Djembe Salif Keïta

Translated from Bambara by Jean-François Onivogui


Ha diyagné mogo nara ô diaragné
Ah the love of my heart has come; that pleases me
Koné nika mogo nara 
I say my soul mate has come
Koné nika mogo  nara; ô diaragné
Ah my soul mate has come; that pleases me
Sindji ma nara
My bosom friend has come
Sindji ma nara ô diaragné
Ah my bosom friend has come; that pleases me
Kone konofo gnogo nara 
I say my confidant has come
Ha konofo gnogo nara ,O diragne
Ah my confidant has come; that pleases me
Halou bé djembé doumana
You who are playing the Djembe
Halou bé fôli koulouna
You who are listening to the beautiful sound of the playing instrument
Koné nika mogo nara 
I say my soul mate has come
Koné nika mogo nara; ô diaragné
Ah my soul mate has come; that pleases me
Né bora kéléna mirilà fama allah ni tié
My lonely days are gone; thank you Allah!
Kone konofo gnogo nara 
I say my confidant has come
Ha konofo gnogo nara , O diragne
Ah my confidant has come; that pleases me
Ne filani gnogo nara!
 My cosmic twin has come
Ha filani gnogo nara ô diaragné
My cosmic twin has come; that pleases me
Wari mogo fè itatè, Walidé bé bogofè itatè
You will get enough money, [Do not make money your unique objective]
Sanou mogo fè itatè, Bouré sanou mogo fè itatè
You will never get enough of gold [Do not make money your unique objective]
Koni dé bé mogo fè itayé, Wolodé gnouma mogo fé itayé
But your children will always be yours [Your sons and daughters belong to you]
Koni dé bé mogo fè itayé, Wolodé gnouma mogo fé itayé
Make the concerns of human beings your primary objective; human beings are what matters in life
Mousso doyou bé mogo fé itayé, Fouroumousso gnouma mogo fé itayé
Obey marriage, your wedded wife is the one that is a blessing
Ha diyagné mogo nara ô diaragné
Ah the love of my heart has come; that pleases me
Koné nika mogo nara 
I say my soul mate has come
Koné nika mogo  nara ô diaragné
Ah my soul mate has come; that pleases me
Sindji ma nara
My bosom friend has come
Sindji ma nara ô diaragné
Ah my bosom friend has come; that pleases me
Kone konofo gnogo nara 
I say my confidant has come
Ha konofo gnogo nara ,O diragne
Ah my confidant has come; that pleases me
Né bora kéléna mirilà fama allah ni tié
My lonely days are gone; thank you Allah!
Kone konofo gnogo nara 
I say my confidant has come
Ha konofo gnogo nara ,O diragne
Ah my confidant has come; that pleases me
Ne filani gnogo nara!
 My cosmic twin has come
Ha filani gnogo nara ô diaragné
My twin has come; that pleases me
Bora kéléna mirila ô diaragné
My life full of isolation is over, that pleases me
Ha nika mogo nara ô diaragné
Ah the love of my heart has come that pleases me
Kabô kéléna kassila ô diaragné
Being away from crying alone, that pleases me 
Ha diyagné mogo nara ô diaragné
Ah the only one has come, that pleases me
Kabô kéléna koumala ô diaragné
Being away from days full of isolation, that pleases me
Ha diyagné mogo nara ô diaragné
Ah the only one has come, that pleases me
Kabô kéléna Tamala ô diaragné
Being away from solitary walks, that pleases me
Ha tama gnogo nara ô diaragné
Ah having my companion, that pleases me
Bora kéléna koumala ô diaragné
Being away from days full of isolation, that pleases me
Ha filani gnogo nara ô diaragné
Ah! my twin has come O that pleases me. 
Tama gnogo nara ô diaragné
My companion has come, that pleases me
Ha tama gnogo nara ô diaragné
Ah my companion (walking mate) has come that pleases me
Né bora kéléna mirilà fama allah ni tié
I am no longer forlorn, thank you God
Ha tama gnogo nara ô diaragné
Ah my companion has come, that pleases me
Ha tama gnogo nara ô diaragné
Ah my companion has come, that pleases me