ŋwɔ́ lɛ́ mɔ̀ɔ́ ŋ́ gèē wɛ̄ lɛ̄ ŋwɔ́ zīī ká

The story I want to tell, it is an old story,

tɛ́ ŋ̄ dàā làá yí dɔ̄ ŋ̄ dàā bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ zì dàā làá yí dɔ̄, bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ zì dàā làá yí dɔ̄

that my father does not know, that the father of my father does not know, that his father does not know,

tɛ́ lɛ̄ ŋwɔ́ zīī wɔ́lɔ́wɔ́lɔ́ ká é gbɛ̰̀ á̰ kō pàà Gɔ́dḭ́ sɛ̀lɛ̀ mɔ̀.

that is a very old story that happened in Godi.

wà gbàlà mìà tɛ́ ō gó Yɔ̀ɔ́ŋ́wìgbàlàbèí

Them and the Kpelles that come from Yonwigbalabei (the Kpelle name Yɔ̀ɔ́mù = Yomou).

Gbàlà gèlè tɛ́ mɔ́ ē ká̰

The Kpelle war that started long time ago.

Yɔ̀ɔ́ŋ́wìgbàlàbèí mìà wáà nù, wáà máá mìà kṵ̀

The people from Yomou came, they took the Manos.

É wɛ̀lɛ̀ nɔ́ Bùnɔ́ ɔ̄ é dīá ká Gbà̰à̰ é ló é dà-á Gɔ́dḭ́ é ló é ɓɔ̄á Kàrànāà

Merely go to Bounouma, passing through Gbaan until one falls at Godi and go to Karana.

Kɛ̄ Zāà nì séŋ́ wāà tó à yí ḛ̋ Yɛ̀í nì.

Such that all the (dwellers of) Nzao and Yalenzou stay inside.

óò nū wáà máá mìà kṵ̀ wáà lò wáà ō kɛ̀ lùò vɔ̀ ká.

They come, they take the Manos, they make slaves out of them.

kɛ̀ɛ̀ tɛ́ ō nū á Gɔ́dḭ́ lùò vɔ̀ kṵ́à̰ ā

The year they came to take the slaves of Godi.

kɛ̄ Gɔ́dḭ́ mìà bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ wāà mā kélɛ̀ gbàlà mìà ó nūá ó máá mìà kṵ̄á̰ ó ō kɛ̄á lùò vɔ̀ ká ā óò wàā ɓèlè

When the dwellers of Godi learned that when the Kpelles come, if they take the Manos, if they make slaves out of them, they will suffer.

óò wàā kpɔ̄ ō là

They inflict pain on them.

Mīī gbúnùzɛ̀ é lōá ā lɛ̀ɛ́ yɛ́ gbāā ē zī é nū é ɓɔ̄ ē nā mɔ̀.

Some, if they go, they do not return to arrive at their wife's.

é lōá ā, lɛ́ɛ̄ kɛ̀ nɔ́ à lóà séŋ́ ká.

If they go, it is forever.

yé Gɔ́dḭ́ zì kɛ̀ɛ̀ ē ɓɔ̄ ɔ̄, gbàlà mìà kɛ̄ ó nū nū yí ā, ɓīī wāà gèē mɔ́ óò nū sɛ́lɛ́ yí ā, óò ō ɲɛ̀ɛ̄wɛ̀lɛ̀ vɔ̄

When the year of Godi arrived, the Kpelles, before coming over there, because in the old times when they said that they would come to a village, they sent emissaries

wā gèē kà gɔ̰̄à̰ séŋ́ pá ē kíè mɔ̀

They say, "Gather all the men,

kɛ̄ ó nūá nɔ́ ɔ̄ ó ō kṵ́ ó ló ō ká ɓīī ō kɔ̀ dīà lɛ̄ mīī séŋ́ là.

so that, when they will come, they will take them, they will bring them along because they are stronger than everyone."

yé Gɔ́dḭ́ zì ā ē ɓɔ̄ ɔ̄ ō mīī vɔ̄ ē nū ā yí ɓō Gɔ́dḭ́ pɛ̀lɛ̀ì, ā gèē:

When it was the turn of Godi, someone was sent, he came to explain to Godi, he said,

gbàlà mìà, Yɔ̀ɔ́ŋ́wìgbàlàbèí mìà ō nū-pɛ̀lɛ̀.

"The Kpelles, the people of Yomou come."

Gɔ́dḭ́ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ lɛ̄ kúlá sɛ̀lɛ̀ ká.

Godi is also a village of warriors.

à kúlá wɛ̄ ō kɛ̄ ā gèē-pɛ̀lɛ̀ Sèémāsīè.

This warrior was called Semasie.

Sèémāsīè à gɔ̰̀á̰ lɛ̀ɛ́ gbā kɛ̄ màá sɛ̀lɛ̀.

There was no one like Semasie in the Maa villages.

à gɔ̰̀á̰ dò gbɛ̄ɛ̄ lɛ̀ɛ́ gbā kɛ̄ màá sɛ̀lɛ̀ nɔ́ féfé dò yí.

There was no one - no one like Semasie in the Maa villages.

yé ō nū wā gèē ā dɔ̄mì áà gèè: Sèémāsīè, íì tō zèē, ó nū ó kò gɔ̰̄à̰ wɛ̄ séŋ́ kṵ́ ó ló ō ká, ó ló ō ká, ó ló ō kɛ̄ lùò vɔ̀ ká, ó kɔ̰́ ō nā nì yí, ó kɔ̰́ wà nɔ́ɔ̄ yí, ó kɔ̰́ ō kɛ̄pɛ̀ yí,

When they came and they said, the chief said, "Semasie, you will stay here, so that we will come take our men and bring them all along, bring them along, make slaves out of them, so that we will deprive them of their wives, of their children, of their belongings."

lɛ́ Sèémāsīè ā gèē dɔ̄mì lɛ̀ɛ̄: Wálà é wēá mɔ̀ ɔ̄, gèlè ɓɛ̄ kóò lā gɔ̰̄ɔ̰̀, kòó ló nɔ́ kō dìè nɔ̄-ɔ̀ ō lɛ̀ɛ̄ kílī

Semasie told the chief, "If God accepts, we will wage war, we will not turn ourselves over like this."

lɛ́ ā gèē íì nū gèlè wɛ̄ gɔ̰̄ kpɛ̄ɛ̀.

He said, "How will you go fight the battle?"

ā gèē dɔ̄mì lɛ̀ɛ̄ lɔ́ɔ́ dōó nɔ̄ ŋ̄ lɛ̀ɛ̄ kò gɔ̰̄à̰ vɔ̀ kó sà̰ā̰ kɛ̄.

He told the chief, "Give me a week so that us with the men, we may do the work."

yēlɛ́ dɔ̄mì ē wéé à mɔ̀.

The chief accepted.

ē míá tɛ́ kílíɓɛ̄ nɔ̄ mɔ́ ā lɛ̀ɛ̄ ē pɛ̄lɛ̄í gɔ̰̀à̰nɛ̀ŋ́ séŋ́ nɔ̄ Sèémāsīè lɛ̀ɛ̄ wà yē nì ō lɔ́

He gave him the people in question, he gave him all the young men of the village, they left.

zī tɛ́ wòló gèlè wɛ̄ gɔ̰̄ à ká ā

The way they wanted to start the war.

wà yē nì wā mɛ́ dá̰. ō ló zī tɛ́ wòló sɛ́lɛ́ wɛ̄ mɛ́ lúó à ká ā nàà kpɔ́

They learned (they knew many things). They went to strengthen the borders the way they wanted to defend the village.

ō gōō ká̰

They dug the ditches.

à gōō yā óò gèē à lɛ̀ɛ̄ Gbōtōgōōyí.

This ditch is called Gbotogoyi.

yé gbāā ɲɛ́nɛ́ wɛ̄ ē ɓɔ̄ ɔ̄ kɛ̄ gbāā míá wɛ̄ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ wòló nū gbāā gèlè wɛ̄ dà, gbàlà mìà wɛ̄ wòló nū ā wā kɛ̄ ɲɛ́nɛ́ yììsɛ̄ lōà séŋ́ ō wàà kɛ́ì ō ká lé tā.

When the day came, now then, these people were about to wage war, the Kpelles were about to come, they took four days, all the women went back home, they closed the door.

kèá zèē bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ gàlà ɓōà lɛ̄ mɔ́ sɛ́lɛ́ mɔ̀

Long ago there was a fence around the village.

ō gàlà lé tā gbāā sɛ́lɛ́ mɔ̀ gɔ̰̄à̰ ō ɓō gbāā gàlà mɛ̀ŋ́

They closed the fence, the men went out behind the fence.

ɓīī Gbōtōgōō wā ká̰ wɛ̄ wā ká̰ ɓéŋ́ɓō gbèkènī pɛ̄lɛ̄í mɔ̀, íī tàà kɛ̄ í tḭ̄ḭ̄ ɓɔ̄ Gbōtōgōōyí.

Because the Gbotogo that they dug, they dug a bit, a bit far from the village, you walk before arriving to Gbotogo.

gɔ̰̄à̰ séŋ́ ō ló gbāā ō gbīnī Gbōtōgōō wɛ̄ kpóŋ́ là.

All the men went now, they bent at the edge of Gbotogo.

ō gbīnà lɛ̄ gbāā gōō wɛ̄ kpóŋ́ là

They are now bent at the edge of the ditch.

Gbōtōgōō ē kɛ̄ mìnìzɛ̀, à yí lɛ̄ gbèkènī.

Gbotogo was horrible, it was deep.

lɔ̀ɔ̀mìà bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ ó nūá ā, ō kpáá tɛ́ à dùá lɛ̄ ó fɔ̰́ á̰ kɛ̄ ó dà pɛ̄lɛ̄í wɛ̄

When the strangers come, the path they must take to arrive to the village,

gbàlà mìà wɛ̄ ō zīlèē wɛ̄ tā.

the Kpelles blocked the path.

donc, zī dōó tɛ́ nɔ́ gbāā è bɛ̀ī é nū é ɓɔ̄ pɛ̄lɛ̄í, yē lɛ́ gbāā Gbōtōgōōyí wɛ̄ ká

Hence, the only path that can lead to the village, it is just Gbotogoyi.

Gbōtōgōōyí wɛ̄ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ Sèémāsīè wà là gèlè gɔ̰̄ kúlá vɔ̀ séŋ́ wāà ló wāà gbīnā là.

This Gbotogoyi too, Semasie and his warriors they went, they bent.

mīī séŋ́ là mɛ̀ɛ́ lāā kɛ̀lɛ̀

Everyone has their spear.

mīī séŋ́ là sá̰á̰ lāā kɛ̀lɛ̀

Everyone has their bow.

í ō kɛ̀lɛ̀ gɛ̰̀á̰ ā̰ lɛ̄ mìnìzɛ̀

When you look at the hands, it is horrible.

ō wɔ̄ɔ̀ lɛ̄ gbāā ká kpóŋ́ là yí

They are lying with this on the edge.

ḛ̋ gbàlà mìà wɛ̄ zò lɛ̄ mɛ̄ɛ̄ mɔ̀

Eh, the Kpelles, what are they thinking of?

zí nɔ́ kpá ò nū á wáā lùò vɔ̀ kṵ̀ sɛ́lɛ́ vɔ̀ yí ā lɛ̄ nɔ́ ō gé ékɛ̄á ó nūá ā óò nū nɔ́ Gɔ́dḭ́ mìà kṵ́à̰ kílī

The way they come take the slaves in the village, they thought that when they come they will manage to take the people of Godi this way.

tɛ́ ò lō nūà ō ɓɔ̄ Gbōtōgōōyí bímíà fìlìlì wàà ká ā

When they were about to come, they arrived at Gbotogoyi in the night,

mīā bèŋ̄zɛ̀ tɛ́ ō yɔ̀ló gōō yí ā kɔ̀bɛ̀ámɔ̀ lɛ̀ɛ́ gbāā kɛ̄ yí.

the first persons who went down in the ditch, there was no possibility.

Wā zàà káá là ōē ō tó yí

They started, they stayed over there.

mīā dò ō kɛ̄ ɓē ō mɛ̀ kpálá ō yɛ́ ō zí ō ló wā gèē míá wɛ̄ lɛ̀ɛ̄ kélɛ̄: a̋! míá kō ló kɛ̀ì ō kṵ́à̰ wɛ̄, gèlè gɔ̰̄ wɛ̀lɛ̀ lɛ̄ ō là, óò nàá kó gèlè gɔ̰̄.

There are some who escaped, who came back, they left, they told the people, "The people that we went to capture, they want us to fight."

gbàlà mìà bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ ō ō zì pɔ̄ɔ̀ sí gbāā ō ō zì gèlè gɔ̰̄ pɔ̀ɔ̀ sí gbāā

The Kpelles then took their things, they took the war things.

wáà nù mɔ̄ɔ́ ɓɔ̄ɔ̀ Gɔ́dḭ́ mìà mɔ̀ Gbōtōgōōyí ā, gèlè lɛ́ wā gɔ̰̄, ō gèlè gɔ̰̄, ō gèlè gɔ̰̄, ō gbàlà mìà zɛ̄, ō gbàlà mìà zɛ̄, ō gbàlà mìà zɛ̄, a̋

They come towards the people of Godi in Gbotogoyi, the war they declared, they fought, they killed some Kpelles.

(mīī) dōó kéā lɛ̀ɛ́ gbāā yɛ́ ē zí kɛ̄ é ló.

Not a single person came back.

ō séŋ́ séŋ́ ō tó yí tɛ̰̄ɛ̰́tɛ̰̄ɛ̰́

Absolutely all of them stayed over there.

Sèémāsīè ē kɛ̄ gèlè gɔ̰̄-pɛ̀lɛ̀ ó ŋwū kèlè kā̰ -á̰ là ā

Semasie fought, if the head is cut off,

gbàlà mìà ó ŋwū kèlè kā̰ -á̰ là ā à ŋwū kèlè lɛ́ɛ̀ dà dḭ̀ḭ̄ ké ē gìnī-gíní é ē kpɛ̄ɛ̄ zɔ̰̀ɔ̰́ nɔ́ ē ŋwū kèlè lɛ̀ɛ̄ à ŋwū kèlè lɛ́ɛ̀ nīà ē yà ē yà pɛ̀lɛ̀

when the Kpelles cut off his head, the head falls over there, it rolls, if he shows his neck to his head, his head turns around, it puts itself in its place.

Gɔ́dḭ́ kúlá vɔ̀ séŋ́ ō kɛ̄ kílī ō gèlè gɔ̰̄ Gɔ́dḭ́ kúlá dōó kéā lɛ̀ɛ́ gbāā tó yí.

The warriors of Godi were all like this, they fought, no warrior stayed over there.

wā gɔ̰̄, wā gɔ̰̄ ō kɔ̀ ē bɛ̀ī gbàlà mìà mɔ̀

They fought, they defeated the Kpelles.

à ɓéŋ́ ē tó ā ō gbɛ̰̀ ō ō kṵ́

The few that remained over there, they went down, they took them.

ō ō kɛ̄ wà lùò vɔ̀ ká

They made slaves out of them.

gbàlà sɛ̀lɛ̀ tɛ́ mɔ́ ē kɛ̄ mɔ́ kílī Yɔ̀ɔ́ŋ́wìgbàlàbèí sɛ̀lɛ̀ ká

The village of the Kpelles that was like this the village of Yomou.

ē yà mɔ́ màá mìà lɛ́ zī tɛ́ nɔ́ mɔ́ ō ō vɔ̰́ɔ̰́ ɓō à ká màá mìà mɔ̀ ɔ̄

They tired the Maamias, like this the Maamia got rid of them.

ō ō vɔ̰́ɔ̰́ ɓō à ká màá mìà mɔ̀

They got rid of them.

kɛ̄ ó tó ō dìè lɛ̀ɛ̄, à gà̰ ē gó nɔ́ Gɔ́dḭ́.

So that they remain free, it came from Godi.

pɛ́ à kɛ̀ í kpɔ́ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ màá sɛ̀lɛ̀ wɛ̄ yí déŋ́ŋ́, óò lō nɔ́ à geà ī lɛ̀ɛ̄ kúlá sɛ̀lɛ̀ tɛ́ kò dɔ̄ ɔ̄ yē lɛ́ Gɔ́dḭ́ ká.

Such that even if you go in all the villages of the Maas, they will tell you, "The village of the warriors that we know, it is Godi.

ɓīī Gɔ́dḭ́ lɛ́ mɔ́ ē gbàlà gèlè wɛ̄ ā ɲɛ̄ ó ō zɛ̄ mɔ́ kílíā ē kɛ̄ nɔ́ à gèlè tɛ̀ká pɛ̀lɛ̀ ká

Because it is Godi that ended the war of the Kpelles, the fact that we killed them, it was the end of the war."

gɔ̰́ lɛ̀ɛ́ gbāā kɛ̄ ɓē é wéé máá mìà píé

There were now no men to speak of the Manos.

yé ō ɲɛ̄ gèlè yā gɔ̰̄ɔ̰̀ ká ā gɔ̰̄à̰ wáà tɔ̀ŋ̀ kṵ̀ pɛ̄lɛ̄í tá̰ ká

When they have finished waging war, the men now go up in the village with a song.

í ō gɛ̰̀á̰ ā̰ wāà yɔ̀ɔ̄ líà ká

If you see them, they are covered in blood, a lot.

líà áà gò mīā, mīā mɔ́ɔ̀ sɔ̀ mɔ̀ áà kàà

The blood leaves people's clothes, it flows.

yé ɓàá kɛ̄ sɛ̀ ɓáà gɛ̰̀ ékɛ̄á mī líà è gō àmɔ́ɔ̀ sɔ̀ mɔ̀ áà kàà ā yē lɛ́ pɛ̄ píé lāā mɔ̀ àmɔ̀kɛ̀ì mí àyē ā zɛ̄ ɛ̄ yēlɛ́ à líà lɛ̄

If you do not do well, you see as if the one whose blood leaves the clothes and flows is injured whereas it is the blood of the one he killed.

é Gbōtōgōō tɛ́ kílíɓɛ̄ dɛ̄ɛ̄ká mɔ̀ é wɛ̀lɛ̀ mɔ́ mɔ́ gèlè yā gɔ̰̄ pɛ̀lɛ̀ é ɓɔ̄á dɛ̄ɛ̄ká mɔ̀.

The Gbotogoyi (is there) since the time of the war until now.

yíí tɛ́ lɛ̄ Gbōtōgōō wɛ̄ tō mɔ̀ mīī lɛ̀ɛ́ gbɛ̰̀ yíí ā bà

The water that is in the source of Gbotogoo, no-one goes down there.

gèlè gɔ̰̄ pɛ̀kúlú yɔ̄ɔ̄ yɔ̄ɔ̄ ē tó mɔ́ kàá gōō yā yí

Some bad battle objects had stayed before put in the ditch.

í gbɛ̰̀ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ à bà é kɛ̄ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ yílí sōŋ̄ lɛ̄ í gbɛ̰̀ bɛ̰̀ɛ̰̄ ā bà

If you also go down inside, even if it is the sharp wood if you go down,

à yílí sōŋ̄ yā é ī kā̰ -á̰ ā̰, ī líà, ī líà à yíí ā é bā̰ -á̰ ī líà mɔ̀ ɔ̄ íì gā

the sharp wood, if it injures you, your blood, this water, if it only touches your blood, you die.

donc, yíí ā lɛ̄ yí lɛ̄ gbāā gbā yìì ká

The water over there, it is now sacred water.

mīī dò lɛ̀ɛ́ sɔ̀ɔ̄ ā bà mī dò là ŋwɔ́ dò lé wáá mɔ̀, mīī dò là ŋwɔ́ kɛ̄-pɛ̀lɛ̀ wáá, mīī dò là gbēŋ́ kɛ̄-pɛ̀lɛ̀ wáá

No one plays inside, no one comes on a stroll.

mī é gbɛ̰̀á̰ yí ā pɔ̄ɔ̀ yɔ̄ɔ̄ yɔ̄ɔ̄ lāā yíí bà, donc, à yíí ā lɛ̄ yí

If one goes down over there, there are dangerous things in the water, so this water is over there.

Sèémāsīè wà là kúlá vɔ̀ óò tɔ̀ŋ̀ kṵ̄ mɔ́ pɛ̄lɛ̄í tá̰ ká

Semasie used to go up to the village with this song.

wāà ɲɛ̄ gbāā gbàlà mìà zɛ̄ɛ̀ ká féfé wáà tɔ̀ŋ̀ kṵ̀ gbāā pɛ̄lɛ̄í tá̰ ká

When they have finished killing the Kpelles, they now go up the hill with the song.

gbàlà mìà zɛ̄ làà gɛ̰̀ gólóŋ́

Here is the saber that killed the Kpelles.

káláláŋ́gólóŋ́ gbàlà mìà zɛ̄ làà gɛ̰̀ gólóŋ́

kṵ́ kṵ́ kṵ́ kṵ́ gbàlà mìà zɛ̄ làà gɛ̰̀ kō ō zɛ̄

Here is the saber that killed the Kpelles, we killed them.

ē dɔ̄mì gé lī, lōà vɔ̀ séŋ́ séŋ́ ō tó gbāā wɔá kɛ́ì, wáà gèè: e̋, wāà vɔ̰́ɔ̰́ ɓō kō mɔ̀.

It made the chief happy, all the women had stayed home lying, they said: "We have defeated them."

zī tɛ́ mɔ́ gbàlà gèlè wɛ̄ ē kɛ̄ à ká Gɔ́dḭ́ ē dɛ̄ɛ̄dɛ̄ɛ̄ ká mɔ̀

Here is how the war with the Kpelles happened in Godi.