̂n ń no khúbhɛ́ kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn, ń di mɛ́n man bháthó.

He went to the village, to his mother's house.

Áko édi, lephan khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂ ń bo phyó.

The famine raged on, everyone had spots on their bodies.

Ló khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂, wo phyó wo njɛ, wo fɔ́n mɛn khúúnbrɛn phyó.

Everyone had spots on their ears, their noses, everywhere.

Yipɔnthe, ń no.

The man, he left.

Mɛn hɔnsɛn, mɛn nɔ̂n mɛn di ákwámɛn, mɛn ka mɛn wú nkɛ o.

'My brother, I went to the middle of the bush to go hunt, and I saw him.'

Mbyɔ hromɛn, ló hɛ́nmɛn yé ne, wo than khú mwá-mwá-mwá-mwá.

'In the bush, they have built beautiful houses.'

Wú á le li hɛ bhi khɛ́n o hɔn nkɛ lo fɔnka lé?

'Isn't it your child who you went to throw away in the bush?'

Mɛ́n, ń nɛn yɛn sálê mɛ́n wo hɔn nkɛ lo fɔnka lé.

He doesn't know if it's his child who they took to go throw away.

Ákhú wo hɔn, wo lo mɛ́n nɔ̂n an mán hɛ́n, ó lo án do nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo, mɛ́n ń nɛ ho.

'Come, I will accompany you.' He said, 'hm.'

Mɛ́n lɛ lê, màán hɛ́n lo.

He said, "I'll go pass by there."

Ńbranmán nɔ̂n a gbɛ nkɛ o, nthé ka sé ń no ńbranmán wɛn nkɛ.

The animals that raised him, if he goes there, they could kill him.

Mɛ́n lɛ lê á pɛ lósi an mán khɔ tɔ.

He knows how he will explain it.

Ló mɛ́n bhya lɔ, mɛ́n ca lɔ, wo lo,

So the man and his wife went,

wo di kábrɛn kábrɛn wo di lóne.

until they arrived there.

Yipɔsɛ lɛ lê an khwá phɔ̂ lé, mɛ́n an mán chí yá nthé ebhâ yé wo míthé bhwe wo étɔ.

The man said, calm down, he's going to cut wood, he will listen to what they're saying.

Sɛ bhri lókɔn, án tɔ bhwe, ɛ bhâ yé.

'The young man will speak, you will understand.'

Wo lo ka wo di kwamɛn, wo ya ákwamɛn, mɛ́n hɛ́nmɛn le ásíthó.

When they arrived, they stopped at the side of the road.

Yipɔnthe hɔn dugba an chí yá.

The man takes out his machete to cut wood.

An chí gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ.

He cuts.

Ló nthé sɛ lókɔn, ń ya balcon, mɛ́n an yé.

The man stopped at the balcony, listening.

Nthé mɛ́n án tɔ bhwe, án tɔ lê,

Then he said,

Kúcɛ́nwo, e, kúcɛ́nwo,

Hunter,

Ka sé án tɔ sé lephan ekú cɛ́n lê an yé,

He was saying to the hunter that,

án tɔ bhwe sé nkɛ

he said,

Lephan khɛ́n a hɔn nkɛ fɔnka bu lé,

The child that they threw away,

mɛn ma ne, mɛn nɛn khu.

I am here, I didn't die.

Kúcɛ́nwo, e, kúcɛ́nwo,

Hunter,

ɛ lo ɛ kranman mɛn man Gbelyaman e, kasibhye,

go tell my mother the Baoulé woman Gbelyaman,

bhɛ ya e a o, o ho titi o ti o tan jran o a

welcome.

áko di, o thi yango.

The famine arrived.

Ń kranman yipɔnthe, mɛ́n lɛ lê, ɛ yé.

He said to the man, "you hear me."

Ń tɛ hɔ́n.

I know it's you.

Cu kho nnańnmɛ lókɔn, cu tɛ yí an khó.

Sing the song again.

Gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ.

He cut and cut.

Sɛ lókɔn, ń cu ya, ń kho nnánmɛ.

The man stopped and sang again.

Ábhwe nɔ̂n án tɔ, án che.

What he said, he was calling.

Kúcɛ́nwo kranman nkɛ lê, ya, mɛn mán hɛ́n ló lóne.

The hunter told him, "Wait, I'm going to go back there."

Wo jan si, wo eló, wo jan si.

They cut their way out and they went.

Wo élo kábrɛn kábrɛn wo di.

They went until they arrived.

Wo di nkɛ bháthó.

They arrived at his house.

Ágbagbaále.

(story opening phrase)

Wo eyé(tɛ).

We're listening.

Á li ácíbhi bɛn.

One day,

Yipɔman bɛn,

a woman,

á bha ákhúbhɛ́ lókɔn, áko édi.

there was a famine in the village.

Nmyɔ́ khu, wo khwɛn wo, wo éfɔnka bu.

The children were dying, so they would throw them away in the bush.

Áko di kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn.

The famine lasted and lasted.

Wo hɔn yipɔ lókɔn, wo lo fɔnka.

They took the child to go throw him away.

Yipɔnthe lé mɛ́n bhya ɔ́nmɔn, wo hɔn ka ahrân mɛn.

A man and his wife took their child into a car.

Wo lo bhro kábrɛn wo di ákwámɛn.

They took the child into the middle of the bush.

Wo hɔn nkɛ fɔnka bu, wo khɛ́n wo fɔnka bu

When they threw away the child,

yipɔman lókɔn, an thɔ́n nhɛ́n-ndu.

the woman started crying.

Mɛ́n bhipwɛ chɛbhri nɔ̂n a hɔn nkɛ fonka bu.

It's her little baby that they took and threw away in the bush.

Mɛ́n ca lɛ lê o, lo káne á le pɛ khɛ́n elí, ɛ lɛ lê o hɔn hɛ bhi lo fɔnka bu.

Her husband said, "there's no food, you said to take the child to throw him away.

Áko ehɔ́n mɛn lo káne.

There is a famine.

Ló mɛ́n ca a la ne, wo wa hrân mɛn, wo bha.

Her husband asked for forgiveness, and they left.

Wo ka a bha di bháthó,

When they arrived home,

ló pán áko édi khúbhɛ́, nphyó ka sé lephan khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂.

the famine continued, and spots started to appear on everyone's bodies.

Á le pɛ nnɛn khɛ́n wo elí.

There was no food to eat.

Ńbye ɛ gɛ pán, thá nɔ̂n ɛ tha o.

If you find leaves, you cut them to eat.

Nthé, ácíbhi bɛn, kúcɛ́n lókɔn, mɛ́n ń nɛ lê

One day, a hunter, he said,

'Màán no bithe, ka sé mɛn gɛ nnán bɛn, mɛn hɔ́n bhá bháthó."

I'm going to go to the bush, and if I find game, I will bring it home.

Lo ka khɛ́n ń no, yipɔsɛ lókɔn, ń di sɛ.

The boy (who had been thrown away) became a man.

Nthé lókɔn bɛn gángán nɔ̂n a bha etɛ́ yí.

There was a white man working there.

Gángán nɔ̂n a wu nkɛ o,

The white man saw him.

gángán nɔ̂n a wu nkɛ o.

the white man saw him.

án mi nkɛ bhwe fránso mɛn.

He asked him something in French.

An nɛ́n yé a.

He doesn't understand.

Ka sé ńbranmán nɔ̂n a gbɛ nkɛ o,

He was raised by animals,

nthé ńbranmán canmán an yé o.

so he only understands the language of animals.

Nthé wo ka khɛ́n gángán bha ne, gángán lo.

The white man left and came back.

Ka sé wo le wu gángán, a than nkhú se nkɛ o.

The white man built a house for him.

Nthé gángán phɛ domobi, áyí khúúnbrɛn.

The white man bought him a car, everything.

Nthé ń do nkɛ lo wo, án do nkɛ an ní júmán.

The white man brought him (to Europe), and he started working.

Avant khɛ́n a do nkɛ ń ni júmán, ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn a bha kan gotho.

Before he left, all the animals came to the forest.

Mɛ́n ka a lú khwɛ́,

When he shouted out,

wo khúúnbrɛn án che wo lo ebhá lé,

he called all of the animals,

lephan bɛn nɔ̂n ebhá ehɔ́n nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo.

to say that someone was coming to take him.

Ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn ka khɛ́n a bha,

All of the animals came.

nthé wo ébhi nkɛ, wo ebhí sɛ bhi lókɔn ebí ɛ?

They asked the man, "what's going on?"

Mɛ́n ń nɛ yipɔnthe lókɔn nɔ̂n a bha nɔ̂n mɛ́n nɔ̂n ń than khú.

He said, "It's the man there who came and built me a house."

Nthé nɛ bha lê nkɛ hɔ́n mɛn ɔ́nmɔn lo.

He came to look for me to take me with him.

Mɛ́n lɛ non.

He said "no."

Ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn, wo ka wo tɛ, lion lo tho an má thé.

The animals were angry; the lion jumped up and down.

Wú yipɔ lókɔn ɔ́n yɛn? án mi nkɛ, khɛ́n wo bha?

You know the child? he asked, "and you came here to take him with you?"

Hóò, wo bhi, wo bhi éle hɔ́n bhi.

No, he is our child, not yours.

Gángán lɛ non, yipɔ lókɔn éle hɔ́n bhi, mɛ́n ń nɛ non.

The white man said, "no, this child is not yours."

Wo ebhá, wo esán hɔ́n, Ka sé ɔ́n gɛ hɔn nkɛ sé lo hɔn nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo.

He said, "I came to ask permission of you for him to leave with me."

Mɛ́n lɛ, ho, an ché krɛnne, mɛ́n-nbrɛn an mán wú nkɛ.

The lion said, "no, the child is going to stay here", he himself will watch over the child.

Kúcɛ́n lókɔn, ń ma ne kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn, ń phɛn bhye.

The hunter, he stayed there until he got married.

Nthé án ji lephan, ń phɛn bhye.

He respects people now, he got married.

Avant que an mphɛn bhye lɔ, ń kranman ńbranmán.

Before getting married, he informed the animals.

Ńbranmán lɛ lê wo se nkɛ mɔ́nsi.

The animals gave him permission.

Kúcɛ́n lókɔn, ń ya, ń ye ló khúúnbrɛn, an wú.

The hunter, he stopped to look around at everything.

Lóka ń wu phu, ń no bháthó, ń no khúbhɛ́.

When he was done looking, he went home, he went to the village.

Mɛ́n nɔ̂n ń no khúbhɛ́ kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn, ń di mɛ́n man bháthó.

He went to the village, to his mother's house.

Áko édi, lephan khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂ ń bo phyó.

The famine raged on, everyone had spots on their bodies.

Ló khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂, wo phyó wo njɛ, wo fɔ́n mɛn khúúnbrɛn phyó.

Everyone had spots on their ears, their noses, everywhere.

Yipɔnthe, ń no.

The man, he left.

Mɛn hɔnsɛn, mɛn nɔ̂n mɛn di ákwámɛn, mɛn ka mɛn wú nkɛ o.

'My brother, I went to the middle of the bush to go hunt, and I saw him.'

Mbyɔ hromɛn, ló hɛ́nmɛn yé ne, wo than khú mwá-mwá-mwá-mwá.

'In the bush, they have built beautiful houses.'

Wú á le li hɛ bhi khɛ́n o hɔn nkɛ lo fɔnka lé?

'Isn't it your child who you went to throw away in the bush?'

Mɛ́n, ń nɛn yɛn sálê mɛ́n wo hɔn nkɛ lo fɔnka lé.

He doesn't know if it's his child who they took to go throw away.

Ákhú wo hɔn, wo lo mɛ́n nɔ̂n an mán hɛ́n, ó lo án do nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo, mɛ́n ń nɛ ho.

'Come, I will accompany you.' He said, 'hm.'

Mɛ́n lɛ lê, màán hɛ́n lo.

He said, "I'll go pass by there."

Ńbranmán nɔ̂n a gbɛ nkɛ o, nthé ka sé ń no ńbranmán wɛn nkɛ.

The animals that raised him, if he goes there, they could kill him.

Mɛ́n lɛ lê á pɛ lósi an mán khɔ tɔ.

He knows how he will explain it.

Ló mɛ́n bhya lɔ, mɛ́n ca lɔ, wo lo,

So the man and his wife went,

wo di kábrɛn kábrɛn wo di lóne.

until they arrived there.

Yipɔsɛ lɛ lê an khwá phɔ̂ lé, mɛ́n an mán chí yá nthé ebhâ yé wo míthé bhwe wo étɔ.

The man said, calm down, he's going to cut wood, he will listen to what they're saying.

Sɛ bhri lókɔn, án tɔ bhwe, ɛ bhâ yé.

'The young man will speak, you will understand.'

Wo lo ka wo di kwamɛn, wo ya ákwamɛn, mɛ́n hɛ́nmɛn le ásíthó.

When they arrived, they stopped at the side of the road.

Yipɔnthe hɔn dugba an chí yá.

The man takes out his machete to cut wood.

An chí gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ.

He cuts.

Ló nthé sɛ lókɔn, ń ya balcon, mɛ́n an yé.

The man stopped at the balcony, listening.

Nthé mɛ́n án tɔ bhwe, án tɔ lê,

Then he said,

Kúcɛ́nwo, e, kúcɛ́nwo,

Hunter,

Ka sé án tɔ sé lephan ekú cɛ́n lê an yé,

He was saying to the hunter that,

án tɔ bhwe sé nkɛ

he said,

Lephan khɛ́n a hɔn nkɛ fɔnka bu lé,

The child that they threw away,

mɛn ma ne, mɛn nɛn khu.

I am here, I didn't die.

Kúcɛ́nwo, e, kúcɛ́nwo,

Hunter,

ɛ lo ɛ kranman mɛn man Gbelyaman e, kasibhye,

go tell my mother the Baoulé woman Gbelyaman,

bhɛ ya e a o, o ho titi o ti o tan jran o a

welcome.

áko di, o thi yango.

The famine arrived.

Ń kranman yipɔnthe, mɛ́n lɛ lê, ɛ yé.

He said to the man, "you hear me."

Ń tɛ hɔ́n.

I know it's you.

Cu kho nnańnmɛ lókɔn, cu tɛ yí an khó.

Sing the song again.

Gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ.

He cut and cut.

Sɛ lókɔn, ń cu ya, ń kho nnánmɛ.

The man stopped and sang again.

Ábhwe nɔ̂n án tɔ, án che.

What he said, he was calling.

Kúcɛ́nwo kranman nkɛ lê, ya, mɛn mán hɛ́n ló lóne.

The hunter told him, "Wait, I'm going to go back there."

Wo jan si, wo eló, wo jan si.

They cut their way out and they went.

Wo élo kábrɛn kábrɛn wo di.

They went until they arrived.

Wo di nkɛ bháthó.

They arrived at his house.

Ágbagbaále.

(story opening phrase)

Wo eyé(tɛ).

We're listening.

Á li ácíbhi bɛn.

One day,

Yipɔman bɛn,

a woman,

á bha ákhúbhɛ́ lókɔn, áko édi.

there was a famine in the village.

Nmyɔ́ khu, wo khwɛn wo, wo éfɔnka bu.

The children were dying, so they would throw them away in the bush.

Áko di kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn.

The famine lasted and lasted.

Wo hɔn yipɔ lókɔn, wo lo fɔnka.

They took the child to go throw him away.

Yipɔnthe lé mɛ́n bhya ɔ́nmɔn, wo hɔn ka ahrân mɛn.

A man and his wife took their child into a car.

Wo lo bhro kábrɛn wo di ákwámɛn.

They took the child into the middle of the bush.

Wo hɔn nkɛ fɔnka bu, wo khɛ́n wo fɔnka bu

When they threw away the child,

yipɔman lókɔn, an thɔ́n nhɛ́n-ndu.

the woman started crying.

Mɛ́n bhipwɛ chɛbhri nɔ̂n a hɔn nkɛ fonka bu.

It's her little baby that they took and threw away in the bush.

Mɛ́n ca lɛ lê o, lo káne á le pɛ khɛ́n elí, ɛ lɛ lê o hɔn hɛ bhi lo fɔnka bu.

Her husband said, "there's no food, you said to take the child to throw him away.

Áko ehɔ́n mɛn lo káne.

There is a famine.

Ló mɛ́n ca a la ne, wo wa hrân mɛn, wo bha.

Her husband asked for forgiveness, and they left.

Wo ka a bha di bháthó,

When they arrived home,

ló pán áko édi khúbhɛ́, nphyó ka sé lephan khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂.

the famine continued, and spots started to appear on everyone's bodies.

Á le pɛ nnɛn khɛ́n wo elí.

There was no food to eat.

Ńbye ɛ gɛ pán, thá nɔ̂n ɛ tha o.

If you find leaves, you cut them to eat.

Nthé, ácíbhi bɛn, kúcɛ́n lókɔn, mɛ́n ń nɛ lê

One day, a hunter, he said,

'Màán no bithe, ka sé mɛn gɛ nnán bɛn, mɛn hɔ́n bhá bháthó."

I'm going to go to the bush, and if I find game, I will bring it home.

Lo ka khɛ́n ń no, yipɔsɛ lókɔn, ń di sɛ.

The boy (who had been thrown away) became a man.

Nthé lókɔn bɛn gángán nɔ̂n a bha etɛ́ yí.

There was a white man working there.

Gángán nɔ̂n a wu nkɛ o,

The white man saw him.

gángán nɔ̂n a wu nkɛ o.

the white man saw him.

án mi nkɛ bhwe fránso mɛn.

He asked him something in French.

An nɛ́n yé a.

He doesn't understand.

Ka sé ńbranmán nɔ̂n a gbɛ nkɛ o,

He was raised by animals,

nthé ńbranmán canmán an yé o.

so he only understands the language of animals.

Nthé wo ka khɛ́n gángán bha ne, gángán lo.

The white man left and came back.

Ka sé wo le wu gángán, a than nkhú se nkɛ o.

The white man built a house for him.

Nthé gángán phɛ domobi, áyí khúúnbrɛn.

The white man bought him a car, everything.

Nthé ń do nkɛ lo wo, án do nkɛ an ní júmán.

The white man brought him (to Europe), and he started working.

Avant khɛ́n a do nkɛ ń ni júmán, ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn a bha kan gotho.

Before he left, all the animals came to the forest.

Mɛ́n ka a lú khwɛ́,

When he shouted out,

wo khúúnbrɛn án che wo lo ebhá lé,

he called all of the animals,

lephan bɛn nɔ̂n ebhá ehɔ́n nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo.

to say that someone was coming to take him.

Ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn ka khɛ́n a bha,

All of the animals came.

nthé wo ébhi nkɛ, wo ebhí sɛ bhi lókɔn ebí ɛ?

They asked the man, "what's going on?"

Mɛ́n ń nɛ yipɔnthe lókɔn nɔ̂n a bha nɔ̂n mɛ́n nɔ̂n ń than khú.

He said, "It's the man there who came and built me a house."

Nthé nɛ bha lê nkɛ hɔ́n mɛn ɔ́nmɔn lo.

He came to look for me to take me with him.

Mɛ́n lɛ non.

He said "no."

Ńbranmán khúúnbrɛn, wo ka wo tɛ, lion lo tho an má thé.

The animals were angry; the lion jumped up and down.

Wú yipɔ lókɔn ɔ́n yɛn? án mi nkɛ, khɛ́n wo bha?

You know the child? he asked, "and you came here to take him with you?"

Hóò, wo bhi, wo bhi éle hɔ́n bhi.

No, he is our child, not yours.

Gángán lɛ non, yipɔ lókɔn éle hɔ́n bhi, mɛ́n ń nɛ non.

The white man said, "no, this child is not yours."

Wo ebhá, wo esán hɔ́n, Ka sé ɔ́n gɛ hɔn nkɛ sé lo hɔn nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo.

He said, "I came to ask permission of you for him to leave with me."

Mɛ́n lɛ, ho, an ché krɛnne, mɛ́n-nbrɛn an mán wú nkɛ.

The lion said, "no, the child is going to stay here", he himself will watch over the child.

Kúcɛ́n lókɔn, ń ma ne kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn, ń phɛn bhye.

The hunter, he stayed there until he got married.

Nthé án ji lephan, ń phɛn bhye.

He respects people now, he got married.

Avant que an mphɛn bhye lɔ, ń kranman ńbranmán.

Before getting married, he informed the animals.

Ńbranmán lɛ lê wo se nkɛ mɔ́nsi.

The animals gave him permission.

Kúcɛ́n lókɔn, ń ya, ń ye ló khúúnbrɛn, an wú.

The hunter, he stopped to look around at everything.

Lóka ń wu phu, ń no bháthó, ń no khúbhɛ́.

When he was done looking, he went home, he went to the village.

Mɛ́n nɔ̂n ń no khúbhɛ́ kábrɛn kábrɛn kábrɛn, ń di mɛ́n man bháthó.

He went to the village, to his mother's house.

Áko édi, lephan khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂ ń bo phyó.

The famine raged on, everyone had spots on their bodies.

Ló khúúnbrɛn phɔ̂, wo phyó wo njɛ, wo fɔ́n mɛn khúúnbrɛn phyó.

Everyone had spots on their ears, their noses, everywhere.

Yipɔnthe, ń no.

The man, he left.

Mɛn hɔnsɛn, mɛn nɔ̂n mɛn di ákwámɛn, mɛn ka mɛn wú nkɛ o.

'My brother, I went to the middle of the bush to go hunt, and I saw him.'

Mbyɔ hromɛn, ló hɛ́nmɛn yé ne, wo than khú mwá-mwá-mwá-mwá.

'In the bush, they have built beautiful houses.'

Wú á le li hɛ bhi khɛ́n o hɔn nkɛ lo fɔnka lé?

'Isn't it your child who you went to throw away in the bush?'

Mɛ́n, ń nɛn yɛn sálê mɛ́n wo hɔn nkɛ lo fɔnka lé.

He doesn't know if it's his child who they took to go throw away.

Ákhú wo hɔn, wo lo mɛ́n nɔ̂n an mán hɛ́n, ó lo án do nkɛ ɔ́nmɔn lo, mɛ́n ń nɛ ho.

'Come, I will accompany you.' He said, 'hm.'

Mɛ́n lɛ lê, màán hɛ́n lo.

He said, "I'll go pass by there."

Ńbranmán nɔ̂n a gbɛ nkɛ o, nthé ka sé ń no ńbranmán wɛn nkɛ.

The animals that raised him, if he goes there, they could kill him.

Mɛ́n lɛ lê á pɛ lósi an mán khɔ tɔ.

He knows how he will explain it.

Ló mɛ́n bhya lɔ, mɛ́n ca lɔ, wo lo,

So the man and his wife went,

wo di kábrɛn kábrɛn wo di lóne.

until they arrived there.

Yipɔsɛ lɛ lê an khwá phɔ̂ lé, mɛ́n an mán chí yá nthé ebhâ yé wo míthé bhwe wo étɔ.

The man said, calm down, he's going to cut wood, he will listen to what they're saying.

Sɛ bhri lókɔn, án tɔ bhwe, ɛ bhâ yé.

'The young man will speak, you will understand.'

Wo lo ka wo di kwamɛn, wo ya ákwamɛn, mɛ́n hɛ́nmɛn le ásíthó.

When they arrived, they stopped at the side of the road.

Yipɔnthe hɔn dugba an chí yá.

The man takes out his machete to cut wood.

An chí gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ.

He cuts.

Ló nthé sɛ lókɔn, ń ya balcon, mɛ́n an yé.

The man stopped at the balcony, listening.

Nthé mɛ́n án tɔ bhwe, án tɔ lê,

Then he said,

Kúcɛ́nwo, e, kúcɛ́nwo,

Hunter,

Ka sé án tɔ sé lephan ekú cɛ́n lê an yé,

He was saying to the hunter that,

án tɔ bhwe sé nkɛ

he said,

Lephan khɛ́n a hɔn nkɛ fɔnka bu lé,

The child that they threw away,

mɛn ma ne, mɛn nɛn khu.

I am here, I didn't die.

Kúcɛ́nwo, e, kúcɛ́nwo,

Hunter,

ɛ lo ɛ kranman mɛn man Gbelyaman e, kasibhye,

go tell my mother the Baoulé woman Gbelyaman,

bhɛ ya e a o, o ho titi o ti o tan jran o a

welcome.

áko di, o thi yango.

The famine arrived.

Ń kranman yipɔnthe, mɛ́n lɛ lê, ɛ yé.

He said to the man, "you hear me."

Ń tɛ hɔ́n.

I know it's you.

Cu kho nnańnmɛ lókɔn, cu tɛ yí an khó.

Sing the song again.

Gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ, gɔɔɔ.

He cut and cut.

Sɛ lókɔn, ń cu ya, ń kho nnánmɛ.

The man stopped and sang again.

Ábhwe nɔ̂n án tɔ, án che.

What he said, he was calling.

Kúcɛ́nwo kranman nkɛ lê, ya, mɛn mán hɛ́n ló lóne.

The hunter told him, "Wait, I'm going to go back there."

Wo jan si, wo eló, wo jan si.

They cut their way out and they went.

Wo élo kábrɛn kábrɛn wo di.

They went until they arrived.

Wo di nkɛ bháthó.

They arrived at his house.