Àsábèlí.

Lēē nɛ̀ dōó yé ē ló ē gɔ̰̄ sí ā,

A girl went to get married,

lēē nɛ̀ dōó kēŋ̄kēŋ̄ lɛ́ ē ló ē gɔ̰̄ sí ā,

when this girl, all alone, went to get married,

gɔ̰̄ nɛ́ ē kílíɓɛ̄ ē nɛ́ yē nɔ́ dōó, kēŋ̄kēŋ̄.

this man in question just made one and only child.

Là nɛ́ wɛ̄ tɔ́ lɛ́ Gbámɔ́ Sèé Sèè.

The name of his child was Gbamo Se Se.

Gbámɔ́ Sèé Sèè wɛ̄ ē tó gbāā gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀ wɛ̄ kɛ̀lɛ̀.

Gbamo Se Se stayed with this man.

Tó gbāā ā ɓō ā kɛ̀lɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ lēē wɔ́ gbāā píé.

Since he stayed with him, he no longer has a wife.

Yēlɛ́ gbāā ē ló gbāā ē lēē nɛ̀ dōó sí.

Thus he went to marry a woman.

Láà gèē: a̋, ŋ́ŋ̀ nàà ī ká, yà ŋ̄ bà ā,

He said: "I love you, marry me.

e̋, ŋ̄ lìē, í dɔ̄ ŋ̄ là.

Hey, mother, defend me."

Mɔ̀kɛ̀ léé ɓɛ̄ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ sɛ̀ɛ̀ mì lɛ̄.

However this woman was a witch.

Gɔ̰́ ɓɛ̄ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ ē wɛ̀lɛ̀ gbāā léé ɓɛ̄ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ ŋwɛ́ŋ̀, áà lò gbāā lɛ̀ ɓō wɛ̄ lɛ̄ gbāā lóà à ká gbèkènī.

This man too got up for this woman, he then left to farm, he went far.

Ē à ɓō nɔ́ kélɛ̀ zī lɛ́ ò Kìlìkìlì gōō yí gɛ̰̀ ā

He farmed (no further than) as we can see the valley of Kili-Kili.

ē lɛ̀ ā vòlò, áà yílí vɔ̀.

He cleared this field, he felled the trees.

áà kpàá kɛ̀nɛ̀, ē gbònó ká̰, ɓú yā wā tā.

He burned off the soil, he made the fence, they planted this rice.

Mais ɓū gbà̰à̰ ē kɛ̄ gbāā là ɓɛ̄ kɛ̄ ɓū āà wí ɓɛ̄ mɔ̀ɔ̀ áà nù gbāā yí.

When the rice was about to be in the ripening phase, the rice started to mature and the birds started to come.

áà gèè gbāā ē gbē Gbámɔ́Sèé lɛ̀ɛ̄ zèē áà gèè gɔ̰̄, lō ɓáà mɔ̀ɔ̀ yā ɓáà lùò yē gɛ̰̀ lēē nɛ̀ áà wè kpɔ̀ wì.

He told his son Gbamo Se, he said: "Go chase the birds, you see, this woman who is weeping."

Ē ló ē gbàlá dɔ̄ ɓú wɛ̄ là.

He went, he built a watchtower on the rice.

Yēlɛ́ ē gbàlá wɛ̄ dɔ̄ ɔ̄ nɛ́fú wɛ̄ à dàā ē yòlòŋ̀ vɔ̄ áà dɔ̀kɛ̀ à kɛ̀lɛ̀.

When he built the watchtower, his father made a sling and gave it to him.

Yílí gbùò lɛ̄ gɛ̄ɛ̄ gbùò ká à dɔ̄ɔ̀ lɛ̄ zī ŋwū là

A big tree that was a big baobab was at the start of the road.

Mɛ́nɛ̄ wāà kɛ̄ gó-pìà pɛ̄lɛ́í zàá ā, óò dà-pìà ɲɛ́nɛ́ ɓɛ̄ yílí gbùò wɛ̄ dɔ̄ɔ̀ lɛ̄ yí.

Where when you leave from town, before you enter the field, the tree is over there.

Léé wɛ̄, gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀ wɛ̄ lɛ́ɛ̀ kɔ́nɔ́ kɛ̀ nɔ́ pɛ̄lɛ́í o,

The woman prepares the food in the village

léé wɛ̄ lɛ́ɛ̀ kɔ́nɔ́ kɛ̀ nɔ́ pɛ̄lɛ́í o áà lò à ká o.

The woman prepares the food in the village and brings it to him.

Nɛ́fú wɛ̄ gɛ̰̀ à ká o

Coming to see the child with it.

yé āà ɓɔ̄ nɔ́ yílí gbùò yā dḭ́ mɔ̀ nɔ́ ɔ̄, lɛ́ɛ̀ wàà gbāā yílí gbùò ɓɛ̄ gáná yí.

When she arrives only under the shadow of this big tree, she comes in from underneath the roots.

Tó ē ē kīī ɓō ē mɔ̀, ē kīī ɓōò ē mɔ̀ gbāā à kīī yā āà... parce.que

Thus she removes her skin.

Ē tó ē támá zóló ɓɔ̀ɔ̄ ká.

She stays with her red muscles.

donc, áà nɛ́fú ɓɛ̄ súò kɛ̀ gbāā ɓú wɔ̄ mɔ̀.

She now calls the child for the rice.

áà gèè nɔ́ Gbámɔ́ Sèé Sèè, áà gèè nū ɓà ɓū kṵ́.

She says: Gbamo Se Se, she says: "Come take your rice."

Nɛ́fú wɛ̄ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ lɛ́ɛ̀ tùò à lɛ̀ɛ̄ áà gèè à lɛ̀ɛ̄ ɓú wɛ̄ yà tá̰à̰ yí.

This child, he fears her, he says: "Put the rice down over there."

tó áà gèè gbāā nɛ́fú ɓɛ̄ lɛ̀ɛ̄ yékɛ̀ ŋ́ ɓú wɛ̄ ŋ́ yàá tá̰à̰ ā̰ yékɛ̀ sɛ́lɛ́ é tó á ɓà.

Thus she tells the child: "When I put the rice down, the sand must not fall into it."

Tó nɛ́fú ɓɛ̄ áà gèè à lɛ̀ɛ̄ sɛ́lɛ́ é tōá ɓà ā, ŋ́ŋ̀ mɛ́ pɛ̀lɛ̀.

Thus the child says: "If sand falls, I will wash it."

à bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ áà gèè à lɛ̀ɛ̄ kélɛ̀ à mɛ́ pɛ́lɛ́ɛ̀ láà kɛ̀ tɔ́útɔ̀ù

She too she says: "Washing the rice makes it tasteless."

Bon, lēē nɛ̀fú wɛ̄ lɛ́ɛ̀ gbɛ̰̀ gbāā ɓú wɛ̄ yí,

Well, the woman then starts to walk on the (field of) rice,

fááfèlē lɛ̄ gbāā kɛ̀lɛ̀ áà lò gbāā ɓú ɓɛ̄ gbà̰à̰ mɛ̀à sí á ká.

she had a rope, she then walked around hitting the rice with it.

lɛ̄ mɔ̀ɔ̀ lɛ́ ē ɓū ɓèlè-pìà ā.

As if it was the birds who ate the rice.

Tó ē táá gbāā ē ló ē nɛ́fú wɛ̄ kṵ́ gbàlá là lɛ̀í.

Thus she walked, she went, she took the child on the watchtower.

Tó ā gbɛ̰̀ tá̰à̰ tó ē nɛ́fú wɛ̄ mɛ̀ ē ē léyíí sùò à là.

She took him down, she hit him as she spit on him.

à mɛ́ āà ɓā, à mɛ́ āà ɓā, ɓá gɛ̰̀á̰ ā̰ lɛ̀ nɔ́féfé.

He got all covered in wounds, when you see him, it is everywhere.

tó é nūá pɛ̄lɛ́ ɛ̄ à dàā áà gèè à lɛ̀ɛ̄ Sèé,

When he comes to the village, his father asks him: "Ce?" He says: "Hm?" He says: "What happened to you?"

áà gèè m̀ḿ?,

He says: "Hm?"

áà gèè mɛ́ ē kɛ̄ ī mɔ̀?

He says: "What happened to you?"

Tó wɛ̄ āà pàpá, áà gèè; mɔ̀ɔ̀ lɛ́ɛ̀ nū lūú dḭ̀ḭ̄ o.

He says: "Dad, the birds come to the bush over there."

ŋwɔ́ lɛ́ léé ā à kɛ̀ à ká ā lɛ́ɛ̀ tùò làá nāā à gèè.

What the woman did to him, he is afraid, he does not want to say.

áà gèè: e̋! gɔ̰̄, ɓáà gèē mɔ̀ɔ̀ kpókpó lɛ́ ē nū lūú yí ā?

He says: "Hey, man, you're really saying that the birds go to the field over there?"

áà gèè ŋ̀ŋ̀ mon pàpá, mɔ̀ɔ̀ lɛ́ɛ̀ nū lūú ā yí lɛ́ɛ̀ nū kpànākpànāzɛ̀.

He says: "Yes, my dad, the birds come to the bush, they come abundantly.

māà ló nɔ́ ɔ̄ parce.que ɓū lɛ́ɛ́ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ lɛ̄ zèēzɛ̀

Only when I go, because the rice leaves can be itchy."

áà gèè "māā kɛ̄ táá-pìà à yí ā yē gɛ̰̀ ŋ̀ ŋ̄ mɛ́ ɓā wē

He says: "When I walk there, that is why I have wounds."

Mais āà yà nɛ́fú ā yí zì wɛ̄, áà gèè: ḿḿ! fɔ̰́kē ŋ́ ŋwɔ́ wɛ̄ gèē ŋ̄ dàā lɛ̀ɛ̄.

The way she tired the child too much, he said: "Hm! I have to tell this thing to my dad."

Yēlɛ́ gbāā nɛ́fú ɓɛ̄ ē gó gbāā lūú ɲɛ́ŋɛ̀ píé

Thus the child came back from the bush one evening.

à lòkó ē yíí gbɛ̰̀ à lɛ̀ɛ̄ ē ló ē zúlà à ká.

His mother served him water, he left to go wash himself with it.

Lɛ́ nɛ́fú wɛ̄ ē ē dàā súò kɛ̄, wàá pèèlɛ̄ ō làpìà.

Thus the child called his dad, between the two.

Láà gèē: pàpá, ŋwɛ́ŋ́ lɔ̀ɔ̄ lɛ́ ɓà kɛ̀ gbāā ā

He said: "dad, the requests you make of me now,"

láà gèē: e̋, màá wāā, lɛ́ɛ̀ nū ɓū wɛ̄ ká, mais āà nū gbāā ká ā lɛ̀ɛ́ kɛ̄ lɛ̀ zí lāā ká ɓɛ̄ o.

He says: "This mom, she brings this food, but when she brings it, she is no longer the way she is.

Lɛ́ɛ̀ lō gbāā ŋ́ŋ̀ gɛ̰̀ nɔ́ gbāā ē zóló ká kílī yí

Now she goes, now I see her red like this.

āà kɛ̄ māà gɛ̰̀ gbāā ā à kīī ɓōò lɛ̄ gbāā à mɔ̀.

when she does this and I see her, her skin is removed.

Māà gɛ̰̀ gbāā ŋ́ŋ̀ tùò.

When I see her now, I am afraid.

ŋ́ŋ̀ gèē à lɛ̀ɛ̄: ɓú wɛ̄ yà tá̰à̰ yí.

I tell her: put the rice down.

Tó ē wéé yékɛ̀ ŋ́ yàá tá̰à̰ ā̰ sɛ́lɛ́ é tó á bà.

She then says that when I put it down, sand must not fall on it.

ŋ́ŋ̀ gèē bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ sɛ́lɛ́ é tōá ɓú ā bà ā, ŋ́ŋ̀ lō à mɛ́ pɛ́lɛ́ɛ̀, áà gèè: gbāō.

Even if I say that if sand falls, I will wash it, she says: no.

À mɛ́ pɛ́lɛ́ɛ̀ láà kɛ̀ tɔ́útɔ̀ù.

Washing makes it tasteless.

Yé ŋ̀ŋ́ zṵ́ kɛ̄ ŋ́ nū yī ā lɛ́ɛ̀ nū nɔ́ gbāā tó ē ŋ̄ kṵ́ áà ŋ̄ mɛ̀

When I refuse to come, she comes, she picks me up and she hits me.

Áà ē léyíí sùò ŋ̄ là, ŋ̄ lè mɛ́ ē ɓā ā ɓáà gɛ̰̀.

She spits on me, you see the wounds on my skin?"

áà gèè: ŋwɔ́ gágà wáá ká.

He says: "It is not a big deal."

áà gèè: à ɲɛ̀ɛ̀ kɛ̄ɛ̀ wɔ́ gágà.

He says: "It is not difficult to treat."

áà gèè lō tòò.

He says: "Go tomorrow."

Gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ yélɛ́ ɲɛ́ŋɛ̀īpíé ē kɛ̄ kɛ̄pìà ā áà gbɛ̰̀ ē gà̰ mɔ̀

This man, when it was the evening, he got up on his feet.

pɛ́lɛ̀zèŋ́ áà lò.

Outside he goes.

É ɓɔ̄á léé ɓɛ̄ mɔ̀ ɔ̄ tó ā gèē à lɛ̀ɛ̄: ŋ̄ lòkóò,

When he arrived meeting this woman, he told her:

wèŋ̄ ɓéŋ́ nɔ̄ ŋ̄ lɛ̀ɛ̄ ké, béì pɛ̰́ɛ̰́ mā yà tíè dḭ̀ḭ̄ ā̰, ŋ́ŋ̀ lō à dàà à mɔ̀.

"Give me a bit of salt, the cassava slices that I put on the fire, I will put some on them."

ō wèŋ̄ nɔ̄ à lɛ̀ɛ̄

Salt was given to him.

nɛ́fú wɛ̄ dàā é lōá nɔ́ é ɓɔ̄á léé wɛ̄ mɔ̀ ɔ̄

The father of the child when he arrives meeting the woman

tó ē wéé ŋ̄ lòkóò,

he speaks: "mom,

Súò ɓéŋ́ nɔ̄ ŋ̄ lɛ̀ɛ̄ kéēké à mɔ̀

Give me a bit of pepper like this,

ŋ̀ béì pɛ̰́ɛ̰́ lɛ́ mā yà tíè....

my cassava slices that I put in the fire."

ḛ̋ pàpá bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ ɓī bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ sà̰ā̰ ŋwɔ̀ lɛ́ ɓà kɛ̀ ɓɛ̄.

"Eh, dad, you are joking."

Áà gèè ŋwɔ́ gáà lɛ́ ŋ̀ gèē wɛ̄ o.

He says: "I am speaking seriously."

Tó ō súò dɔ̀kɛ̄ à kɛ̀lɛ̀.

Thus he was given some pepper.

Wèŋ̄ nì súò nì pɛ̄ nɔ́féfé ā nāā lōà vɔ̀ kɛ̀lɛ̀.

Some salt, some peppers, all things he looked for at the women's.

nɔ́ bímíà ɲɛ́nɛ́ dɔ̄kézɛ̀ ká wā nɔ̄ à lɛ̀ɛ̄

At night at the same time they were given to him.

ē tó nɔ́ ē gà̰ mɔ̀ ē nū ā zɔ̰̄

He stayed on his feet, he came, he crushed.

āà bṵ̀ ɓɔ̄ à túú lɛ̄ gbɔ́kò ká.

He turned it to powder, the package was large.

ē nū gbāā kálémɔ̀ áà gèè ē gbē lɛ̀ɛ̄ áà gèè sòló tòò mɔ̀ɔ̀ wɛ̄ píé

He then went to the house and he told his son: get up early tomorrow to (chase) the birds.

áà gèè pɛ́ lɛ́ ē ī mɛ̀ ɛ̄ māē māà mɛ̀

He says: what hit you, I hit it.

áà gèè ŋwánà lɛ́ ɓà gèē ā? áà gèè pàpá zí nɔ́ ŋwɔ́ è dìá yē lɛ̄ o, áà gèè māà mā.

He says: "Is it true what you said?" "Dad, that is how things go." He said: "I understand."

gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀fú wɛ̄ ē sòló lààpíé áà lò mɔ̀ɔ̀ wɛ̄ mɔ̀.

This boy got up very early and went to chase the birds.

Léé wɛ̄ áà gèè: ḿḿ, nɛ́fú ɓɛ̄ āà gó kɛ̀ɛ̀ lóò pɛ́lɛ̀

This woman said: "Hm, this child has been gone for a long time.

dɔ̄ ké ŋ́ pɛ̄ ɓéŋ́ kéā kɛ̄ kéā ŋ́ ló ŋ́ dɔ̀kɛ̄ nɛ́fú ɓɛ̄ kɛ̀lɛ̀ mɔ̀ɔ̀ sùù lɛ́ ē nū à mɔ̀ ā

Wait, I will do this little thing, I will give it to the child (because) there are many birds coming.

ŋ́ ló nūà à lɛ̀ɛ̄, é à ɓèlè yēmɔ̀.

I will bring it to him so that he at least eats.

mɔ̀ɔ̀ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ lɛ́ ē kɛ̄ nū-pìà mīī mɔ̀ ɔ̄ í kɔ́nɔ́ ɓèlè bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ lɛ̀ɛ́ ī zò dà.

The birds, who come, even if you eat it does not fill you up."

lēē nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ āà kɔ́nɔ́ kɛ̄ tólō ē yīè ká

This woman prepared the meal very well.

áà lò à ká.

She left with it.

Gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ ē gbɛ̰̀ nɔ́ gbāā ē nā kōlà mìà, mìà, wáà lò.

This man went quietly behind his wife, they left.

mais làá gɛ̰̀ o. Lēē nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ lɛ̀ɛ́ gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ gɛ̰̀ o.

But she does not see him. This woman does not see this man.

Gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ lɛ́ɛ̀ lēē nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ gɛ̰̀, ɓīī lɛ̄ líé zàá

The man sees the woman because she is ahead.

é nìá tournant yí ā à bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ ē táá ɓéŋ́ɓō ké fɛ̀ɛ̀ mais wà yē ó ɓɔ̄á zī sá̰gbá pìà ā lɛ́ɛ̀ dɔ̄ tá̰à̰.

When she turns at a turn, him too, he walks a bit slowly, but when they arrive at a place where the road is all straight, he stops.

yé ō tó ló-pìà gbāā ō ɓō gbāā tournant yí léé ɓɛ̄ áà wàà gbāā yílí gbùò ɓɛ̄ gáná yí ā gɔ̰́ ɓɛ̄ ē dɔ̄ tá̰à̰.

As they were talking like this, they entered a turning point, the woman then entered the root of the big tree, then the man stopped.

Yé ē tó dɔ̄á yí fɛ̰̀ɛ̰̀ lēē nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ ē ē kīī ɓɔ̄ ē mɔ̀.

When he stayed motionless for a long time, she removed her skin.

Áà gèè kéà ŋwánà lɛ́ ŋ̀ nɛ́ ɓɛ̄ āà gèē gbāā.

He said: "It is true what my child told me."

Áà lò nɛ́fú ɓɛ̄ píé, āà ē kīī ā ɓɔ̄ ē mɔ̀ āà gbɛ̰̀ gbāā yílí wɛ̄ gáná yí.

She went to the child, she got rid of her skin, she left it in the root of the tree.

REFRAIN

yēlɛ́ gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ ē kɛ̄ lɛ́ gbāā lēē nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ ē kɛ̄ ló-pìà gɔ̰̄ nɛ̀fú ā píé ā é ló zéní á mɛ̀ɛ̀.

So this man went, so this woman went towards this boy to go hit him again.

áà là fáá yā sì áà mɛ̀ à ká, áà mɛ̀ à ká.

she took her whip again, she hit him with it.

Gɔ̰́ nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ lɛ̀ɛ́ gbāā wéé o,

This man did not speak,

Gbámɔ́ Sèé Sèè dàā ɓɛ̄ lɛ̀ɛ́ gbā wéé o,

the father of Gbamo Se Se did not speak.

???gbāā lēē nɛ̀ wɛ̄ āà kīī wɛ̄ sí gbāā yílí gáná yí, ā sí ā yà.

Now this woman, he took her skin from the root, he took it, he put it down.

Súò bḭ̀ḭ̀ yā áà kàà yī.

He poured the pepper inside.

Áà súò bḭ̀ḭ̀ wɛ̄ kàà yī, āà bɔ́nɔ́ nɔ́ à ká kílī

He poured the pepper inside, he mixed it with it like this.

lēē nɛ̀ ā bɛ̰̀ɛ̄ làá gɛ̰̀ o.

The woman does not see.

ē à kīī yā sí nɔ́ ā yà nɔ́ yílí gáná yā yí nɔ́ ɲàà.

He took the skin, he put it in the root quietly.

à bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ áà yɛ̀ ē zí áà nù pɛ̄lɛ̄í.

He too turned back, he went to the village.

Lēē nɛ̀ ɓɛ̄ gó gbāā ā ɓō à lɛ̀ mɔ̀ lɛ́ gbāā ē nū gbāā ē wàà ē kīī wɛ̄ yí kɛ̄ é ló gbāā pɛ̄lɛ̄í gbāā

This woman when she left from here, she came, she entered her skin, so that she could then go to town,

e̋ moyen lɛ̀ɛ́ sɔ̀lɔ̄ ɓō.

Eh, there is no way.

á wàá gbāā ē mɔ̀ ɔ̄, e̋, lɛ̀ɛ́ wàà gbāā mɔ̀, āà kɛ̄ gbāā zèēzɛ̀ à mɔ̀, áà gèè: e̋ ŋwɔ́ ɔ̄ ŋ́ŋ̀ lō à kɛ̄ɛ̀ kpɛ̄ɛ̀?

When she wears it now, she cannot wear it, it is starting to make her itch, she said: eh, this thing, how am I going to do?

áà gèè: ŋ́ŋ̀ ŋ̄ yí dɔ̄ gágà ŋ́ kīī ɓɛ̄ wàà ŋ̄ mɔ̀.

She says: "I will make an effort to wear my skin.

ŋ́ŋ̀ lō yēmɔ̀ pɛ̄lɛ́í ékɛ̀ ŋ̄ yí é ɓō

I will go to town nonetheless, so that my secret is not revealed."

ē ē kīī wɛ̄ sí ā wàà ē mɔ̀.

She took her skin, she put it on.

mais à kīī wɛ̄ ē ká̰ gbāā ké pɔ́pɔ̀pɔ̄

But her skin teared all over.

Bon yēlɛ́ ē gbɛ̰̀ gbāā lūú zòlō ká

Finally she turned into an antelope.

yē lɛ́ è fèlè à kīī yí bāā

That is what is whitening on her skin.

MEV_MK_NARR_201201_GBAMO-SE-SE.EAF