LYRICS

 

 

1. AKOO KOFI (GA)

Akoo kofi

boni olε wć faŋŋ

ni okεε obε noko

loflćn bibioo mini maye mć

be no wo ma wo inseŋ kpaŋ mo

shi sa ne nba

 

2. DAMBA SUITE (DAGBANI)

Bingalima yaye galima ye

Nantong dagban bia

 

Tinim bila

yibilan bantiyoδ

 

3. NYENTO (EWE)

Nyento fe jeje vielo

Tobolo

Mekae fui nama

Tobolo

Nega gble ha nyee dzi

Tobolo

Nega nyo tia nye dzi

Tobolo

Mega favile zamena mo

Nudela hogbe la si won a mo

Jeje vin ye lo

Tobolo

 

4. OYE (DAGBANI)

Oeye Oeye Oeye ya yee

 

Namong bizing bia ning bin ning waribini

Sanpaha bizing bia ning bin ning waribini

Dalimbihi bangibia yuriye ye

 

5. SUBO (EWE)

Subo subo subo

Mele ya wom be nava subo

Ne tsi le dza dzam

Ne kuledidim

Ne dole wuwom ha

Kpada mele yawom be nava subo

(Hallelujah)

 

6. CONFORNOCHE (GA)

Confornoche eg buey

 

Miya maba

 

7. KEKELE (UNKNOWN)

Kekele djo dja djo dja dja dja dja

Mobaiyo

 

8. DUSIME (EWE)

Mano efe Dusime

Matso miabu da do efe kome Dusime

Egbe la lanye la me liwo

Ne me kula lanye lawo sugbo

 

9. DAMA DAMA (EWE)

Dama dama dama ee

Obla yo ni ya

kweni sa le jogbaa aa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

AKOO KOFI (GA)

Kofi parrot, you that feeds us all

But you said you have nothing

Little bird like me, what will I eat

Because of that I will hang myself

But there is something coming

 

DAMBA SUITE (DAGBANI)

Attention! Be warned of intruders

Nantong [child’s name] child

 

We are those people.

Don’t you recognize us all?

 

NYENTO (EWE)

This is my lovely son

 

Who will beat my son for me

 

When it’s good it’s my child

 

When it’s bad it’s my child

 

Don’t cry in the night

Something will take your voice

This is my baby

 

OYE (DAGBANI)

[Cry for help!]

[…Praising different families of musicians…]

Namong [surname] bizing [family name] bin ning waribini [society of dancers]

Dalimbihi [village] bangibia [drummers]

 

SUBO (EWE)

Worship

I’m calling you to come and worship

When it’s raining

When it’s the dry season

If you are hungry

I’m calling you to come worship

(Hallelujah)

 

CONFORNOCHE (GA)

Confornoche [a famous Asante warrior chief] is dead.

I’m going to come back.

 

KEKELE (UNKNOWN)

[Onomatopoeia]

 

DUSIME (EWE)

A man sits on the right of the lady

He puts his left hand around her shoulder

Today I don’t have any lovers

When I die, my loved ones are many

 

DAMA DAMA (EWE)

[Calling a lady] Dama

This lady going, the necklace is beautiful on her