This is a song about the great king Kelefa. Singnyaro jang jang bourai singnyaro (Good person’s title) (village @ Georgetown) Ba ba duale jabitay m’batu faama (His father’s prayers were accepted/the one jali praises) Massaneh L’eesey Darajo ate gogo b’ailelah sialah mu meh Popularity no matter how much prevent dying not possible

This is a song about traveling to other lands and the things that can be found there. It is a modern and funny kora song. N’MIN AA ARABO LUYAA I want to go to the Arab’s land SANO BE ARAABO LUYAA There is gold in the Arab’s land KONO BE ARAABO LUYAA There is food [...]

This is a really beautiful kora song. As with all of the kora songs on this site, this is only what I know, what I have been taught. I know that there are many more words to this song. If you have additional lyrics to this song I would love to know – please contact [...]

These are the lyrics to the Mandinka kora song “Kelefa Ba” and its rough translation into English. This is only part of the song, as the original is epically long. If you have additional lyrics to this song I would love to know – please contact me about posting them here. Verse 1 Jola Kelefa, [...]