Kurunti Kelefa

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:54:08 +0000

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

Kelefa Ba

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:28:27 +0000

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, Badora Jola Ialah
(The Jola Kelefa from Badora died)

Kelefa a la Tambo be Barria
(He left his spear in Barria)

Mingdolo Banta, Mingdolo Banta
(Roughly translated: His drinking days are done)

Kelefa Ba La Mingdolo Banta
(The great Kelefa, his drinking days are done)

Verse 2 and Interlude

Sou ole be dongna, sou ole be dongna
Jang fa tinyata, Sou ole be dongna
(The horses are dancing, the trick has failed)

Sada te Julu ba moi la
Satou Sada te Juluba moila
(If you are the useless person in town, the jalis won’t sing for you)

The song is about Kurunti Kelefa, who was a great king. He was from the village of Badora, and died (left his spear) in another village – Barria. He was in a war time, and there was a conspiracy which failed, causing him to lose the war and his life.

Jali is the name of the West African Griot, or kora player, who recorded histories like this through song.

Hear Bakary Jobarteh sing “Kelefa Ba”

Kora Music - The Music of the Gambian Kora » Jali

Kurunti Kelefa

Kelefa Ba