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Baobab Leaf Song
This is a traditional song version performed by Dr. Yacine Kouyate. Click here to see his introduction to the song.
Bambara transliteration: (supplied by Dr. Ousmane Macalou)
  1. (Sogolon:) Please let me have some baobab leaves.

    2. N'na i
    ten son fura bulu
    doni na

    (Sogolon:) I am asking you for baobab leaves.
    N'na o n'na i
    te son fura bulu
    do ni na
     

  2. (Sassouma Berete:) The leaves you are seeing my son harvested for me.

    3. N'zira min
    sigi le yan
    N'den ke
    kamalen le ka ka o kari n'ye

    (Sogolon:) Bend down, Baobab. Bend down. Baobab, bend down to me.
    N'zira n'zira ...


Phonetic version: (supplied my Michele Delattre)
  1. NA ee

    2. TIEN son-zira bulu
    DON-eena

    NA YO ee
    KAN son-zira bulu
    DON-eena
     

  2. FI-ra MIN

    3. SI-gui-LE-yen 
    NDEN-ke
    KA-malen de ka BOG-nyeh
     
  3. ZI-ra EE ma dji-guin

    4. ZI-ra Zi-ra ee ma DJI-guin o

Baobab Tree
Yacine: This is the story of Sundiata. Sundiata Keita. The child who could not walk, but ended up being one of the greatest emperors of all time.

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