tis ta ga nu yee naago kai lofela nii zu,
nai gè koloi wanezu, ga ga duì ta.

Yakpawolo ſeni ga nu vago, nà vaa ma
ná masa fai Yaa nèni ga nu lamaa. Nà
vaa ma te ſe tea, "Tei é ga daabe nu, maa-
neè le de yoozu da tieni, nà vaa ma a de
kè ga de-yoozu-vaa-wo nu."

Nà vaa ma te Yakpwolo ſeeni ga tene-bo
nu. Nu nepègi zii ó wulo ga è faa yowù
ye, Yakpawolo ya ó tene. Nà ya è yega-
kezu è ye su gáazu wu.

To mu è boni ga, "Ani yá nu lene na è
golo, manui le lebiga, yie za." Bovelaan-
le ó tenegi wo è zèè wulo manui ya goo
kpowù. Fai nepègi ó ye ga zuu vaa, keni
to be bosu má.

Siegi wui fai wuloni la ga maa wù, te
vaani ga te kolo vele-wu boiga Yaa zie.
Te vaani te masagi zo tie dowa, keè vaa
ma è nu ve kolo vele-wu vai ma. Keni Yak-
pawolo ya è duu zunu lomau gila tílini
daa ga Zeze, è lii la è ye wuigi ma, "Gi-
la ka, gie mataitis Yaa zie de."

Nà ya è ke wuigi òe masagi va. Nà ye-
zu nui bogope ge velaa sa ga te leaitis,
bovelaale to kolo vele-wu boigitie lowa
ga vike. Nu liigoi te liini la te velani
GOO kpowù, keni Zeze yilekpu. (Kè nii zu
Zeze ya ga wui gwala.)

Yakpawolo le ſeni ga taa masa, kè ó faa-
wo tamaa wo pele wu. È le ſeni ga kuuti-
zu vaa-wo-bo nu. Kè nii nepè ó vile zuu
vaa va è le ſeni yeè sù ga malopo wolo.

Tei molo yeze yaso sava-sava fai wulo-
ni ga te lii la Zapa, Yakpawolo ya è fée-
ni. È ſeni ga kui vele, kui yila kaso saa-
go. Yakpawolo ya è Ziyida wui-zu Yelei
veeni.

Nà ya yeè na Yakpawolo è vulu veeni ka-
woloi ta ve dàa ga Baala. Kè Baala le ne-
ni naza nui zosu ga pago, bovelaale naza
nui le ſeni de ga boolo nu. Tei naza nui
velani è va kéea Yakpawolo wo, Baala le
kèni ó va túo. È ye su naza nui ye ná
zunu lomai Zaawu kpème.

Nu lamaa te ſeni Yakpawolo ma, "Kení
yà li ga zunu lomai nii wuigitie wo è ye
kpidi vele wu è za."

Kè Yakpwolo le kèni ó nà ye. To mu è
Yèni Zaawu bo ma, "Ani è wóñi, towaa ye
è ya."

Kè naza nui va pelei ma wòi ſeni masa-
gitiè bolo kele ma. Te ſeni wòini Yakpa-
wolo è zunu lomai leve wuigitie wo, naza
nui ye te ya.

Kè Yakpawolo è naza nui ye ni zunu lomai
ya è le balaa ſeni wuloni zéea. Yakpawolo
no ya è naza nui maa wokoni. Naza nui ye-
ni Zaawu ya è ye su te duu ya fele, Zaawu
wo è za sa.

Yakpawolo zu-baa velei ma è yeè ná kele-
Yelegi va ta ná túo vele vagoi zaalai zu,
è ye su Yakpawolo boloo duu-Yaa va, nàzai-
tie ta le wèè luu yaani, ta le kono daa-
wo yàka balaa woni, ó no ye ga pile-ko-ma
oo duu nai-wuo vaa.

-2-

-3-

Názaitie te ſeni ga nu looluo, kè folo
yila kpalaa, ta náza ta te lè ŏoeni to li
kuuti zu é yega su é wolo zayaga.

È naza nu yila soni ga wēē, é duu Ya
bá. Nà wulo zéea, é le kèeni ó naza nui
na maa nèè-nèè ga ta wolo balaa. È ſeni
tea, "È ye su wolo-wolo naza nui nu le zu-
nu zolo wega sa ta to to zolo wo."

Nà no ya é ye má. Gè wu ziyini gè pé-
te, keni no é wēē zo yalo gila faa ma.

Yakpawolo ó ye na dè é nu lène ó ye
tea, "Gè tuuyie lamaa yeeani, gè faa-nèè
lamaa yèeni, gè wûfe-ma lamaa woni."

Yakpawolo ó ye nui ta lènèsu, manu yie
píiwù pe, kè ó yaa baà no ga é tène, bòve-
laale ani ó ûe na nà yèzu, nu le ûega ye
nà ó kè.

Nà vaa ma ó yaa ûaa no ga velei é la,
nu pe ge ye ng na. Anè balaa nui ta yìi
ó wulo é kpede ziyi to ye bòsu, Yakpawolo
yie nèè, bòvelàale manui ó Yakpawolo woo
meni na, ó sa yaa yìi no.

Nà vaa ma tè le ſeni laani la bòove, è
welèè fai nii yavelei va.

Kè Yakpawolo na gaazu-wuu vai é ſèni ga
folo yila gè ye má, "Tei ûo gè wu ziyini
gè le de wèleni è liigoi va gáazu ó wu Loo-
ma zui zu, keni kawoloitie, kè è de wolo
záyani ga vike. È yaazu yie wu, tòwo è
Yaazu le è laßaa. Ani è faa ta yee ga è
Yaazu-yezègi, kavelei zu wulo mà gè kwèè.
Ani kono nii no wuigi kèè la Zozoo, nà no

ve é kàla-nalaga, è bó mà."

Kè Yakpawolo ſeni mà, "Ba. Gè liini
kàa yowōi ta wo Zolowo ta ye má Koli, sà-
le ta ſeni zéea to ye má 'mufògi'. Nà ya
te ſeni tea nu le tòa zuwā, ani ya tóo na
zuwā, towaa yee lo è yaazu. Kè ta gulu
gila kpa ko no pelei va te dá gá. Kè Koli
salei laani no bebei maazu. Tei gè liini
Zolowo gè ye tea, 'Ba gè la bebei zu gè
zaama wulo gá.'

"Ná ya gè ſeni láazu ná gè salei luó
è wulo è lòg. Gè ye Koli ma, 'Ya zalei
Ya è loa zuwā.'

"Koli ye mà, 'Nà le ga faa. Gà ſina
gà tuuli loo mà ga subu.'"

È ſeni no ga gusu Yakpawolo bo Koli ma,
"Salei vai ſina de kèeni, va na è tuulii
loo."

Koli tuulii looni é ye salei ma, "De
maa-wèè ve, é le è vai zu wèni. Na vad ma
è me le yee lo gáazu. È dòto-zu wodo bò-
kele-kele."

È tsewui vaa má pè te mí. Kè to vee
nà yesù, Yakpawolo yi ge le ſeni salei vaa
zu, nà ya é kèeni yie tóo, bòvelàle é le
ga faa-vala-gaazu nu, ó no ye ga é salei
zu woo. Nà vaa ma Yakpawolo le ſeni yi
gaa zìzu ó vile salei nà va.

Kè tei kono gáazuve ſeni tabazu yalo
saago yee wu, é liini kono Koli wove. Te
tsewu vaa kono salei bo ma.

Kè Yakpawolo yaazuve ſeni sa no bidizu
wo. Nà vaa ma è vaani Zozoo dúi wove ga
é li sale velei la. Tei wuigi gáa-zaya
kèeni é ye má, "Ya welezu ga ta wolo?" é
ye má, "Ooi."

-5-

COUNSELOR YAKPAWOLO

1

This is the history of Yakpawolo, who was the younger of the two sons of Ngaku, and of Mokulo, a Mandingo lady. Ngaku was born in Zolowo, Liberia. Yakpawolo was born in Ziggida, Guinea, but shortly after was taken by his parents back to Zolowo. He stayed there until Ngaku's uncles in Koyama sent word to him, "You are our nephew, and our defender in war. Therefore, come now and help us to fight."

When Ngaku went to help his uncles, he never returned to Zolowo, but stayed in Koyama and made his home there.

When Yakpwolo was only 9 years old, his father died, and he went to live with his older brother. His brother married and had one child, but died when the child was only about one year old.

So all of Yakpawolo's relatives died, and he was most unfortunate. He worried a great deal about his situation; and thought, "I am only 18 years old, and I do not wish to marry yet. But if I abandon my older brother's wife, she will suffer."

So he married his brother's widow, and together they worked hard and achieved high status in their community. Many people borrowed money from them, and they gave gifts to many people.

Then he married two single girls, and later his uncles gave him two more wives. Now Yakpwolo was a rich man, for he had five wives. Altogether he had 47 children, of whom I who write this, am one.

10

Yakpawolo was a good man, and his leadership pleased many people. They said, "Since he is of our nephew line, there is no prohibition on our relationship, so let us ask him to be our arbiter."

So they designated Yakpawolo as their counselor. Whenever anyone seemed to be developing evil ways, Yakpawolo would advise him. He kept this position even when he became blind.

He said, "If you continue to counsel a person until you are worn out, and he does not heed, he will not live long." For Yakpawolo would warn a person, and then if he did not heed, would cut him off from any right to a defense for his actions. Yakpawolo determined any community matter they brought to him.

2

When European civilization first came here, the officials came to recruit children for school. They took the chief and beat him so that he would give children for school. Then Yakpawolo called one of his sons, named Zizzi, and said to the official, "Here is one boy. I am looking for the others."

So they let the chief alone. But the people all began to run away with their children, for they beat them severely in school. And all those whom they had taken to school ran away, except Zizzi. (Zizzi is now an important educated man.)

When the rice collection was made whereby each quarter sent three loads of rice to Zapa, it was Yakpawolo who sent the

-11-

three loads for his quarter, the Ziggida Quarter.

Once Yakpawolo gave one of his daughters to an old man named Bahla, for his wife. The old man did not treat the little girls well, for she had not yet matured. So when she ran away from and returned to her father, Bahla did not try to bring her back. She stayed there until a young man named Zaawu had premature relations with her. Many people said to Yakpawolo, "You must turn him over to the government authorities and they will put him in jail until he dies."

But Yakpawolo did not do this. He said to the young man, "If you love her, you may marry her."

But the girl was so beautiful that most of the chiefs wanted her, and they hoped that Yakpawolo would have the young man arrested so that they could have a chance with the girl.

But Yakpawolo let the girl remain with Zaawu, and did not even fine him. Yakpawolo himself took care of her until she was grown. Then she married Zaawu and bore him two children before he died.

Because of Yakpawolo's great wisdom, and strength, and righteousness, his wives were never unfaithful to him, even to the time when he was no longer conceiving children. They did not have children by other men, they did not have lovers, they did not have lovers during pregnancy, they did not have lovers while they were weaning their children. He had five wives, but

never once did he quarrel with any of them in a court case.

Yakpawolo had one lover, by whom he had a child. She left him, and he did not try to persuade her to remain with him. He simply said, "This woman will never get along with another man." And so it was, even to this very day. She may become engaged for a month at a time, but it ends there.

When Yakpawolo was counseling someone he would say, "I have earned many blessings (by kind deeds), I have held everyone in great respect." Many times the one he was counseling would abuse him, but he simply went on, trying to cowl him. Because if he didn't do it, there was no one else who would undertake the job.

So he would aim to give everyone his own standard of values and conduct. Even if someone would become enraged and take his gun, and the people would be talking about it, Yakpawolo would just laugh. Because when the fellow had listened to Yakpawolo talk to him, he would calm down, and change his mind. They did not trust Yakpawolo in vain, as you see.

About Yakpawolo's blindness, one day I said to him, "In all my life I have never seen anyone of your age go blind, but only older men. But you are not yet old, and your eyes don't hurt you, but you are blind. Tell me if you did something to your eyes, or if the foreigner did something to them in Zorozor that made them like this."

-12-

But Yakpawolo said to me, "No. I went to visit a relative of mine in Zolowo, named Koli. He had some medicine called 'mufogi' which, they said, could not be dropped on the ground. If someone drops it on the ground, it will cause harm to the person. They fasten a stick to the house and place the medicine on it. But Koli had placed his on top of his hammock. When I reached Zolowo, I said, 'Let me lie in the hammock and rest my back.' Thus I lay down, and shook the medicine, and it fell.

"I said to Koli, 'Your medicine has fallen to the floor.'

"Koli said, 'That doesn't matter. Tomorrow morning I will drop a cola nut on it.'"

The next morning at dawn Yakpawolo said to Koli, "About the medicine matter, come on and drop the cola nut."

Koli dropped the cola nut and said to the medicine, "This is our guest, who does not understand your regulations. So do not do him any harm, but give him excellent health."

He killed a chicken, too, and they all ate it. But before they did that, Yakpawolo had not been much concerned about medicine, for he was not a person to disregard a taboo, or to put a medicine to test. So he did not worry. When, however, within three months his eyes began hurting, he went again to Koli, and they again killed a chicken on the medicine.

But Yakpawolo's sight kept getting dimmer and dimmer, so he came to Zorzor to his son so that he might go to the hospital.

-14-

When the foreigner asked him, "Do you see a little bit?" he answered, "Yes." So the foreigner said, "I will try."

But when the foreigner had done his best, the eye swelled and hurt constantly. So he said, "Take him to town, for I am not able to cure him." First, however, he had told them that they must pay $20 and they paid it.

Now Yakpawolo was unable to walk, and they had to put him in a hammock and take him to Guinea, where the foreigners treated him and relieved the pain in his eyes. But he was now unable to see anything, even if he looked straight at the sun. Yet his eye was not broken.

5

After all this, Yakpawolo wanted to kill himself. He said, "I have suffered so much early in my life, and have looked forward to being able to enjoy myself. But now that the time has come, I am blind."

Many people reassured him, "God does not do harm to a person. He is one who only does good."

A person who is father and mother to everyone, God may afflict with a sickness that makes him helpless. He does not give success in everything in life. For look, it is true that Yakpawolo's parents died when he was a child. But he did not suffer, and later had many children. Anyone who has 47 children must certainly count it a blessing of God, not so? Even to the extent that if you see one of the children you say, "It is Yakpawolo himself."

-15-

So it is well that Yakpawolo be content
with his lot and grow old gracefully. Even
in his old age people trusted him for his
wisdom in community affairs, for no appear-
ed among his children of sufficient stat-
ure to succeed him. Everyone was praying
that he would live for a long time.

After he became blind, Yakpawolo enter-
ed his house and stayed there until he
died. They still called on him for all
kinds of matters, however, for he was not
in pain or otherwise sick. If he put his
hand on someone's shoulder, he could walk
around to many places. Only after he be-
came ill did they have to bring the discus-
sions to his house.

When he was sick, many people offered
medicines. Even tho he was old, now, too,
people still wept over his illness. Their
treatments enabled him to stay alive as
long as he did.

He was sick for 6 months, and on the 18th
day of the seventh month, that is, on 18
April, at 3 o'clock in the morning, he died.

At his death a dispute almost broke out.
When the question was raised of where to
bury him, some people said, "We must bury
him at the former town site of Ziggida, for
that is where we bury chiefs."

But some others objected and said, "We
have never before buried a blind person at
the Ziggida former town site." Still oth-
ers said, "We have never before buried
someone in a coffin at the Ziggida site."

But Elder Masaboi rose and said, "You

6

who are Yakpawolo's children, do not say any-
thing yet. Sit down and listen to what I say.
You are right, no leper, or cripple or blind
person gets buried at the Ziggida site. But
Yakpawolo is an exception to this. If he does
not go there, who will go there? We will bury
him at the Ziggida site and put cement on the
grave and build a cement house above that.
Now," he concluded, "who is not satisfied?
Who is not ashamed to say anything? Even tho
Yakpawolo is dead, we must respect his body."

They said, "It is up to his children to de-
cide."

Masaboi said, "I am the one who will de-
cide everything. We will take Yakpawolo to
the Ziggida site and bury him there. Anyone
who objects should see me."

They buried him and had a splendid feast.

7

Yakpawolo's death was a great blow to
many people, for they had just begun the san-
de initiation in Koyama, and it was Yakpawo-
lo who traditionally gave his daughter to be
Kulubo, the first and senior girl of the
group, just as when the poro session was held,
Yakpawolo's son would be Fokpa, the first
and senior of that group.

So it reaches to you, his descendants, do
not forget, for it is your tradition. Euro-
pean culture has now become established, but
European culture cannot provide for this sort
of thing. We told the people that as long as
we continue to bear children, we will send
them to them to be named Kulubo, and lead
the initiates, and Fokpa as well. We thank-
ed the people for giving our father so hon-

-16-

-17-

## tuuyie woloi

pone nui: moluba wua

## Book of Blessings

by

Moluba Wua

Wozi
August 1963
1000
219

tuuyie wow-lo-su puugo ya é ve.
tuuyie wow-lo-su taniga ta de na,
kè tuuyièi nii é ve nà no nu ya too
minetie. na ya é ke tuuyièi lo-su
yèe no puugo koloi nii zu.

na ya yee na, tuuyie woitie te ve
ya zoo é taniga zupu é bo tabono su.
kè gè le nèni wòini gó pu fele oo sa-
va, na vaa ve.

ta tuuyièi ta nèpe too na, ta dàa
wulo ga "gala ge keè na," fa-bu
veaitie te yè tea, "é yèè la." kè
maa le nèni gó faa yilagi na wone
ga tamaa, na ma gè puuni no tuuyièi
laa wulu-zuvè. Kè nu pè ge kwèni ga
velei maa nèè é wo da, keleè?

## Preface

Many of the blessings of each sec-
tion may be repeated on other occas-
ions than those they are listed for.
In order to avoid repetition, we have
tried to include each one only once.
Those items that refer to general as-
pects of life have general applica-
tion, and are used in addition to spe-
cific ones for the occasion.

In the same way, there are many
other occasions when a blessing may be
given, but those blessings are most-
ly compiled of the ones in this book.

The blessing is spoken by one per-
son, and he concludes each item with
the phrase, "May God perform it."
Other people present give the imme-
diate response, "May it be so." We
have written the refrain and its re-
sponse only once, at the end of the
whole blessing, but in speaking, it
occurs after each item.

-1-

* taa-zu bete yie, kpala-ga bete yie.

* nii nepo è yigi bá è ye tea, "gà
solo wo na, zii ya la," è solo wo yo-
woi de mawuu-zu-nec wulo.

* nii nepo è yi ge le bá faa-nec zu,
to ga è leyei za, púlu heni ye è ya,
nà mavaa-nec voolo yie.

* è le yee ga è luu-loowu nu.

* zinaa laa bilizu; nazaa laa bilizu,
wuiga laa bilizu, è voolo yie.

* boloda vaa wāla è leaitie ma.

gala ge kec na!

è yee la!

duu-
yaa vaa

ta duu yaa na, tuuyici nii ya
ta too duuyēgi ve:

* lopoi na īnii yiś.

* dée wow lo bú.

* púlu vele yeema bé.

* dée le mata wui wuloa la.

* kéea le mata wui wuloa la.

gala ge keç na!

è yeè la!

-4-

* May you attain such a great age
that they have to purée your
meat for you.

* May you not die in a season of
want when we could not honor you
with lavish festivities.

* Since you regard respect highly,
may you in like manner receive re-
spect.

* May it never be your voice in quar-
rel that breaks up the feast.

* May your town properties prosper,
may your farm properties prosper.

* Whatever you hope for for your per-
sonal satisfaction, may you obtain
it, and all of us celebrate.

* Any good fortune that might come to
you through misfortune, - for in-
stance, an inhegitance from the
death of your brother, - may that
kind of good fortune pass over you.

* May you not be a child-burying per-
son, one whose children die as in-
fants.

* May the evil intentions peculiar
to men; to women, and to educated
people, pass over you.

* May family loyalty burn strong
within your children.

BIRTH

A blessing for a child at birth:

* May the breast be abundant with
milk for him.

* May his mother's leg be under him
(in strong support).

-5-

Saa vai

sai Ya loo na, numaitie ta li saa-
yee-loo-zeeai ma, tuuyiei nii ya ta
too:

* nii ya é yee, ná wée sa nii vá.

* zunu naza nu nii d'a a ná saa vai
zu é de ga dis.

* ani kpoq lii ya é boga, gáazu ye
luo.

* lopaitie é te yaga wulu ná do yavui
matai lo natis ta dei la su wooza
te ya.

* é lia sa púlu née de ma.

yá niitis wo na, nenii sa è lia
la to ga sa ya fè te ya. taitis
sai ya loo te ma, te laabei ya
yá tuuyiei nii loo zee-loo-zeea
nui ve:

* nenii è vaa la è póto solo wo è dá
pó ga.

* le sa dóo saa vaa zu.

* yá wo le valaga saa-zu neni ma.

* sìe yowu ya è boga, le sa na Yavele
zìe woga.

* è li è wulu ya ga pago.

* nii nèpe le zeni wulu ga faa-nèè è
li è pète wulu è mawuu-zu-nèè wulo.

-6-

* May his mother not pay a witch's
debt with him.

* May his father not pay a witch's
debt with him.

* May he forget the place he came
from (and not long to return there.)

DEATH

At a time of death, if you go to
offer condolences, use this blessing:

* May this occurrence be the end of
such happenings.

* A man or woman whose name may be
connected with the death, may he
reveal it, (the spirit).

* If he went naturally, may he fix
his face forward and not return
to cause disturbance.

* May the unfulfilled remained of his
life be added to his children, to
lengthen their lives.

* He has gone now, may only happy
events occur in his wake.

When you have said these things,
you may present the gift you have
brought for the burial. Then the
nephews of the deceased acknowledge
the gift with this blessing:

* The gift that you have brought, may
you acquire its replacement.

* May you not have to use it as a
funeral gift.

* And you yourself, may you not lack
for funeral gifts for your own fu-
nerals.

-7-

+ ya velei le wua pole ma.

gali o ye na!

## woza-vili vaa

ta na woza vilizu, ya zoo è tuuyisi nii loo te ve:

+ wo loto zu wodo.

+ nii wo kee mabolo ye dobo zu.

+ a de mamoloj mi zii-laa zu.

+ ta-mi wu sú, ta le wuloa sú.

+ wo maa yaanve, ná li tuo ma.

+ wū-kpuluġi voola wí.

+ dūu-wote-ntai puugo è loo wo wuu zu ga duu, wo ka ga gile-gile, è wulo su negbeleni.

+ ta wulo sú te de yaazu vaa ye to yee de wulu vaa yeezu.

gala ge kee na!
è yee la!

## zowo

ani è wōini è tuuyisi loo zowo ve, tuuyisi nii ya ya too bè:

-8-

+ It is an evil journey you have made; may you not make this kind again.

+ My you return and find that all was well in your absence.

+ When you return may you find a nice gift of something you did not have when you left, and may you celebrate.

+ May your house not be poured onto another house (may your household not have to seek dependency on another household).

## RICE PLANTERS

This blessing is for the rice-planters:

+ May you have good health.

+ May the fatigue of your labors remain in the forest.

+ May we eat the harvest in peace.

+ May a being to eat it be conceived.

+ May all misfortunes slip right off you.

+ May the sharp stumps not harm you.

+ May the seeds of 10 children fall into your womb, and you bear them one at a time, and they all grow and mature successfully.

+ May they live to take care of the affairs of our life before they see to the affairs of our death.

## A ZOWO

This blessing is for a zowo:

-9-

* tife ŏaya felegoi é û ya nii é è yee zayagi ōa, nii ya ōe ma, "ké," -é ké.

* nii é è wow yeegi ōa, nii ya ōe ma, "ké," -é ké.

* seebe nui saa pulu te le è liliga má.

* seebe nu nêpêgi ta è lili má é ōe ga balo nu.

* le yeema tife ma.

* zowo bogi nêpê wa li su è vaa te pú è dá maazu.

* nui ya ōe é è yee-wo-su nala-nala, ŏaa wulo manui ma.

* yà zaleitie te le pulu vele napi woo.

  gala ge kac na!
  è yee la!

kolu-nãi nu

ani nu wōini é tuuyici loo kolu-nai nui ve, tuuyici niitie ya ta too bé:

* kolu ōaa-wuloa é kwotai wu é voolo yie.

* nãui é nã é voolo yie.

* è wove le wālaa.

* è yee le wālaa.

* nu le poma daa ga è nãi-kolu nani.
  gala ge kac ña!

é yee la!

-10-

* Of the two kinds of leaves that you have, what you tell the kind in your right hand (the healing kind) to do, may it do it.

* What you tell the kind in your left hand (the harming kind) to do, may it do it.

* May they not call you in the case of a sick person who is bound to die.

* May any sick person you are called for, recover.

* May you not forget any leaf.

* When you go to any zowo meeting and your colleagues demonstrate their skill, may you top theirs.

* Whoever tries to spoil your medicine by violating the conditions of it, may disgrace come upon him.

* May your medicines not do hindsight fighting, that is, may your medicines protect the person from harm, rather than visit retribution on the harmer.

## A BLACKSMITH

This is a blessing to be given to a blacksmith:

* May every sharpened instrument in your shop not harm you.

* May the fire in your shop not burn you.

* May your lower back not ache from sitting.

* May your hand not ache.

-11-

doso

ani doso ya suo vaaná é nu ta
waa la, tuuyisi ni! ya ta too bá:

* nii wului ye ga boolo kele.

* kpedei é è ya é wo ga luo vele le
woo ga wulu vele.

* le-seve-zaya zuo vaa.

* è yi daa le viliga.

* wa file zuo we le wúiga.

* doboi nse yie.

* suoi nepesi ya poola é ye duuli zu.

* nu le velega suo zu ó zei è luo.

* le zia ga neli-zia volo.

* wü-kpulu ka doboi zu, kaali ná. te
voolo yie.

* è le ga yee-zaya-su vele baa è wo-
wo-yee-su vele, ná nse yie.

gala go lea na!

é yee la!

-12-

* May no one lay out a corpse with
any iron beaten by your hand.

A HUNTER

This is the blessing that can be
given to a hunter who presents game:

* May the next one be bigger.

* May your gun shoot forwards, not
backwards.

* May you not kill an animal in old
clothes (not recognizing a man).

* May you not get lost in the forest.

* May you not meet up with any
fierce, aggressive beast.

* May the forest be agreeable to you.

* May every animal you shoot remain
in the cloud of gunsmoke.

* May no person turn into an animal
and sit in your path.

* May you not go out on a day when
Nomesis stalks.

* There are sharp stumps and snakes
in the forest; may they not harm you.

* Whether you go to the right or to
the left, may that direction be
agreeable to you.

A COURT CASE

This is the blessing for a court; the
nephews' part:

* May we perform what we have come for
successfully. Uncles, the dawn has
broken. Who has something to say,
speak.

-13-

+ ŋenī-zōlọ-wo-zee-ya ọ wo va, mǎa
le yiiya.

♦ wa sọlọ wo na wo wọ́ i wulo zui maazu
vèle.

nii nèpè wa luo bá máa wooza wíè.

gala ge kɛɛ na!

è yèè la!

SIE-WO NU

nu ya ziyi na sìɛ ma, tuuyìesi nii
ya ta too bɛ:

sì wo wòi ya na ọ ọ wu, máa le yììya.

ò vaa vè vè nèè yìè.

nui nèpè le è luo zèini ga ŋeni va-
go è yè è kè ga ŋeni yowù, zui vèè
salei va te vile ga manui.

sìɛ ɣa ga koo, towaa, è maa-zawoga
wuloa, è yøga su è vaa, nà li tuo
ma.

gala ge kɛɛ na!

è yèè la!

not come here.

Any man or woman who receives any
thing from any direction, may that
place be agreeable to him.

You have the ability to prosper;
may that ability not desert you.

When you acquire goods, may you
enjoy their use on the top side of
the ground, not the underneath.

+ Whatever you fear, may it remain
far from you.

RETURNING TRAVELER

When a person returns from a trip,
this is the blessing they give him:

Journey-worthy feet support you;
may they not desert you.

+ You have come here, may this place
be congenial to you.

+ Anyone who has not prepared for you
a welcome gift of something good,
but rather of something bad, may medi-
cine and the very earth be inimical
to him.

+ A journey is a battle; it is waged;
you have emerged unscathed; you
have been in it and returned; may
it always be so.

-16-

Te ɣe má, "Yà mu folo gá è vata wosu."
Te nika vaa bɛ́ to nu vile tuo te le Zó-
żoo. E ɣe tea, "Vɛ́ ya bodo ge ná?" Te
γe má, "ba! bodo diive bɛɛle koo maazu."

E γe tea, "Zɛbɛ vaa zu? Koo vai bɔ pa
no γa gaa nɛɔ? ɛ lɛ gɛ̂ maa kpowũni?
Koo nà wo gá kɔ no ga folo yila." E γe
tea, "Tei wo welɛzu Senɛgwɛlitiɛ va fili
kalagi te ya te levesu, koo lee-lee γa
nu bɔo kpowũ. Kè gè welɛ no bodo ba."

Nà γa è yɛgà liizu è wulo Zolowo. E
γe tea, "Mins γa ga vɛ?"

Te-γe má, "Zolowo."

E γe tea, "Bɛ́ γa pɔ̃ ge ga tai nii?"

Te γe má, "Gbagalo. Kè nui sa è ná ga
mamasagi to ga buse."

E γe tea, "bodo ka vɛ?"

Te γe má, "Ba! Bodo ňaa-баги zeive
má è lia koo maazu bɛɛle."

E γe tea, "Aa. A nu vile nà tuo è li
gàazu bɛɛle."

Te γeni má, "Bodo, tãã-tãã nu ve-o.
ɛ̂ lɛ zeiya-o. Koo nu ßalaa. è lia maazu
è kɔɔve sa è leve γiɛ li to no liizu-o."

E γe tea, "Aa."

Gbagalo γe tea, "Nà pɛ̃ ge γeɛve, nài
gè ga Gbagalo-go-o, buse-o, gá è vata wo-
su. Kè kɛni gela bo."

Yee voloi te nika vaa la keela looni
bù è li è ziiti bodo ma kɛkɛni po Baloma
ve. E γeni bodo ma, "Zunu ta vaaye dàa
woi volo nu lɛ gáá γaa. E γe to è yaa
ziezu."

bodo γe tea, "Zæbe mu ka gè kæs la?"

2

Te γe má, "Gá mu gɛ̂ lɛ kwɛ̂ni."

E γe tea, "Aa. Gà nina gà li ná. Ani
páávɛ sɔsu, è sɔ̃, towo è li gàazu zii la,
nà wo zii la."

Subu bodo wu ziri Baloma. Kwenadi
γa è yega Gbagalo kui zu folo wuigi su
baa bɔo ti-ti-ti-ti. E γe do dàa-woo-wo
nui ma, "Bɔ de kawoloi ma, bobeinii è pùlu
pe wo γe wa zie vilezu te vɛ, a mɛ lɛ laa
loo nà zu. Gá ga koo. Gá li ziave gɛ̂
wuo."

Towaa te yiiya ziavs. Bodo po ge le-
veni ga Masao pelei, è vaani no ziave è
γe ndizii yiizu kpeï te γe do Kwenadi
ma, "bodo ka nu è vaazu."

E γe tea, "Mm?"

Te γe má, "bodo ka nu è vaazu."

Kwenadi yis na soolai lɛ má è viliga
zaa bakoi zu bodo po ge vili zaa bakoi zu
te wui no zie zaamave.

Kwenadi dàa-wo-wo nui yaa zava kɛ è
γe má, "Mins nu γa ga nii?"

Nà γe má, "Kèea, mins nu γa ga yìe?"

Te γe má, "bodo ka."

Kwenadi γe má, "Kpo! bodo, yà γa?"
È yili bá pi è γe má, "Yà γa gè è yaa zie-
zu."

bodo γe má, "Ka do nà γa."

Kwenadi γe ma, "Gà lɛ è yaa ziesu faa
ta npe ma. Alemàami γe gè va gè è vete."

bodo γe má, "Kelee?"

"Mm."

bodo γe má, "Zèè γa bú. Nà γa."

Te yega wulu te lɛ Zolowo, Gbagalo kui

3

zu. Wēē wui zu ya na é ye. È ye Bodo ma,
"Nikoi te pāa bē mašaša yilagi ya do ya."

Bodo ge ye má, "Èe, tei towo è welezu
bā, keni no nu saagoi é bā. Naza nu le
zèea, ûe mu ka a nii yili?"

Kwenadi ye má, "Nà mu nui é têvega ga
Alemāmi, è le lua faa va. Nà wo ge le
lua faa va. Fai no á bō má, towa gā kě.
Tei gê vilega, zui-zu pe, naza nui pègi
é nā, nà ya pò ge ga tiè kpowū. Gā ta
zo za gê ye má, 'Ya è diyii nii yili. va
è gili,' towaa gili."

Bodo ye má, "Aa."

Te mokolui yili te ná dei leve pò.
Kwenadi ye tea, "Kè towo da niizu ve.
Nina da le Bokeza mōo. Mine ya gè va gè
wū kulo ná wa yui-zu vaa va kavu. Wēē
laa na wo ka na. Kè towo da liizu de nii
Fisebu nina."

Bodo ye má, "Aa. Zèè ya bú."

Te nii Zolowo. Gela bo te wu ziyi te
va Fisebu ve. Te nii ve. Bodo wo ge ye
má, "Koo! Nāi è gāa ziezu, nà tai wo ka,
è ye má, 'Dii Bokeza?'"

Kwenadi ye má, "Gè le nà wulu. Gè le
taa boe wošu. Wo pègi wo zui nii zu boo
kpowū, nà ya pò ge ga wíe, nà Kwenadi nà.
Nà ya è kèè gè yèè loa yemele ga gè vile-
ga è wulu gie è yaa zie. Kè gè è wēē de
kavu,"

Bodo ye má, "Zèè ya bú. Dii na."

Te ye wulu te le Bokeza. Tovo Kwenadi
ye má, "Fai gè è yaa ziezu má, towaa sa
gè bósu-o. Gè le è yaa ziezu ga gè faa
ta nèpe ke ga yíe. Gè le è vaazu. È ye
gè yeni gè è vaa, tei de wūini ziave mine

4

no ya gè vaa ná. Kè zui nii zu, Zìema
ve, bulùyišma, Gizima, Vavala, Gbaale,
yà yuu ya."

Bodo ye má, "Taa-nee-yeè vele no ya?"
È ye má, "Yà yuu ya, gè fèea è ya."

Bodo le laa woloni, è zeini no wū pi-
legei.

Kwenadi ye má, "Yà yuu ya. Yà no ya
sa è ve ga faa-o." Nà ya è bóga má è bó
é bó é bó. È ye má, "Tei yà wo è maazu
Bu. È le ta nèpe bósu?"

Bodo ye má, "È yaave è ye má, 'Alemāmi
ye gè va gè wele yíe.' Ya wo è pètèga.
Nii wogi è bóga má, sìe-bu yaso laale.
Numaa ta ná ga li gè bó tie-o. Kèeani ta
ná, ùe gè li gè sù wulo tie."

È ye má, "Ooi. Yà li è bó tie è va
za?"

Bodo ye má, "ba! Gà nii ná."
È ye má, "Aa. Zèè ya bú."

Towaa Bodo vaa Fisebu, nui wogi sa wo-
lo-wolo zu pe za pe te mazii te wo ge ga
zui, to ga Vaašaa Zaawu (Nà ya pò ge ga
Gizima yui-o, gè le neni Zìema-o.") bodo
vaa è zei è nà lili. È zaba è Luobaa li-
li, è Kpalagawu lili, Buse, Gbagalo, ka-
woloi è yeni ga Zièlakpala masagi to ye
má Zegbeyaa.

Kpogi na ya è toa Fisebu ve. È ye tea,
"Fai è yeè wai wo ga zuu veaitie, towaa.
Zunui ye pò ka ga zui nii. Kè è ziiti
wíe, Kèeani,"

Te ye má, "Ooi. Siitive, máa zoge.
È gè li gè wū pile má."

Towaa te vaa wū pilesu te li te ye,

5

"Kpoo! Mû-mîn, nui mu ge lê zeizu. To mu, Gala ge kêz zunui va ê ye mâ, 'Ya yuu ya.' Gê yee ya bú. A de le lia de pôte?"

Towaa te vaa te ye tea, "Bodo, ê yeea mu ge deteni ve. È mooleni, ya ya ê wo ge ga gis. Ya no ya sa ê wulu ga Kwenadi. Kê baala sinê gila ka, Modegi vatawo ka. Kaso naago ya. Modegi vatawo ka. A dii na la."

Nà ya Vaaabaa Zaawu ye mâ, "Ooi, a da sa liizu. Bokeza, baa da li sa ê ye ná?"

Bodo ye mâ, "Ani Modegi ya va bú, gá ye ná. Ani le ye va bú, a da ya. Kê wa wo tei sa wo vaa bú ga nà ya pò ge ga zui, masagitiensiga, Modegitie wò ka, nui yee levegei yie, seôê ya yà kê? Za balaá, te ye mâ, 'Dii ve vele,' gá sa na gá ye liizu. Gá lii na te faa wo do gibe ya gá li ga ê ye ga nà do boeigi gá gê keela-woi wo mâ?"

Te ye mâ, "Kiiliwu Tokpa."

Bodo ye, "Tokpa, ê ziiti yie."

Nà ye tea, "Zèè ya bú."

Bodo ye, "Kiiliwu Tokpa, gá dó sa gá li sisi ta ma, ta fai ta wo, gê ye mâ, 'Lii na ê bó, zunui zœsi sa á va ê bó mâ ve?"

Te ye mâ, "Vaaabaa Zaawu, Kpalagawu, Mize, Fisebu ve, Gbagalo, buse, Luobaa, - fai nsepe manuitie ta bó wie, wa bó na sa Kiiliwu Tokpa mâ, towaa va ê bó natiensiga mâ. Ancê ê ye ga saa vaa gé pe gá ye-su kpowû. Ani wano ûeni-vaa ve, tei gê nu liigoi gé fai yaa wotega ê ya, biili-wu yui vee pûlu va, Ziema yui, Buluyiema yui gê bogope gé wo ka na. Keni ya nu-wuti le ná-o. Ani nuwutii ya ná, gái gé ná ga nuwutiitisie gé nii yaa wotega sa gê

6

woo ya nà."

Bodo ye tea, "Zèè ya bú."

Towaa baalagi, kaso naagoi, te vaa la. Zaawu ye, "Yài ê ga Bodo, dàa wolove pe, kê kpogi-zu laa woloi nii, ya ye ê fai ta zo te yee zie ê la ng ni, ya boo ya we-na-bogi wo. Kê ya bó na, ani tòwaa siyi na ga gaama, gá ye mâ, 'Gê woo ya nà.'"

Bodo ye mâ, "Aa. Zèè ya bú."

Nà ya ê wu ziya, soola liigoi vee fai ya Kwenadi bóni mâ, ê va ê wena bo de kêeanj ma, kêeani te va bú, ê nàtis zu wulo Kwenadi ma.

Kwenadi wo kpaavai yenî no zeini kóba ga ve vele ng ni ê ve vele ga yie laa yie vili te zu. Zunu lomai loni ga zée za-su vele ng ni pala zeyei mâ, gilaagi loni ga kôwo yee-su vele ng ni pala zeyei mâ. Kwenadi ɔ zokpai ve ê yee vili lopaitie ta zeyei zu ê zokpalave bale da. O ye na ga kpogi zu, dàa-woo-wo beaitie to ye naa. Tovo dàa-woo booboogi nà-wo nui ɔ ye ná ê bó nui ma. Nà wo ge bó bói ma, tie sa pòte-pote ya, zoi ya zii woo bóni bo, zoi ya kê le.

Nà ya Bodo ge fatawogi woga.

È ye mâ, "Fai ê bóni mâ, kêeani te vaani bú. Te ye nà ya pò ge ga zui. Te ye te yaa ya bú."

Kwenadi ye mâ, "Te vaani bú-o, te be vaazu bú-o, te yêleke na."

Vaaabaa Záawu ye mâ, "Kui! Gê yêleke ná? È duu ya te yenî ûi siyi te téve pò ê ye-ya yà bó mâ, ba? Gê ye mâ, 'Iiço.'"

È ye tea, "Aa. Nà ê. û yii zoni, Bodo?"

7

Te kpo̊gi zu. Nà ya te lia pele wu,
Kwenadi ye tea, "A li wo bò bodo ma é va."

Te li te bodo tili. Kwenadi ye má,
"Be bo pa ka wono é è wulu é ga nu yaa
wua, kpetei bo pa è ye vélei sa ya mu è
la?"

Nà ye má, "bime."

È ye má, "Mm. È ye ma, 'bime.'" Ani
ya bime lili, towaa ké é va ve?"

Bodo ye má, "Ooi. Gà tili. Towaa va.
Dio ve. Gà ya gè lee bagei gè yeea bagei."

Kwenadi ye má, "Oo, baa, gè gáa yaa.
Lopo wolo leve na ná."

Nà ya bodo nu levega Woozi ga te bime
lili. Bime ye keelai maes "Mm. Kè wa lii
na gè dèye luo. Tei towo gáazu le bè, gá
ke ye le mu? Nà wo siyi no ta bó. Soo
wo ge le zèea."

Te li ini te bò bodo ma. È ye tea,
"Kpooi. Nà ya ga zèbe? Ani ya vaa na,
gái gè ve, Kwenadi ya sa no á vee gie ga
kpo yie gè ta lowa? Wa li é va."

Nèni nepo nu ya netea vee la, tsewua
ve pe, keelo-looga ve pe, mokolu yilia
ve pe, molo yaze ve pe-o, é vee to-nyeni
va, bime lo te luo gbúu te vaa la boke-
za ve. È ye ná numaitie ma, "Kè-o, a me
le de sakpa ve véle Mode nàtiè te la.
A me le de li ga ná véle-o. A li bodo
pove véle."

Te li te ye bodo ma, "È lie ye é vaa."

Bodo ye tea, "A me le laa yii ve. A
li dowo balagi ya. Wèe nepo ge vaave,
mine ya á da li ná-o. A dìì pele-wuve,
a ke ye le, baa-o."

Te kasoi mãi kpowù dowo balagi ya. Te

8

ya te bime vile. Nà yeezu te vaa sa ga
Kwenadi na kpo-kpogi è zei sa sù. Kwenadi
ó no zei ne ni, bodo ge zei ne ni. Kwenadi
ó bòs na, bodo bòs, til ka na. Nu
ò ye sa ya faazu wuluzu ga gaa-baa, te
ye yia, "Baa, be nä va, be nä va."

Towaa zoi kiinss bime vaa la è ye bodo
ma, "Yà ya yà kwena bo."

bodo ye má, "Aa." È nà ziiti Kwenadi ma.

Kwenadi ye má, "Yài mugi è ya vaa-nas
yeezu, è le wu ziyia ò kwena bo?"

Bime ye má, "Gáazu le bè."

Kwenadi ye má, "Oò-òo. Kèbe tukpo ya
è ya?"

È ye má, "Tukpo ya zèea." È wu ziyi
sa è soolai wena bo kpolo to-to-to-to è
daa ziiti.

Kwenadi ye tea, "bodo, è ye è lie ya?

È ye má, "Ooi."

Nà ye má, "Kè tei towo dótoi è welezu
má ne ni, ya wo è leizu?"

Bodo ye má, "Aa. Kuo! Èe-éei. Gala
ka è gè betse."

Kwenadi ye má, "Aa."

Kè zui nii Kwenadi ya è fè bodo be ga
zée-leveba. Kwenadi wo ge yeni ga Sene-
gwele. È ye Alimàami ya è yeni má, "Zui
ya. Ve nepo yà li ná te vee è luo, a kó
gà è wulu."

Kwenadi ye kono, "Towo nà zunu wo ge le
ná volo ó vee tuò koo-vaa zu. Kè yài è
ga bodo, fatawogi sa bime bóga, fai sa gè
bósu yie, yà lene-goo ve-o. Wa mu másagi-
tie te zui nii zu, tei bòo gè ziyia maazu
mulu, Kalawaani, gè yaga yiizu Kpolo-oo

9

é yesu gà va ve, gà le de masa kaani ó nii
liigo ye bè keni bimei nii." È ye mà, "Yie
wele gè va gài gè ga Senegwelaitsie mii-
neni wòi gie. Mokolùi sa te vaa te pù to-
waa sa tiè li tiè siri sù tiè mí. To mu
tè le volo màa kpowùni gò téve te wo. Wa
nii a nèè, hoo."

Bodo ye mà, "Zèè ya bú." È ye tea,
"Kpoo! Nà mu gè ye tea dìs ya. Gà ya gè
yai."

Kwenadi ye mà, "Mm, nu boga nu ta ya,
kè wa li ga yee-luo vele wa bòè. Nà ma
tei gáazu le bè, zobo ge le bè, to bòwòi
é bóga ne na, ya wo ka zобogi yie, me le
kpoè veè-bá."

Bodo ye mà, "Gè le nà yèè."

Kwenadi ye tea, "Bime."
"Hoo."

"Yà balaa me le baa wo è leye ma-o.
Towaa Alemàami è tèvega ve-o, nii gè pè-
tesu, nà ya gè liizu sù wulozu-o. Gè le
yèni wia, 'A da ya de yesu wa yui ya-o.'
Tei Balaa gè zeinj, kòo ya gáazu-o. Nu ya
yii lo gáazu gá kso-o. Tòwo to ga a de
téve no ga Mode tevei-o. Gà ye na gè nu
bòove, gá kòwo felegoi leve no bú gè tó
zuwà gè veè bá gie kpoove-o. Nà ma, nu
nèè-bè yòwo le gáazu, kúloai ya yilekpu
è wulu, ya bodo. Kè zui ya gá sà vaazu
lèèzu. Bodo, è ziiti yie, è ziiti è yeeà-
ni ma. Gà sa vaazu lèèzu. Ya vaazu kès-
zu ye le?"

Bodo ye mà, "be gè nà laa ziiti gè
yeeani ma."

Kwenadi ye mà, "Gè le yèni wo faa-nèè
ye bè. Kè tòwo nu yà li nada wo luo ná
ga pago, yà ye na liizu, yà veli te ma.

10

Nà no ve."

Nà ya bodo yèzu, "Vaaabaa Zaawu, nà ve
è ziiti yie,"

Nà ye mà, "Kuo! Mm-mm. È nà woni ga
pago. Baà taitis balaa te vaa te ta ya
yesu ve-o gè le kwèni. Tòwo te le nà wo-
ni mà ziave. Gà liizu no ziave."

Maanigbe ya è wu ziyini Senegwelaitsie
zaama è ye, "Nui è ga Vaaabaa Zaawu, gá to
ya gè yesu ve. Gè le sa liizu-o."

Maanigbe yeni vè hàn-àa è za zui nii
ya. Vaaabaa Zaawu ya è ye bá. Kpogi nepè
Vaaabaa Zaawu ó li sù ò wele na pùlu va,
ò wele Maanigbe va.

Modegi boolo-zu leveni, kè Senegwelei
tie taniga za ya za te wo ka de kpeteave.
Te wogi ya ga te leaitie te yeni te wulu.

"Be gè ziyi ziave gè va-o." Tòwaa
Kwenadi yèzu, "Yài è ga bodo, gè bóga
yie gè ve yia, kso va ga gis. Gè le daa-
mii neni-zu velia-o. Ta ye na vaazu, zòi
a va è laa le wo wu è wo yasoi ta ziri,
à nà bòove. È kàa? Nà malakui gè séiya,
nu le ta wuloa, ba-o. Ta ye na vaazu-o,
zòi wo yee ya lo bá wo kpoove. Kpodei
wa kúlo zéea, a vaa la pò nà, Kwenadi.
Wa manu bòcve kels-kels wo be bá. È le
liizu nada nepè. Nàtie va gè yoga sù ve."

Bodogi de vaazu mà, woia ge yèni mà.
Gà numaa lee-lee te yèni tea, "Towaa è ye
de ma, koològi. Zebè è bá, gè bòo lui,
Kwenadi gè yili ya è bóga è gè ve è ya?
Zui vaa no laale? Gè vaa la bú ga gè ba-
la vele? Ya wo è wù-su bai è le zèiya.
Gà do gá ye yia bá, yà li do zui ta zu è
koo ziyi è vaa la gé wo, nà bala vai no
ya gè bóga bú! Yie ye gè ma, 'A koo ziyi'?

11

Ba, volo. A de pele yaa zic bodogi nii
vaa va a de kè ga golo."

Te yè tea, "Kèlèi? Mm-mm."

Te séiya do ga go-go-go-go-go te va.
Ya Luuyièi nii leve na, zic wolo na maazu
mìns, Woeiyala ya ya na, mìns ya te li te
nà bòte. Te yè tea, "Dà tìli na sa yè de
sò-ee, è le yè sa wulu yaa, to no le na."

Nu yaa yôwò bôbôbogi le wôini la se,
keni zii bôni na. Ani wa nèc na, è yaa
vai ya wâla ma. Kè è yaa wôwòi, mm-mm,
keni gile-gile-o. Ta ta lo no, manu mm-mm,
kuo! towaa sa è de maazu.

Te yè tea, "A dii de gáa nèsèn de sò.
Da sò na, a de lite da a dii la kpado
woiai zu è ná yìe kpadoi ta wo."

Towaa Buluyièma Veleku yèszu tea, "Kee!
Fai nii to mu gè le nìns-nìnsù la. De-
le zia ná wu. Ani a va, a da yè má, 'Gè
vaa è gè vatawo è nìkè vaa gie bo pa gè
yè doboi zù gè mí.' Dis na wo die nès-o.
Kè nu le yèè tea de yee lete má. ba-o.
Nà dei, gè le yèè wo va-o. Wa wo, wa yè
na yè wo lebi vè, gà li gè bó má-o. Gè
yè má, 'Ta è lili na, yè ga zunu.'"

Towaa Buluyièma Veleku vaa è le sa le-
teni ò bó bodo ma. Bodo die Mize ya sa
è yè má, "Mokolui è gília za è tévega
te lia la doboi zu, è kavele wèni?"

È yè má, "Kpo!: Gè le kavelè wèni."

È yè má, "È leye mu ka te vaa sòsu-o.
Towaa è mokolui yìlia è téve te wo?"

Mize yè, "Kpo!: Gò yè ga kwèega gè le
bega kè. Nà mu ka na te vaa sòsu."

Buluyièma Veleku yè má, "Màa kpo. Gà
liizu gè bó tìc gè yè tea, 'We le zivini

12

vè ta vaazu laa lèèzu wo wu.' Ta sa ta
vela."

Fàsàave velei ya è lii la è Luuyiè le-
ve è li è vile Woeiyala va è ziiti lopai-
tìs ma. È yè tea, "Bèni ka? A wè le
liini, fai nii bodo ge meniga-o. Te kúlo
hèteai-yèè-o. Te vaa laa lèèzu wo wu-o."

Te wu zìyi tìc li, ts le zooni to sò.
Nà ya Luòbää yèèzu, "bodogi tei towo a
yè gè ma koologi, gà pele yaa zìèzu bá
gè kpoè leve te yoozu ta nès-bè yôwò.
Mabòè wo ka wo na, nà wò kpea ya na a yè."

Nà ya Luòbää kpo toa Fasama, masagi
pe ge li ná, È yè, "bodo."

Nà yè má, "Mm."

"Modegi gà mu è gè yèga è ya vè. Kè
bime vaa ya yè le á leve è zei yìe gè vii-
wù no nèni towo gáazu weleai. Sò è fè."

Bodo yè tea, "Ba." È yè tea, "Koo!
Ba. Dis vè-o. Gè le zooga gò kóó vèè
bá."

Kè Bodo ge kóó looni Võiyema. È kóó
zìyi è sèi Bime va Woozi, nà kpè. È wote
è sìyi vè è lii la è pèè bá, nà kpè.

Bime wo ge wote è Mesi Biyãa lili, Si-
vilizu. Nà va Woozi vè kóó maazu. Bime
koi bòteni woozi velei zu è va è tóó Fi-
shèbu vè. Te bodo so. Kè pela vele ya è
yè sù è wulo Zukolobu. Towaa è lia è wù
kulo Kwèè-kwèè Valai ma.

Nà yè, "Kuo!: Dààbe."

È wulo ga sèye è yè má, "È wò-ba zèye
ya. Kòò le de yoozu. Kòò le de yoozu pa,
kóó le de yoozu pa, è wò-ba zèye ya. Kè
yài wògi è ga dààbei, a yè na nìna ga su-
bu, vile bodo ma è lii la Zolowo kèèani
po."

13

ma te lūi le ga nii, te lūi laale pā.
Yā wěle na kpoēi-bōeigi va fāi nu ya kē
ga kpoēi-bōei faa yavele, nā no lei wa kē."

Nā ya Valai ge ye, "Kuo, gè le balani,
towo koi wo ge ve daa yai zu. Mesi bi-
yāa laa yai zu te tūo nu yeēzu."

Kwēē-kwēē Valai ge ye tea, "Kpo! Gè
le zoogā gò bodo so gò Fisebu li. Tei
towo è yeeani te yelee yie ti, yā no bo
pa liizu. Ta liizu ga yie taa yai ga
Fisebu."

bodo ye má, "Gè le yeēzu wie wo veeve.
Nā wo koo lei 5 sò zee woda. Koo no ya è
wua má gè yega pela vele zu gè vaa ve.
Tei wono ya bo yā ya no è sōga."

Valai ge ye má, "Ba-o, è yeeani ka te
è zoga-o. È lia è loo Zolowo te yee wulo
è wu. È wulu yasoi ya, tuulii ya. Zeōs
ya gā kē? Kala-wono vaa Mesi Biyāa va è
sēizu ve nala-nala kpowū wa vaitie zu, Ba."

Nā ya te vāa la Fisebu te lec la ōete
zaamave. Te ye Bodo ma, "Kwotii ya, zei
māazu. Nii ya wolo nu ya zei māazu è pāa.
Nā ma, yā balaa zei māazu, ani gāa nseve,
yā vaazu gāa yaazu."

Bodo ye te ma, "Ooi, kè nā wo gè le zò
kwěni."

Te ye má, "È zo kwěni. Te yega è yaa
wolosu yie è yeeani piwū. Towo ge lei
yā do voloi è ziitia za? Gā lei za gè
wuloa è wulu?"

Nā ya Valai yeēzu tea, "Bime, yā ya è
yeni má, bodo so è fè, ' kè za ge le fèezu.
be bā gè dāa-zu yeē."

Te dāā-zu veē kui-zuve Konia wui-zuve
Fisebu. Towaa è yega nā hāaa, folo fele-

16

go leve, sava kelei Mesi Biyāa ve, "Kè!
Gè kpeela puuni gā lodo. Māa nseve gè
kulo nii zu, è me le ye sú."

Towo te kolui vilini bodo wowo zu.

Nā ya sā Mesi Biyāa ná Boigi liliga è
yiliyii ziyi è ye má, "Lii la è téve do-
do po. To na gè ye yā kowo wulo kolui
zu. Yā kowoi wulo na sú kpowū, è dō wo-
no sú. È pili sú è téve pō to bowoi è
wowoi wulo sú è wowo lo sú è pili sú è
wela bā."

Nā ya do è vaa, názai te veēzu má Fa-
kalawu, nā ya è ye kóba. Nā ya è va è
ye má, "Dèe lama-ta li, nu namai me le
zie ya zeyei zu."

È ye tea, "È dei! Èi, 6a gè wulo-o."
È ye bodo ma, "Kèea?"

Nā ye má, "Mm."

È ye má, "Wo faa woni wa Mesi Biyāa?"

Bodo ye má, "Ooi, gé faa woni. Gè woo
yěeni davagi wuve Woozi velei zu. Fai
gé bō nā wo ka na gè bō."

Nā ye má, "Nā ya gè mavaa woga. Nā wo
gè le yeni è nā pe su wulo.

"Nā ya è têvega má è yiliyii ziyia è fè
zèea, wu ka ga kolui nii è è wowoi va."
È ye má, "Wu zivi na."

Bodo ye má, "Tei towo gè le zooga gò
kpèkpe." Nā zeba è yee wu kowo wu è bú
ziyi. È wowoi vile tutui zu. È kolui wu-
lo kòwo zu.

È ye má, "Wu ziyi."

Bodo ge wu ziyi.

È ye má, "Zei kono."

Bodo zei.

È ye kono má, "Wowoitie lo te zu." È

17

pili sú te ma.

È yiliyii ziyi é téve bodo po. È ye
Bodo ma, "Mm. Mesi Biyaa é vaani yie, é
va yie, é va yie, é ye kpeela ná wo mii-
ni, ná doi wuloa sú. Yiliyii ya. Kè ya
wo, yii la-o. È me le masa sa nèteai ma
te levesu la via-via-via yeni ya yee na è
wowoi wulo kolui zu ta wele yie ta è zo-
goo. Biyaa ye ya dáa wo na, towaa è vaa-
o, to boo no ya á è vaa-o."

Zunu lomai li é kolui ziyi é dá Bodo
wū tuove. È yega ná é ye ná é ye ná, na-
da mulu kpala-ga vea ta ye leesu na taa
zu kpêi Bodo kolui laa lao é zoi laa
lao. È wowoi wulo sú é kolui la bete wu-
luve, é yiliyii ziyi é dá kóba.

È vilega pelei va kila-kila-kila-kila-
kila. È lo mela òafai zu è Vœlaa. Le-
Beai è loni Vœlaa lo-su na maviligi
ya Bodo ge liini è lo sú.

Nà ya názai sa è lia ná wèè wo è va è
wèle sa, è le wèleni Bodo ba. È wèle kui-
zuve va, Konia wui-zuve. È ye tea, "Ho.
A va! Wa nui ya è velazu. Bodo ge lia-
goo!":

Te ye, "Èè-èe!" Te kulo nèteai yee.
Nète zaamave laa vega boo kpe-kpe-kpe-
kpe... Doboi-zu bidiai. Tovo masadai nu
ya sivi na, ani è le liizu dobo zu, ná
yaa ya bidi la. Keni Gbegbeni ka to suo
bea. Doboi-zu bidia sa Bodo leve no sa è
zei bea viligi zu.

Te koi yaa wèè sú naa. Taitie té vaa-
zu liizu ga Zozoo pele, báa vekegi ya è
biinesu ga gizii è li Yaaloo è wulo Kaa-
limeè è le Malawu. Pelei nii ya towaa è
vaazu wulozu Koataa è li Nikyie zu è

18

wulo Woozi taá loo munu. Nà ya te gáa
wèè la pe te ye tea, "A leve ná."

Moliitis te ye tea, "To gizii zu. A
gizii maa lite no wa vaazu pètèzu."

Nà ya te gizii maa litega gá goloba
te séi bá ye tis les la. Wèè ya è li è
bodo pete è ga boode nu. Bodo yeni zei-
ni gulu viligi zu wù pilegi. Boode nui
ye tea, "Kuo! Zebèi ga nii sú lei-o?"

Bodo ge ye má, "Nà ve."

È ye má, "Yà de ve?"

Nà ye má, "bodo be."

Nà le faa woni má. È wulu yaa ve kce-
zu a ke ta bôloi ta tis wûi. Nà ye má,
"Mine vele vaa ya ye le?"

Wèè ye, "Kuo, zebèi è ná? Nu le ná.
Kpovo balaa le lubuni ná. A dii, dii ga
pele walai."

Gizii ya te ziiya te ya ve, guoi nii
wu zunui ye do, "Kpe!" È ye tea, "Kei
Ki ge le ziyizu gizii zu. Gà liizu ná.
Bea na è loni, gá liizu gè wels maviligi
zu va."

Bôloi ye má, "Zebè mu ka è ye è gáa
zis? Gè ye yie, nu le ná, gè welsè ná va."

Bôloi ye má, "Ba. Gà liizu volo ná.
Vele ya na wa luo la." È gizii les è va
è li boo è kpài zokpai zivi è ye è dó bá.
Bodo ye má, "Nà ya gè ná. Bodo be."

È ye tea, "Hoooo! Bodo ka-goo! Gè
welsè bá."

Koi pe gè ye tea, "Baa." Te sò te gi-
zii yii la te vaa la fèea Fisebu ve. Te
liini la Mesi biyaa wo. Nà ye tea, "A
lii la ná pele ná wu. Gè le kwèni
gò ye naza nu fàada balaa ya ga nii.

19

Yāi mugī ē ga koo masagi ē lowo leē ē
yii, lopaa ya ye no yia, yia, ē le zooga
ò lubu? A lii la ná pels na wu. A naza
nu na wulo volo ná."

È nii ná subu na ya sa Mesi. Biyāa ye
tea, "A kúlo-ŋeteai ye."

Te kúlo-ŋeteai ye. È ye, "Bime?"

Nà ye, "Hoo."

È ye má, "Yà nui ya. Nà lei gò só.
Nà duo-bá ya é sóga. De koi looni ye bo-
do ge ziyi laa ga Zúkolobu ya é li é wu-
lo ná. Nà duo-bai ya ga to sa dóowu na
gò sa koo loo Zukolobu. Nà ma yà nui lei."

Bime ye má, "Aa. Zèe ya bú."

Bodo ye Valai ma, "Kèks."

Nà ye má, "Mm."

È ye má, "Taava fe gè tè."

Nà kpokelegi ziyi é ye má, "Mm. Yà
Ya è liizu ya lakpadaa wulozu, kpokele na
ya na."

Nà yezzu te pùlu gbuu tie sa yée zao
ba-o, tie sa li ga poolea-o, tie ye má,
"Nii òoi ya è yega mifizu."

Aa, zunu ya na bôo zunu ya kpala ye-o.
A ye é lite ng ni te ye má, "Yaazu ziyi
lees ng ni, yāi è ga zuu nala-ŋala nui."

Te va te leve da ve fees te lii la
Woozi. È ye é wu do kpo zeyei zu te ye
má, "Ba. gále ma. Dii ga ve vele."

Fazi Moluša, Zeemawuo, bime ye do,
"Bodo?"

Nà ye má, "Mm."

Nà ye má, "Lii na, è laabe ya ga Molu-

20

6a, towaa é è laa-zu yezzu."

Te lii la Gede-gbeelse ya te paa ná.
Te kolu maa-wügi vilini má é loba, manui
be ba é vela.

Bói ye má, "Kpoc: De ya nu vaazu, ze-
6ei è nii yezzu má? Tei é loni naza nu
vize wogei ba."

Nà ya é mata vaa. Towo te velini-o.

Bodo ye tea, "Tei towo wo pàazu, wa
za kolu ya. Kolu ya wo vaa-e, kolu ya wo
va-e."

Zeemawuo ye má, "Yà mu be. Máa-yikisu
le sa yie."

Koi te vaa la Baloma, nà ya te kpa ná
ya te Zeemawuo zo ná. Wo méniga.

Mina ya gè ná wěni.

21

BODO

Old Man Naku-liggai
Fisebu

This is the story of Bodo, who was a war lord in Fisebu. His father was Molu-ba Kpatia, a rich man who built two towns. One of the old town sites is between the Fisebu-wozi road and the Fise-bu-Konia road. The other old town site is on the Fisebu-Yella road.

Bodo was hard-headed and cared only about gaining wealth and power. He had most of his father's properties, and he cultivated friendship with Mandingoes.

When he would see a cow in town, he would simply say to the young men who were close by, "Kill the cow and eat it."

At that time there was a Mandingo man, Alimahmi, who lived far north, and had heard about Bodo. He, too, was very wealthy in land. One day he said to one of his generals, "Kwinnadi, my general Kwinnadi, in the South there is a man of whom I have heard, called Bodo. Go and look for him. When you have seen him, come back and tell me."

After Kwinnadi had been traveling for a long time, he came to Bokeza. He said, "Is this place Bokeza?"

They said, "Yes."

He then asked them, "Is Bodo here?"

They said, "No, Bodo is not here; he is in Fisebu. That is his town."

22

23

Then they came to Fisebu and Kwinnadi asked, "Who is the owner of this town? Is this Fisebu?"

They said to him, "Yes, but the person who owns this town has been gone for a long time. His son, Koboi Mizeh, is in charge."

Then Kwinnadi said, "Is this where Bodo is?"

"Yes," they said, "but he has gone to war in the Belleh country."

He said, "I want to see him, but I need someone to lead the way."

They said to him, "In fact, we must have a welcome feast for you." They killed a cow for him before they appointed someone to go with him to Zorzor.

There again he asked, "Is Bodo here?"

They said, "No, Bodo has gone to war in the Belleh country."

He said, "Why? Is he so fond of fighting? Why didn't he wait for us? We just take one day to fight a war. Look at the Songhars with their weapons. They are all warriors. Anyway, I just want to see Bodo."

He continued his journey until he finally reached Zolowo. He asked the people, "What place is this?"

They answered, "Zolowo."

"Who owns this town?" he asked.

"Gbagalo," they answered, "but the person who is the chief is Buseh."

"Is Bodo here?" asked Kwinnadi.

"No," they said, "Bodo has encountered difficulties and has gone to war in the

24

Belleh country."

He said, "All right, give me a person who will lead me to Belleh country."

The people said to him, "Bodo is a rascal. He is not stationary. Even this war he has gone off to, after he has fought it, he will just go on and on fighting."

Kwinnadi said, "Ah."

Gbagalo said, "In spite of that, I, Gbagalo, and Buseh are having a welcome feast for you, but not until tomorrow."

The day the cow was killed they sent a messenger to Bodo who was in Baloma with his uncles. He said to Bodo, "A man came whose language we do not understand. He said he is looking for you."

"What have I done to him?"

They said, "We do not know."

Bodo said, "Ah. I will go there tomorrow. If he came to catch me, let him catch me so he will be happy; and I, too, will be happy."

Early the next morning Bodo left Baloma.

Meanwhile back in Zolowo, Kwinnadi stayed in Gbagalo's quarter until the sun was high. Then he said to one of his interpreters, "Tell the Old Man that he need not bother to prepare hot water for my whole retinue. We are all soldiers. We will go to the creek to bathe."

They went to the creek.

By this time Bodo had passed along the Hasao path and had just come to Zayia, the creek, and was starting down the hill

25

when the people said to Kwinnadi, "There comes Bodo."

"What?" he said.

"There comes Bodo."

Kwinnadi put on his clothes and started across the monkey bridge while Bodo, too, started to cross. They met right in the middle of the stream. Kwinnadi sent for one of his interpreters and said to him, "Where is this man from?"

The interpreter asked, "Father, where are you from?"

Bodo's followers said, "This is Bodo."

Kwinnadi said, "Oh, Bodo, is this you?" He embraced him and said, "You are the one I am looking for."

Bodo said, "Well, I am here."

Kwinnadi said, "I am not looking for you for anything bad. Alimahmi told me to come and see you."

"Really?" said Bodo.

"Yes," said Kwinnadi.

"All right," said Bodo, "here I am."

They went together to Zolowo, to Gbagalo's quarter, which was the strengers' quarter. Kwinnadi said to Bodo, "They have killed a cow for me; here is one thigh for you."

Bodo said, "Look, I have only these three people with me. I have no wife; who will cook the meat?"

Kwinnadi said to him, "As for me, the person who sent me, Alimahmi, is not afraid of anything. I, too, am not afraid of anything. Whatever he tells me, I do.

26

From the time I started traveling all through this land, all of the women who are here are mine. If I call any of them and tell her to cook, she will cook."

"Very good," said Bodo.

They prepared the food and gave Bodo his share.

Kwinnadi said, "We are sleeping here and tomorrow we will reach Bokeza. That is where I first entered your land, and that is my welcome town. But we will sleep in Fisebu."

"Ah," said Bodo, "I agree."

They slept in Zolowo. At the break of day they left for Fisebu and slept there. Bodo said to Kwinnadi, "Ko! I whom you seek, this is my town, and you have said, 'Let's go to Bokeza?'"

Kwinnadi said, "What does that matter? I have not come to discuss your home town. All you in this town, I own you all, I, Kwinnadi. That is why I took the risk and came to look for you. But let us get acquainted first."

"All right," said Bodo, "let's go."

They traveled until they reached Bokeza. Then Kwinnadi said to Bodo, "What I am looking for you for is this. I am not going to kill you. If I wanted to kill you, I would have killed you when we met at the waterside. But this whole land, - Ziama, Buluyiama, Gizima, Vavala and Gbaglay, they are all yours."

Bodo said, "Is this the way to give a gift?"

Kwinnadi said, "This land is yours;

27

I have given it to you."

Bodo did not speak, but sat with his
head bowed.

Kwinnadi said, "This is your land, you
are the only man here." After he had tal-
ked for a long time to Bodo he said, "You
are silent. Don't you want to say any-
thing?"

Bodo said, "You came and told me that Alimahmi said you should come and see me. What you have told me carries too much responsibility for me. There are people whom I must go and tell. My fathers are there; let me go and explain this matter to them."

Kwinnadi said, "Yes. Will you go and return today?"

Bodo said, "No, I will sleep there."
"Ah. I agree," said Kwinnadi.

Bodo went to Fisebu. The person who long ago and still today owns the land is Vabah Zawu, that is, Gizima land. Bodo came and sat down and called Vabah Zawu as well as Luoba, Kpalagawu, Buseh, Gbagalo and the Old Man who was once a chief of Zialakpala named Zehgbehyan. This is the crowd he gathered in Fisebu.

He said, "This is what has happened,
land fathers. That man says I own this
land. But it reaches you all, my fathers."

They said to him, "Yes, it has reached
us; but we are considering it. Let us
hold a meeting."

They held the meeting and said, "Kpo! Mm-hmm! The man, Bodo, does not stay put.

28

God has caused that man, Kwinnadi to come
and say, 'This is your land.' We agree.
Why not go and give our answer?"

They came and said, "Bodo, your father
was a very rich man here. Even if you be-
come poor, we are all for you. You are
the only one Kwinnadi supports. Here is a
ram and four kinjahs of rice. They are for
Kwinnadi. Let us take them to him."

"Vabah Zawu said, "Yes, we are going to
Bokeza with you. Will you stay there?"

Bodo said to him, "If he agrees, I will stay. If he refuses, I will return. These Mandingoes are stronger even than you chiefs, so what can you do about anything? If they say 'Let us go this way', we will go. Well, suppose they say something important when we go to Bokeza; to whom shall I give my messages to bring back to you?"

They said, "Kiiliwu Tokpa."

Bodo said, "Tokpa, it reaches you."

Tokpa said, "I agree."

Then Bodo said, "Suppose Tokpa and I go
on a trip and the people say something im-
portant and I tell him to come and deliver
the message; which of the land fathers
will Tokpa bring the message to?"

They said to him, "Vabah Zawu, Kpalagawu, Mizeh, here in Fisebu, Gbagalo, Buseh, Luoba, - Tokpa will come and deliver the message to these people. If it is a matter concerning death, we will be in it together. If it concerns money, once we have answered you, Biiliwu land and its resources, Ziama and Buluyiama lands, all are for us. You have to appoint a leader

29

there. If there is a leader there, we who are the leaders, this is our answer to you."

Bodo said, "All right."

They brought the sheep and the four kin-
jahs of rice and Zawu said, "Bodo, I am
eloquent, but speaking before a crowd, one
runs the risk of being embarrassed by hec-
klers. Therefore, since you are the war-
rior, you deliver the things we have brought. Then after you have presented the gifts and the matter, if Kwinnadi accepts them, we will say to him that that is our word."

Bodo said, "Ah. I agree."

He went to Bokeza and presented the
gifts to Kwinnadi and told him that his fa-
thers agreed to all that Kwinnadi had said.

On each side of Kwinnadi was a brass
container in which he could spit. There
was a boy standing on his left side and one
on his right dressed in black country cloth
garments. Kwinnadi used the garments of
these boys to wipe his nose. When Kwinna-
di was in a crowd, he had four interpreters.
His real language had a particular inter-
preter who gave the message to his compan-
ions. They went on interpreting to one
another, one speaking another language and
another helping.

When Bodo presented the gifts he said,
"My fathers have agreed to your proposi-
tion that I own the land. They agree."

Kwinnadi said, "Whether they agree or
not is only of interest to them."

"Kuo!" Vahbah Zawu, "That is of inter-

30

est to us? It matters very much whether we
agree or not. If you have a child and
they offer him a great thing, will you re-
fuse? We said yes. Ah, he continued,
"did that satisfy you, Bodo?"

Bodo said, "Yes. I agree."

They left the public gathering place and
went to their houses. Then Kwinnadi said,
"Go and call Bodo."

They called him. Kwinnadi said to him,
"Who is another powerful, rich person like
yourself?"

Bodo said, "Bimeh."

Kwinnadi said, "Mm. Bodo, if you call
Bimeh, will he come here?"

Bodo said, "Yes, if I call him, he will
come. He is my older brother. We have
one mother and father."

Kwinnadi said to him, "Oh-ho, I under-
stand. Send a soldier with the message."

Bodo sent a messenger to Lozi to call
Bimeh. Bimeh said to the messenger, "Mm.
When you return, I send my brother greet-
ings. I am unable to see; what will I do?
They will just have to carry me. I do not
have a horse."

They returned and told Bodo. He said,
"Kpo! What is that? If he comes, does
he think Kwinnadi is going to begin a
quarrel with us and beat us? When you go,
tell him to come."

All the things a person needs, - chick-
ens, piassava wine, cooked rice, raw rice,
livestock, - the servants led the whole
procession to Bokeza with Bimeh at its

31

head. Bimeh said, "Don't go where those Mandingoes are. Go where Bodo is."

Then Bimeh's advance guard said to Bodo, "Your brother has come."

Bodo said, "Do not put your things down. Go to the market ground. When any stranger comes here, that is where we take him."

So they carried all the loads to the market ground. They brought Bimeh in his hammock and put him down at the market place. At the same time they brought Kwinnadi's chair and he sat down. Bodo sat next to him. After Kwinnadi talked, Bodo talked and that was all. If any other person tried to talk, the followers of Kwinnadi and Bodo would say, "No, stop that. Leave off."

Bimeh brought all of the gifts and said to Bodo, "You will present them."

Bodo said, "Ah." He reached it to Kwinnadi.

Kwinnadi said to Bimeh, "Why don't you present your gifts yourself?"

Bimeh said, "I am blind."

"Oh-hoo!" said Kwinnadi, "do you not have a walking cane?"

"I have a cane," said Bimeh. He got up and presented all the things he had brought.

Kwinnadi said, "Bodo, you said this is your older brother?"

"Yes," said Bodo.

"How is it he is of light complexion and you are dark?"

"Ah: Kuo!" said Bodo. "God made us."

"Ah," said Kwinnadi.

Kwinnadi gave the land to Bodo because of his power. Kwinnadi said, "There is no man who stands ahead of me in skill of war.

32

But you, Bodo, after all the gifts Bimeh has presented, I am going to give you some advice. For since I came from the far North, Kalawani, = and I have been coming down this way for a long time before I came here -, I have not seen a chief who has done so much for me as this Bimeh. You see us Songhars; we like food. The food which Bimeh's people have brought is what my people are eating now. They did not even wait for me to give it to them. You and this man should be good friends."

Bodo said, "I agree. Kpo!- I have said he is my older brother. We are of one family."

Kwinnadi said, "Yes, two people may start out as one family, but in the future they could quarrel. For this reason, since Bimeh has poor eyesight, and is not well, which he himself has said, and you are well, do not quarrel with him."

"I won't do that," said Bodo.

Kwinnadi said, "Bimeh?"

"Yes," Bimeh answered,

"You, too. Do not look for trouble with your younger brother. Alimahmi sent me here. What I see is what I will go and explain. Although I am sitting here, I am a warrior. If anyone is brave enough to challenge me, we will fight. However, we will use the Mandingo method of fighting. If we want to beat a person, we simply lift his legs and throw him on the ground and begin to beat him. So I am not a friendly person to anyone except you alone, Bodo."

"But here is the land. I am preparing to go back North. Bodo, it reaches you and your fathers. I am ready to go. What will you do?"

33

Bodo said, "Let me reach that to my
fathers."

"I don't mean you should give me gifts,"
said Kwinnadi, "but if a person goes to a
place and spends time there well, he should
let the people know that he is leaving."

Then Bodo said, "Vahbah Zawu, that is
it. It reaches you."

Zawu said, "Kuo!. He is right. If any
of those that came are staying here, I do
not know it. They did not tell me this at
the creek. I am going now to the water-
side." And he left.

Then Manigbeh, one of the Songhars, got
up and said, "The person known as Vahbah Zawu
is the one with whom I will stay here. I
am not returning to my home."

Manigbeh stayed on this soil for a long
time and died here. He stayed here with
Vahab Zawu. Any gathering Zawu went to,
Manigbeh was with him.

Most of the Mandingoes left, but some
of the Songhars, even until today, left
traces in Monrovia, in their children that
they left behind them.

Kwinnadi said, "You, Bodo, I have told
you that we are warriors. We do not ask
for food. If any of my men fight you and
sieze some of your loads, beat them. You
see, it is a matter of food. Don't say,
'This is my cassava, I have planted it, no-
body may dig up any.' No. But if they at-
tack you, if you are able to beat them,
do so. If you take any guns, bring them to
me, Kwinnadi. After you have beaten the
person, leave him. He will not go to any
other place. This is what we have been

used to doing."

Now this Bodo of whom we are talking was
hated by his people. Our fathers said to
each other, "He called us lizard. Can it be
that Kwinnadi has put us in bondage to our
own son? Is it not only because of the land
that we have agreed? Bodo is ruthless. He
does not settle anywhere. If we do not sup-
port him, he may go to another country, take
up arms and fight us. Is that what we are
worrying about? So now Bodo is telling us
to wage war? No. Let us look for a way to
make Bodo an ape."

The people said, "Really? Mm-hmm!"

They came and crossed Luuyia (towards
the Yella road) and went to the next small
stream, Waygala, and prepared for an am-
bush. They said, "When we call him here
and catch him, if he does not go back, that
is it."

It is your close relative who hates you.
With an unrelated person you may become real
friends. Your murder would pain him. But
among your relatives it is rare that one
would care about your death. So then if one
of your relatives is promoted to a high po-
sition, well, you just have to accept him.

They said, "Let us go and try to lure
Bodo and catch him. After we have caught
him, we should take him to the sacred for-
est where we will play the most dangerous
game, and we will kill him to escape his
killing us."

There was one man named Buluyiama Villeku,
who said, "About this business, I tell you

34

frankly, we are unable to do it. If Bodo comes, we should say, "We want you to hold a welcome feast for us. Kill a cow, and let us stay in the bush and eat it." We should laugh while we say this. But we should not go and seize him straight away. No. As for me, I am not with you. And if you stay here longer, I will go and tell him. I will say, 'When they call you, you should be a man.'"

They proceeded to carry out their plans, and Villeku went to town. He did not go directly to Bodo to inform him. Instead, he went to Mizeh, Bodo's older brother, and asked him, "The food they asked you to prepare and send to the forest, do you know what it was all about?"

He said, "Kpo: I don't know what it was all about."

Villeku said, "That is your older brother they have come to catch. And you cooked for them?"

Mizeh said, "If I had known, I would not have done it. I am the one they have come to catch."

Villeku said, "Keep quiet. I will go back and say to him, 'You had better go from here. They are preparing to come and fight you.' Then they will flee."

He went by the Fisebu-Yella road and crossed Luuyia and got on Waygala and reached the conspirators. He said, "Look, all of you had better leave. This Bodo has heard about your plan. They have taken up arms and are coming to fight you."

So they got up and went and were unable

to catch Bodo. Luoba said, "Since Bodo says we are lizards, I will look for a way to bring up a palaver between him and his friendly relative." After they have had that dispute, that will be the end."

Luoba called a meeting in Fasama and all the chiefs went there. He said, "Bodo?"

Bodo answered, "Yes."

Luoba said, The Mandingo man, Kwinnadi, left us in your care. But how come Bimeh is abusing us, and he is blind? Get him and give him to us."

Bodo said, "Ko: No, he is my brother. I can't wage war on him."

But Bodo waged war on Voinyama, a village near Wozi. Then he waged war on Bimeh in Wozi and was repulsed. He repeated his attempt and was again unsuccessful.

Then Bimeh went to get reinforcements in Sivilizu from Missi Beyan, a Mandingo war lord. When they were ready for war, Bimeh came by the Wozi road to Fisebu. They caught Bodo, but he had escaped as far as Zukolobu. There he met Kwehkweh Vallai.

Vallai said, "Kuo: Nephew." He brought clothes and said, "Wear these. There is no war between us. There is no war between us. These are what you wear."

Then he addressed another nephew. "Early tomorrow morning go with him to his father's to Zolowo."

The man said, "I agree."

The next morning they prepared hot water for Bodo and he took a bath. Vallai

said to him, "You may go now. But even as
you are going, the war is spreading and the
momentum is building up. You cannot just
rush into it. When you go to Zolowo, go
into the Big Thing's fence. Stay there and
inform the land father, Gbagalo, and Buseh,
the chief. Gbagalo will tell you to come
to the center of the town. Or he will tell
you to go into the bush. Go wherever they
tell you to go."

They went and secretly consulted Gbagalo. The nephew said, "Vallai sent me to you."

Gbagalo asked, "Which Vallai?"

He said, "Kwehkweh Vallai from Zukolobu.
Where should we go with our things?"

Gbagalo got up and said, "What is the matter?"

His nephew said, "Bodo came and met his
uncle Vallai, and he told me to come with
Bodo and bring him to his fathers. So we
have come."

Gbagalo said, "Ohhh. I understand. Go
into the fence. You don't have to go into
town to call people. I will call the
people. There are people whom I will call
and some I will not call."

The nephew said to Bodo, "Gbagalo said we should go into the fence."

Bodo said, "All right. They told you to carry me to my fathers. Let us go there. Maybe my fathers are there."

They went into the fence. Zeggbehyan
was called to the fence, but Mizeh was not
called. They did not call Zakama either.

38

Gbagalo, Buseh, Zeggbehyan, they were the
only three who went into the fence. Gbagalo told the nephew, "Now what is the matter? We are all here."

The nephew said, "Kuo: Are these all the people?"

"These are all," they said. "What you have to say, say it so we can reply."

The nephew said, "Vallai greets all of
you, he greets you. He said there is no
war between you. Here is your son. I
have brought him and set him beside you."

They said, "Kiyeh!" They went behind a
house for a short meeting and returned and
said to the nephew, "Thank you for coming.
Thank you for coming all the way from Zukolobu to here. And thank you for going back. Yake Bodo back with you. We do not want him. He calls us apes. You, Bodo, are an ape, too, didn't we bear you? When you go back, nephew, we greet Vallai, we greet him. That is his ape there."

The nephew said, "Kpo! Is this the way you act?"

They said, "That is what we have to say."

The nephew said to Bodo, "Gosseh."

He answered, "Mm."

The nephew said, "Let us go. Did you hear what your fathers have said?"

Bodo said, "I agree."

The nephew said, "I am going to cover
your face so that people will not see you
and recognize you."

Bodo said, "Yes."

39

He forced the hat down on Bodo's face. They came to Zukolobu late in the evening, and the nephew went and said to Vallai, "Uncle, I have nothing to report. Only these kola nuts are to be delivered, these ten red kola nuts. The Zolowo people say here is your person that you sent. He used to abuse them. He used to call them apes. Therefore, he is not their child, they disown him. When you see red kola nuts, what one usually does with them, you should do."

Vallai said, "Kuo! I don't care. But the war is still here in Missi Beyan's charge, and this is what they are doing? Kpo! I cannot catch Bodo and hide him, or I am inviting Fisebu to come and fight. Since your fathers have refused you, Bodo, by all means you will have to go back. They will carry you to Fisebu town."

Bodo said, "I am not begging your help. I have not been captured by war. It is only that the war came and I escaped and came here. You have caught me."

Vallai said, "No, your fathers caught you. You went to Zolowo and you were rejected. These are the fruits of your trip, these kola nuts. What can I do? Do you want Missi Beyan to come and destroy my land for your sake? No."

They brought him to Fisebu and took him into the middle of town. They said to Bodo, "Here is the rock; sit on it. This is where people used to sit and you killed them. Therefore, you, too sit on it, and if it is pleasant, you will feel it."

Bodo said, "Yes, but I do not know what I have done."

40

They said, "You know what you have done. You were provoked and you insulted your father. You see, today your day has come. We have all forsaken you."

Vallai said, "Bimeh, you told me to catch Bodo and give him to you, but I will not give him today. Let me lodge him."

They gave him lodging in the Konia quarter, Fisebu. They were there for two days. The third day Missi Beyan said, "Bodo and I swore mutual support once. I have to save him from this trouble. He should not stay in detention."

Bodo's legs were in irons. Missi Beyan called his servant and gave him the key and said, "Carry it and give it to Bodo and say that I have said take his legs from the irons. When you have taken them off, put them back. Lock the iron and give the key to Bodo. Let him release his legs and lock them in again for you to see."

The servant went to Bodo. Bodo's wife, Fakalawu, was sitting beside him. The servant said to her, "Mother, go away from us before blood spills on your clothes."

She said, "Iday! Let me go outside.

He said to Bodo, "Father?"

Bodo answered, "Yes."

He said, "Did you and Missi Beyan talk any matter?"

Bodo said, "Yes, we talked something under a tree on the Wozi road. What we said was said."

"That is what I have come for. You don't have to explain it. Missi Beyan took the key and gave it to me because of your being in irons. Get up."

41

Bodo said, "I can't get up."

The servant lifted him and Bodo put his
legs in the fireplace. The servant took
off the irons. "Get up," he said to Bodo.

Bodo got up.

"Sit down," he said.

Bodo sat down.

"Put your legs in the irons again," he
said, and locked them up. He took the key
and gave it to Bodo, and said, "mm. Missi
Beyan greets you well. He said that the
medicine you two ate, he has discharged his
obligation to. This is the key. But be
patient. Don't think about moving about
freely like other people. If you take the
irons off your legs right away, they will
catch you. Missi Beyan said to tell you
that if you name his name, he himself will
kill you."

The boy took the key and placed it be-
side Bodo's head. He stayed there for a
long time. At evening, when the people were
returning from their farms, Bodo opened
the irons. He freed his legs, put the
irons behind the bed, and the key beside
them.

Bodo got on the road from Fisebu to Wo-
zi and reached a sacred grove and climbed
Velleh, a hill. He took cover among the
larger roots of a large tree there.

Bodo's wife, who had gone to her lover,
returned but did not see Bodo. She looked
all through the Konia quarter and shouted,
"Ho! Come! Your man is escaping! Bodo
has gone!" "Ay-yay!" they said.

They got the warriors ready. The center
of the town was filled. They were divided

42

into 4 sections, assigned in 4 direc-
tions and told, "Go now."

It was dark in the forest. When a per-
son becomes a chief, he does not go into
the forest. He does not even understand
the forest. Only Gbigbi and his companions
used to go hunting.

The Mandingoes said, "He is right at the
top of this hill. Don't bother to exert
yourselves; he is up there. Just encir-
cle the hill and you will see him."

They surrounded the hill in a large group
and started to go up. A Bodeh man, also
a stranger, was the one who saw him. Bodo
was sitting among the big roots with his
head bent down.

The stranger said, "Kuo! What is that
very dark thing sitting there?"

Bodo said, "It is I."

The stranger said, "You who?"

Bodo said, "It is Bodo."

The stranger did not say a word, but
turned around and went back. He had not gone
far when he met one of his friends who
asked, "What news from that side?"

He answered, "Kuo, what is there? There
is nobody. Not even a bush is moving. Let
us go back by the bigger road."

When the 2 men came to town the Bodeh
man's companion said, "I am not satisfied
about the hill. I am going back there and
look around that big tree."

The Bodeh man said, "What do you want to
look for? I told you there is nobody there."

His friend said, "No, I am going there.
I am going to look under that big tree,

43

That is how you people act."

He went up the hill to the tree and was
about to strike Bodo with the tip of his
spear when Bodo said, "I am here! It is
Bodo!"

The man said, "Ho! Here is Bodo! I
have seen him!"

Everybody rejoiced, "Thank you!" They caught him and brought him to Fisebu, and carried him to Missi Beyan. Beyan said, "Carry him to his house. I do not think he is capable of the deeds of the bravest woman. You whom we consider a war chief, you have been talked about up and down; children say 'Yaah!' to you, can't you even tremble? Take him to his house. Tell his wife to move out."

The next morning Missi Beyan said to his men, "Get your warriors ready." Then he said to Bimeh, "Bimeh?"

"Yes," Bimeh answered.

"Here is your man. I, Beyan, did not catch him. The fear people have of me is what caught him. When we fought here, Bodo escaped and went to Zukolobu. If the people had hidden Bodo, I was going to wage war on Zukolobu. So here is your man."

"Ah," said Bimeh, "I agree."

Bodo said to Vallai, "Uncle?"

"Mm," said Vallai.

"Please give me some snuff."

Valai took the snuff bottle and said to Bodo, "Here. You are bluffing. Here is the bottle of snuff."

By then many people were close to Bodo,
pushing him and slapping him. They said
to him, "This is the kind of thing you have

been doing. It hurts to see a man suf-
fering at the hands of other men."

If Bodo turned to look either left or
right, they would say, "Don't turn your
face here, you who just go around des-
troying lands."

They carried him to Wozi. He wanted
to enter by the gate, but they said, "No,
let us go this way."

Bimeh said, "Bodo?"

"Mm," said Bodo.

"Go now. Moluba is your nephew, and he
will give you lodging."

They carried him to the creek Gedde-
gbelleh, where he was killed.

When they first struck him, he yelled,
and his attacker ran away. Zaymawuo said,
"Kpc: We came to kill a man, what are
you running away for? A woman is better
than he is."

They said their last words. Bodo
said, "Once you kill me, weapons will
kill you, weapons will kill you."

Zaymawuo said, "We have got you now.
You can't frighten us now."

Thus Bodo died.

The war that was waged in Baloma by
Wozi warriors was the one in which Zay-
mawuo was captured.

44

45

pelei
pe

devei
de

negi
ne

pelei ya ve.
devei ya ve. paa.
wele kelekui negi va.
ya fele be za.
nà bebegi ya.
va ga kpazii be.
Gafai ya ve za.

devei le de na.
deve nepe kpe.
a paa ga kpazii.
sèle kala ga.
zefe ya ta ké?
devei ta kelekui ta yepe.
kapà ka nàzai ya.

13

nee
ne

pe pa de na
de pe da ne
ne ve we ke
fe ve le ka
fa ye la kpa
ze ya be kpe
za na ba se

gbekèi
gbe

ne na ve fe
gbe ne ze le
kpe ba pe na
kpa be pa te
fa ma ne ta
ya ke a de
e ka ga ya

masagi ya nee.
gbekèi la tayai ma.
ta nepe kpe.
vele fele bè za.
a le ga kafagi.
a fáza za.
nabui ya pelei va.

é le ga gbeke.
te le neeya mà.
galui zele kala ga.
ta ké ne na.
de le neeya názai ma.
ta kpéte na, ga té.
pala le bà.

14

ya yavai ya ná ta gbekei.

zebe ya yà kée la?

gà dá tayai ma.

tayai le sa ná. gálave.

devei ya tayai ma. pámave.

gà séle kala ga.

óa.

zebe ya gà kée la?

vaa la.

zebe ya yà ké ga nabui?

gà páa.

zebe ya yà páa la?

gà páa ga sabai.

é le na.

gà fáza.

nà bebegi ya ná.

ta vaa la za.

te le vaa la za.

ta zé ná ta ná balai.

da va ga bebegi.

óa. de le vaa ga bebe nepe.

názai ya bebegi zele ne na kpazai ma.

gà séle kala ga.

sele vevegi ya.

masagi ya va za ta názai.

ta vaa na, ta wele óafai va.

17

ta wele pelei va pe ta kaóagi.

te le neeya mà. ta màma.

názai ya le ga kaóagi.

masagi le lee la.

18

kei 6ei lia zic1 dea
6ea woi koi di6i kpea
loa zic die z6ea feea
mia toa goi keea geea

mà bè só tóo tíli
dée gá ná dèe kèea

ná nà má mà k6ea
bè dèe sò gà tìli

wā tìi sìi gāi kēe wōi

go de wo fo do
ve de ve lo pa
gove dede wove folo dopa

lo ko po yo zo
po ko ne ka woi
lopo koko pone yoka zowoi

gove dedei le wovega za.

na vaa ma gà yaa 6aa ga gè kpete.

gà kpete ga nà boai.

ani gè le kee ga boai, gà yaa 6aa ga nà kpeleyai.

gove dedei ya lee na e wove, foloi ya too ma.

kè foloi le kāla-ŋalaga.

gove dedei ya volo ga vike.

45

li è bo lopoi ma é va.

gà zowoigi nii ve zéea.

lopoi ya fe dopai ya.

gá wele dopai va yie mi.

na vage, kelee?

lopoi ya yele-yele e leve dopai va.

lopoi ya zoo é tii lamaa ye.

kè dopai laale.

dopai le tii yee.

gà li na gè koko niine yeea.

kokoi nii le vani.

wele bá.

kāla-ŋalaga, kelee?

me le vowū kokoi va.

gà fe è ya.

gà pone wo vaa ma.

gà pone gove dedei ma.

gà pone na ma, wa dodo, kelee?

keni yà pone ga pago.

zinaitie ta yoka teve ga folo nepe.

na le vani, kelee?

na le ga faa.

6e te va te yoka teve.

é le nada zeiya è va.

46

nabui ya na.
li ga koloi nii è do nabui ya.
gè wōini gè gala.
è le sa vani.

sōmogi yalani ga vike.
zici le meni zèea.
na vaa ma gè paani ga polo.
na vage, kelee?

va ga towoi ta moloi.
gà te leve masagi wo.
è wōini ga tie.
nàzái ya te yili mávaa ma.

ná boologi vee foloi ya.
towaa fò ga pago.
yá voo na, gà fe nàzái ya.

zipigi yatani.
te wōini gé bò te va gé zò bá.
gé le wōini gó bò te va za.
gé wōini gé ye ve gé tii ye.
na vaa ma gé le boga te va za.

è weleni kpo-kpogi va, kelee?
to na betei woba.
li è vaa la.
gè wōini è kpete ga gbogbogi nii.

57

voonegi le zia ga kpize kono.
e boloni.
to yōwoi ma veeni.
wele ba. to niizu.

maa nee te wolo ta lii ma nina.
ta wolo na, gá te wo ga koloi ta.
ta lii la te dodo.
na vage, kelee?

me le dowa ga yōwoi.
na le vani.
bovelaale yà na yee na, towaa za.
è le wōini ó za, kelee?

58

u

zunui
zu

numunugi
nu

pu
pu

zu gè la laa
nu zu nu dée
pu bò ma maa
é ve ni wōi
le pò lo koi
fo to ve waa
nu pu ko zài

numunugi ya na.
gà ta ve zunui ya.
zunui ya li ga numunugi.
towaa te ve dée ya.
dée ya máma ga tamaa.
é wōini ga numunugi.
zunui pe é wōini ga ta.

zunui vaani ga zài.
ga pu kokoi zu.
è le kokoi laa vega.
bovelaale zài le lamani.
gè zunui mamani.
to ga nu vago māvaa ma.
towaa bò bà ga folo nepe.

59

suoi
su

būigi
bu

wuigi
wu

su nì le fee
bu su nà pai
wu gi wu koi
de pu ve taa
ko só é kpe
nu bu zu dei
do è to fee

wuigi ya va ga suoi.
é suoi vaani ye le?
é paani ga nà kpedei.
towaa ta ve è ya, kelee?
é feeni de.
to kokoi zu.
gà mi nina.

zebe ya pagei?
dopai, baa būigi?
būigi vage e leve dopai
va.
dopai le taa zu, kelee?
coi. kè būigi ya taa zu.
wuigi gila ge peteni.
é sóni.

60

ziei wo? vaa la è pu mulugi zu. ya wolo
na, va ga tuwui bogope. gè wöini gè te ve è
lee ya. towaa wele te maazu va.

a me le la kakei ya. gé le wöini wo loo
ziei wu. a loto ge va wo zei ve. kpokpo
tamaa ya ve wo vaa ma. a va wo zei de yepe.

mulugi vage e leve gotoi va. ga zoo gè
gulo lamaa wu mulugi zu. nu le zooga ò gulo
lamaa wu gotoi zu. ga gaama wosu, kelee?

lii na è numunugi yeea màvaa ma. ya te
yeea na, va ga tie. ga te wu nàzái na kokoi
zu. gè wöini gè kokoi laa ve ga tie.

suo lamaa le sa doボイ zu, bavelaale kpede
keea vea lamaa ta ve. ta li doボイ zu ga
kpidi nepe te suo vaa.tadopaivaa e vee koei
va. na vaa ma suoitie te le sa lamani, ke
te de kpoGOpe paani.

bùigi yaa baani ga é le gului zu, kè e le
neni zooni. wuigi liini na é so. towaa pili
kpakigi zu. é le bizea kono.

wuigi na seyei looni ziei wu. zunui
kuloni bu màvaa ma é dubo. na yeezu é sele
see yumogi va ga é vo. foloi fooni ga maa
vilea.

67

ya ziyi ve è li kpetea, kelee? ya li ga è
lui, kelee? volo be ya ya vaa la wulu? ya
ziti ve ga vuu sinei na folo yila ma, kelee?
na vage. lii na è va.

? ?

yà wele na ? va koloi zu, yà kwèè
ga to ga gaa-zaya-kee.

wele nii va ---

? ta liizu nina?

gaa-zaya-kee ve, bavelaale nu ta
wöini è kwèè ani ta liizu nina.

kè ani woo maa wùgi ya ga zGBE GO
abe GO mine GO volo be GO na yavelei,
ge le ? wone fele, bavelaale ya
wele na boono woi na yavelei va, ya
kwèè ga gaa-zaya-kee ve.

wele nii va ---

zGBE ya è wöini?

68

looma goo ya ga geze
bele: ya bo na, keni ya
su wulo.

woo nɛɛ-nɛɛ ka zolopo
nii pɛlɛi woba.

kala-kalaga vaa-nci
ya ga kovi zokpo.

nu lami ya ga tɛɛ
boo; ta siɛ zɛe ya
wuo.

è ga zoo yiewu, ani
ya wele nu lei ba, è
lei; ani ya wele wele
nu va, è wele.

-2-

kpeele yilia le ga
faa vii bɛɛ nu ɔ gi-
li ga tuwu bolo laba.

gà ga soovo: gà
gãiyɛ, gè le kpoalea.

nui è netea le pɛlɛ-
wu yaa.

wɛni yuwu yi ka bu-
de su yie kpaku sokpo
boale.

goo-la-ma ya yá tu-
wu wũ tite.

-3-

le tuwu levea, kē kēni gulo ya ye zēea ga é
diyi yili la. yee ta zunui ya tuwu leve é
seye yee la naza nu ma. nii zu-wulo-zu ya
ga ta guloi maa velisu ga seye.

ve nepagi numaa te na ta podi lo yiini ma.
ta neni maa veli ga ta balaga. ta tii-yea
maa veli ga podi nenia. ve nepagi numaa ta
bo na podi maa seye na, bovelaale podi neni
zii lamaa ya é nu yile-gilegi ya tis tii zii
lamaa ya.

## 2. podi-loo vele wolo-zayagi looma zui zu.

podi-loi le neni wolo lamani loomagitie ya
ga velei é la nii zu. mazabui ya ga neni
boolo zu te yeni wōini to gaa zie boo vaa ma
oo te kpete boo vaa ma. yee ta to pe to kpa-
la-ga lii ye, te pele lo, te seye vela, te
dosola ye oo te beli le. neni zunu ó wōi ye
ó gaa zie doobi zu oo nii é wōini ó kpete
boo vaa ma. looma nazaitie to ta balaga lii-
yee velei maa woli, ta diyi-yili vole, ta
seye-wuo vele o vee te leaitie maazu-vete pe-
lei va ta nazan lii zoitie. vele ya na loo-
ma zinaitie ta manazaitie to bo da tis tii
ye, nii nepo to feds ma tis solo wo. é le
neni no ga keni to podi lo to hetea-yea neni
zolo wo.

na balaa yeeve, keni to podi neni maa veli
neni mazii yila go lama nui taniga ya to wōi
ye te maa veli ga eni bono. nui taniga te
neni na te weleai tii yila da e ye velei ko-
lo-bete la oo nai-boga, oo diyi-loga. nii-
tie to neni ta bete te sowō wulo neni ta ya t
te wōini. vele ya na numaa to neni zowō wulo
la.

siagi na zu'ani suo wolo o ye è ya è wōini

-2-

é sowō wulo molo yeze ya, kē towo nui molo
yeze zēea é le kweni, ò é lui lili è ye má,
"va è li è nà koloi maa zie molo yeze và."
zunu lomai ó tai lite ga suo woloi yie ye
tea, "bee-e-e-le-oo, suo wolo ya molo ye-
zé." yee ta nu ta ó tili ga é va ga suo wo-
loi é pete. ani ó wōi na ga suo woloi, zu-
nu lomai ó bo ma ga molo yezei liigoi ó fe
suo woloi vaa ma. zunu lomai ó li ga molo
yezei na pelei wu nii é suo woloi zowō wuloa
ba. pelei nii zu to nenia maa veli ga neni
tabonoga.

wolo-wolo na podi-loo vea te le neni la-
mani, neni zii lamaa o ye te ya tis sowō wu-
lo. modegi vikaa to leve-teve ga yaawo neni
wolo tis podi lo numaitie ma taitie zu. ani
ò wōi ye ga neni ta, ò yaa baa ga è nu yaa
zie nii manenii lanagei zēea é gēea má.

yee ta ani ò wōi ye ga fuke towo è kwēni
ga tamage masagi ya, ò li pò è gāa-zaya ke
é ye má, "ani yà fuke wulo na kens-ma gā
gēea." masagi ó ye tea, "be gē gaa-zaya-kee
wo." bovelaale é le neni boga yie ga neni
lamaa ya zēea ga é sowō wulo. yee ta na ta
wolo ó kee na masagi ó è lili é ye tea,
"fukei ya sa è gēea."

podi vele le neni na. yaawoitie te yeni
kpe-kpe. é yeni ga faa vago ga numaa te pe-
le viiybe yaa zie te podi loo la. na vaa ma
dowo yeni taa yile-gilegi zu ve numaitie to
li na neni yeeazu. folo yilà kuloai ye su
dowo yila su ga numaitie te yaa le ba nada
yila tis podi neni zowō wulo. nii nepo to
solo wo dowo yila zee wu, to lii la dowoi zu
ga te maa veli ga neni ta.

dowo maazu vaa-wo nui ó zeeze ga é dowoi

-3-

bete le vani. ta ga -- fuulu, woia, zee vaa, 
neni-wuloa, neni-wuloa nu ya ga gaa-baa --
pelei niitis to nu weligi zu woolo, ke te le
vani nu 6 ke.

to kpete nu waa no ga neni é zéea. nenni
niitis to de ga nu beteve:

1. nu lamaa bá

2. wûde pele lamaa.

3. daa-mii neni lamaa

4. kpolo lamaa oo kolu lamaa

5. to neni lamaa

6. sii-zii lamaa

7. seye yaa-wuaga ta ná kui

8. tuo velei

navolo wodi-lói ya loomagitis ta netai
maa veli. tii-ye vele vai ga navolo lei no 6
wolo-wolo vai boolo zu maa veli. k6 de we-
lee fai boolo zu va maa veligi, da vanzu we-
lezu fai taniga va maa ya veli ga booloo na-
volo zahu zu nina ta.

feli-bogi taniga ya de petasu tei numaitie
te podi-lói loo zeiya ga navolo.

numaa ta sa tii yeezu navolo ma. wolo-wo-
lo na, nu le neni tii yee ga é voone ziyi, na
ya ga é navolo wulu-levea zolo wo yalo ma oo
dowo ma. k6 nii maa ya sa velisu. nu 6 wolo
tii mazii yile-gilegi bogope ka, na ya ga 6
po kpala-ga lii ye, 6 wozai wo, é gului wo é
gala. 6 tuwu leve, é doso-zie bo, é beli le.
6 boo velei lo, é boc zoyei vele, é boo yogbo
solo. n2azaitie balaa to ta balaga lii ye.
to diyi yili, te zie 6e e vee n2azaa wu tii zoi-
tie va. to ga gaama ga nui taniga to fai ta
ye ga pago e leve fikaa va - na ya ga zunui ta-
niga to zoo tuwu levezu e leve fikaa va e vee

-8-

seye-vel66 va ta dosola-y66. n66 lii tani-
ga te yeni na nu yile-gile no ya o maa woli,
e ye velei k6lo-bete lii la, nai-bo tii ta
dif-lo tii. na balaa y6eve, numaitie to zo-
b6le-ma vai bogope ke bovelaale nu lamaa to
tii zii lamaa ya ta netaei vaa ma.

nii maa ya sa velisu wui fai zahu zu ta
navolo. nui taniga ta sa n66-lii lamaa maa
wolizu, tie ye ga kala-moa fikaa vaa ma.
nii maza6ui ya ga numaitie te w6ini ga wui
neni lamaa nii te le zooga to kpete boo vaa
ma, keni nui e-ma66 lii maa wolia é k6 e ye
velei nu ya gulu-zaya lii maa woli la. nu-
maa te w6ini ga kala-nala, bete, kpo4po, tee-
ve, kpo ta veleitie vaa ma, ta te ta velei-
tie maa le ga pani kala. k6 looma nui bogo-
p6 ge lei ya gulu-zaya lii ye. na vaa ma
gulu-zaya nui ya neni lamaa bete zoitis ve
n6 n6e lii zahu zu nii zoitis te le zooga to
ke. ta foone ve ga navolo. ani gulu-zaya
nui ya ye luozu gulu-zayai ya, é le zobo so-
lo ga ga 6 na kpala-ga lii ye, 6 seye vele,
6 tuwu leve. k6 towaa navolo maa lii ye.
towaa zoo é navoloi nii ziyi e molo yeea la
ta gulo ta seye e vee niitis va é w6ini.

nui taniga ta n66 lii ta balaga ye navo-
lo vaa ma - pele-zie vee, seye-zolo bea, ko-
lo-lee vee, kilakia, ta pele lii-ye vee e
vee tii nii maziitis va. ta tii nii maziitis
ye te voone ziyi, nii ta w6i ye te g6ea. e
ye navolo le neni na, na o baa ga nu tii zii
yila ke, keni 6 tii zii bogope ke neniitis
bogope faa ma é w6ini netaei zu.

numaa w6i vai ga neni zii lamaa towaa ke
n66 lii lama ga vike bovelaale te le zooga
to neni lamaa bete boo vac ma. nui taniga
ta n66 lii niitis maa woli nii nu pe ge le

-9-

ZEE UAA ZEGA MA

Yakpazuo Noko Ye:

Nà faa-wolo-zayagi nii vilege Golo va
ta Dooda.

Golo boga Dooda ka wolo te Yeni voo
zayazu-te ma ga te Ye ga palamai.

Nà Ya Golo Yeni ga gaa-wolo-bo nu, nà
vaa ma è numaitie Yaa woloni ga vike ga
ani to kèè na ga palamai. Ò bo te va ga
kavele teego. È Ye tea volo, "Ani wa kèè
na ga palamai, wui fai ta Yaa Ya yii da
yui zu. Ani nà no Ya ga Ye ga palamai,
we le volo baa faa Yaa."

Nà Ya Dooda po ge le Yeni wōini ò zee
vaa wo nu nepe ma. Nà ma è bóni ná numai-
tie ma ga ani to kèè na ga palamai, ò
faa-wogi wo ga bo pele. Ani balaa dèè bo-
ga nu balaa te bòe, ò gáa leve te yoozu
ga gaama; bavelaale nu no ga nu. È Ye
tea wono, "Ani wa kèè na ga palamai, gá
kè kolò vele, sale vele è veè Gala pele
va te Ye da yui zu."

Kè tei towo nu-Yaa-wolo nu yee levegei
bá, ná numaitie te le vaani bú Dooda go
Ye ga palamai bo ti-o, bavelaale te Yaa-
wolo nui Golo Yeni te Yaa wolosù.

Nà vaa ma te Golo Yèèni ga palàmai.

Kè fai nii le Doodagi òeni gaama-wo fai
va, velei balaa le Yeni palamalai zolo wo-
ni la.

Kè towo ò Ye velei wo kwèni la, zee
vaa le zéga má.

-1-

Nà vaa ma toi Golo palamailai zolo woni
nii nepagi ò yeni bòsu ná numaitie ma, to
yeni ga zee vaa. Nà vaa ma numaitie to
yeni wulozu Golo wulu ga pele-pele ò ye
su te lama sa Dooda pulu.

Nà ma zee vaa le zêga má.

MASA-KULO VAA

Folomo Welea yé:

Fai nii ya ta ke Looma zui zu: Ani yee
ta masa ka zaa na taa ta zu, ta masa nii-
ne wulo ga é zei pò ga.

Kè masa polo-zayagi ò vee zaazu keni
nu ta ya ye kóba tie faa-wogitie wo, bòve-
laala masa gila ge le faa-wo boga, keni è
ye nui ta ma, "E ziili yie."

Nà vaa ma, ani masa ka zaa na, keni
zuu veaitie ta zoi nada Yila te Yiini gaa-
zaya ke è vile numaitie va te ga masagi
woba veaitie.

Keni nu bogope ka kwèè ga velei masagi
woba veaitie te luo velei la. Ani manui
Ya ga tuo-vele yowù nu, ta nu tabono kulo
ga masagi. Kè ani-manui wo ka ga nu vago,
to no ya ta yi to bá. Keni no sa to na-
wulu nu yaa zie ga è ye ga sei-koba, nu ma-
sa niinei vaa ma.

Nà zu-wulo-zu ya ga kui masagitie no ya
te ga masa-koba nui. Ani masagi ya zaa na,
kui masagi nii tuo vele vagei, ta kèè na
ga taa masagi, keni te nui ta wulo ga kui
masagi kono.

-2-

Nà vaa ma, nù luo vele no ya yá tóso
woolo. Ani nu ya ga kui masa-é ga tuo ve-
le yowù nu, de kwèni ga masagi ò balaa za,
de le zooga do séi pò ga.

Nà ya ga, nui ta ya è lili na, ná pele-
wu bòs-wo ma, velei ya bó da ga è kè sú
bete oo è kè názai wulo zéea, oo è kè to
wulo gaa woolo zu te neni Iamaa lo, vele
no na yá yá dei yaa leve la è zei voloi
ga masagi.

Nà vaa ma tuo vago-woga ya yá masa ku-
lo.

ZÉÉ ZU BAAVE

Folomo Welea yé:

Zowo na zee-zu-baa vaitie ya.

Nu ya ye na zeebezu é manui valo.

Ani nu ya mele-nyele na, é bálo, oo nu
yee za má é bálo, oo gee wulo nu ma é balo.

Yee ta, kuu-zu-wāla ya baa na ga vike,
é ná, mamaitie ta vaa na pó, é te wulo-sú.

Oo tai yá ye sú nu me le vugbe duu yaa
ná.

Oo nu me le yá ná ko ma.

Oo nu me le mumu ka ná.

Gee-bede me le tóo ná.

Ani konb ta sale vili na nu ma é kúlo
bá.

-3-

te naa-wēē te felego.

Zoi yā faa-naa zolo wo na, keni bōi
kwēē.

"Wa nu wa ga kaalaa yila, sīlia ga yie.
Wa nu we le yaani wōiyai ga yie.

Ani è balave navōlo vaa na è li yā wēē
vagōi wove ga ć kui vee yie, tōwo navoloi
zōea, ya wo è balai dala puugo vaa na, è
wulo ga dala gila ć fè è ya, è ye tea, "Gò
yee vee è yee va." Yā nāna, kè è yii le
lāa bō fōo, kelee?

Kè siè-pului pèè le sù, nà lèvege kaan-
lai va, kèlee?

Nà vaa na a de ne le ye yii veezu. A
de yii wōi de wuu zu va yiini faa na, de
yigi naa-wuo yiini faa na, de la ga yii
die Gala feli yiini faa na bō no wo.

• + • + •

A LIE DOES NOT REMAIN

Yakpazuo Noko says:

My story is about Black Ant and Red Ant.

Once upon a time they were voting be-
tween Black Ant and Red Ant to choose a Pa-
ramount Chief.

Now Black Ant was unreliable and a fake,
and so he teased the people about what he
would do if they made him paramount chief.
He said he would help them a lot. He even
said, "If you make me paramount chief, the
burdens and strain of modern life will be
eased in our country. If I am paramount
chief, you will never feel any hardship."

Red Ant, on the other hand, did not
want to lie to anyone. Therefore, he told
his people that if they made him paramount
chief, he would judge cases fairly. Even
if it would be his own mother who had a dis-
pute with someone, he would give a just
verdict, for a person is a person. He al-
so said, "If you make me paramount chief,
I will introduce schools, hospitals and
churches into our country."

But because of the boastful claims of
Black Ant so far surpassing the modest pro-
mises of Red Ant, the people overwhelming-
ly elected the fake. So Black Ant was
their new paramount chief.

This defeat, however, did not discour-
age Red Ant, and he kept on telling the
truth, paramount chieftanship or no para-
mount chieftanship.

But as we all know, a lie does not sur-
vive. And so after Black Ant had been pa-

-6-

-7-

ramount chief for a while, it became clear
that everything he had told the people be-
for the election was lies. Little by
little, people began to withdraw their
support from Black Ant and join the side
of Red Ant.

Which just goes to show: a lie will
not survive.

ELECTING A CHIEF

Folomo Willie says:

It is customary in Loma that when a
chief dies, a new one is chosen to replace
him.

The chief always has someone to assist
him when he is investigating cases. This
is because a chief never handles a case
without saying to other people, "It reach-
es to you." So when a chief dies, the el-
ders go around interviewing the chief's
assistants in order to find someone capa-
ble enough to take his place.

A quarter chief is usually the person
chosen to assist the chief. If there is
a quarter chief whose character is not
pleasing, they pass over him and look for
another. If they find a quarter chief with
a good character, they choose him, and
then look for someone else to be assistant
in his place.

So it is a person's character that de-
termines his status. If a quarter chief
has a bad character, there is plenty of op-
portunity to know it, and that person will

never be elected chief.

For instance, if a quarter chief is called to judge a case between a husband and wife, everyone notes the way he settles the case, whether he makes the woman leave her husband, or whether he causes the couple to spend a great deal of money in court processes. This quarter chief will feel the result of his decisions on the day when he ought to be elected the next town chief.

So it is character that determines a
chief.

POWER OF A ZO

Folomo Willie says:

The following show the power of a zo:

When someone is sick, the zo cures him.

If someone is lame, paralyzed, or has
leprosy, and the zo cures him.

When a woman has a long labor, and he
makes her deliver quickly.

In his town, no woman gives birth to
a deformed child.

No woman in his town dies in childbirth.

In his town no deaf mute is born.

Lightning does not strike in his town.

When someone is poisoned, he cures the
person.

All of these show that a zo is a power-

ful zo.

There are additional demonstrations of a zo's power. When zoes meet for a ceremony, they try to kill one another with their "medicines". The zo who always kills others and is left unharmed himself, will be considered as the most powerful zo.

These are the qualifications of a powerful zo.

## HE IS NOT MY SON

Taanu Moli says:

What causes a person to say, "He is not my son. We have broken our relationship," when the child is his own?

People might say it is because of disobedience and carelessness that a parent disowns his child. But the real reason for it is stealing.

Someone may lie and he is not disowned by his parents. The only thing we do to a liar is to be careful around him and not expose any secret lest he betray us.

Someone may be a mean and trouble-making person without the family rejecting him. Such a person they try to deal with in a moderate way and restrain him to keep him from openly breaking the family ties.

But thieves and rapists are people who destroy family relationships. When anyone does any of the deeds of these people, he

-10-

will be rejected by his family.

Parents should advise their children against stealing, all of the time. If a person grows up and continues any of these acts, he will be driven from the family and never accepted again.

There is no such thing as a line of thieves by inheritance. Thieves begin stealing when they are young. The first things they steal are their mother's belongings. There is a saying, "'That is my mother's property' is what a thief begins with until he expands to the public domain." When he grows up he continues to do the same thing.

+

## FRIENDSHIP

Taanu Moli says:

Friendship is stronger than blood ties.

Of what does friendship consist?

If one offends the other, he forgives and does not make a big issue of it.

If one has work to do, the other shares it.

If one becomes short of money, the other assumes equal responsibility.

If one has a guest, he becomes the guest of both.

If one receives a gift, he informs the other about it.

-11-

On the other hand, you can be related
to a person who hates you. Two people
are not born with love for each other.

If you need money and go to your rich
friend and he gives you a dollar, you
will thank him, but you will not be really
pleased, will you?

(Thus family relationships do not always fulfill their potential for love.)

But a friend's hip without blenish sur-
passes any blood relationship.

Therefore, let us love one another,
and have good will toward one another, and
pure motives and trust for each other,
and let us pray for one another always.

• • •

-12-

vilegèi bá towaa de vaazu dodosu kolòi nii
zu.

## kodi kòi-èe fai

de kwèni ga pele mazii ta nèpe ga le ná
kóó ó ya da, bòvèlaale saa vaa ya bá no
wo. kè na balaan yèève, nu wolo-zayagi la-
maa ya bosu ga koo vai yaa nei yè è leve
wui nèteai nii va. te yè koo pize liigoi
te yèga zèvesu ta pului to siyi è vèè sa
sai boi va to bo na ta nèpe gaa le wàlani
ó ziti wui fai zu.

dai nèpègi de yaazu laogei wui nèteai
zu, woi niitiè ta wulo ga die. da mu folo
da nu wolo-zayagitiè ta bèle-bèle wuu na
koo-woo vai zu mili-mili no yá yìi ga die.
yá kaa na nu yìe bo ga tuoi na yaa nèeve
wui fai va, to ga fai su-wulo-zu bá. die
bo da ga sakpè looma goi zu ga, "zaabu ya
yà bolo te taya ma."

mazaabuitiè ya: mamaa wùgi ya ga kpe-te-
maa-vile. su-wuloa-ma wo ka da kwèè da.
tei wolo kòi yèni de ga da yui nii zu, nu
ta ó yè na yee ta moolèi ga folo. ani sa
yalasogi ta ó koo bete na manui yè kòi na
zu te li te too tai ta zu, è yìi lo è nu
lamaa zo è va è wona bo da, manui betee no
na ó yè. yee ta ta yalasogi na ó vulu ve
bè. yá wèlè na va kpeè è ta zei kowo maa-
zu. na ya yèè na, è zunù yìla oo felego
leve pò nazaïtiè ta lii-yèè vaa ma. tei
towo kòi no ya te yèga nu busei zolo wosu
su, te yee le nèni baa ni nu buse-wwè vaa
mà ga ta wolo balaan. to nu buse wèè no è
yè velei za da kapa gila teve da lopaa wo
tena-geea vaa ma.

tei towo koo-woo vai bèa sa da yui zu,
nu buse yekegi nii mazii wolo te yèga koc-
zu te le sa zooga to na ta yè. wui fai
wo ka è koo vai nii bèa da yui zu. gometi
vai nii daa-zei kpono ge bá de ya ga wui

-2-

faa, ani no to de de maazu, pelè le yèè na
ga de letele koo wo. na wo ka yèè na nu ta
le sa yèè ga boo na duo. ?nu ya leve sa yè
le ó no nu buse wèè ga vele yá na kapa gila
kwèè la? nu buse zolo wogei è yèga wolo ga
baa-la-ma baka plooma nu vaa ma wui fai è
na mavelei laa wuluga ga koo vai è kuloa
ga. nii mazaabui ya nu wolo-zayagi lamaa bo-
su la ga kòi yaa nèeve wui fai va.

nii è koo vai yaa nèè ga nu wolo-zayagi
boolo-zu è leve wui nèteai va mazaabui fele
kelei ya ga wûfe-ma. kòi è wûfe-ma wooloni
nu lamaa ma looma zui nii zu. le nèni wolo-
wolo loomagitiè yi ma ga gaa-baa ta ya vaa-
zu wulozu ga nada bono pele zee wude ta doi
maazu. kòi no ya to wàla kulo la. to no ya
wono to yiini zoozu wèè da ga nui nii ná do
zunula ó leve bóo na do va. ani masa ta ó
tele-wo-su vaa yèè na ga boo masa, koo no
ya ó kpe-te è lii la è too mà. ani sa zoi ó
tee vili na, ó zoo è kwèè ga boi na zunulai
yee ya na dei maazu, bòvèlaale gaa-baa le
tee viliga.

kè za nèteai le nè na. wuluobola ó balaan
za woolo nu wolo su ani no wui gaa-baa le
zèea to no ga bòove. towo wui gaa-bai ta
zolo wo pele le sa nu wolo-zayagi boolo ke-
le bè. lopo woloi ta ya za no a va ani to-
su ya bá wui fai zu, na yè ga te maazu nu.
tei towo wui fai wo no ya è koc wûfe-ma. nii
mazii te yèga wolo bosu ga tie koo-woo yaa-
bai laa zo su, na bèa ga, gaa wodove ga nu-
mai niitiè yìi laa-zu ya baa wui nèteai zu.

## de yèè vai loa bu

?ani yee ta ó yè na faa ta yèèzu mabaa
lai yìe, è yè è kò nu ta ziyi ga nada bono
pele è ta yè pàgei nui yaazù yaazu è leve
yà dei va, yá yi gaa zìe ó yè ga zèbè? ?è
yìi ó la?

nu ta nèpe ge le wòini ó wulo ga na wulu

-3-

vele ņeteai zu. nii wogi ya nu wulo ga na
wulu vele ņetea-yeo vai zu boolo kele ta
booboo ka ga ani e ye vai maa ya boo na
numaa yaazu.

niitie wolo te yega ga looma nu na baa-
la-ma boolo kele ge le sa ga ņeni-yeo ņeni
ta nepē. wolo-wolo maa-yiligi balaa ya sa
no de yaazu ga boloya vaa. duzu vele kpoqa
daa-lo-kpete-ga ya wolo te ye ga zinaa maa
velo boolo kele. manu ta o volo gili ma ya
ye levesu tie wele ba. tani su nui taniga
tie ye tea, "vēlegi zunui nu wēni bo pa."
kē nu e na ta yili na ma zai ne ni e wulo
la kpo su te be ņezu ma.

de kwēni ga dai de ga nu būsēa da baa-
la-mai boolo kele siyive no de yeē vaitie
la. na ma ani baa ya ziyo nä nu yeē vaa ma,
a ke tii baa ziya ya na to yagi ma.

daitie de ga manu niinaitie bai siyiai
de yeē vaitie ma e le de yaazu ga faa. bo-
velaale pele lamaa ya na da leve da baa la
de ma. Yee ta de taniga da li de lo kpedei
wu na mawūfe-ma ye de ye. taniga ta kaā-
zie lii maa woli, taniga te kolo wēe te lo-
su ye ba wui fai zu. tii nii maziitie ta
zoo te ye ga zabu baa la de boolo kele ma.
nii mazabui ma baa yeoni looma tuo wolo-za-
yagitiē ma, e be yeēzu te ma, mabala ta ne-
pe ge le die. to mu folo looma tuoi boolo
kele ka na de le sa wu ziyingi do wele te
yeēzu va. da te mavaa meni no ga te-ye
woo. wui zekegi booboo no ya da da do wūfe-
mai ya zic la.

pele lamaa ya na da leve da baa la de ma
wui ņeteai zu, bovelaale e zolo-woga da ņe-
tea ma. ?kē nii ya zolo wo taali ye ye le
kawoloitis vaa ma? kawolo zebe ya e wu zi-
yizu ve e li kpetea ga e lo kpede wu? ka-
wolo zebe ya e liizu kaa-zie lii maa-woli
vaa ma o no ye ga e lo kolo wu? na balaa
yeēve, te yii o la ga ani pele o ye na na

-4-

ga baa bakpa la te ma wui ņeteai nii zu.
baa-la-ma lii wogi no e na za solo wogai ka-
woloitis vaa ma to no ga wui masadai. towo
gometii le zōoga o nu pe ke ga taa masa oo
paati, o no ye ga e nu pe ke ga pūlama. na
le ye pele ma, bovelaale ani ya ye na ne na
a ke tii kaali gila mawū tamaa ya na ya ye
gā.

fai nii mazii le nu wolo-za yagi lāmaa
yii laa. wui fai vaa e baa ziyo te ye vai
boolo kele ma. fai niitie wo no ya wolo te
yoga kcezu mabaa lai te ma. nii sa ga zii-
laa lalai to ga pele le na to faa ta ye ga
bai nii wolo e yoga te ma na liigo o la te
ma.

to mu nu wolo-za yagitis laave la ga wui-
gitis yeē vai ya wove ga tamaa e leve loo-
magitis ta dei va. ani volo a lii na ga
soolaa vai wo vele. kawoloitis balaa wui
soolai wōi woolove tiē. kē na balaa yeēve
pe, te lowoi wui fai yeē ga zabu e wu, te yi
gē le ziya na ga faa vii bēē. wui soolai
tie te le zooga to ke bai nii wolo dai yēga
te ma o la te ma wulu. na ya yeē na, te yi
daa wodove su bōo kalāi ga faa ta nepē ge
le na to ke o te lowoi le wui fai maazu ve-
le. na ma to ga zii-laa lala te vaa ma.

poloto zekegi

yāi nepēgi e ņeni ņetea baakele yominigi
zu e kwēni ga velei poloto tii ya boeiya!
ye la. sodasi gila kpalaa o lea na taa zu
o ka no e ye koo ya pēc taa va. zoi nepēgi
o va ma to no ya to fe zēea. Yee ta ani to
be na zii-ma vaa yeēzu o balaa pe kpoove wo.
towo gaa-baa le ņeni taa nu ta nepē zēea ga
sodasi dowa e nā do wui kulo.

taitie balaa za te ga sodasia te vikaa te
loo vai kpedei wu toku seive nā poloto fai
va kpoeyai yēga zui nii zu. Yee ta ani zo-

-5-

daitie de ga manu niincitie, pele
lamaa ya na da leve da baa la de ma.
yee ta de taniga da kaa-zie lii
maa woli.

-6-

lopoi ó ye na zeini wo taa zu é le bega
faa ta nere ke boo vaa ma poloto zekegi ve.
manui ó no ye polotogi yeezu yee ta ani ma-
vaa ta ó leve na kove--zu te navolo wulo
zéea. ani wono navoloi ó be na yeezu manui
ya, to pili no kpidi vele wu é ke ná ga ya-
lo felego-saago ta. ani na manui ó boo-wu-
loa maa zolo wo na kpidi velei wu ó sa no
ye tea, "gà liizu gè lo kpedei wu gè boo wu
maa wo."

tani su wono ani zolopoi ta ó ye na tai
ta zu sodasi va é gaazu-voo vaa ye na, ma-
zolopoi ó no ye tea, "nà balaa gà liizu gè
lo kpedei wu nii é kee ve gè damodai ye pó
taa zu." vele ya na nui boolo zu loo la
kpedei wu.

poloto fai nii ya goei bo pa nu nii-
neitis la kè kpa gwala laale, bovelaale pele
lamave na ta zoo te leve da ga te boo wu
maa wo. kè é le ne na kawolitis vaa ma.
ansa balaa daa-nowo-wo taalii nii ta ziti
te ma, keni no te yii lo gá. to mu kawo-
loitie ta le neni wui kaso ziyizu, kè wui
hu nere go vaa na tai zu ta no ya koo vai ó
ye tis. yee ta ani balaa to be na sodasii
ta wono gilizu ga zii-ma, mazodasii ó zoo
é te yaazu bala-bala.

nà kagi gàazu zolo woni ná ta ma. nii
kawoloi boni fai na zu é dèni gàazu ga
zii-laa nere ge le zéea nèteai nii vaa ma.
é yèni ga yee ta sodasi yila kpoga ná goei-
gi te va taa ta zu gè ná. sodasii na le
neni niini na kè é ná bèoigi yèni ná. tei
kpoko ziti ni, kawoloi na taa luoi yèni bá
é mokolui yilini le sodasi goeigi yii laa-
ni. é yìi yaa wàlani kawoloi ya é vee bá
yíe dowa. mamai na é ye ga kawoloi nèzai
é vaani é lo koba yíe kpee loo. é le nèni
kèezu ó be kawoloi lowa vaa va keni nèza nu
ta ya é vaani ga teewu é pee vee la bé ó
teya ye besu bá.

-7-

tei kawolói ziyingi ná é li é zei ná pe-
lei woba, é ōeni tea, "wui koi yee viive.
kpéd woo woi ōaa nei ōe nii va. nu ōee
le ga nii netea. nii mavaa wulove no è ōe
nú ōa ōe netea yíe netea bala bo. nu zaa
yaa néeve nii va. nu le wuloni yíe ga wée
é va ná zu yíe é lowa kono faa zu. lopo
wolo ōee ngi nai kai yíe gáazu bala-bala ge
le zooni go faa nepo kee la naza nu mu gie
báá vee ve."

È ye kawoloi ná ōeni ga zolopo, ó pele
yaa zie ga to-su ye dá wui fai nii zu boc
ti. é le neni bega bá gáazu-bala-balagi te
boni da ga na mavoloi damoda ó wo da kono
ná neteai zu. ?tei towo pele npe ge le
neni ná kawoloi nii ó boc wú maa wo da, wa
do wuu zu zii ōa la neteai nii zu? faitie
te wui neteai yee gá zii-laa lala netea ka-
woloitié vaa ma ta ya ga na. faa lamaa ya
na gaa ya wála ga tis, towo pele le yee
na to wála kulo la.

naza-wulo-zeeai

wui fai ó teya ye vaazu é ōeni ga faa
óanaga ga naza wulo lóoma nu ya. to ye
na boc nu ma, "è naza ya," náza bocboc ka
na ó ye. anee balaa ta to to boc, keni no
to bo ga faa-wo. anee naza nui ó be manui
wóizu ani no ó laa na kéea yíi ma ga zunui
na ya é yosu zéea, ó ye zéea ti. ani zunui
ó faa ta yee na ga nazaí ga yowua, keni
na to su bete pele wu. kè é le bega wulo
zéea na ma.

wúfe-ma wooloi ye názaitie ya te woo
veaitie vaa ma. naza ny nepo gaazu le bégá lóve
poo nu ma wolo-woloi zu. anee balaá to ye
zunu gilagi ya ga wú gila te pe to ye no
wúfesu ma. te ta nepo ge le bega lo da.

kè-é le sa ngi na siegi nii zu. wúfe-mai
wolo é yega naza zii vaa ma lóoma zui zu ta
nepo ge le sa daa vele ma. nii wogi é fai

-8-

na ziyinga daa vele ma to ga názaitie lo-pului te solo woga kulo-zini-be vai zu. naza nu nepo zii le bega lo ó ye tea, "gè le ye-su pòo nu ya." anee balaa gáá ó nèè gaa wála. su-wulo-zu ya ga to-pului ya le bega ye ma.

kè zai ngi ní te lo-pului ya ga kuutii.
nu. balaa duu Yaave za é le zooga ó fe zini
be. keni manui to boc é welé yíi-ma zunu
va é ye na ya. kè ani kéea ya kulo na wui
zu é fe žini be towo é le ná wōini, á ke tii
daa boc ya na é feea. towaa sakpa no kuutii
zu é bo ga kéea feea náda ta towo é le na
wōini. ani balaa sa kéea neni ta mia na ke-
ni ya fè wulu.

na ya wulo na su, naza nui ta ya ye no
za'nu ta ya ani ya wèè bona so na na wōi sa
má, é wulo manui ya é ye ná wèi ya. ani no
navoloi ya ná wèi niinèi ya ga ta li kuutii
zu zòi nepègi ta daa lec la é fè, naza nui
Ya sa no a ye zéea ga bocboc su.

dai de ga nu niinaitie nii wala le wāla-
ga de ma, bōvèlaale de wu ziyinga de pate. kè
nii luoi le zooga ó kawoloitie yíi la, bò-
ve laale to te ma ga wèè. nii é ga kpaan-
zuve te vaa ma to ga ani naza ya wulo na te
ya é le zooga ó ta zolo wo ga faa vii bèè.
kè ani naza ya wulo na zolopo ya, gwala le
viiya gaazu, bōvèlaale tabono solo-wosu le
óaní zéea.

nii mavèle ma, naza-wulo-zeea vai ya ga
nu wolo-zayagitie ta yíi-laa lalai gila ne-
teai nii vaa ma. towaa ta neteai li ga pu-
lu vele. fai nii keè gaa-baa nepègi wolo é
yèga te ya te lea názaitie maazu na wulo te
ya. te le sa wolo-wolo te lèa názaitie ma-
vaa lóvea kpabea. natiè no ya sa te vaa
boc la. anee balaa tè yeeani te be nadei ta
wòizu, ani no ná wòi ya te lea názaitie ma
ta ye ná ti. te ta balaa yèève sa duu zò-
wo miizu zii-zele ka no ma. nii mugè é su

-9-

te ya ga zii-zuulii to ga ani manu ta ya
ħadżi ta wżoi na kżea le vaazu bu to gżea,
towaa li no ga na kuutii zu kuutii ye. ga
zašu te gżea ma.

gaamai zu nii ya ga zii-zuuli ħakpa nu
wolo-zayagitis vaa ma. nii le zooga ħe nee
nuitie ve te leve yega wolo te lea zu. ta
no ya wolo te yega ga te leaitie loo-zu
wēća. ta wele na za natie va tie te yele
gbede ga te va bu te ye yii-ma ya, ĕ le
wolo-wolo te yii laa. ĕ le ħeni wolo-wolo
te yi ma ga nú ya duu ya yis é yele gbede
ga è fai nii ye è le wohni ǒ ke.

## bolodai-ziyia-ma

do teya ye fai nii ya yaazu keni da faa
ta wēc e vile boloda luoi va wolo è yaga
wolo-wolo loomagitis ya. de le ye nii
wēćni, de le zooga do kawoloitis ta yii-
laa lala vai zu-wulo-zu wēc.

zunu luu ǒ wu ziyi na wolo looma zui zu
ě le bēga faa ta něpe ka bōo vaa ma ani
no kěea ǒ ye na de zeini. kěea ǒ zaa na
balaa, ani no kěea deye ta ǒ ye na na, ǒ
ye no tii yeězu na ye. na zu-wulo-zu ya
ga ani no nui ǒ be na de běazu keea kaak-
kuu wui zu, manui le bēga ye bōo yee ma.
ě le bēga kpala-ga lii ye bōo ye. ě le
bēga tuwu leve bōo ye. suo balaa ǒ paa
na ǒ no ze ne na è kwena bo. ě le bēga
boa laa veě bá. ǒ doo zaya na keni sùbu
veěe kpoko va ǒ vaa la keea laa nui wo.

zunu luu ǒ ye wolo nā nu yitiitis wu
è yeSu puo loo wūmo. ǒ moolè kèeani be è
moolè wono dieni be. to balaa niitie ne-
pegi to ziyi ga pulu vele vele no na to-
moolè la bè. kèea laa vea, die laa vea,
ta lii-ye vaa ǒ ye ma ga to. niitie wo-
gi to ye ga dèyè laa vea è veě duu laa
vea va, nā tii-ye vaa ǒ ye natie ma ga to.

-10-

zunu luu něpe go be na loo-zu te wū-tuo
nui wu bolodave, to kpe ma ga to. yeepsilon ta
manui loo kpeewo ya è ye ga gaazu maa
yii, bōvēlaale gaazu lec ya na ǒ kulo ga
nā nu yitii. tani su to so te gili te pcc
nu yitii na wow wu malgi bēc veleitis ya
na è ye.

nii vēlei ma, nu něpe go ye na wolo mool-
ězu nu yitiitis ve bolodave ki-gaa-zie le
bēga ye ma, bōvēlaale ǒ ye ga kwēcga ga nii-
tis něpe to ziyi ga pulu vele to damodai
ye bě bōo ti. mavaa wuloai ye no ga kui-
veě vai. nui ǒ kui veě no teve baitis ma,
bolodai zu zoitis wogi tevegei tie natis
te na kui wulo. natis balaa wo kui no na
sa to pcc te wulu leyeitis ma. vele no nā
sa è yani la è yeSu è lii la. zoitis to ye
no kui veězu zoitis wo tie kulo.

nii yavele luoi ya wolo te yega bosu
looma zui zu wui fai ǒ teya ye zitizu nā.
niitie za de te lilisu ga kawoloitis ta ya
ta do ziagi lec ga kpěe wui fai yiè va. mi-
ně ya zii-laa lalai vaa boolo kele too
zeiyai nā. kui ya te pcc nù le zolo woni
ǒ kulo. te moolei wolo te yeani bě ta te
lieni te yi ge bá ga te wulu vele veaitie
ta ta wui wulo na wo ge le sa zolo woni.
towo te le sa liizu ga wulu vele. boolo
kele folo le sa zooga ǒ faa ta něpe ka ǒ
faa ziyi la bōo ma. tei towo niitie te yi
ge yani te va ga ta ye ga te zu yai natis
ta le te wuloni su, zii-laa yeězu baave te
ya ħeteai nii zu.

to ga fai pagei ga de kele-yele maa woli
kawoloitis ta ħeteai zu. wui koloi zu,
nu ta sakpe sooni è ye tea, "nii da pete-
ta nii da meni è veě nii va yā ye ga die,
ta ga kolo vele vago. kě nui titigci è le
faa maa wolia bōo nu nā ħeteai zu."

ani no da de ħeteai zu, de le boga ga

-11-

ZUU UAI TANGA

Folomo Welea ɣe:

Velei koo-woo vai yaga la Looma zui zu
kavelei Ya. Nii é yaga koi levezu numai-
tie yowozu to ga faa saago: naza nu vaa,
é vee zuu vaa va, ta tele-wo-su.

Nà Ya ga naza nui nèpe è le wõini ó
zei zunu gila be, kwèle-zu bòò wèè va é
Yeleè poonui va, keni no wèè Ya ya mavaa
ziyi ga gaama, è le wûfega poonui ma.

Nàtiè Ya te yèga koi levezu.

Nà wulu ani zuu wèè pelegi wo dèèzu ga
de wèègi Ya, ani wa wude na maczu wo vee
zòitìè ta do yui ma, a kò tii kpoè-wòi
Ya na è wìè. Ani ta gaa-zaya bo na ga
wìè, we le mavai Yaa wotèni ga pago, kò-
ni wa koo wo mavai zuu.

Nà wulu kono ani è le lele woni è wo
zunu zu faa Ya vile na wo yowozu, keni ya
bó ga pago. Nà Ya ga koi è yèga woozu,
pkogope ge le neni ga faa Ye te yoozu.
Masagi ta ó masa no ná wuluboitìè Yaa-baa
vai ma è keela leve bói wo ve è ye má,
"Ani è kulove bú ga velei gè la, Yavelè
bete dowo felego yee wu de koo wo."

Kavelei Ya na. Twò anèè balaa nu
nolòi è kelei kè è le yee wuloa na na-
pii wu.

Faa saagòi natiè Ya te yèga koi leve-
zu.

Taanu Moli γe:

Zerbè ya ò kò numaitiè te yaa baa tai

-1-

taniga zu ga koi me le ná wulo? Nii ya
to kë. To siyi to tai ma.

Kë te le bega tó ga gulu. To tó ga po-
lo lee-lee. Kë ó yili sú bao kpikpitili
ga kái ge me le fólo. É le neni ga fii-
bec vaa. To ye na séizu é ziyi zuwáve é
le nu wúbi zu te be bá ná vo. To ye na tó-
su ng nga tis li tis gile yeyei leve bá.
Gile yeyei balaa keni numaa to ye máazu
yetsu ga kpidi vee folo va. Bovelaale nu
ó zoo é le sú.

Máa nei ye te siyigi-lo fai maa vile ga
folo nse samai ó vee vaazu.

Ani to wolo na ga siyigi lo, kpogi to
tóo da keni ó ye ga gului kiligei kpaana-
gei.

Ani to na yee na, keni pele powū beaitie
to ye ná ga kpidi ta folo. Nii bogope go
ye ga nu me le le tai zu ga faa yowū. Nu
ó ye é le tai zu keni kpo-zeye-la veaitie
to kwe. Ani ta va bú te dáá lao túo ó vee
leezu tai zu.

Sic-wo beaitie wo ka to ye taitie yowozu
ziesu. Nātiæ wo maa-bidi wobe go ye te ya
ga nu me le te vete. To sici te ma. To ye
kpala-ga veaitie wulu te le taa zu. Subu
te ye kpalaga veaitie wulu te wulo tai va.

Sic-wo beai niitis wo ka te yaga ga zee
va veaitie. to ye ziesu taitie yowozu.
Nii to pété tai zoi zu tis li tis sú wulo
te wo taa zu-veaitie ma. Tovo vele wo nowo
na sici-wo bea tó yee la tai zoitie zu-
veaitie ya tis damodai ye. Sic-wo beaitie
te yeni yii vaa-zu wěni kë te le bega faa
yowū ye ga yiini. Te le bega yii maa woo
loo. Ta le bega boo nu laa wo. Te maazu

Yeni no bu yiini faa ma. Keni no nii to
pété te li te ná wo te wo taa-zuve. Tis
Ya te yeni ga zowozu-zie-bo beaitie koi
woo ziegi zu.

De kwěni ga tai taniga te yeni ná nii-
tie te gaa-baa wuloni ga koo me le ta lai
wulo. É ye velei de menini la é vile Ba-
loma va, koi le Baloma wuloni. Za ya za
to ká nga ga nu le gaa-zaya-kec woga ná ga
kpidi ó ye tea, "be ve?" Bovelaale é ye-
ni ga neni-pulu vaa.

Ná ya ga tei te yeni siyigi losu tai
ma, numaitie to wulo Balomaitie vaa zuve
te va te lubo siyigi lo-su kpāai é ye su
kpoko ziiti. Tei te woloni ga siyigi lo
Baloma ma, vele nowo na te vaani la ga
kwoti-bo é vee mafo-fala ba ga te tóo da.
Tei te tóoni dá, koo le wolo-wolo Baloma
wuloni. Tei koi beani te vaani te kúlo
da.

Kè towo togi ya de ná. Yàì nepesi
yà li Baloma è ga wèè, me le gaa-zaYa-
kee wò ná ga kpidi. Yà kée na, è mamaa-
ngè yèè.

Fai dá tíli ga zuu vaa, nātiæ ta ga:

Fai de le lia la kuutii zu.

Nà ya yee na ani kpo. Ya loo na tai zu
zii felego yowo zu, ná ya ye ga zuu véa
ta boc woo. Ani bokeza ve, folo nse ya
wulo na, zuu veaitie ta bó daabe nui ma é
to te tai ma é ye tea, "Kwèè ka ga vete
gé vaazu te laa wosu, nii-nepo é ga nabu
yeke, nu le ta yee kwèè pelegi wuu zu
ve ga tai wo vele, ani folo nse wulove
sa. Bovelaale gá luozu nabu-loo vai va

-3-

-2-

tai zu. Kseni nu Ya zic zaya ya velci wu
d vee liizu kpala ga."

Zuu veaitis ta na wulo yic galui la
hete zaamave, ani folo nce wulove sa. Ya
Ya na ga subu, folo wuigi Ya kulo na, to-
waa da é zeeze te nabui vaa pelcitie wu.
Kpoko, foloi Ya kpoei na é siyi te nabu
loo te diyi Yili. Nui ya togi nii ta nepo
kala-hala na, zuu veaitis ta to kpe manui
ma tai zu.

Zuu veai niitis ta tai bogope su, ta
Ya ta fai bogope deve tai vaa ma, Tei é
ga Bokeza, ani nu nepo ka wulo ga Gizima
yic va faa ma Bokeza, Kphomeetie Ya ta
wulo te ma. Ani nu Ya wulo ga faa Bokeza
yic lii la Gizima, Kphomeetie Ya ta Ye
te, luo tis li na. Vele no na é la ga kui
zoitis te zuu velei zoitis wu da taitis
zu.

Nà Ya Yèè na, vele nowo na togi lai la
faa Yile-giledaitie zu de yowozu zuitis
zu, taitis zu. Nàtis ta ga:

Ani ya kó kó sá na nu naza va oo nu duu,
zui ta zu oo tai ta zu, nà ya ga è vaa
vaa. Ani ya pile ko ma yee

Ani ya pile-ko-ma yee na zui ta zu oo
tai ta zu, na ya ga è vaa vaa.

Ani ya duu-nai wuo zui ta zu oo tai ta
zu, nä ya ga è vaa vaa.

Kè naza vaa yāka le de yowozuvstis. Kè
nui taniga ta sa masasu navolo wōi ma ta
póto-kulo wōi tis naza vaa yākai vili, to-
wo maa le nèni a do yee ma de Yeeani ta
lo pagoitis ma te puuni.

Ani nu Ya ná faa Ya boo va zui ta zu
oo tai ta zu, yá Ye na liizu ná, keni zuù

veaitis te nu vee bá, ta lii na te siiiti
zuu veai zoitis ma te tai na zu. Ta bó
no ga de yowozuve.

To mu f lo zui taniga ta na oo tai ta-
nita ta ná faa yowú mazii ta nepo ge le
te yowozu ta zoitis.

Nii bogopogi Ya é ga zuu veaitis ta
lii zui Ya oo taitis zu. Ani nu ta nepo
ka Yaa Gaa na ga é togi nii ta nala-hala,
ta le faa Yee ga manui. Kè towaa wele
púlu va. È le Yee ga faa yowú manui vaa
ma.

+

Folomo Welea YG:

Faitis te ga zuu vaitis fikaa Ya:

Tei te yèga sade kui Yaazu', nui bogo-
pe te Yèni mayekegitis Yèèzu. Anse balaa
nu ga kabaawo, duu le ná keni ó mawutii
ta Yè, ani no to ga zuu luu.

Nà wulu, ani nu Ya gáa Yili na Yee ta
è gulo wu, anse balaa è ga ná gulo, ta
zuu lo pili má è gèea.

Ani Yee ta nu Ya è zinga na diyi ma è
lii la è dá doo ma, anse balaa wo boc wo
kelee ke, me le li o diyii wulo doi ma.
Ya na Yee na, ya zuu lo geea.

Wa nu wo do doo ma wono anse balaa è
è wo mala, me le maloi wo. Yài ya nä Yè
ya zuu lo geea.

Nu Ya ko naza lowa na towaa zuu lo
geea.

Nu Ya pele lo na è le looni bú è le
féeni nu ta ye, è le wono kèeni ga wèè
vele balaa, è ye ná è wolo, manui Ya zuu
lo geea.

-4-

-5-

Ani kpoɛ ɣa loo na taa felegoa yowozu, keni ta bɔ ga zuu vaa.

Nu lɛ naza nu lowaa dobo zu. Towaa zuu lo geea. Faa lamaa ɣa na nu ɣa kɛ ɛ zuu lo geea.

Faitie tɛ lɛ ga zuu vaa tis ɣa:

Ani zinaa felego taa koo na nä lɛ ɣee ga zuu vaa. Zolopoa no ɣa ta te vaitie yaa- zaya kɛ, ɣee ta faa lɛ ɣee su.

Nu lɛ vilega nu naza wulu no to bɔ ga zuu vaa keni nii faa loa bu.

Nu lɛ no kui zo ga ò 6e kulozu to ɣe yia, "È zuu vaa nala-nalaga."

Kɛ de kwɛni ga faa lamaa ɣa nä nu ɣa kɛ te ɣe má, "Yà to geea," kɛ ɛ lɛ ɣee ga zuu lɔ. Kɛ zui bogope gaa vaa lɛ boni. È ɛ velei gometii ɣa togi 6ete la Labia ɛ liive zui zoitie zu, togitie tɛ lɛ ɣee ga faa yila. Vele nowo na ɛ la ga zuu vaitiete pɛ tɛ lɛ ɣee ga to sii gila, kɛ towo nii lɛ keɛzu ɛ wɔ taa zu mɛ lɛ ke zuu balaa su. bovelaale ani togi ɛ wɔ wo taa zu page, ɛ liive nada hepe to no ɣa yà ɛ keɛzu, ò vœ ná logi wœsu.

Ani yà ga wɛɛ taa hepe su yà wo è wɔi- ni ɛ kpala-ga lii ɛr, keni yà masagi yaa- zaya kɛ ga ɛ zui maa-ηɛ wɛɛ ò. vœ tii ɛ ɛɛzu. bovelaale tai ta zu yà na nu lɛ naka yega ná. Ani ta ta yui maa-ηɛ lɛɛ na ga yie ò vœ dobo vaa ziesu.

Ani kono yà ga taa-zei ò ɛ de è. vœ nu na subo la keni yà manui yaa-zaya kɛ.

Ani kono yà wele na zee-wo-too va dobo va, mɛ lɛ vœ bá ɛ yɛ su è gaa-zaya-keɛ wo. Keni da fai, bogope dá ga daa vele.

-6-

MATTERS OF THE LAND

Folomo Willia says:

Three things have been the cause of the wars in Loma country. They are women, land and inferiority (which tempts superior forces to aggression).

The women who like every new person they see, used to love strangers. When this was the case, they never respected their husbands any more. This was a main cause of a war.

The second cause of war was land. The boundary which is set between two towns was set in the presence of everyone. If anyone from either of the towns crossed the boundary to the other people's side, he would be asked to go back. If this was not done immediately, war was the result.

The last reason was the inferiority of one group provoking an aggressor. If you don't regard your friend as inferior when you have some trouble, you can settle the trouble peacefully. Most of the wars were fought without reason. A chief who knew his military power, would challenge a neighboring chief who he knew was inferior to him.

Even if a man is lazy, and you charge him with being inferior, you will have to fight.

These are the causes of the wars.

Taanu Moli says:

For defense during the wars many people

-7-

built a wall around their towns, and they
sent spies to other towns.

They built the wall with mud. It was so
thick that bullets could not penetrate it.
It was a very hard task. When they had
built it as high from the ground as to a
man's knee, they stopped until that dried.

They made dog holes in it as they built
it. The dog holes had to be carefully
guarded day and night because an enemy
could easily pass through.

The wall-building was done quickly dur-
ing the dry season, because during the rainy
season the mud could be dissolved.

The door in the wall was made of hard
tree trunk.

After the wall had been built, they ap-
pointed road sentries and door guards.
Before anyone entered the town, these peo-
ple had to be informed. They did all of
this to prevent people from bringing harm
to the town.

Some people rubbed invisible mud on them-
selves which made other people not see
them. They entered the town when the farm
people came back in the evening. They left
when the farm people left in the morning.
These invisible people were the spies.
They brought information from other towns
to their own town. These spies were in
every town. They knew about one another,
but they did not harm each other. They
never betrayed one another. They just told
every story they saw and heard.

Some towns were very strong. For exam-
ple, no one conquered Baloma. There is a

-8-

law in Baloma which forbids people to ask
in the night, "Who is there?" As the story
goes, when the Baloma people were building
their wall, strange people came from their
sacred places and helped them to build the
wall. After the wall was finished, they
carried a stone door and doorsill to make
the gate in the wall.

After the war was over, they removed
the door from the gate. Baloma went unde-
feated during all the wars in Loma coun-
try.

When a stranger goes to Baloma he is
told not to ask any questions, even if he
sees a queer thing.

Land matters are matters that we don't
take to courts. This is when there is
trouble between two persons or factions;
land people judge that.

In Bokeza strict laws are made during
the dry season by the land elders. The
nephew of the people or the town crier
will be told to announce that within cer-
tain boundaries nobody should work with
fire on the town side. They were afraid
of fire damaging the town. Everyone has
to fill every container in the house with
water before he leaves the town.

Someone is chosen to make a sign show-
ing that every fire in town should be put
out. He has a rope which, when he places
it in the middle of the town around 11 o'
clock, he announces that every fire should
be out. When it is late afternoon he moves
the rope and announces that anyone may now
build a fire if he wishes.

-9-

Anyone who violates any of these rules will be fined by the land people.

The land people in a town decide everything concerning that town.

When anyone wants to come to Bokeza for something, from Gizima, he comes to the Kpohoman people first. When anyone wants to leave Bokeza to go out, he goes to the Kpohoman people. It is the same with every quarter on the main road to a neighboring country. This is how the laws are made.

There are no land matters pertaining to relations with women. If someone from another town goes and alienates somebody's wife, that is not considered as a land matter.

Some people are invoking traditional laws because they have more money now, and want revenge. When somebody from a certain town is in disagreement with a person in another town, he asks the land people to give him a person who will act company him to go settle the matter. Even the matter does not concern land.

Some towns have no trouble between them and their neighbors. This is the work of the land people. If anyone breaks any of the laws, he shall surely feel the consequences.

Folomo Willia says:

These are some land matters:

Since this year the women held the sande initiation, everybody was supposed to do some of the chores, even if he was a bachelor and did not have any daughters in the sande.

-10-

If anybody wastes oil deliberately, he will be fined, even if the oil is his.

If you give a man your pot for him to use for his palm wine, you are not to go and take the pot in his absence, even if you and he are not friendly. If you do this, you will be fined.

If you and a man have the same wine tree, you are not to cut the tree down if he is not giving any of the wine to you.

If a man builds a house and he does not live in it, nor will he live in it, nor does he give it to someone, until the house breaks down, he will pay a fine.

Quarrels between two towns are judged according to land laws.

No one is to beat a lady in the forest.

There are many laws like these for land. If anyone breaks any of them, he will be fined.

The following are not land matters:

When two men fight, this is not considered a land matter. Their peers will ask them to make peace, or else the matter will simply be overlooked.

Alienating somebody's wife is not considered a land matter, unless in an unusual case.

Not paying back debts is not considered a land matter.

We know that there are some things a man does and he pays a fine, which are not land matters. With all these, every area has its own rules. The rules in Liberia are

-11-

not the same as in some other countries.
Similarly, all land matters are not the
same.

What you don't do at home, do not do
when you are away from home. Because if
the land has the same laws as your home, you
will pay a fine.

If a stranger wants to make farm peace-
fully, he has to go to consult the chief
who will show him all the laws of the land.

Some towns do not allow people to start
a farm and not finish it. It is a law ag-
ainst the land.

If you want to make a farm near somebody's
old farm, you have to consult him. If you
want to make a farm on a spot where some-
one else is already working, you have to
ask. Even if you think that land is large
for two persons.

If you do that, the person will move
you from that land by law. Probably he has
many wives and wants to make a larger farm
than you assumed. If he takes your report
you will be guilty, as judged according to
the laws of the land.

+

-12-

ZUNU TA WĀSA GOEI
TA PEE YAALI ÉVEE KUI WOLO VA

Zunu ya wolo é yení ná dée pe kéea pe te za.
È wu ziyi é li doboi zu ga sei.

Tei é yení ga folo yila é wu ziyi ná kwotai
la é ye tea, "Gà liizu gè kpafa da."

Tei é woloni ga dáe folo yila é ye tea,
"Bc za gè li gè wele nà beliwui-ya va."

Tei é liini é wele wāsa goei ba kói ga be-
lii ta. Nà ye má, "Me le pàa. Gà è bete."

È nà wulo belii ya é be bá é li. Tuuli wu-
lu yení ná bái ye ga vike. Wāsai yíe sa mãi
zunui ná kwotai la é ye su é zilili kwotai la
ga tuulii.

Na wulu é li ná kono é pée yaali vete ta ya.
Nà ye má, "Me le pàa. Gà è bete."

È kúlo belii ya é be bá é li.

È li kono ga ta wolo é wele kui wolo va ta
ya. Nà ye má, "Gà è bete, me le pàa."

Na ya é ye ga yee ta zunui yíe doso zic-
zic bo doboi zú é numaiti woo meni tis leve
pelei zu. È ye tea, "Wa liizu mine?"

Te ye má, "Gà liizu doboi zu."

È te yaa-zaya ka wono, é ye tea, "Zase lobo?"

Te ye má, "Kpalagi zu."

È gale má ga kpize é va ná kwotai la, é ná
kasoi bogope siyi é li wulu pelei ma. Tei te
vaani wulu ta tis te li taa zu. Te nii ná go-
la boga ná lowoi. È ná tuulii ziyi é lii la
dowoi zu.

ONCE THERE WAS A MAN...

Pables by

Laville Gilowog

Wozi
April 1966
800
283

-1-

Tei é Ŷeni ná, masa gila ge ňeni ná kpé-
tei ga golo. Tei masagi na boeigiti te
vaani dowoi zu te luoni ga vike, bovelaale
doboí wûgi ňeni má kéke su oo zée ma pe, kowoi
kowoitie pe. Ó ká no ga golo maleyai ve.
Booboo su. Nu nepo go pété na ó vela. Bú
balegai no ga ó ká sa ga níne.

Tei boeigiti te liini te kavelei zu wu-
lo masagi ma, te ye má, "Níne be no."

Nà ye te ma, "Wo yeeve fele-fele teyeai
wa mu wo ná nui yavelei vete we le sóni wo
vaa la, wo yeeve yomo nepo ge le má."

Nàtié te gale ma ga kpíze te va wulu do-
woi zu te zunui zo, te lìi la masagi wove.
Masagi ye má, "È bete velei é le ga nu, na
ma, nui gá paa, to ga yíe."

Numaitie te zunui zo te gíli. Masagi ze-
ba sa é ná zalaya woai wulo ga yíe sa woko.
Tei é ňeni kokoi wosu é ye tea, "Gá za gá
zunui nii vaa za."

Nà no é yega bosu pèè yaalii yíe ġíi. È
za bò no kpa be.

Tei te liini masagi loowusu, masagi daa-
bei ye kéke wove ma, "Tei dobo nui nii ya é
yega púlu è za, to no gá paa ga tèè maa-wû
è woo-zuve."

Tei siagi ziiti ni ga te polo boeigi zú-
yeze, daabe nui é ye tea, "Tèè maa-wügi ya
ga zunui. Bovelaale to ya é kèè kèke é zaa."

È ziyi doowugi-wo folo ma ó ziiti polo
boeigi zu-vaza folo ma, kui woloi ňeni sa
zeyei levezu é yesu é lii la kaba wū-tuo
wotii wu.

Te zunui zo sa te gíli te dá kabai ma
tie sa woo lo govei wui zu. Tei te woloni

ga goo lo gúi zu ye, te ye má, "Zunui è zaa
mavái zu to ya é ga tèè maa-wügi. bovelaale
to ya kaalii é è vaa mávaa zu."

È yesu te wolo ga dologi wo, kui woloi ya
no zeyei zu vèeni. Tei te woloni ga dologi wo
te boai ziyi no ga te zunui vaa. Kui wolo ye
zeyei zu è ye tea, "Ba-oo, ba-oo, a me le paa.
To sa è ga masagi wotogi, a me le paa." È ye
tea, "Názaitie pe ná peleitie pe kwéligitie pe
to ya pò ge ga tie sa. Velei gò faa-wogi wo
da pe, to ya sa wa li pò ve é bo wie." È ye
te ma, "Velei wo wüfe da maa, a wüfe má ne na.
A yi to bá fai bogope su, wo sò ga pago."

Taitie te ye kabalave te ye tea, "Baa, zee
Ya na de."

Kui woloi le kono ga woi é bo te ma. Tei sa
te gói menini kono te zunui vui sa, te ke ga
masa gwalai wotogi.

Tei te séini ga masagi é ke ga kwena fele-
go è ye tea, "Gá zayala wulozu bòo vaa ma."

È zeba do è níke yila paa. Tei te miini é
mawügi ziyi é ye wāsa boei ma, "Yíe ve pèè
Yaalii ve kui wolo ve wo saago ya wo kèè ge
masadai nii maa wolo woga. Kaze le ňeni wo ma.
Na ma wo saago wa dei ya ga níke vilii."

Kè níke vilii woleai ye. Wāsai ye tea,
"Pò be." Pèè yaalii ye tea, "Pò be." Kui wo-
loi ye tea, "Pò be."

Tei te sakpegi looni filii ma, nu le ňeni
zolo wosu ó fai nii yaa leve. Na ma velei
zunui to bòo è fai yaa leve la, to ga nii:

È ňeni tea, "A va ga filii pò."

Te vaa la pò. È béli su sava è wāsa boei
na dei ve zéea. To na è kó bu è yesu è yíi

-2-

-3-

wō sokpalave. Nà ya é kə é zo wāsa wo bu
é. yii wōgi ma, ná woleai.

Pec yaalii na dei ya na é zo kó bu é
yii wō sokpalave.

Kui woloi na dei ya na é popowu ye pe.

Na ya é kə te saagə pe é zo te wo bu é
yii te wō sokpalave, nātiə ta wole te ya.

Faa wōlo-za yagi ya na é vile zunui va
ta wāsa boei ta pcc yaali é vcc kui wolo
va.

## NU YA ZAA NA YIC LUJE MÁ

Zinaa felegoitie ya te ŋeni sie pulu zu.
Zoi názai yile, zoi názai yile. Zoi dúu
ga zunu luu, bói na dei ga zunu luu kono.
Gila go li daali-mai ma te lebi ná é li,
zoi wu ziyi é li to balaa bói wove te kuu
fele kulo ná.

Nà ya é ye ga folo yila zoi va zói wo
ve. Tei é ŋeni liizu, bói li púuzu ga pe-
le. Tei é wěnci yíe sa va, zoi yíe li. Kè
nii te li kplea-su pele zu ó sua pe wěnia
pe kaalia pe goo meni.

È li do ga ta wolo é kaali-lei goo meni
yíe ye tea, "Zunui nu è vaa kpela pele-zui
ma, to ve, dúi ve, názai ve, gà za gà te
saagə pe gii te za."

Tei é mênni é gale ma ga kpize, é va
taa zu bói wo ve wono. Nà ye má, "Boi, abe
ve? È galega má de?"

È ye má, "Faa yowù le ná, kè towo faa ya
dà."

-4-

Bòi ye má, "Da vels ya no ga da vels."

È kavelei zu wulo má nii kaalii boni
má. È ye bói ma, "Da sa da ke le?"

È ye má, "Li è va ga yà zalaya woai è
gaa liè ga pago è fé zéea. Yà na ga kpo-
ko, wa laa na, gà wulo gè zei pelai la.
Yà vaa na, gè paa."

Bói ye má, "Ookee."

Tèi kaalii vaani é boai vili má. Tei
é sáyani, mañamai vili gee zu é wu gaa-
zu-yeze felegoi ma, te vcc sa má zéea.

Na ya te mazale bete te kpatc le ŋeni
ziyizu má. Te li te mañada be. Te ye
bói ma, "Tei wo vaa ya é kcc kaalii é zu-
nui yaazu vcc má, keni ya è luu zunui wulo
ga mazalaya, è paa è mavodoi zic è woi
Yaazu. Nà laale, le ziyia má."

Zunui zei é yi gaa zic é yi gaa zic é
é ye téa, "Be gè yii lo gè kè. Bovelaal-
le nu ya za è má, luule má." È ye téa,
"Gà dúi vaa bói vaa ma, ga gáazu ziyi má
ti-oo."

Sakpegi ya. D ye na yìe, d è lui vaa
bba le bega paa?

Mayaa-wotegi ya ga, gò paa. Bovelaale
ya dòdo na Kuloai Jenesè Zu, dàa ga Seelo
Duu Yaani, dòdo kolo-laya è ma ta 7. Yà
gaa-wotegi vete.

Zunui le ŋeni dúi vaani. Gala ge ke-
ni no ga su-wogai ga è kwèè ani zee-la-
ma ŋeni zéea bói vaa ma. Gala ge zunui
Yaazu ziyini ma, tei è wěleni zunui na
zee-la-mai va.

-5-

MASAGI TA DUU NAZA NUI
E VEE ZUNU YILĀ BĀ

Masagi ya é duu ya ga naza nu luu. E ye
tea, "Nui nepo ya ye zéea, nu pe ka kwēē."

Wū-su-bāa zunui yīs wu ziyi é ye teā, "Gā
li sa nā."

Towo wēi ő wulo na masagi ma, dūi no ő
zie wulo pe é kō. Tei zunui liini nā é daa-
zu vēni. Tei kpoķo ziitini lopoi ziēi wulo
é vaa la kpakigi zu. Tei é liini nā é wēē
vai wo nā ma. Naza nui va bú é pelei pe-dee
la.

Kēea wo ĝe pīlini kpakīgi zu é su sava.
Mamai ya é ōni pelei zu nā luove, gilewu
fele kelei la.

Masagi dui zēba dó é mokolui yili é taava
kpokelegi la māazu ta suo yai. E sīyi é vaa
la kēea wo, é ye má, "Wēi wonogi ya."

Kēea wele sú va. E ye é yii yaa wāla dui
ma. Zunui ye má, "Ba. be bā. Nā ya ê kwēēga
ga da mi."

E sīyi é lii la wēē velei wu é suo yai zi-
yi é dá ta taava kpoķogi. E mokolu voi vēē
gilewui ve. Tei te wōloni ga pelea vēē da é
taavagi ziyi ta suo yai. Tei é loponi kpakī-
gi zu, mamai ye má, "Kpoo! To ye le?"

Zunui yee ye má bēbē é taavagi wulo é ta
wu zēea ga boōloo, mamai yeēzu é puuzu ye é
levega. Yīs li wono gilewui wo ve. Nā ye é
wu ziyi é suo yai loo nā ve. Nā li sa é vēē.
E leve é li sa lopoi wo ve, te nii nā.

Tee zine bōe-zu no lopoi za zunui ya pelei
wu. E yi gaa ziēni ma ga nii ő ke. E wulo
do é li é bo nāzai ma. Nā ye má, "Ookee. Nii

-6-

da kē sú keni no de vela."

Te zēba do sa te wulo tai va ga kpiże. Te
yeni sú é yesu foloi gāa lo. Pului bōeini sa
zunui la ga tamaa. Nā yeēzu te wūi ta naza nu
yila yíe va ga mokolui pōonui wo ve. Bōi ye
mā, "Keni è naza va wulu bidi. Sinigi ya é
lia masagi dui wo ve ga te nii nā. Towai teē
zine bōe no é zaa zéea pelei wu. Mavela ya gē
bosu. Nā ma mokolui ve zéea é mí gē li."

Bōi ye má, "Gā fée na è ya, da ye è woonu
ya?"

E ye má, "Ookee."

Tei te daa-miigi woni te pe tie sa li ga
kpize. Kē te liini zie wala ta la nu woo ye
nā é téve keni ő nu ve zēea. Duu dee yilā ge
yeni ziēlave yíe seye wuo. Naza nui goo yila-
gi wo no má kono. Duu dee ye má, "Gā dui vee
na è ya è ziēi woo la, da ye è zinigi ya?"

E ye má, "Zèè ya bú."

Duu dee é dui leve bōi wo é píli ziēi wu.
Nā vo sú te leve ta duu deetie pe.

Nā yeēzu wuluboitie tie lo ziēlave ga pele
wo ge le ōeni sa nā to te zo. Te li taa zu,
te li masagi na pelei la. Nā te laa-zu vēni.
Kē to ge ōni tai na zu: to ga malogi ōni ga
fili ōni masagi ya wēi ő lec na nā to zeeze
tie ye tea, "Koi wulo! Koi wulo! Koi wulo!"
Wuluboitie pe taa vea pe to sa li nā. Te zē-
ba do sa te mawěi lili, masagi ő sa ye tea,
"È ziiti wo ma é ziiti de mawěi ma. Filii gē
féezu zēea, ya nii na zēea, subu é vaa la wo
pāa. Towo le ye vaa la te pāa." Na ya é ōni
keezu tie maveaitie vaa.

Tei zunui nii vaani, masagi bo kono te zee-
ze. Nui pe ge li nā kono. E ye to ma, "Wēē ya
é vaa pō ve. Na ma gē de ga wie vaa ve."

-7-

Te wēi-luo vaa wo é vile filii va. Wēi
YE tea, "Zee ya bú."

Masagi duu naza nui lili. Nà ya é wēi
luo, é li é zièi vile do zunui ve. È va é
YE má, "Dii ná è wuo."

Tei kpoko ziiitini é wu ziyi é li é dààli-
mai wo. Zunui ye naza nui ma, "Fai è yeea
boga, mayi-gaa-zièi ya gè ma."

Nà ye má, "Gà bo na è ya te le è vaani,
le boga? È nazaì ya kè gè ye è ya?"

Nà ye má, "Da ye zéea."

È ye má, "Gà sa gà bo yie."

Tei kpoko ziiitini te te lili wono masagi
ye má, "Filii za gè mavaa woni, towaa. Ya
vaa na la ga subu te paa, le ye vaa la te è
vaa."

Zunui vaa la ta yelei wu. Te zei sa ta
názaitis te yee filii va. Towa maa nei yeni
ga é ye nu ya é nii, ó vela sa é li ziave.
Tei nii leveni ga tie filii wulo te ya é li.

Masagi duu naza nui ye ná pelei wu é fi-
lii vete sa é ziave yie yaa wo. È wu ziyi
é va é ye tea, "Kpo-kpo." Te wu ziyi te pe-
lei wulu wulo.

È ye zunui ma, "Filii wo?"

Nà ye má, "È velaa."

Masagi dui li ziave é kúlo bú é vaa la.
È ye má, "À só sa kpaa-go!"

È ye má, "Mm."

Tee zinè boc-zu no baa nii levega ga tie
kono. Filii wulo wono te ya é li kono ziave.
Masagi dui yèni wono pó ye é nà vete ziave
yie wono yaa. È va é pelei lubo kono, te

-8-

dàilao. È ye tea, "To ye le?"

Te ye má, "È lia wono."

Masagi dui bize é li ná é síyi é vaa
la. È ye ná wèi ma, "À só kpaa."

Te ye má, "Mm."

È ye tea, "Bovelaale tse zinè baa sa.
We le sóni kpe, wa nii na nii zu ya lìi
na gè le sa lia gò vaa la. Bovelaale ta
pètsa."

Zunui ta názaitis te bo sa má te só
bo kpe te zeini la. Te ya ná é yesu ge-
la bo bao ga pago. Zunui é filii la sa
na seyi wu zée bà.

Tei masagi wuoni é bo wono te ye tea,
"Wéi pe taa-zii pe te ye wo ya masagi maa-
lava."

Nui pe ge li ná. Wuluboitis te maa yi-
liai sa ga koo-maa-yili, bovelaale te yi-
gi yèni ná ga ta vaazu wèi vaazu wono.

Tei te ps te tseni má masagi ye wèi
zunui ma, "Filii nina gè fé è ya, vaa na
la."

Wèi zunui é zeba é filii wulo é ye tea,
"Kèeanì ps, dèeni ps, wo kha?"

Te ye má, "Ooi. Gè pètoga."

È síyi é teve masagi wo, é ye má, "Ya
vili ya na."

Wuluboitis te ps te wale yili yaazu va
te wú pile. Masagi é wúgi le goc zu. È
wú pile é ye zunui má, "Nà ya gè boni ni-
na kpoko gè yia, 'Ya vaa na ga filii te
paa, yowo le ye vaa la te è vaa.' Na ma
ta sa paazu."

Zunui é wu ziyi é tuuyie vili má te

-9-

BEEKA ZAA VAI

Beeka, misili wui kwelegi é yaga tii
yɛɛzu sale velsi la Zozoo, Lute yala pelsi
vaa ma, é zaa. Dáa wuloai yé boo Zozoo
Kovii nii ma, ve é yaga tii yɛɛzu ná é
leve balaa kwena 30 va.

È zaani teve-teve seebɛ ya nii é nu
puugo vaani, seebɛ nu maa wugi yeni ga ko-
naza nii kuloai yé Ziyida. Nu lofela yeni
wono ná Beeka vœ te va é vœ sa sale bete
nazaitie taniga va te yeni ko-naza velsi
wu te seebɛi te zoni. Te seebɛi boo
wɛni sa ga ta yé má Lassa.

See6ei é Beeka zoni ga Tenigi na folo
21, kaa wenagi 56 kelei levegei má no.
È yeni no tii yæzu ga bocobosu folo saago
naago yeewu è yasù è ye ga Tenigi na folo
24. See6ei nii loo zeini sa wono ga kolo
vile, wu kpede, è vœ koda vala va. Teni-
gi na folo 26 ma sa, ná see6ei yeni sa ga
seeb6 bocobó ga maa nse to seni sele máa-
zu. Tenigi na folo 30 ma, ná see6ei yeni
sa ga see6ei kpoeyai yé ga vike, na ma
te liini la Fiibii sale velsi la, ve è
zaani ná ga Zupui na folo 4, 1972, folo
felego levegei má Ziize wu ziyi voloi ma
saa ya.

Te máwomai maa bitini seye zu è vœ ko-
lo volo-volo bá, te dá kolo sú, te vaa la
wulu Zozoo ga maa vilea toloki zu tokpo
layaga te yiliai bá. Te dóowuni ga maa
vilea sale velsi woba Zozoo ve è ná nateai
boolo kele kœni ná è vœ vè va è ná see-
b6 yaa belagi woni ná.

Biisia Pii boga Paseta Sewɛɛbɛ ya te
yeni dóowu fai maazu. Sale bete veaitie
te Zozoo te yeni ná, è vœ sa misili wui
kwelegitië taniga va, ta Labia Vasetaitië

-1-

lamaa è vèè sa Beeka bòò ná wèè vagoitiè
va. Tei te nii pè kèni, tuuyiè yaa-è-
lagi loozuvè sa Beeka ma, mine zu ya sa
kpoko zomo-deka maa wùgi yèni volo zu ná.

È le no ga Zozoo Kòvii nii ma, kè,
Labia yui nii zu yaazo te looni ga Beeka
zaa vai yalama laa. Nu lamaa yèni ga
Beeka wèega zui zu. Maa nèè Beeka 3 yè
gomèti maa-wuu zolo wosu ná sale-bete lii
vaa ma. Towo ki-to gè woni la ga vuu
sinci na folo 14 ya 3 maa-wui nii zolo wo
da, kè è le sa yèni nà ma. Towo folo è
le sa ná maa-wui zolo woni ná yèteai zu
è yèsu yìè za. Kè Pèlèzèi Tomo è naba
veeni zèea. Na ya ga nii nu ya zòo è pèè
seye va oo è pèè boolo bá.

Fai na le yèni Beeka yaazu ga faa nèpe,
nu 3 dàa maa le-o, baa è 6e dàa maa leè
zu-o, ná faa le yèni sù. Nii bòobòogi
no è yè gáazu ga faa walai è yèni ga ná
seebè veaitiè te valo.

È yè Beeka yèni dè zeini sìogi nii ma,
kùu zu 3 nèè ga è kwèè ga seebè yowù wo-
ŋazai na valoa sa bòò è yè kele-kele, nui
na kàgi è seebèi ziyini má yìè za.

Poo Mætø yæ

+

-2-

EESITA BEEKA MAYAA-WOLO-ZATAGI

Te Āsita Beeka yaani Kololado yui zu,
Amelake, ga Tenigi 19, 1916. T no ya è
yèni ga duu yilekpugi dèè ya ta kèèa.
Tei sa na wuloni bá è liini Awowa è zeba-
do è faa maa woli Moonisaa wolo vele wa-
lai na wu. È zaba-do sa è yee vili Luute
Yala pele vai nii zu è Amelake, na ya yee
na te bóni má ga è li è yè Saana yui zu
ga sale bete nu. Zase-pe Koo fele kelei
zabu ma, fai nii le zolowoni. Nà vaa ma
te deveni ga è va Labia.

Èvilini tima ta zu nii è sìe biinse-
kpiinse bóni da te zui zaama wèè-pelegi
maa bude kèè vaa ma te Yamaaleitiè ta
yiewu ledeitiè maa la. Timai liini ná
wowowuve vele bòò è sìei vèè kiila è va
wulu Maloovia. Āsita zilini Labia Ga-
la mama fee voloi ma, polo kpalai 6, ma
1941.

Tei Āsita ziiitini vè, è menini ga
sale bete nui te teveni Zozoo è yèni sa
wulozu ná yíè zìè wow ma ga è yìi kpe-
tea. È yèni sa yaa baazu ga è li wulu
Bo-su yui zu gá è yè ná.

Siogi na ma Zozoo ge le yèni de ga
nadei nu 3 zìili ná ga faa vii-6ee, è
yèni de goiai zu. Pele-veagi wèè ge yèni
de ga Salala, kúloai Maaloovia ga maalii
64. Mote vele le yèni sa mine è yèsu è
le Zozoo kèni nu 3 biinse ga Sanoyii vele
è Sei Jò yìè walai leve Peata. Gove de-
dè vilesu le yèni Zozo kpoga kpetea te
yoozu. Ná bai yè ga kavele teego gá nu
soolaa yee maa zolo wo è leè la ná maazu.

-3-

Nà ya yee na Bo-su yui yee vaama koo
laawu, è le yèni no ga soolai vaa vai ya
è yèni gà faa yilagi kpai, kè velei nu 6
sòlo wo da nà mu ka kpài ye gà kavele tee-
go nà yee luo vele vaa ma.

Siegi nii ma ēsita kida-ma luo woni
gà zit-lòo, nii 6 dè gà tii nii è yèga
maa wolizu kwena 30 yee wu, è vileni sa
pele mà gà è li Zozoo.

Luute zale velèi è Zozoo è yèni de ve
yèni sa ta nà lili ga Zozoo Koba Baloma,
pelèitie logei ye ga gulu boga polo,
ēsita tii loo zeini to yilekpu kèni no
Labia zale bete veaitie te veèni bá nii-
tie te te leveni Zozoo. Nà zu-wulo-zu ya
gà è liini tii yaazie zu tii yeezu.

Nà zic su Kpelaæ boga Loomaga, niitie
te ye ve ligi zu Kodi sale bete vea ya to
te valo. Kodi sale bete veaitie te le
yee zeini wui sale bete vai wu, tie bò
numaa ma tie ye tea, "Yài yà lii na wui
sale velèi la, gè yee le sa yee faa ta
ne pe sú gà ge kè è ve."

Numaitie te wui-loni nii ma kèni no
seebe vea yile-gile ga no to li nà. Sie
ta zu te yèni saavine gaa wæezu sale ve-
lei la nii no 6 kè numaa te li nà.

Wolo-wolo luwoi zu, nazaan ya to te
vaitie maavui ta laitie zu. Zunu maa le
qeni nèeni 6 ye gà duu yaa nu mayeke kee
nu ta. Nii yee ma te yigi zu, nazaite
te le yèni woini gà to va wui sale velèi
la ga zinaa te te maavui."

Dayita Sulõo na kweña felegoi è kè
Zozoo, è le wolo-wolo maavui gila kpalaan
woni. Nà wulu wenagi fele kelei zu è

maavui puugo kai yila boni, te bolo zu
te yèni ga numaitie te yèni tii yeezu
sale velèi la te nazaï niitie nà bai ye
ga te laa yii taazu.

È yèni ga ēsita, naza nui è vaani
1941 zu ga è fai nii maaveli. Dà zoo dè
bò ga nà tii le no pele laa laoni Zozoo
sale velèi yilekpu tuo, kè è dàa woni pe
sale velè bulu-kpulu da maavui boga luo,
è ze-ko-ma vai maayiini kovii nii ma, è
ves ve ligitie zu va zui nii vaa va.

ēsita yèni wōini ga è faa vago mazii
bogope kè nii 6 bò naza nui nii va è kuu-
zu wala zu. È le wolo-wolo má zeini zo-
zoo sale velèi wu gà te li ga seebe veai-
tie pò. È yèni woini ga è zic è li nada
nepè gà sìe nepè kpidi vee folo va.

Kodi maavui bo begitiè te nii yaa yaa-
ni sa yavu, kuu-zu walai ta 6 baa na te
ya, to tíli. Sie tamaa zu to tíli sa nà
levegei, duuyègi bono-wogei sa 6 ye, nà
ya yee na dèe balaa lotoi zu le bèga wo-
do. Kè ēsita 6 no li, na ya yee na nà
kpo-bai nazaï niitie vaa ma è yèni no ga
pote-bo faa yavele.

Nà yeezu numaitie tie sa gáa ya ga yee-
ta nu lii vai sale velèi la gà è laa-yii.
è le ga faa yowu.

Kwenagi 1952 zu maavügi te boni sale
velèi la è yèni ga nu wu gila zee saago
kai lofela. Kwenagi 1970 zu, sale velèi
wona boni ga te maavui wulu gila wu saago
kai losava (1,308 woni.)

Tei soo zeebei wu-kuloni ēsita kpoba
woni maazu vete fai zu maki fea maazu.

4-

-5-

Seebe mazii wēs fai bě mayele-yelegi
yee leveni 6alaa sale bete vea boko zu
ná do va veligi zu.

Eesita, sale bete naza nui, 6 le yeni
nu laa lli maa wolini, kě towo é nu laa
velei mawadai mavelei ziyini ani 6 kwee
na ga to ga fai pāgi. Gè kweni gā é ye-
ni ga sie gila é nu gila kowo leveni bā
nii pala yowu-yowu ge yeni bā. Na wulu
kono é nu laani kwili vaa ma bōvolaale 6
laani la ga 6 le yeni zooga 6 yii ga pelei
6 li dayitai woove.

Eesita yeni ga nui 6 kě nu ye tikili.
Sale vee velei bōgope ka é yeni ga kavele
wēega bōo kpowu. Ani to yee na nu laazu
manui yie la kpaazaa-kpaazaa, Eesita 6
kpoba ve manui ya bōo ga maa vilea.

Maaniini pagoi é vile Eesita va to ga
ná gaa nskpagi 6 bō ga numaa to yee na te
laa zu, é zeini te wubu yie sale ve te ya
ga te ye tikili. Yis wels ná va ga fai
bogope ge li ga dii vele.

Sale velei la, gá seyile fe ná nu wulu
zaama-6aaloi zu kce vaa ma manui ye tiki-
li. Sić taniga zu g6 seyilegi vee na ye
na, g6 gaa ya ga salei ná ga bai ya 6
ye yii zu, ná vaa ma g6 sa mazie velei
ziyi g6 vee yi sie zu sú. G6 Eesita lili
ga é zese-pe seyilegi ve zéea, 6 sa salei
wulo é fé manui ya ga é nii é yasu gè wo-
lo.

Eesita le yeni ga faa-6eevi-kpeeyi
gaazis nu. Ani soolaitie to 6e na yee zu
ve manee te ye ná, 6 le yeni bedeni ná
ma ga ani nu 6 zoo é te yalama wess. E
yeni ga kweega ga ve nape 6 zoo é yee vee

-6-

ná te ma é ye velei zoiti6 ta kce la.

Ani faa ta 6e na yeezu siegi ma, ná
le yeni yee bá ga faa. Ani kelasii le
yeni yee ná ga siegi ta, na yeni ga zee-
ani no kelasi 6 ye ná? Ani te faa woneni
é vile seebe nu va, nii é yeni gā faa bi-
gi sú to ga ani seebe nui valove no.

Eesita sale bete vea yidaa vilini nii-
tie te yeni woi yeezu te faa ta wone tie
zie la sale velei la, bōvolaale Eesita
le wolo-wolo ziemi ga nii maanee nu zie
la foloi yee wu. O va sale velei la ga
sie nape kpidi vee folo va, O yaazu zie
ga ani faa ta ya ná pagei é kě, oo seebe
nui zee6i é ná see6ei wala b6eiyai dá 6
sa no tii loo zei mine.

Sić tamaa zu g6 wulo sale velei la va
ga kpidi zaama, oo subu, g6 vaa na wulu
ná wulu zubui g6 kwee ga Eesita vaani pu-
lu vele sale velei la tei gè wuloni no
feea, towo é yega ná kpidii yaazo yeewu.
Seebe veai niitie sa gè te yega wulu ná
yaa leiyai, to dai sa te ya kpidii vaa ma,
yeeta te maa 6 sa veli ta zee6ei 6 sa baa.
Eesita 6 te maazu vete é sale leve te wo
ani maanee te salei na zolo wo, towo é le
bega pone ga nii é kce.

G6 sa wels seebe nui va subu ná see6ei
ta maayie wuai, kě ná 6 baa gā gè Eesita
yaa zayaké zoi é kce seebe nui ná ná see-
bei ta maayie wua.

Eesita woteni é ye ga faa yaa zii nu
wala seebe vea ta do vele ma. Yeeta
kele-yele, oo sie tamaa zu zee-la-ma, ta
wusu baa, Eesita Beeka tii yeni de ve é
yesu Zupui 4, 1972, si6 nape yie wels
ná va ga seebe veaitie ta vai boga pe gè
la ma ga pago. -Poo Meeto ye

-7-

BEEKA LIINI TAITIE ZU

È yèni ga sìè gila tei Beeka yèni sale
vèlei la, zunu gila ge ziyini kpaàa gila
su ga yalava 5 subu è va ga è Beeka lili.
Zii-laàa naza nu gila dàa ga Gaamai ko ge
yèni bá, è yèni kpaàai zu è yèsu è laa-yii.
Te yèni ga yooga, kè tei è gilagi yaani
gilagi yèni dè na. Te le nèni zooga to
gilagi mamavui bo. Nà ma te vaani Beeka
luo.

Tei zunui na yèni Beeka maa kpowùsu ga
è yavele bete, zunu ta ziyini kono Kpaayee
è va tílisu.

Tei zinaa felegoi natiè te yèni Beeka
maa kpowùsu, zunu tabono ge ziyini wono
Fisebu è va.

Nà ya yèè na pele saago ya na sa, see-
bèi sa nà sèebèi bòeiyai yè? Beeka è nu-
maitie yaa-zaya kèèni è vile sèebè veai-
tie yavelei va. Kè zinaitie te le nèni
faa lamaa wèni ɔ vile ko-nazàitie yavele
va. Te le balaa lotoga ta vèlei va. Kè
ani nàzaitie ta bala na, ta zinaa leve ga
keelaa, bòvelaale te wowo maa vileve,

Te deveni ga naza nui gilagi è yèni ga
zii-laàa nu, to li nà woove ga maa wù.

È yèni ga Lata Koloi na folo 24, tinei
wo gie pù! È kwèni, soitie ta luo pala-
vala ziei-va. Nà vaa ma Beeka è tèèni
soi wo ma gie sa li. Kàgi ziony wowo ya.

Nà voloi è yèni ga ta wolo Beeka yè
zie wu. Tei gè yèni liizu gè wù kuloni
zie liipa ta ma fègei. È yèni ga pala-
vala zie, na vaa ma sòi le yèni kèèni ɔ
vile bú. Velei è soi yìi lòò la ga nà
vile ziei wu, kàgi vileni dè bú ga maa wù.

-8-

Towo ziei vègei yè! Soi wo gie sa túbo.
È Beeka luonì è pìli boo wozala.

Tei Beeka yèni ziei wu è yèni lobasu
yìe yè tea, "Só kpaa! Só kpaa! Soi laa
wolui zo kpaa!" Nà vaa ma gè soi laa wo-
lui zonj. È yè wono mà, "Ani yà bè na bá
towaa vui: Mè le bè bá ɔ li!" Nà vaa ma
gè soi laa wolui zonj boo ga kpaanaga.

Nà balaa yèève è yaa òaani è wulo ziei
wu è nèè è yè tea, "Huu! Gè wuoa sa!" È
soi wulo sa ziei wu gè li.

Gé òoni naza nui va è yoogi fele kelei
ya. Beeka è nii zale-yai veeni naza nui
ya è vee tuuli va è bò má ga è te mi. Nà
ya yee na è naza nui na villi bebe zu ga
te lii la Zozoo, è kolo wono kono sale-bè-
te nazaì zoitie wo te yè sale vèlei la è
dè ga tie ga zoi ta kè naza nui nii vaa
ma tei è yèni sa pele ma ga è li Kpaayee.

Nà ma gè leveni doboi zu gè li Kpaayee.
Nà wo ge yèni ga zii-zele ta bono, bòve-
laale zie letele ka mavoloi gè luo bú.
Tinei yèni pùuzu è yèsu foloi gáa lo. Gè
luoni má gè le volò, boalemi ɔ no yè ga gè
laa mi.

Tei gè zìitini Kpaayee ga kpo ko volo
yee-yaa-baa, gè liini naza nui wove ga
maa-vilea. Yoo-kaa vai ta yèni kono no
ga nà, te gilagi yaani gilagi de ná kono.
Nà ma gè na mamaavui boni towo woi-sasai
le yèni wuloni, kè Beeka è nà wuloni, na-
za nui yèni nama wuuzu kono. Nà vaa ma
gè kávele beteni ga gè dúuyegitiè leve
sale vèlei la, gè te lee vilini bebe zu.

Yalava 6 laa yoozu tinei púa lòò zeini
wono. Numaitie te baya yilini te téve

-9-

Beeka wo. Nà yè yè na Beeka é sèèsè veaitiè vilini sa bèbe zu gè vîle te ma gè sôi wo ma gè ziyi Kpaayee gè pele zakpa no Zo-zoo. Kpidi zaama levegei volo sa yè.

Nà yè yè na tei gè ziitini Zozoo, Beeka leveni no wowozu é li Fisebu. Nà ná dei yèni wono ga kpea niingi è le yèni de dûu yaani yîle mamá wù ka nu yè, na vaa ma tei Beeka ziitini má, è vaani ga naza nui na sale velei la.

È vaani wulu ga mabidii no, yeeta gusu laa yoozu.

-10-

BEEKA TA PELÈZÈIGI

1945 laa-wulo-zuve oo 1946 loo-zei-zu-
ve Pelæzi Tomo ná sìe maa wùgi woni Zo-
zoo Kovii ma ligi zu. È vaani ga bòo wui
zowo.

Gala ge bóni sa Beeka va ga è wui zowo
zolo wo è bò bá sale velei la. Ko-naza
ta yèni zèea yíe nama wu kono.

Wui zowoi yèni bòsu Beeka va è yèsu
keela va ga Pelæzi Tomo woini ga wui
zowoi taa zu. Beeka wo ge bóni wui zowoi
ma ga yíe no tii yè sèèsè veaitiè ma kàgi
ya báa vaa yè ga keela woi mayaa-wotegi.
Towo wui zowoi késeni no è yè velei Beeka
bóni la má, towo sèèsè nui yèvui yèni
zèea.

Tei te woloni, Beeka zeini è kolo wono
Pelæzi Tomo wo, è gala-zu zu wulo má ga
nii è kée yíe yee yata ná wui zowoi ma.

Pelæzi Tomo wo ge gáa woteni ga woo
vago tuo vele vago maza-bu ma.

+

Nà wulu zisi wono Pelæzi Tomo vaani
má è zolowoni no ga Pasetai lia Gala goo-
wo sìe ma taitiè zu. Maa nei yè ó va wu-
lu, kè è yèni ná wulu. Tei è yèni ga
Sivili volo kpoko, numaitiè yi gè yèni sa
bá ga è le yèni sa vaa ó Gala goi wo ga
Laali volo.

Beeka è kolo wonani Pelæzi Tomo wo è
bó má ga è Gala goo wo ga Laali volo subu.

Pelæzi Tomo wo ge le Beeka woi ta wu-
loni bá è Gala goi woni ga Laali volo subu.

-11-

Pełężei Tomo na sięi tabono su wono
da yațegi nii-zu vele, é naba veeni Bee-
ka ya ta Dayita Liibo ta lii баана-кээ
vele ma te ye seebë veaitis vaa ma é veë
ko-назaitis va Kovii nii ma.

-Poo Mæetø yæ

+

-12-

VELEI TE PĒTĒNI LA

"Beeka 6 yii yaa wāla bovelaale 6 ye
wōni nu é fai ta ye ga gaama vele." -G.H.

"Beeka le yeni boo ga nui 6 zoo wele zu
wowo losu va. Te ye sale vele maa wūgi
te tōni de ga gului, Beeka 6 ye ná leezu
bú ga é leve-teve seebë veaitis maazu,
nui bogope go ye yaso yaa leezu bá ga tis
te ziyi túo, bovelaale sie tamaa zu Beeka
le yeni yeë welsezu luo va, seebë veaitis
no gáazu 6 ye te va, 6 ye wowo losu nenii-
tis ma ani to zé na túo." -P.M.

"Ani nu ta 6 faa yowū yee na, Beeka 6
ye boo kavele yaa ziezu é ye su é fai na
yes zabui le. Yee ta maveaitis te zii-
zele su, oo yee ta te kaalaa vaa ma, oo
te ga wu su wuulee seebë vea." -E.C.

"Dee nu gila ge le neni tene goi nii
menisu ga nu me le lopo wolo besa 6 ye
közu. Nà vaa ma Beeka é yizini má ga é
kpésa é kó tó balaa ga velei é kés la ga
lopoi. È kweni ga ani ta ye na lopaitis
woczu ta ké ga pago. Kè Beeka ná dei é
le yeni dée nui wooni ga pago ga velei
maa nai te nu woo la.

"Nà vaa ma naza nui é yaa баани é wulo
zéea é vela. È ziyi sa siogi na zu ma
te le bega sa lopaitis besa to ye te woo
zu, sale velei la na do vele boo boo ma."

-E.C.

-13-

"Beeka yeni ga kuu-zu-næs nu bääbää de zaama. Faa le næni walaga má. Ani faa le walaga yit, é le yæ ga kuu-zu-næs nu?" -D.M.

"Siegí napsgi ó voonei zolo wo da é le bæga ná kapa bæbægi la é yæsu kapa gile-gilegi ó yæ sú kpagope ge bæa." -E.C.

"Beeka ó yæ nu ma, 'Oo ya zoo! Me le wolo-wolo yæ tea gë le-zooga. Ya zoo é kë. Gë kwëni ga ya zoo è kë!'" -E.C.

"Beeka le yæni no ga sale-bæts naza nu no ó wæs na va; kë zêë yæni pæ kaalaa vaitis zu yis zii-laa ve te ya." -E.C.

"Ani numaa to yæ na luo zu boloya nu va, yee ta tis loba, Beeka ó maveaitis yaa yii." -G.H.

"Kí ka de sú ga tei wolo Beeka yæni zeebæzu te liiní pó ga salei ta ga é kpoá-le, kë é yæni tea, 'Ba gë le salei ná boalezu bøvelaale sale le lamani sale ve-lei la'. Ná vaa ma gë sale ta ziyin ná sale-zwó-wulo velai wu ge lii la gë yæ má, 'Beeka, gë salei nii wulovë zó sú. Me le yii zele. Nii boale.'" -G. H.

"Nu lamaa to li Beeka wo, kë é le wolo-wolo yii yaa walani nu ya kpoó vaa vaa yæs vaa zu, kæni no seebæ veaitis vai bää no wo." -E.C.

-14-

"Ani seebæ nu napsa go vaa na sale ve-lei la daa mii næni le zêea Beeka ó bää bá ga daa mii næni. Seebæ nu napsa, oo lopo woloi napsa máazu-væts nu ó bæ yæzu ná, Beeka ó manui ziyi no ga luu." -E.C.

"O ka no ga ó kwëe ga nii ó yæ vaazu yæzu ga yis. Ó no wele è yaazu va é yæ yia, 'Kígi zu fai nii ya vaa zu yæzu.'" -E.C.

"Yee ta ó faa bùumè leve Beeka wo è le næni mavai yæs næni vea zêea, kë ó bää yæ kavele yaa zis zu è næni ta zolo wo nii ó zoo è mavai yæs la." -P.M.

-15-

kwele kè to te lili ga loòwoitis, wui
maa wûgitis te vaani zui ya. te yeni
koo woozu ng ni. to bo te ma ga tei sa
te lebini ve ta mii nènigittis te le ng-
ni sa siyizu te wo taa zu to va, to bo
loòmagitie ma ga, "a kpani zei gè vaa
ma. a wui tuwui zei gè vaa ma, a maa-
zagi zei gè vaa ma."

nà tiè te wuu zu le nèni nèeni ga te
nà ye. na vaa ma te yeni koo woozu yìi
yoozu. na vaa ma naza nui boni masa
bomo ma ga è va. ani à va na bu ga è
koi wo kèèanì faa ma, towaa zòo è ye
zèèa ga naza.

masa bomo wuu zu nèeni ga è ke ng ni.

kè tei è yeni sa vaazu ná sici wulo-
zu pele wu è liini nada-bèè nu wo ga ani
towaa li ná koi ya nèè ma. kè nada-bèè
nui boni má ga, "ooi. kè gaa-bela-suye
yaà ye koi zu. kè towo ani ya ye ná koi
zu, è leaitie ta lca-zei ka ye zui va.
na ya ga zui ya ye è leaitie ya."

tei sa nada-bèè nui nà woni masa bò-
mo ma è yeni vaazu luozu ga è me le li.
kè dàbei boni má ga, "maa nèè è li è
zuu yaa zicè è leaitie ve."

na vaa ma è wu ziyini è va naza nui
wo taa zu.

tei sa te vaani te zeini de salayii
ga ta wolo. è duu zunu náa wûgi gilagi
ye mine. tei è yeni salayii, na ya ga
palaàna, ná numaitie taniga te liini da-
ba yaa zìizu ná koi vaa ma. nàtiè ta ga
GBaalegitie.

è leveni mine è wulo taa ta zu ta ná

-2-

lili ga gbaseinà, è zei mine. tei è vaa-
ni gbaseina è yeni tea, "be gè zei gè
nà seyei bete."

na ma è zeini ná ga è koo-woo zeyei
bete. seyei to too wo ba tie koi woo
la, to do palai wu, so te do palai wu
ta zakpanigi. na ya è yeni ga koo-
wo zeyei. towo to sale Iamaa vee bá,
ga kpede me le te zo oo yee ta te me le
kolu nèni vili te ma. salei na yaa-bai
ye te ya.

tei sa è ziyini ná è li masao. tei
sa è vaani masao te ye tea, "te zitia sa
kpàine zui ma." na vaa ma te zéini ná
te ye tea, "a be bá, gè kpolo yaa zic,
keè vaa ma gè masa bomo na koi vata wo."

ziei nii sa te kpoloi zayani ma, na
Ya ga tife vee de to sava te gala
te gili ga kpolo wāla, kè towo maboloi
le ga kpolo wāla bocoboo. to ga kpolo
yèmi. ziei na to kpoloi wulo má, te
daa-zeigi vee ziei na va ga kpolo yie.
na vaa ma kpolo yisi na daa-zeigi vee-
ve zie nèè wûgi va te kpoloi wuloni ma
te masa bomo na koi vata wo da, è vee
pe zui na va ga ùluyiema.

tei sa è ziyini mine è yeni koi woo-
zu è yesu è numaitie be, na ya ga è loo-
woitis be zui ma. è li sa lofada, na

2. palai ya ga nèni ta è le leini ga
kalài yavele, towo è le wono bœini.
na ya to tili ga pala zeyei.

-3-

Ya ga buluyiema yui wēē. ná ya te bóni
ná ga meāi. (numaiti to koi wo ga ke-
logi ta meāi.)

tei sa te masa gomo woni ga meāi, te
galeni ma sa. te va te wulo ziēi ma te
ye tea, "da leve da ye lo?"

te ye tea, "a de kpaći la. a de laa
la má a de leve da."

te kpaći la te sō zōo va sa ng ni te
la ma te ziēi leve da. na vaa ma te ziēi
na laa lilini ga laana.

tei te vaani, ngāmai yie sa yii la ga
tamā. te va te wulo ziē li-pa ta ma
te ye tea, "a de dá ziēi wu ngāmai ta yaa
wū má."

ta ye ziēi na ma yaowū.

te va kpeē te ye má, volo zu a dii
ziave ge kolui wulo è va."

ziēi nii te wuloni ga te ye má, "volo
zu", ta ye ziēi na ma volo yie. te ye
má, "zu volo kai, è volo zu dii."

tei sa te ziēi na laa zeini ga volo-
yie te leve mine te va te ye tea, "maa
nēē a de kolui wulo bá. to tábazu."

ta ye ziēi na ma koluyie, oo woluyie.

tei sa te vaani te ye tea, "na ya tába-
zu, maa nēē a de kobe siye de sie má,
kolu wobegi."

ta ye ziēi na ma wobezie.

te kolui wuloni bá.

-4-

kè te gizigi leeni sa è za. te
dōowu sa. zisi te doowuni koba nà ya
ta tili ga luuyis, ōomo loowu yis.

buluyišma ōee vele ya na ga masa ōo-
mo deaitis wo. masa ōomo kweeni pe pò
taa zu ga towaa ye koi zu, kè towo déai-
tieni te wo ka ye ga zui. ōomo ōeni ga
masa pò taa zu, è ga wulufo, ta koo
keoa. naza nu yilekpugi vaa ya è wulo-
ni ná è va. naza nui na zui ya
deaitis ta ya ša te ná. duu nna wügi-
tis ya te salayii.

tei sa masa ōomo zaani nà lebi deai-
tia te ōeni de woowolowùmò. dúi nà ná
daa-zeigi ōeni ga yākooi.

yākooi na do lui ta ya è liini è tii
 Ye ga bolo, te ye toa, "a de tai nii
 wu fele sa."

na ya ga woowolowùmò ya sa te vaazu
gaa wèezu, bōvelaale te lemagei ye sa
te ōeni wōini te tai ta wu kono. na ma
te liini te tii ye de, kpala gwalai sa
ná boo maſalagi ǒakpai. te ye tea,
"mine ya sa da tai wu ná."

te ye tea, "a de le pua kpala gwalai
zu?"

na vaa ma ta ye toa balagwalazu, kpa-
la gwalai zu ya te li te tai wu ná.
è ye velei sa nu tii ye è moloi leve
kpowù kpalagi zu sa, yee ta è ye teq,
"gà taan wuuzu ye." te daa-zeigi vee sa
bà ga kpala gwalai zu.

masa ōomo dui pìiwu ya è zeini baloma.

-6-

masa ōomo dui welewu ya è zeini
wuomèe.

gizigi ya ná ta ye ná lebele, na na
te tai na laa zei ga lebeleba.

goo ōelema na dàa-zeigi zei velei ya
ga nii. naza nu ōeni ná ga zowo, pàgei
ga bolo. towo è ga badi nu. (faa wolo-
zayagi gò bosu è vile nasa ōomo va,
zui nii sa è koi woo su, è wèeni ga lo-
fada. numai natie ta badi woi wo, kè
towo gá tieni ka gò bagei, bōvelaale gá
tieni pe ka gè ga nasa ōomo duu leaitis,
na ya ga wāaleena, jane, loboba, zebèi-
tie.)

tei sa naza nui na ōeni tai nà zu,
to ye toa, "gá liizu zowoi vetsu." ná
tai è ōeni zeini sù ná daa-zeigi ya te
péšni bá. "yà gá li sowoi bele ma,"
badi woi zu, na ya ga looma goi zu,
"zowoi vetsu."

buluyišma laitie ya ga nàtie.
tii ka na.

3. ta do looma goi nna velige da dèi va.
è ye velei gá ye tèa, "tei gè ōeni"
ta ye tea, "tei gí ōeni".

-7-

yasoitie, gé mame wala ye dúu naza nui ma,
"zic vile wæc ve ë wuo e daa-mii ŋeni bete
bé é mi."

tei zunui vuoni é daa-mii ŋenii mi yie
saa faa wo e vile nii va é kce é vilega see
wulu é páa. kè ó vee fai zu wulozu é ŋeni
gé mame ma, "è mama ga tamaa. kaze le ŋeni
è nazi ma é zic veeni gè wuo la ta daa-mii
ŋeni gè mi."

masagi ye má, "ŋáza laale, dùu ve." kpo-
ko na te damodai woni kono ŋii ma é vile ma-
sagi dui va.

na vaa ma sèyile ge nèè-be vaa woni masa-
gi dui ma. nèè-be vai nii ya è kæni sèyile
go le liini wulu wo taa zu ga maa vilea. sè-
yile ná numaitie te kpee wala looni te saa
wuu ya bòvelaale te ŋeni kaazu ga see sè-
yile zoni bòvelaale te le ŋeni kwèni ve è
ná.

sèyileni te ŋeni nèè-belai nii zu e yesu
te zunu luu yila ka. na vaa ma sèyile ge
mama veeni gè mame wala ve è veli ma ga è
wòini è li wulu pò taa zu. masagi vaani bu.

tei sèyile ge liini te wo taa zu ná numai-
tie te wuu zu nèeni te yaa wo te kuu yaa
mavaa ma bòvelaale te kaani ga è zaa. kè
nii voloi te kaani mavulu su maa wuai. sè-
yile ge wena boni ná numaitie ma. è ye tea,
"gè see vaani, kè gè kwena boni zamsagitie
ta masagi ma gè dúu naza nui zo ga nèè-be nu
gá to gè zunu luu yaani, a dii na de kulo
ŋetea a de va da tieni."

tei sèyile boga ná numaitie te vaani g'

mame wala wo ve te ŋeni má, "masagi, è ma-
ma ya luo vele vagoi vaa ma, kè gé vaa kce
van ma gé gè lui wulo ŋetea." gé mame wala
te vata woni kono ga pago é ye te ma, "ba,
we le lopoi wuloa ŋetea." é yee lete lopoi
ma é ye tea, "nii ya è kpaawo laa muluyie
maazu wa zic maazu wo va gè wo wo dakpa ku-
lo. ga balaa gá zic maazu gè va wo wo gè
dakpa kulo." na vaa ma te lopoi ŋeni na
te li.

tei sèyile dui bakpani è duu yaani ga ta-
maa. na nu zuwuitie ta laa-zeigi ya gè ya
ga dakpa-kulo lea oo woomæga. sèyile dui
yaa vai gè mame wala dui va na ya è kce te
manu zuwui yee ga gè laabea.

## bœi zeli vaa velei

bœi zèliitie te mazuwui ya ga mode te
wuloa ga felasu vele (nii da tili sa ga
ġeni). te vaani gè wo taa zu ga polo kuu-
ya zic su. na voloi gá numaitie te ŋeni
nokolu yilizu pologitie ve. na vaa na te
nokolu maazui ziya ni te fa modegi niitie ya
te mi. nokolui yiliai ye gulo bœi ba è
leve kcezu va. tei modegitie te nokolu
maazui wooni, te ye ŋii ma, "ani nokolu
maazui ya nèè ng ni, ve sa nokolu bòwoi na
towoa nèè e leve nii va."

na vaa na te vileni nokolu bœi wulu è
yesu te to nawuu yaa.

tei te to wuloni te liini te wo taa zu
ta te vaitie tie sakoi wo. taitie te naa
wuai ye zoitie to te zo na sakoi zu to wona
ga velei loona zinaitie ta wona la. ani
zoitis to te zo na, natie to wona e ye ve-

-4-

-5-

de lui vaa ma.

Da tuuli ve da wēē vagoitie ya ga de
de ga tie velei de wuu zu nee la faa ta
ma te kee de ve.

Da yee na naza wulozu keni tuuli na do
ya vili sú. Bovelaale tei naza-wulo neni
boolo kele ka ga neni voo da yui zu, tuu-
lii ya ta pili sú é ye sú ga wūdu-su neni.

Ta yee na naza wulozu, ta tuulii ta
wulo sú te fé zéea te ye má, "Mí." Ani
yá míi na, ta zic vè zéea é boale. Yá wo-
lo na ga boale, ta ye má, "Tuuli è mia,
kúlo na."

Naza nui ya ye tea, "Deni-mia le wuloa."

Ta gáa-zaya ke ne ni, nà ye sava, yíe
no te woi yaa wote.

Ta nii yee na, ta sa ta ye má, "È wè-
lee? Deniemia le wuloa. Nà ma ani yá yee
na è wulo yà zini pelei zu, yà boc ya yà
è wulo-neniitie ve nii gé vaazu míizu."

Ta nii wo na naza nui ma, towaa kpee
loo ani è le ga gaazu-baa nu. Ná numaitie
ta sa ta gáa nekpe.

Nu ya yee na wēē zosu, manui ya tuuli
ve nui ya è liizu wēē vai wosu. Ani wēē-
zo nui ya wēē vai wo na, nui è wēē vai wo-
ga má, nà ya ye má, "Wēē-zo luulii wo?"
Nui wono te wēē vai wogá má, ani yá vaa na
bú, towaa ye tea, "Zèè ya bú. Kê mawoi
wo?" Ta tuuli ve zéea kono.

Nu ya vaa na laaliizu Looma nu ma, ani
doo le nui ya te laaliizu má, towaa tuuli
live wala wulo è ye má, "È le tuulii ta
mia?" Tuulii no ya no sa yá ye ga manui

-2-

na daali-ma-wulo neni.

Nu nepe ka yee na liizu kpetea kúloai.
Looma zui zu, ani yá manui na kasoi ma-
vui na, yá wele tuuli live va sú. Zee ya
tuulii kēezu kasoi zu? Tuuli ya ga saba
neni.

Numa: ta boc na tie te yoozu-vaa wo,
tuuli na do laa ya vili sú.

Tuuli ya ga zic-lei-wua neni.

Looma nu ya yee na è na salei veli oo
è dāa maa le, towaa tuuli loo má. Ani nu
ya wūmo wo na manui ma wono, towaa na sa-
lei lo ga tuuli ve te wūmoi woga ná.

Sale ya nu zo na Looma zui zu, ta kúlo
manui va. Ta yee na kúlozu bá, keni tuuli
ná tii ye ná.

Kuu-zu-bolo veaitie te da yui zu, ta
bala ta tii ye ga tuuli. Ta yee na sale
vilisu, keni ta tii ye ga tuuli.

Wuiga to vee vaazu da yui ya, tuuli ya
è yeni ga navoloi. È ye velei no nii-zu
navoloi ya tii yee la, vele no ya na tuuli
yeni tii yeezu la.

Tuuyie zōwo ya ga tuuli. Ani nu ya wo-
lo na ga tuuyie loo è ve, è ye è ma, "Tuu-
yie zōwoi wo?" Ya tuuli wulo è fé zéea.

Da sale bete ga tuuli. Ani nu ya yee
na zeebezu, die sale yôete bé, da tii ya
ga tuuli. Ta tuuli vee tife leniga va ta
taa-kize tie te mi sale vaa ma.

Taitie ta zele neni bete, ta zele neni
boei ga tuuli to vee gáa wonszu.

Wo welee tii nii liigoitis va a da ke

-3-

ga tuuli? Tuuli ya ga ŋeni vago a de vaa
ma daitie de ga Loomaga.

+

Faa wolō-zayagi ya é vile tuuli va ta
nu ōuse te yoozu.

Wo kwēni velei tuuli ya tii ōea la da
yui nii zu. Faa nēpe Looma nu ya ōe keezu,
keni ya tuuli woola loo gá ōo ti. Vele ya
tuuli leveni da ó le taa zu.

Wolō-woloi zu, goloa boga nu ōusea te
pa te ōeni taa zu ŋada gila. To tii ōe
ŋada gila te laa mi te faa bogope ka ŋada
gila.

È ōeni ga sio ta tie tii ōe wono. To
ziyi na tii ōea-zu, to va mama gila po ve
tie féli taanva ma. Te ōoei velei mamai
nii la, nà wōi ziyini sa má ga vike. Folo
nēpe no ya no to mamai veli la.

È ōeni ga subu ta tie li sa wono doboi
zu. Nà nu ó no li é mamai veli taanvagi ta
ma, nà ōe má, "È ga é ōeni ga nu balaa, gè
le ōega manui wo."

Zinaitie wo te lomagei é ōe ga vike tie
li doboi zu. Te pa te mamai ŋaa-zaya kee-
ni yíe ōe tea, "È ga é ōeni ga nu ōono gè
le ōega kè," é ōe su é ōe ga golo to yile-
kpu. Tei é mamai velini, nà ōeni má, "Ba."

Tei sa golo nii menini é ōeni tea, "O-
ho-o! Nu ōono fai è ōega bosu, nà ya è yi-
gi bà, kelee?" È yii ŋan wālani ga tamaa.

Te pee veeni bé te bolo. È ōe tea,

-4-

"Tei volo nà ya gè ga nu ōonogi, gè le sa
yoga wo zaama."

Golo wu ziyi vele ya na é vili dobo zu.
Golo ōeni ga nu, kê mamai ya é kêeni é ōe
ga suo.

Masidii tei golo liini doboi zu, é nii-
ni gulu gila su. Gului mavai ōeni zeizu
wūgi va ōoo é ōe su gela bo. Tei gela bo-
ni, é wū bu ziyini é wele gului bo mavai-
tie va. È wālani má ga vike. È ōeni gu-
lui mavai ma, "Gala ge le ōeni gò è ta mi."
Nà ma é te wuloni mawului ya é te loo zu-
wāve.

Towo é zolo boni no sa ga pelei maazu-
ve ya goloi ōeni nà yíe na tie ka. Gulu
vaitie sa pua é ōe bě, te pa te ōeni no sa
wuuni pele walai zu.

Nà ya é ōeni ga zuu masa felegoa te
boeni é ōe. Siegi ziitini sa ga te mavaa-
wogi wo. Masagi zoi ziyini sa pó taa zu
yíe sa li ve te ōeni liizu na faa-wogi-wo
fai ma ta dúi. Towo é zolo boni no sa ga
tie sa li ga pelei goloi gulu vai wua sù.
Gulu vai ta ziyi vele ya na masagi dui ve
é kala wo é pú nà bebagi zu.

Tei sa te ziitini te zei faa-wogi ma,
wēe masagi dui zeba do é ōe taa-zei masa-
gi dui ma, "Yà wele ba tii gà è zoc."

Nà ōe má, "Yà sòo na, nà balaa gà poola
wui kulo."

Wēe masagi dui gulu vai ta ziyi vele ya
na bě ga nii é zavě pelei ma é píli bói
ma. Bói wo é gulu vai ziyi é dě ga kěea.
Kěea ōeni má, "Me le sòo ga gulu vai nii,

-5-

poloi ta ziyi è sóo la." Nà wò ge poloi
ta ziyi è bói zoo la.

Nii ya boo te yeni gá molo-toto tie yii
zoo é yé su te yii zoo ga taawu-taawu. Wéé
masagi yéé vele ya na dúi ma, "Wéle leé,
zoi è è woi zoozu la, é le è zoozu la. To
è zoozu ga neni bono."

È ye má, "Ani balaa zee vaa ve, nà wôo."

Dúi é gulu vai ta ziyingi è nà zoo la
wono. Nà wò to balaa é poloi ta ziyingi è
sóó la. Masagi yéé vele ya na dúi ma,
"È wélee?"

Tei sa taa-zei masagi nii yaayani, è
yèeni bói ma, "Faa-wogi de bosu, gè veeya
è va."

Nà yèni má, "Zébe vaa zu?"

È ye nà ma, "Wéle, è péé vèa bè ga nèni
puugo."

Numaitis yaazo pa te vaani sa bú ga taa-
zei masagi ya péeyai è ye.

Daabe nui wéé masagi vaani la, è yèni
má, "È le nèni balaa too-ligi menisu?"

Vele ya na te leveni da te daa-zeigi
zei tuuli va. Daa-zei ga le nèni de tuuli
va. È yèni no ga gulu vaca ta nèpe kavele
da wèle bá dà-bói zu dié ze ná.

Masa-felegoi nàtis ka te kesùi a de mèmè
gwalani te tuuli wèè. Faa ta nèpe sa to
yè kéezu, keni tuuli láa ó vili nà. Nà pa
ka è kesùi nu yè sa tuuli mi.

To ye tuuli ma "too-li". Daa-wolo vèa
ya te tílini ga tuuli.

+
-6-

THE VALUABLE KOLA NUT

The kola looks like any other ordinary
tree, but it is very valuable to us Loma
people. Before Europenas ever came to our
land, our ancestors planted many kola trees.
They did this because once you have plan-
ted a kola tree, you can enjoy the profits
until you die. And when you die, your
children can enjoy the profits after you.

Here are some of the uses we have for
kola nuts.

We eat kola nuts just because we like
the taste.

We eat kola nuts to keep awake, if we
feel sleepy doing certain work.

We eat kola nuts to make our mouth bit-
ter if we get sour mouth.

We sell kola nuts to Mandingo traders
and other people in order to earn money.

Sand players use kola nuts in divining.
They usually split 4 or more kolas and
drop them on their divining substance, to
see what they tell them about what they
want to know.

We use kola nuts when we feed the spirits
with white rice powder. The usual practice
is to split the kola nuts and put them with
the white powder at the head of the road or
wherever is indicated.

We use kola nuts in making sacrifices.
If anyone has been told by a sandplayer to
make a sacrifice, a kola nut is usually the

-7-

first thing to begin with.

Kola nuts are used to help determine age. When a woman delivers a baby, they usually bury a kola nut with the placenta. The tree grows and helps recall the age of the child.

We give kola nuts to friends to show our appreciation for something they have done for us.

A kola nut is an important symbol in a marriage ceremony. Since everything else that is used in paying the dowry of a bride is dried, we include a kola nut in order to have something fresh.

When the marriage ceremony is held, they give a kola nut to the woman and say, "Eat it." When she has eaten it, they give her water to drink. When she has finished drinking it they say to her, "Give back what you have eaten."

Then she will say, "What is eaten cannot be given back."

They will ask her the same question 3 times, and each time she will give the same answer. Then they will say to her, "You see? What is eaten cannot be given back. If for any reason you might wish to leave your husband, we will not be responsible to refund the dowry. You must remain with him, or repay it yourself."

When the woman hears this, she will cry, if she is shy. Then her parents will comfort her.

A man uses a kola nut when he wishes to

-8-

court a young lady. He will give a kola nut to a friend of his, and ask him to go and present it to the lady. If she accepts his suit, she usually asks the messenger, "But where is the word?" This word is another kola nut which he then gives her.

If you go to visit any Loma man who does not have any wine, he will get out a large packet of kola nuts and offer them, saying, "Won't you eat some kola?"

If any person goes to Monrovia from Loma country, if you look into his baggage, you will be sure to see a packet of cola nuts. What for? Kola nuts are a splendid gift for those he is going to visit.

When two people quarrel, kola nuts are used in restoring peace between them.

Kola nuts are used as a placation where offense has been committed.

When a Loma person is petitioning his medicine, or praising it, he will drop a kola nut on it. And if someone has robbed a man, he will include a kola nut with the medicine that he places at the place where he was robbed.

When anyone suffers from the effects of a zo's poison, a kola nut is used in correcting the matter.

Those evil-willed people who kill people with poisons to show their power as chemists, or zoes, also use kola nuts in their work.

Before Europeans came to this land, kola nuts were used as money. They had high value, even as American money does these

-9-

told the resident chief's son, "If you keep staring at me, I will throw something at you." The resident chief's son said, "If you throw something at me, I will throw it back."

So the visitor took one nut and threw it at his friend, who took it and showed it to his father. When his father saw it, he told him to keep the nut and throw something else at him. They did this 10 times, each time the resident chief's son keeping the nut, and throwing back a hunk of earth.

When the resident chief saw what was happening, he said to his antagonist, "You are guilty in the dispute."

The other said, "How so?"

The answer came, "Because you have apologized with ten things."

Everyone agreed with the resident chief's decision that the other admitted his guilt with his apology.

The guest chief's nephew said, "Didn't you hear the sound of the nuts as they fell?"

That is how they managed to get the name kola. It really means, in Loma, "falling sound". The kola nut was called "falling sound" ("tooli") until wise people called it "kola" ("tuuli").

Until this time, no one knew about the kola. If the chiefs had not had the dispute, there would probably be no kola nuts in use today. But after the dispute, kolas were used in negotiations between friends, families, towns and tribes.

+

-12-

# They Went To Congo
(A Soldier's Report)

By
moluba gaamai

woozi, labia
April 1961
1000
165

## - moluba gaamai

vele ya gé leveni da gé li kɔ̃go.

gá zisi lo -zei-zuve yeni ga tei gé liini loo6o ſii gé vili gove dodei zu. gé zei-zuve yeni ná, gé yeni ga nu yee lofela gove dode yilá su. gé laa miini ga tamaa gove dodei zu. gé yeni laa miizu wo e yasu gé ziti. ſii la-sogi ya te feeni gé ya. to ga daa-mii ņeni ta kpatɛ amelɛkɛ sodasiti vaa ma. nɛɔve ga tamaa. mokolu laale, kɛ towo ya mii na, volo, ɛ̈e le wɔini sa ɔ mokolu 6o mi. towaa nu vi-le ga pago.

gé ņeni ta Goaleni, kɛ zio lei ya te ta veeni gé ya ta kofegi.

gé vileni gaana gé kɛ ná ga miniti zee saagɔ. gé vilini gove dodei zu kono gé kɛ geezu ga ɣalava naago go vɔe vilesu taa walai na zu ta ɣe ná ma lio. (na ya ga liopɔvee, kɛ ta kpuo ga lio.) tei gé liini nɛ na gé vile lio te yaa baa sa te li te gé laa-zuve bete yaa zegi zu kono.

tɛ̈e buo-kpuogi yeni gé ya ga koo-woo lɛ̈e. natiɛ yu gé te vileni yaazegi zu neteayo. na yu yɛɛ na koo-woo wove dodei nii dáa ga jɛ̈ pelee ɛ́ vaani ga kpidi ga gé wo vele, mǎvǎ-gai tɛ̈sitie loo wulo. gé mooleni ʒé tɛ̈i na-tieni to. tɛ̈e beteve ga seye, kɛ to no ga koo-woo lɛ̈e gé vaa ma. nu fele-fele ka o nii bu.

niila liigoi gé kɛni lio ɔ zoo-é ziti naago zu. kono zeba ɛ́ bo gé ma ɛ́ yɛ tea, "tai ta ya na ta yɛ má lipɛ̈ga, te yɛ ná ya nu welegiti te na, a dii ná de yɛ te ma, "a li." nu welegiti te ná ta ga bezičitiɛ.
gé yɛ kono má, "gé yee ya bu."

tei sa ɛ́ yeni ga kpidi ɔ zoo ɛ́ yɛ sa ga ɣalava losava, te zeba do te gé yaa le ba ga

-1-

woosee te kāigi yaa wēs gē vē ga kelepi naa-
naa. ō zoo é ye ga yalava naago gusu gē le
sa gove dēdei zu gē zēba do sa gē kē kono
gee zu ga yalava naago. gove dēdei yie li
ē gē vile lipēga.

kē to mu folo gē me le de vilē no boove.
kono é liini é fōo kē te wove é ye te ma,
"gā vaazu nā. minc wo nā, nā ya gē vaazu nā
gē wo wulo nā. wa yuu ma laale."

bezičitie te boni kono ma ga, "kē le zoo-
ga o va ve. ya vaa na ve a da koo wo."

kono é bo te ma é ye tea, "dāave la gā
zoo gē va nā."

e yesu gē vili gove dēdei na zu gie sa li
gē kē ziszu ga yalava naago. tei sa gē lii-
ni, nu welegi natis yaazo pe te sa fii ya ta
dedaitie te loni te woba. gē zēba sa gē vile.

tei gē vileni gē keoni gove dēdei zu zei-
ni ga miniti zee saago. kono ye tea, "a de
la wolō zei. ani ta de woola na, da sa da
yaa ōaa."

gé wulo gove dēdei zu. kē towo gala ge
boni gé va te le gé woolani.

e ye sa su gē vile sa zuwāve kono žeba do
é li bezičitie ta nu walai na wove é ye tea,
"gē fōo keoni yele na wo wove ga gā zoo gē
va ve gē wo wulo ve. wo mu boni ga gē le
zooga go va ve. ani gā vaa na ya ge le vo-
lo vilega, wo koo laa le bu. kē towo e ye ga
su gē vilega, na ma gē wowo ga yalava zee
felego kai naago wo wulo ve."

te ye nā ma, "ooi. gé yeē ya bu. gé le
zooga go napi wo wo wo. gé yigi ya gé woozu
ga wa ya wo ga eepoitie wolo wo vileni wa ya
kono wo va ga ve wulu. na ma gā zoo gē wulo
ve."

tei yalava zee felego kai naago zitini, ta
zoolaitie te yeni te ya, natis ta ga moteni,
kpedeiti, fōogi natieni, - gé te pe kulo te
ya kpowū. natis yeni zee-viligei-kii-zu yui-

-2-

tie vaa ma sa. na yezu te le gove dēdei zu
te li te wo taa zu. natis te le neni sa gē
woolani.

tei sa nē na natis te liini, gē keoni nā
ga yalo gile te gē wulo nā. te zeba do taa
wala ta ya nā ta ye nā ma lolo bu, te li nā
ga gē ve. mine balaa gē keoni ziszu nā gove
dēdei zu ga yalava naago go vile zuwā.

tei gē liini nā te zeba te gē yaa wēs su
kpe-kpe-kpe. taniga te liini loputa, taniga
te li mōigitu, taniga te ye lolo bu.

nā kagi mamā wūgi de te têveni zaama-zu-
ve mōigitu. nā ya gē yeni nā. gē sie má kpes
te kulo mine te va gāazu taa walai zu.

e ye sa su daa-mii neni ó bēa na de vai-
tieli zēea gie sa lii la te wo. na ya ga zo-
baa yākini.

te yeni sa liizu ga daa-mii neni, baluba-
tie te laa le de vaiitieli bu. te kpede-loo
te ma. zozoo nu yila kā na te bo kaka wu.
na ya yee na zolowo nu yila te bo pulu zaama.
na ya yee na zolowo nu yila kono te bo kpalā
va. te lite wono te bo kpalai va. na ya yee
na koonia nu yila te nā wo nākpe bu. kāigi
zeba é boologi mayālii leve, boologi wulo wū-
mo é vili. na ya yee nā keea nu yila ka nā
é ga gelibo nu, é ga dayita, te nā wo kowoi va.

e yesu nui ga kaa-zie nui nā zeba é ye ka-
vele yaa ziesu é li ga de vai natis tai na zu
zoabaani te yeni nā ta nā lili ga loputa.
é liini ga te ve nā é li é ye tea, "a geeti
ziyi pelei zu. a geeti ziyi pelei zu!"

te le neni keezu. é motei zei geetii zu.
kpu nā yale. é zeba sa é le taa zu é de vai-
natieli kulo é te wu é ye tea, "kè te laa lec
gē wu."

é ye sa su é fōo kē gē wo ve gā kononi.
kono zeba é bo é ye tea, "a sodasi ve gē li
gē wels nā va."

tei gē liini welszu nā va gala ge boni gē

-3-

va gá balaa pe te le ŋeni gé ta vaani e yesu
gé wele te va. tei gé wěleni te va gá ba-
laa pe gé nápi yaa wěseni no gé ziyi ná. taa
loove woba ya te laa lešni ná te wu.

kè nui è ga lùmùba towaa è. gè lilini e
γe. gè yaazu laani lùmùba ma. pàge. kè
nui è ga kasavubu to ga kwele nu. gè wèle-
ni kasàvubu va. mobutu vaani lòlofoù, kè
gè le yaazu laani mà.

e yesu to teya γe lùmùba zosu te pù kpi-
di velsi wu: zee-viligei-kii-zu yuitie te
le ŋeni tea, "a be bá." è γeni no zeini e
yesu gá ziegi ßea sa. gá womeţi bo è ye
tea, "niitie ta ziegi ßea, na ma gè wōini
sa ga te ve." to teya γe sa gè vilisu go-
ve dèdi zu gó va ga wulu vele dulu kolo
taa zu.

kè tei gé γeni ná gé liini saada woba
ligii zu. gái gé ga woozitiè gé γeni yaazu
ziezu ga saada. ani gala ó bo na gé va gè
pète, nu me le faa γee la. gè γeni γeezu
tea, ani γee ta nu ta ya na è faa γee la,
ani gá pète na, gá zoo gè sèi-zu ßete gè
γe ga zafo è li. kè gè le yaazu laani ma.

siegi na zu bezičitie taniga ta na kõ-
goitiè te yii le laani te vaa ma. kè è le
ga te pe. kè boolo-zu ya ná tei gé liini
gé bezičitie wulo ná nanceni te ve.

zuu zii lama-zu zodasía ya gá tieni gé
liini ná tie zii woo lama wo: gaanitie te
γeni ná, naijiiliaitie te ná, gá natie go
γepe γii wo ga wui goo.

felãsuitie te γeni ná, tuniisiitie te ná.
iijèitie te ná tie sale lii γe ga kce. te
le vaani ga kpede. ta lii γeni no gá ta nu
woola na koi zu te va ga tie te tii γe te
ma.

zui na-zu veaitie ga kõgoitieni, mokolui
le te ya. nii ta mi to ga malaku ta kpazi.

podì-lòò velsa ta ná. ta maketi γe bo

ta n'abui loo yoteave

-4-

ná vele ga tamaa. podi-loo veaitie ta ná
ga tamaa. ta do navoloi wu le viini ó zi-
ti da dei zu.

zinaitieni nazaa pe seyei ya te wo ba. ta
boologi veæ wúmo. kè é le bo ga měi bove-
laale te wūgi boLOGe. te le wu fèlea ná.
wū-kpolo bea ya ga te ve. kè te taniga te
èni su te vagai gé yaazu, bovelaale gé
yèni ná gé wōi-ma veaitie te te zu.

na ya veæ na ani kōgoitiè ta boo bete
na koō-woo vaa ma, kpeo-loo vaa ma sa, te
le seye yega wo ba. ta seyei wulozu wo ba
yee ta te kpaži bayài yale te gili yelea.
yee ta, te seyey zayai wulo ma te gili ye-
lea. taniga ta ye ga maa yāka.

kodigitie te na yâ na è le ta velei ta
wu keni è wū maa veæ. poloi ya sōi la.
filii ya ta ta velei maa lec la. te le va-
pani.

bu le vani gāazu. bu wūgi yowūve, bo-
velaale ta malakui luulezu te siyi te séi
sokugi zu, ta kpazi luule te siyi te séi
sokugi zu.

ta nābui loo nèteave. te ta mokolui yi-
li ga te mi. te le sa peleli wu te la.

ta peleitiè yōkpo. ta laitiè te le vapa-
ni ó ziti looma taitie zu. te le ná maa
ziyia. ta no doboi zaamave kpe-kpe.

te woo neeve ga folo, te woo neeve gá
kavele teegó. kè tade ge le ná, kpolo-yala
le ná. ta ye gui loosu tie ya lowa. ta
yaa wo ná kè keni te li doo-boale-zuve ko-
lui yie boe tie yaa na.

kè gè le ta yaani, bovelaale gé le liini
na ma.

gó na ziczu ga sie npep zuwā ledei ya gó
vili su. kè gè wóini ga kai e lève zuwā le-
dei va, bovelaale é le zia. na ya veæ na,
sú wuigei.

-6-

pele veægi ta wolo lamage loloóbu. kè pe-
le walai navele to no na yilekpu.

nabu wayá ya ná, kè to zui wu. kè kpidi
npe laboi ya zo bo no gee-zuve.

pōpei ya ná e ye velei è wolezu la dulu
kolo va. yà tite no è wuo bu. towan wu è
wúmo. ná vage è leve zim vaa va, ani ná
vele vai ve, bovelaale ya yilelpu yà lii na
ziave, ta è vaa. kè ani ya pōpei la, te le
zooga to faa ye ga è ve.

gé yèni gá zeyeitiè wuozu gá boo. zee-
viligei-kii-zu yuitie to savingi ve gé ya.
nèni bo é ga bu-tii-yeo nèni, zee-viligei-
kii-zu yuitie to fé fé ya. wui daa-nuogi pe

yee npe gè le nèni sa ga gie jii seye ve-
lei wu. tei gè liini sa loloóbu, gè yèni jii-
zu semadi velei wu. ve nò gó li na tai ta
zu to pele ve gè ya te gè laa-zu vee ná.

gé yèni te laa woi yile-gile bosu.

tei gè yèni ná gè kolo woneni nàzài wo ve
te maa niinigi ziyi gè teve nàzai wo.

laali voloi-ziti vele yile-gile gó li ga-
la peleli wu. gé wuloni ga gala goo-wo nu
dulu kolo taa zu gé lii la ná. gé gá yapagi
wuuni ná pe gala faa ma.

folo puugo kai looluo, powū dooluo, ná ya
zee-viligei-kii-zu yuitie ó fe gé vaa ma, ná
vele navoloi zu. gé yèni navolo ziyizu bo
molo toto e yosu gé va. towo gá laa-mii ne-
nii ó ziyi wui taa zu wono yie va gé vaa ma.

koō-woo vai le vani. yà lii na koi ma,
è le ye yaa baàni wu, ta è vaa. ani gala
ka bosu yie è yaa baa wu, te le è vaa. koō-
woo vaa le vani.

na ma gá de yeea gala mamazu ga tei é
màazu vetèni é zevui ye zèea.

-7-

taa-zu-bete velei

By

Wesley Sadler

Translated by

Peter Woloba Howard

woozı

July 1956

1200

60

taa-zu-bete velei

tai e ga taa vagoi e leve tai pe ba
looma to ga taa zeb?

taa yee saago kai felego ra e gizima
ta ziema e ve& buluyiema va. gizima
laiti& ta ga: zozod, fisebu, yiela,
kaalimee, malawu, keelewu, fasama, zie-
lakpala, zolowo, weewuta, fasawalazu, e
vee zoomee va.

ziema laiti& ta ga: woozi, zelimee,
boi, koonia, bokeza, kpasag'zia, ziVida,
baawee, nikéboozu, e ve& baaziwe va.

buluyiema laiti& ta ga: wuomee,
balama, masawo, woowolowumo, goiazu,
boda, lebeleba, soo obelema, balagwalazu,
e ve& baadзу va.

taa yee saago kai felegoitie zu, tai
e ga taa vagoi e leve zoitis bogope ba
to ga zeb?

koloi nii wone zabui le ga e taa
vagoi laa wo wie é looma. koloi nii na
pone zabui ra ga e bo wo ma nii ya bo
su é taa re ga taa vago.

mamaa-wügi pa, a de wele le tai bo-
woi va: na ra ga, a de wele le pelai-
tie va te tai zu ta kwotaitie te na e
vee tai zu boobogi va.

loomagiti& te kse wü gaa-zo tosu ga
kwena tamaa. na ra de ga pele-lo pele
vago. numaiti& te ve& kpulu-bulu loga
va su wala le de woozani. kpulu-bului-

1

tis balaa te varage. pele-lo pele wolo-
zatagi boga pele-lo pele niinei lei nu o
Te pulu, ke nii nu pulu to ga pelei na
maa-ziri vai ta na kpaana fai e vee maa-
lee vai va. pele Tagi maa é nié-nie page
e leve nii va te le sieni ga pago. maa
nei pele Tagi wobegi ga kobe kwelegi wo.
ani pele keea nui woini e kalagi zie ga
polo lei oo polo wole, na vage.

maa nei te pelei Taa leve ga pago te
yee pelei va wo. ani ya bo na, te po do,
bovelaale ani le Te po dooni towaa bo,
pele Tagi yobe. na ziria ba, kpolo-bolo-
giti e ya be. zebel na Ta ya va ga
Tiligi pelei zu.

a kwotaitie maazu vete e Te velei no
wa peleitie maazu vete da. ani diri-
tili wotaa ta wa lai zu, a keea vaa yil
loo ga te te zie ga kobe kwele. a yee
ka doo la'a pelei va. a wele na va ga
bu ve bogope ge wulo ga ve.

maa le neeni wo pele Tagi zie ga kobe
kwele ga pelei wu vele, bovelaale wa gabu
loo ga bu vele duulii Ta pele Tagi lei.
ke towo, maa nei wie kpakpa liyi-tirigi-
tie bale pele Tagi ma ta gee-zuve dakai
Ta, wie daa modai Te ga ziewu ledeitie,
bovelaale te felego pe ta pele Te kizi-
kozo.

na le baani ga pelei nu Ta Te bu e
maa ziri. sies taniga zu, zunu Ta laa mi
na pelei wu, ke na bai zéea ga kavele
teego ga é diyi Tili na. sies tamaa zu
zunu Tila no Ta ya Te pele Tila bu.
towaa na sereitie Tale é te la ga pago

2

kāla-gala su. niitie é le Te te leezu
ma towaa te la kāla-galagi zu oo é te zele
kala ga. ma nei zunu yiè na pelei wu
bale ga pago wo. goo-zu-wulo-keè nape ge
le na ga é bo ani le Te fai niitie Teeni.

na baave ga nu gaza nu vele wu maa
ziri. mamaa-wūgi pa, nii TEE laa le
looni ga gaza lili ka na e pele Tila bu
e vee te lea va. na ziria ba, gazaitie
te diyi Tili ta veleitie wu titi tis te
leaitie te mayekegitie Te ta veleitie
wu. pelei taniga bete Ta bu lozita.
tamai fikaa wu e leve na va. gaza nui
boga dui Ta ta la bete Tilagi Ta. na
ziria ba, gazaitie te Taa-zie genii ta
pu boo ma betei zu.

e le ga faa vii bée ga pelei gaza nu
lili ka na e diyi Tilizu bu, bu bete
bovelaale kovi Ta Te na, zuwu na, moko-
lu vane ta mii genigi zoitie te mavenei.
taraitie ta Te na pe zeleni gabui maazu.

ke towo, gazaitie ta laa mii na boo
no feea ta lopaitie e vee zinaitie va,
maa nei pelei wu bale boo tete, taraai-
tie Taa lo ga pago kee vaa ma te zele
ga pago te te zu geniitie la te zu ga
pagp, te zuwui yeve te tutui zu bete ga
pagp, na bogope faa la ma na wului lili
vaa ma e vaazu Teelu na.

nu lamaa Ta kovi lo soku su. na
vage. ke maa nei wo te lo na ga pago
te me le loo to yeze.

e le ga faa baa ga nu pele Tagi zie
ga su vele e pelei wu zie. maa nei na
yiè Te titi, mawū ka ga bu ve, bovelaale

3

bu balegei titi towaa na wulo fifiligi
yie le gee zu. nii le ga faa vago.

nii ponei ve e vile pele va, mavaitie
nu Ta ke no siTigi zu. maa nei siTigi zu
maa ziri e Te velei no nu laa vale wu maa
Ta ziri la. guo bakigi maa nei nu yee
Te ba ta siTigi.

loomagitie te weleve saba zosu. te ya
neve. ke towo, sabai Ta nowo. maa nei
te lli la zia titi tie guo. wo kweni ga
le TEE ga faa vago ga è wuo ga kpoko e li
e la saba nowo ma ga è jii.

daa modai Ta Te no ga sere. serei maa
nei é wuo yá nowo na, oo kú ka TEE na sa
TEESU ba. guo ziave ga savine. nu nepe
ka sa yá zoo e savine gee. savinegi Ta
yá ke ya zerei maa ziri. ya zerei zele
gulu va, oo galu ma é vo. me le pee zu-
wave. zuwave maa le zirini.

nii de gé ponee gé wéé ba, to ga pelei-
tie ta kwotaitie te tai zu velei maa nei
nu te vaa laa la ma. gá sa faa wanezu
e vile peleitie maa-bete vai va. mamaa-
wügi pa, gui bogope foí me le be gui va
o bete. ani ya na TEE na, towaa de ga wa
de wo taa zu veaitie wo Taa vaalage wo va
a zereá leve tai wuluve wíe wa Tavaitie
wu te zu. a me le pu zerei zu é tai zu.
a me le taa maa-voigi ma Te ga kava-wuu-
zu. na yowüve.

pelei Ta vee na ga woloa ya lai zu,
golo ya boo tete. me le be pele Tagi va
d Te loni kpekpe. mazoolaitie Tala te
le Te sa vani. soolai niitie ta Te pelei

4

wu po pelei zu te le ga gala geni, ya
loowo na nii TEE va, mavale zavai Ta Te
ga gaazu-Te-ba kili dodo geni. towaa
ye gaazu-Te-ba kili dodo dai zu ga su
woozaa.

maa nei wo taa maa-wo-kpovoí wo. na
Teezu le baani ani wa TEE na keezu wuu
ma. taa maa-wo-kpovoí Ta wo na, towaa
tai maa Tele.

nui nepé e looma zui zu e kwéni ga
to ga faa yowú wala ga nu li dobo zu
taa zu oo nu wuie taa zu oo taa woba.
kpoo vele Ta tai pe su yiè li kpoo ve-
lei wu ga sìe nepé. to ga baa-wuloa
taa ma ga nu li taa zu dobo zu. nii
mazabu lamave. mazabui gila ka ga ani
nu Ta nà TEE na, tai zu wú ka yowú.
zabui fele kelei Ta ga guiegi boga kpoi
ta va ga seebe yowú-yowú, seebei nii ya
Te guie-puu nui oo kpoo-wuu nui loto
zu. maaá belagi Ta ga, duuliitie ta
vee ma te ta mi te ziri na te vee ya
laa mii genii ma te kala-gala. na vaa
ma yiè li kpoo velei wu e ya lai zu.
a wíe te laa-wulu peé te la. te laa Ta
ve na, a maniinea leve. me le wuie oo
li dobo zu zia. bovelaale nui ya Te e
wowo loo, towaa ta boale. a vile gome-
tii na togi wulu wíe li kpoo velei wu.

nui vikaa ta kpaki to ta lulugitié
ma ga to genia te me le lo te zu. na
vage. ke maa nei maa ziri boo ti. wa
tulugí zu geniitie wulo na wo pate ga
kpakigi le sa vani, a golo wo kpaki
soolai Tala wo ma Tavai vili kava-vili
zerei zu.

5

maa nei zie yere Te tai pe su. tai pe zie yere Ta zoo e Te su. zie yere levezu le baani to ga faa Taa wua ga zie vago Te wo ya. zie yá le zie yerei zu towaa ziri zie zakpai zu é laani zui wu: mayie zakpai maa zirive e leve zie zakpai va e laani zui ma. a ye zerei levezu e yesu e zili ziei ma. na Ta Yee na Tili tevea va yie to ga kwoti e Te koowo kee vaa ma poloi me le Te Talezu yie loo su, zie yerei laa yie ve ga polo. ya na Yee na, daave zoo ga ta wolo gaa wooza zui va. ya na Te ga kwoti gai ta polo. de ba é vo e daa wulu kpe te ga gulu zeve.

maa nei taa masagi é safa wokii wulo ta galui nu Ta daa lo bokii va yie ziei wulo la. boki Vilagi na no Ta maa nei nu pe gi ziei wulo la, bovelaale bokii na maa Taa ziri. nu le wua su o kava wu su o taa zuo boo wu su. bokii nii maa nei yie zei daa-zoogi maazu keni no nu siri na e zie zara la.

nui vikaa ta poma loowu taa maa voligi ma oo siri puluve. te yee Ta Te kabai maa-bete va ga ta wolo. na Ta Yee na te laa wulo su. nu Ta Te sa leezu taa zu na vete wo! le soga. a bala zo kabaitie ma. a kwoti lite te ma wo kwoti leevve wala lo wu tuove. kpala-zogi kaba ma Ta taa na maa Telei ta wu ma.

faa felego Ta sa e na ga ge bo e vile wa laitié va. ta ga wa veleitié e vee kpaawoitie va te te zu. ani wa veleitié te le vani, te maa venei, pala-valaitie te te ma, te billiai, guluitie Taleai laani te zu, numaitie ta Te vaazu wa lai zu to vee zillizu na, niitie ta de ga

6

tis ga wa lai zu yowúve.. gometii Ta pele veelu labia yui wolo-kolo ma bogo-pe. navoloi kpe la ge le ba to doozu ga e pele la looma zui zu. wa wa deitié Te ga peleitié te liizu taitie zu, wo te bete ga pago. a peleitié zara. zereitié ta Te pelei ma wo te laa ve ga kwoti. a gulu-voitié ziri na ta gulutié ta loo. ani zie yókpo Ta Te na lasni pelei ma, a siri pelei ma wo da pele wukuígi ma, oo wo pelei maa leve da. wa na Te ga wo zere leve e la su. wa na Yee na a kwoti wu ve ziei yaga laani na.

a me le yeema wa baawoitie ma. goo-zu-wulo nepe ge le Yee wo la ga wo bo e vile wa baawoitie va te wo ya taa loo-vetie te yowú vai ma. gulu lamaa Ta wa woiaitié zu ga wo te leve wo te la zie baazagitié maazu. a kpaawoitie le yáfe kee vaa ma tinei Ta puu na ziei ve e le lia ga tis. a ke ga gulu baazaga te zu bai wo te Tili kii va. a wic kpaawoitie zu woolo. goo-zu-wulo-keé nepe ge le na ga wo bo gulu Tila daa vaa ma zie maazu, oo gulu felego kpei no laa vaa ma zie maazu. kpaawo zu hoolaga Ta ga bilizi ta de ga nui Ta Te leezu wa lai zu ga to ga taa yowú.

fai bogope ka na e vile tai Nagi va. waitie wo tai zu wa dei Ta sa vaazu. na Ta ga wai wo ga taa veaitie wa boo. wo bete velei Ta Te le? wo luo velei Ta Te le?

wo loto zu wodove? wo maa ziriáí? pala le wo va? wo leaitie te zu baave?

7

wa wa numaitɛ wo wuu zu neɛve? weitsi ta
le wa lai zu ta wele wo va wiɛ zic ga
zobo ke be nu zic vele, oo wa zic ga zobo
gɛ le be nu zic vele, oo nui le wɔini o
faa ziri boo ma zic vele, oo ta wele wo
va wo beeTa wo wuu zu nei wo woïni wo
geteai Te ga gaa wui daa vago? ani wo
loto zu le wodoni, a faa ta Te e vile ba
ga maa vilea. na Ta ga li sale velei
la. numaitiɛ te na te zobele Ta e zu,
te loge ga te bala zo wiɛ te wo valo.
ani wo loto zu le wodoni, a li sa te wo.

wa luo Te le? wɛi Ta vaa na wa lai
zu, wa laa wulo mavaa zu, oo wa li no wo
Taazu la ma wo ziri na? oo wa li wa tie
wo luo wo bo ma ga we gii ve e Te ge
wowo ma ga ge ma weɛ"? na le keɛ o ka
ga to wo taa zu? a siri wo lili la masa-
gi wo wo bo masagi va wo daa-zu vee wo
ko ga pago wo daa-zuve bete ga pago ga
saba maa ziria ta bete-Ta zere maa ziriia,
wo zic vile leve po wo li po ve wa tieni
wo yepe. a Taa baa wo faa vago lamaa
Te bé.

taa zebè Ta è ga taa vagoi looma?
gè le kwèni. ke a da wani de kwèni nii
yá taa Te ga taa vago. taa vagoi Ta ga
nii pele maa Teleaitie te su e vee kwota
maa Teleaitie va ta siri maa Teleaitie.
to ga tai gui vòigei su, maa zarafei,
pele zaTa le su, kpoo vele vagoa te su
tie li te wu, zic yere su. to ga tai ya
kabaitie maa ziri, yie na kpaawoitie
Tili, zee ná peleitiɛ va. taa vagoi Ta
ga nii su vee loto zu wodoai, te wuu zu
nei te ga nu.

8

wa lai Ta ga na?

ani le ga na, a wa laa veaitie lili
na sa pada Tila wo deve ga niitie koloi
nii e wo lenega la ga wo ke, wo te Te.
a vee sa te TEE va. wa na TEE na, taa
vago Ta sa yá Te wo ya, nii yá wo Taazu
wodo, nii weë Ta laa li su wie é ye wo
laa vago wosu wo.

9

UAA-6AA ZAAWU

Gá ya gé zui ya. Kpogi nepo yá loo
zui ya, ve ya kpogi loo ya zei ná, Fuu-
wootaa wúi nu zu; é me le ye ga kpo yo-
wũ. Gé ye gé zui vaa vai ta nepo bo,
ve ya gá bó ná, to mu, ó yeze zuitie
zu, ó yeze taitie zu.

Masa gilági é yega vê, to ye má Kóeila-
kpa, ná ya é wolo záya. Ná ya é ye,
"Wó mu, wai wo zui ya, kaze le Zaawu
ma. Tówaa, vèi nepo da téve ná, á lii
na ná é va ê le zee vaa woga. Tówaa sú
bete ga pago ó ziili die. Tówo ka vaa
na, dá só na ga pago, ná ya yá kó zui
woo yaa le wáláa; ná ya yá kó de woo-
yówo le zooga de la; ná ya yá kó naza
nu le yega ve kpo-kpo ma; ná ya yá kó
zunu le loa ve doo ma; ná ya yá kó
gee-bede le tóa ve. Manu ya ga Zaawu.
É le belia ga nuwuti.

"Gè ye é zui laa-bóe ta wo. Vèi faa-
wo ka ye ná, é li yíe bó; vèi ta Kpine
kó ná, é li é sú-vaa wo; vèi kpo-ye
ye é leve ná é yè da zui ya gá koo ba-
kpa, é li é koi yaa yíi. Ná yaze le
ŋeni má."

Ná ya Yèkè ye tea, "Gè ye gè li túo.
Wai wo ga kèèeani, è ziili wie."

Kèeani te vaani bú. Nà ya é kó ga
Yèkè é li túo é va é Zaawu zei ve é
ye má, "Gè ye è va è zei kòba è pòlo-
za ya gá wo."

-1-

È zebado è zii pe tili wono, è ye tea,
"Gè vaa ga Zaawu. Bèi gáazu bà?"

Nà ya è kè ga Bodo kuloa kene ma te ye
tea, "Nii ya gáazu bà, bòvèlaale to ya è ki-
legi ya gé ya. Nà ya ga Bodo."

Nà ya gela bo te sìili Bodo ma, Bodo ge
yee zei bú è ye teà, "Nà mu zii-ma vaa ya,
kèkèni ka. Te le yeè nii ta losu, nii mu
ka è ga kèèa nu, to mu ka è ga tènè nu."

Bodo ge ye wono, "Mm. Wo nà pe koo, be
ya sa gáazu bà?"

Nà ya te Yakpawolo Kote wulo la te pile
kákala te ye Bodo ma, "Fanai npe nii è è
wulu, nii ya yá dāa-woo wo."

Nà balaa, kaze le nèni mà è zui zoni ga
yee felego.

Nà ya gè ye leezu la ve yake ye Zaawu
ma, "Yà ya è liizu è tai wu."

Tò ya Zaawu va è ve wu dağbawū te mazoo
yèea te sìyi te têve pò, to ye mà Yièla Wo-
lu.

Nà ya è kè ga tai nii wùa, nà ya ga Yiè-
la. Yake sa zeini polo-za'yagi sa kpeeye-
kpeeye, kèni to tìte volo te dá. Vei npe
to'kpine ko ná', ó li ná. Mama-wū pa Balo-
ma, npe ma te bòeni ná. Tei è liini ná è
su-vaa woni Buluyiema yaazo pe te yee la
baya yie wu.

È ziyi nà mavolo ma è loo nii-zu mà, gè
le de kpe woo menini Buluyiema. Gè ye ge

-2-

kè kpe leve Zièlakpala ta Kiiliwu te
pele-bowù sei volo yoozu te ye te kò.
Nà bocóogi gè zeini; Baloma ziec pe,
Kiiliwu zici pe, gá ya gè bó, kèèa wo
ka gè ye pùlu.

Nà ya gè li, Kiiliwu Tokpa, Zegbeyāa,
Baana, gè te yee la baya yie wu. Zaa-
wu ye te ma, "Numaa, tis kè ga die de
ye de kè ga bóo? Daitie mugi de Gizima
ta ye tea, 'Gizima, kaalimaa Yiela vee
pùlu va, to no ga Kiiliwu è ga Zièlakpa-
la, è ga Fasama.' da ye ga boc-yōwo, ta
nec de ma." Nà ya è zic lei wu sù, nà-
tie te yee la baya yie wu.

Gè ye gè kè, gá letele gè Yièla lai
nii zu gè lo bao wo-wōi, te laa le gè
wu gài mugi gá tuuyie loo ve. Gè ye
tea, "Gè le sa volo yesu ve gá sa liizu
wo taa zu (Wulimee)." Te va bao gie,
"Ii-yoo."

Bodo poo la npe ya na. Nà ya te Bo-
do na kaso ziyi te vaa la ye. Kaze le
nèni mà te va ga nikè vei yalasoga ta
laa gale ná te laa gale ná, te ye tea,
"Mm. Niitis te ye tea ta ga nu wala,
yie mu è ye tea, 'Ta ga kèkèni,' yá ya
yá ye ga laa-leo nu te wu? Yakpawolo
è ziili yiè è ziili fanai yaazo pe ma
gè zic lei wua wo yoozu."

Nà ya è gè ye va, kè gè yeni sa lii-
zu gá nabùi ma. Gá wo ka nabu gè ya Gi-
zima, gá ya gá ta leve nu wo è woolo da.
A dai de zeiya, a kelse? Mm!"

Nui è nà ye è ye è nabu loo gè ma to

-3-

ga Boawūi nii é zeini é vœ bá é vœ kéani
ba, nu ya é va é nábu wovi leve-teve gê
wo manabu ya gê kôba. Gê mazii, - ê moo-
leni, keni ê laa ya ye faa va, ê beteni ke-
ni ê laa ya ye faa va.

Gê liini Wulimee, towo gê lieni ka ga
Woleemea. Faa nepè gie kê gá veli na ná-
tie ma, a kê na gê woloa ga veli, faa ba-
laa nu silii gê ma gê le siitini tie, ê le
volo woga, keni gá silii tie. Nà maei ya
gê sú ye. Tei gê zeini, kaze le taa vea ma.

Nà ya é kê kawoloi tei é wele zui-zo pe-
lei va, ve nepè kpoè 6 loo ná, to ya 6 li
é sú bete. Bodo ge vaani é ná-zu bete gê
zei ga zii vele, kpoè le wuloni sú.

Tiña-tina yele ya ga Fasawalazu yelei,
mine ya sa Zaawu ziyi ná é zeebe, gê le sa
zooni da.

Koei ya é vile ná koei le vilea zuu ya
ga tíigo. Nà nadei ya Zaawu li kpêêzu.
Ná ya é ye ná é yesu Jimi 6 le zui ya.
Koo ya é va ga Jimi, koo ya é ye dâa wu.
Te keela leve zie wulu te ye tea, "Nui é
ga Jimi, é ye tea, 'Gà levesu gê le Misadu.
À zuu vea ve te vile tuo gé le Misadu.'"

Ani towo to 6e na Jimi và é leve zui nii
za wo gá, mawee-pele go no ye ga Misadu.
Nà no gê ye gê sú wulo ye ga ma6uo.

Kè te le kèni 6 leve. Kè Zaawu laale
ye; è bóni è bolo. Nà ya è kwess-pêlegi
ye Muluyie ma. Ná kpala-so-maitie ya na
è ye.

-4-

Nà wo ka te púu la sú, zunu boga bò
zunu ta gbili ko, nà ya gê gbili koo
la gá Zevala Lokpani, Malaya ga Woya gê
le ná gê zei gê ná nala-ala.

Zaawu no é ye ga zabu wono é zuu pe
maa bo é ye Yiela, ve za de ná, sabá
ya na, gê zei kówo ma gê pe.

Nà ya é ye fai ya kê de zei ve ga
pago, fai de kés feni da dá zuu pe be,
a de bo é ziiili Folomo ma ó ziiili Daa
Koli ma ó ziiili Woya a de zei vele be-
to.

Nà mabogi wo gê leoni Zapa. Nài gè
zeini ve gá bòò ya gê li gê pê gê li
gê kilegi-zu yale mine. È ziyi nà ma-
volo ma sa é yéga sú sa é loo ve yoozu
ma, kàgi mu ó ye ga saa nu, fai na ma-
zii gê ye sa kèezu, wo vaa-wo ge 6e bá.

Gá sa no zeini ga zei vele, wa nò sa
gê yaazu wíe, wai wo ga wuiga. Nà ya
yee na, ta tili na ža, zai ne ni vei gê
wessga ná kwessgi-ma ya ná. Nà ya maya-
že le neni Zaawu ma, nà wo ka é kê zui
ya pe te sô ga yee felego, kaalimaa
Yiela ve.

È bàla zoni tai nii ma è ye tea, "Ve
ya ná ga zii pe kpo-su." È bàla zoni
tai nii ma è vœ zuu veaitie Yaažo pe
ba te ye ña. Yalaso taa wo ka, yalàsogi
bogoe è ye ve ta nepè ge le Zaawu yee-
zo boga.

Nà ya é kê è bete bòò ê téve nee-
pulu. Mayuu veaitie ya. Mawokolo guoi

-5-

te pîleni ê li ê mayie lei wu ê yeni ga
guo lofela. Balagwalazu ya te pîle na.
Guluigè vaazu mâ to zaama zu, zoitie ti-
tegci mâ.

Nài gè faa wolo-zayagi nii woga ta ye
mà Kobaala Lavile, Yiela.

+

-6-

## VAA-BAA ZAAWU

We are the ones who are in the land.
Any assembly that takes place begins here,
in Fuuwatwa Quarter; may it not be a
failure. We talk all land matters here,
before they disseminate throughout the
country and to the other towns.

There was a chief here named Koila-
kpa, who became old. One day he said,
"You who are here in the land, there is
no fault on Zaawu. Wherever we send
him he goes, and returns and never lies.
He judges each case well before he re-
fers it to us. When the case does reach
us, we can handle it well.

"That is why there is no anger in the
land, and why our enemies cannot over-
power us. That is why no woman dies in
childbirth and no man falls from a
palm tree; lightning does not strike
here. We owe it all to Zaawu. He does
not act presumptuously before an elder.

"If I say he should settle a quarrel,
no matter where it is, he goes and set-
tles it. Wherever there is a fight,
he goes and settles it. Any dispute
that threatened to involve our whole
country, he would also settle. There
was no fault on him for all of this."

Then Yekkeh said, "I say I should go
and bring him. You, my fathers, it

-7-

reaches to you."

His fathers agreed. So Yekkeh went and brought Zaawu and placed him here and said to him, "I say you should come and sit beside me and take care of my old age."

Then he called all the families again and said, "I have brought Zaawu. Who will be responsible for him?"

So Bodo was publicly indicated and they said, "This man will be responsible for him, because he, Bodo, is the one on the arrow (signifying war) for us."

The next day they reached the matter to Bodo, who agreed and said, "It is my pleasure. These are my uncles. Even without their official appointment, Zaawu is my father and my counselor. Yes. And when you have done all that, who will be responsible for me?"

Then they picked Yakpawolo Kwoti and stood him beside Bodo and said, "Give the report of any following you have to him."

For there was no fault on Yakpawolo Kwoti as well: he gave the land his two-handed support.

Then Yekkeh said to Zaawu, "You are going to found a town."

And Zaawu came and founded this very town, for which they bought the horse, named Yella Wolu, and gave it to him.

-8-

Thus this town, Yella, was founded, and Yekkeh spent his old age there, until at last they had to turn him over and lay him down.

And wherever a fight would break out, Zaawu would go, - Baloma first. Then he settled disputes all through Buluyiama, and as a result they laid their hand in the rice water in agreement. From that day to this, I have not heard of a serious land quarrel in Buluyiama.

Then a dispute developed between Kiiliwu and Zialakpala and they had sentries stationed at their border and were prepared to fight. I myself accompanied my father on the trips to settle these matters.

We put their hands in the rice water, - Kiiliwu Tokpa, Zeggbeyan, Baana, and Zaawu said to them, "My friends, the harm they wish to do to us, shall we do to each other? They regard us as a unit here in Gizima, - particularly Yella and our close neighbors Kiiliwu, Zialakpala and Fasama. If we become enemies, they will laugh at us." And he poured cold water in it and they put their hands in the rice water in agreement.

Then in Yella, here; they attacked us who give the blessings, and we said, "We are not staying here. We are going to return to our home in Wulimeh."

They just taunted us, "EE-yo!"

-9-

he took the powder and revived him with it. Often the relatives of the dead person would say, "If you revive this corpse, we and all of our people will come and live with you."

So the hunter's household was increasing and he was getting rich. He selected one wife to be in charge of the powder. Whenever he was going on a trip, he would say, "Come on, Kolu, let's go." And when they came back he would say, "Kolu, go put the medicine away."

Things went on this way until Kolu took a lover outside their quarter. Then whenever they got paid for their work, she would divide it and give half to her lover. Soon he got as rich as her husband.

One day her lover called Kolu and said, "Kolu, I am very grateful to you for the help you give me. But there is one more thing I want you to do for me. But I am ashamed to say it."

"Go ahead, say it," said Kolu.

"I want you to bring me some of your husband's medicine, even a little bit, that I can carry with me when I go on trips."

Kolu said, "Is that all? I have already got the medicine, and here you are hesitating to ask for it."

She went to her house and got the medicine and put it in a leaf and wrapped it up. Then she took some red rice powder and substituted it for the medicine. Then she got ready to go to the waterside to bathe, and was just about to take the medicine to her lover.

But at that very moment messengers came

-10-

from the highest official in the land. "We bring greetings," they said to the zo, "And have come to call you to go with us. Our chief has died."

"Wait, let me call Kolu," said the zo. When he called Kolu, she packed the red rice powder and they left.

It was dark when they reached, so the zo said, "Let us wait until tomorrow to revive the man."

The people said, "Well, since everyone knows that he can raise people from the dead, let us celebrate until dawn with music and dancing." And the people danced all night.

The next morning when the time came, a large crowd followed the zo to the center of town. They spread cloths and fixed the place handsomely. They wanted their chief to know that they were happy to have him alive again. They prepared a special chair for the zo and piled many cloths upon it. When he was seated, they brought the corpse and laid it in front of him and said, "Here he is."

The zo said, "Kolu, bring the medicine."

Kolu produced the cloth that was supposed to contain the medicine, but of course, it held only rice powder. The zo took some and rubbed it on the corpse's nose and blew on it, and nothing happened. He rubbed some more on and blew and nothing happened. He kept on doing that until all of the powder was used up, and he had shaken the cloth out. And still nothing happened. He was unable to revive the chief.

The people said, "Oh! Everyone knows that this is the man who can revive the dead, and yet he will not bring back our chief. Let us kill him and bury the two

-11-

of them together."

"That's right!" said everyone.

So they killed the zo and buried him
with the chief. The crowd dispersed then
and all went back to their houses.

The next morning, at dawn, at the same
time that the hunter had originally shot
the elephant, the dove came to the grave
and took out the man and laid him down.
Then he took some of his powder and rub-
bed it on the man's nose and blew on it
and the man sat up.

The dove said to him, "But I asked you
if you knew women, and you said, 'Nuts.'
And I asked you again, 'Do you know women?'
and you said, 'Nuts' and I said, 'Ah.'
And now your wife has taken the medicine
and hidden it and intends to give it to
her lover." Then he said, "Do you want
me to revive the chief for you?"

"Yes," said the zo.

So the dove rubbed some powder on the chief's nose and blew and the chief sat up. And the first thing he did was grab his walking cane that had been laid on the grave, and give the dove a whack with it. "I have killed a bird!" he said.

"Oh dear," said the zo.

"What do you mean 'Oh dear'?" said the chief. "Don't you see the bird that was right here beside us? I hit it with my cane and killed it."

"Yes, I see," said his companion.

Then he took some of the powder that
the dove had left on the leaf and rubbed
some on the dove's nose and blew on it,
and the dove got up and flew off imme-
diately, sideways.

And he still flies the same way. When-
ever you see a dove on the road, it never

-12-

flies straight off, but sideways, as if
it is avoiding a blow. The dove has still
not recovered from its fright.

When the two men got back to town, there
was great rejoicing. The people said,
"Oh, the zo's technique now is to have him-
self killed and buried with the corpse,
and then the next morning they revive to-
gether and come out of the grave."

When they got back home he said to his
wife, "You have the medicine, give it to
me."

"No, I don't have it," she said.

He said again, "You do have it, give-
it to me."

"I do not have it," she said.

"Tie her up," said the zo.

They tied her up and she stayed tied
until evening. Then the zo said to her
again, "Give me the medicine."

"I don't have it," she said.

He left her tied up and the next
morning said to her again, "Give me the
medicine."

"I don't have it," she said.

She remained tied up until she died.

And that is why, if you are involved
in something with a woman, even if it is
her fault, she will deny it, even though
you exhaust yourself trying to get her
to admit it. Her ancestor set the pre-
cedent.

She was also responsible for our los-
ing that valuable medicine. If not, we
should still be able to revive when we
die.

+

-13-

THE NURSERY

By
Amanda Gardner
Translated by
Beyan Paye

Wozi
March 1968
# 329
800

È yèni ga folo gila vuu siri zu kwenagi 1940 zu gie kolo wologi maa kpowũ Sanoyii. Te yèni gè ma to vaazu, gá wo gie maa kpowũ ga gè gè wo taa-zu vaa meni.

Gé wèlèni zinaa felego ya tis va pelei ma, kolo wologi gila wũmo. Gé wuu zu nèni ga tamaa. Gé yèni káazu ga kolo wologi ya te vaa la, gie bude gie le gie vile kuu-zu-nec maazu. Gie yè tea, "Oo, gá vaazu kolo lodosu. Kolo liide ya no mu gè solo woga?"

Tei keea nui vaani gé wèlèni ná va ga gulu felego besagi yè kii maazu tis vaa la. Gé yi daa vilini, gie yè tea, "Koloi no ya ta gulu felego besa máazu? Zebè ya é kée daa laogai?"

Tei gè wèlèni sú va, gè wèlèni duuyê felego va sú. Gé yèni naza nui Jêsésii ma, gè wuu zu nè sōo yè. Koloi lei to vaa la, kè duuyê felego ya te vaa la."

È yè tea, "Duuyêga ya te kolo su? De ya de é nà meniga?"

Gé zinaitis yaa-zaya kèni te yè tea, "Naza ru gila ka é duu naago yaa. Ta boga felego i te za, felegoitis ya gè vaa ga tis ga wo te ziyi."

Tei gè boni naza nui Jêsésii ma é yèni tea, "Sawò ka na, gè le nà loo zeizu. Tii wala ya de ma ga de yee vili duu-wuloa-su vaa zu."

-1-

Gè pee veeni bè ga è ya bú è ye tea,
"Ba." Gè boeini no dá gie pee ve bè è ye
tea, "Gè le yi gaa zia. A lo gè kofi
kpoale." Gé wuloai sa no è ye Gala pele
wu.

È liini è ná kofigi boale è va è ye tea,
"Sdei, a de le nii loo zeiya, bovelaale na-
za nui nepo ya duu ya è za è dui ye ga po
duu, ta vaa la de wo."

Gé ſeni tea, "Nà le ye Naza nui Jěsīi,
nii felegoitie no ya ta vaa la de wo."

È ſeni tea, "Me le boo yaa wolo, tamaa
Ya vaazu vaazu towo te lezu le ná ta daa-
mi ſeni."

Kè gé boeini dá gé ye má gá bo bá è ye-
su è va bú.

Dayitai Felemɛɛ weleni duuyɛ̈gitie va è
ye tea, "Naza nu lomai le ye su. ná ó ye su
yalava felego ó leve, kè zunui ya ye ná."

Naza nui Jɛsii ſeni tea, "Ve zevu ná,
nu yi ka ná."

Gé Yaa Baani lopoi ma. Kpidii zévui wu-
loni zéea, gé bize gé li gé Maatii lili ga
è va è wele bá è laa vee dá. Gé daa-vee-
dai maa wolini. Gé lopoi zoni ga yalava
losava ziɛgi zu ga kpidi è ye boo gé ya è
ye ga yalava naago ga gusu. Gie wele ná
va ga zevu laa me le yili bá. Gé nii yeɛ-
ni boo ga sie tamaa go vee besu bá.

Meela naza vaani laaliizu gé ma è ye
gé ma, "Gè le kwɛni velei wa luo la bove-
laale we le niiya." È misiligitie Yaa-za-
Ya keeni ga te naza leve te bo gé va ta wo
te ke. Gá wo go sa zoo gé nii tåu maa zo-
lo wo. Gó boo luo seebe veaitie woba. To-

-2-

wo gé ſeni naza nu wolo lezu è vee sa
lopaitie maazu-vete fai va. È ſeni ga
tiiAMAa.

Lopaitie te wooloni boo ga vike ga gè
le ſeni balani te maazu-vete fai ma. Gè
wuu zu nse ye ga gé te wulo sú, bovelaa-
le nu lè ſeni te ve ó nà ye. Ta numai-
tie to yaa baa te ve kè naza nu nepo zii
le bega loo ga è duu wulo sú nii dèe zaa.
Ò luo ga dúi ó za. Ta wo to no mode doo
boga doo yie ve lopoi ya. Nii le bega
zoo ó bo bá. Ó za daa wulozu ve. Naza
nui ó ye welezu lopoi maazu va ó ká ga
duu dee wovei, ó ya è zevu lee nui dui
vaa age ná wele dúi maazu ya ga pago.
Nà ma gé wuu zu nei ye ga gé bo duuyɛ̈gi-
tie va.

+

Folo gila gé weleni naza nu gila ba è
zeini neteaye yie kpee loo ſeni ta zéed
yie zoo yowú-yowú bo. Kpee woi keeni gè
ká ga koia yuwu. Gè liini gè naza nui
Yaa-zaya ke ga ani è ſeni sōwō wulozu.

È ſeni tea, "Ba. Nii le ga sōwo-wulo
ſeni."

Gè ye tea, "Zebe mu be?"

È ye tea, "To ga duuyɛ."

Gè ye má, "Zebe luuyɛ-mazii ya è ngi?"

È ye tea, "Nà seelai ya è dui nii ſaa-
ni è zebado è za."

Gè ye má, "Duuyɛgi wo?"

È ye tea, "To ya è kòwoi ma."

Gè le bega wele ſeni ta nepo ba. Gè
welani seye ta va laani kòwoi ma. Gè we-

-3-

ləni ŋəni ta woloi ya na, kə̈ gə̈ le bəga
bó zoi é ɣəni le. ɛ̈ le ŋəni wuloni ga nu
buse, ó ɣə no ga suoi ta mazii gə̈ kwəni.
Nə̈ ma gə̈ gáá-zaya kəəni gə̈ ɣə mə́, "Booboo
su-vaa ɣa ga to ga duuyč?"

È ɣəni tea, "Ooi."

Naza nui Jēsīī ɣeni wōini é pɛ́tə. Tei
é pɛ́tni-é ɣə tea, "Ba, nii le ga nu buse.
Towaa ɣə ga koia yuwu?"

Gè ɣəni tea, "Ba."

È ɣəni tea, "Wɔ̈ gə le bá."

Gè ɣəni tea, "Ooi. Wɔ̈ gə le bá."

È ɣəni tea, "Koia yuwütiɛ wɔ̈ ka ɣə te
va ta-te Yaa na?"

Gè ɣəni má, "Ooi, te wɔ̈ ka ɣə te va ta
te Yaa na."

È ɣəni tea, "Nà le wuloni ga naza nu
luu. Li è yee zei bú de ka."

Gè liinì ga kolui gè té gá gè kɔ̈o. È
ɣəni no ga paa felego ta tikpe kolo. Towo
è kɛ̈ sa è ɣə ŋeta ga dowo felego.

Naza nui jēsīī ɣeni tea, "Gè le kwěni
nii é le, kě zoi něpɛ́ é le, bó naza nui ma
é lii la wulu. È ye gè le ŋeni zaa yiizu,
gò sīyi. Gè kwěni ga to vaazu zaazu, kě
gò no ná wɔ̈o."

Gè liinì la wulu naza nui wo. È ɣəni
tea, "Gà ŋenii nii vilisu ya."

Gè ɣəni má, "Zəbɛ̈ vaazu è pílisu ya to-
wo yíe yɛvu?"

È ɣəni tea, "Siitizu no ve gulu walai
ma gie pili ya. Gà no gà do yāsai ta wu.
Saa lei, bovelaale nu ya sa no yà ká gáá-

-4-

zuve boga nɛkpɛgi va va."

Gè ɣəni má, "È le zooga ò nà ɣə."

È ɣəni tea, "Zəbɛ mu ka sa gà kɛ̈? Wui
kwelegi saa Yaazu vetega bá, nà wo gè saa
Yaazu vetega bá. Gè le ŋeni gò vaa la və,
kè númaa lamaa te vəc keela woo levesu
tiɛ ɣə tea, 'Li ga lopoi', ani lopoi ɣa
zaa na, gá li ga yie Salala.' Nà no ɣa
è kɛc gè vaa ga nii mazii."

Gè ɣəni má, "Tei yà liizu pílisu ya,
fè zèea. Gà bɛ́ bá é yɛ və è yɛsu-è za.
Yá zaa na, gà dɔ́ kolo su gè dɔ̈owu."

È ɣə tea, "Zèè ya bú."

Gè ɣəni má, "Ani yá zaa na è le bà ga
faa?" Bovelaale gè le wōini ga faa.

È ɣə tea, "Zəbɛ? To ga nà seelai duu
no wo gà liizu dɔ̈ozu gulu yāsa wu. Yài
mugi è ga wɛ̈ɛ è wōini è yɛ è ya pele wu
è yɛ su-è za è dɔ̈owu. Ani yá zaa na,
faa laale."

Gè numaa lilini ga te ɣə ga gɛ̈ maa zee-
lea ga te fai nii meni gɛ̈ ɣəni bosu. Gè
lopoi ziyini.

Numaitie te vaanì welezu bá. Tis ɣə
tea, "Zəbɛ mu ka? Zəbɛ zuo yuwu ɣa?"

Gè ɣəni tea, "Te ɣə naza nu ɣa è káa."

Páne. Ye ga vike ga le bəga zoc ɔ dɛ́
zoi é ɣəni le. Gáazu maa yɛlegɛ́i é ɣə,
nɛkpɛgi boga gáazu-γɛzɛgi te wuloi. Aneɛ
balaa ɔ tɛc leya ziyi è sìɛ gáazu-γɛzɛgi
ma, le bɛga tóo má. Nui pe ge ɣeni luozu
bá. Kè gè yee kani bá. Gè ɣəni tea,
"Anii yá zaa na, gà dɔ̈owu."

Dáave wala ɛvəsi è yɛ kəni gò kó ga
mite wolo. Nazaa lopaitie to yɛ mə́, "Zə-

-5-

6e ya è készu? Nii le ga nu ùse. È weleè
de naza nu va è dui nii mazii ya? Towo è
le ga suo yuwu ta nèpe gò kwèè. È me le
ye naza nui nii ziyini pelei ta ma."

Duuyègi yèni zèèa è ye su è ye ga yalo
naago. Gie sa kò ga tse nai è ye su yìè sa
va. Págei è ye ga vike è ye su nui pe gé
wòi ye. È bakpani go ga pago kele-yelegi.
Págei máa ziya. Gó ye nà Naza nu woloi è
ye su è bakpa.

Nii zu páge sa, è zini kuloa déaitie te
loolu.

Gila ge yèni nà dàa ga Loitiè. Dée boga
kèèa te zaani. È yèni no de ga yalo dozi-
ta. È yèni no sa dìèi nii ya è yèni no ga
kwena saago ga è wele máazu va. Nà numai-
tie to nèni ta ve zèèa ga è mi, kè è yèni
no dìè ya wo.

Tei sa siegi ta leveni bá, è le nèni sa
vaazu yèsu nà. Gé faa menini è vile bá.
Naza nui è yèni naza nui Jésili woga tei è
liini wui taà zu, è liini è mâyaa-za-yà-keè
wò. Te yèni má to ga po duu. È te yaa-za-
Ya kèèni zòi ma è kèèni te le nèni wōini to
lii la misiligi zu. Te yèni má, "È wulo lo-
poi nii wulu nu ta nèpe ge le nà ó wele maa-
zu va. Ani gè vaa na la, kèni no lopoi nii.
Towo we le vaazu vaazu bu ó ye vaazu misi-
ligi zu, pène velei ma." Nà ma è boni te ma
ga te lii la ga maa-vilea, nà laale ó
za te ya taà zu.

Te vaani la, gá wo gé wèleni máazu va.
È le nèni luozu ga pago, kè dàa-wulo-zuve è
yèni sa kèészu ga pago. Nii zu to sa Sala-
yii yìè li kolo wele walai wu.

-6-

Duuyè gila ge yèni nà kpelegi yiyai la
ga vika. Nui nèpe ó sò kpelegi ta ó yìi
la. Gá wo gé le nèni wōini Kpelegi ó yìi
ga nu pe, nà ma gé naza nu loma felego wu-
loni su ga te wele máazu va. Nui pe gó
yè tea, "Mode naza nu lomai nii ya no kpe-
legi yiizu ga nu."

Naza nui Jésili Yaa Baani è sale mazii
lamaa lamaa teve pó ta boga seyile è vee
daa-mii nèni vapaga va è ye su kpelegi
bèa má.

Velei gè boga la, sù le nèni lebini tei
sa te vaani ga duuyè tamaa gé wò velei no
Naza nui Jésili boni la. Daa-wulo-zuve
kèni gé duu wulo su nada laa loani.

Tei mamawù felegoitie te wuloni sù
ga pago, gé yìi looni tii ya. Fikaa te
zaani, kè boolo-zu wuloni sù. Zoitie te
yèni nà to zoo te ye ga nu yee looluo. Na-
za nu loma maa wùgi nà te vaani la to sa
wui taà zu yìè tii maa woli. È wuloni sù
è ye ga naza nu loma vago.

Gé duu-wulo-sulai laa laoni kwenagi
1940 è ye su kwenagi 1961 dàa ó wulu.
Dàa wuluni tei naza nui Jésili yèni sa
bòlosu nà tii va.

-7-

THE NURSERY

It was one day in February of 1940 and we in Sanoyea were sitting around waiting for the mail trunk. They told us it was coming, and we had been waiting for a long time to hear from home.

Then we saw two men coming down the road, one carrying a load. We were so happy. We thought it was the mail trunk, and we started jumping up and rejoicing. "Oh, we read mail! I wonder how many letters I got?"

When the man came up we noticed that there was a stick across the box and we wondered and said, "But why should the mail trunk be opened?"

But when we looked we found that there were two little babies in the box. We said, "Oh, Miss Jensen, we have rejoiced for nothing. It is not the mail trunk. It is a box with two babies in it."

She said, "Babies in a box? Whoever heard of such a thing?"

We asked the men about it and they said that a woman had had 4 babies. She and 2 of the babies had died, and they brought the other 2 to beg us to take them.

When we told Miss Jensen she said, "Oh no, no, no, I can't start that. We are too busy, we have too much work, we cannot open a nursery."

We begged her to take them and she still said no. We continued to beg her and she said, "I can't think. Wait until I get my coffee." We had just come from church.

-8-

She went and drank her coffee and then she said; "Oh, we can't start this, because if we do, all the mothers who die in confinement and leave babies, their babies will be brought here."

We said, "Oh no, Miss Jensen, only these two will be brought here."

She said, "Don't fool yourselves. Many more will come and we have no room and no provision for them."

But anyway, we begged her into it and we promised to help her and she agreed.

The doctor (Dr. Flexman) looked at the two babies and said, "The little girl will not live more than 2 hours, but the boy will live."

Miss Jensen said, "Well, where there is life, there is hope."

We fought for the baby. At night breath left her body, and we had to run to Ma. Tii to come and give her mouth-to-mouth respiration. We learned how to do it and at night we had to pick her up and hold her from 7:45 until 4 a.m., watching to see that she did not stop breathing. We did this for a long time.

Mrs. Miller came to visit us and she said she didn't know how we were living, because we were up all day and all night. She asked the mission to send us some nurses to help, and they did, and then we were able to get some sleep. All day we had to be up with the patients. Then we were trying to run a girls' school, and with the babies, it was a lot of work.

But the children grew so well that we

-9-

didn't mind the work. We were happy to do it
to save them, because they had no chance
otherwise. Their people would do what they
could for them, but no mother was brave enough
to nurse the child of a woman who had died.
She was afraid her baby would die. And then
they would just give the baby sugar cane wa-
ter and palm wine, which didn't help it at
all. It would finally die. The woman caring
for the baby thought that the spirit of the
dead woman would come and kill the well wo-
man's baby so that she would take better care
of the dead woman's baby. So we were glad
to save these babies.

And then one day we looked out and saw a
woman sitting down outside with something
that was crying, making a dreadful noise.
From the screaming I thought it was a baby
animal. I went out and asked the woman if
she wanted to sell it.

She said, "Oh no, this is not anything to
sell."

I said, "But what is it?"

She said, "It is a baby."

I said, "What sort of baby is it that
looks like that?"

She said, "My sister had this baby and
she died."

I said, "Where is the baby?"

She said, "Here on my lap."

I couldn't see anything. I just saw a
little piece of cloth and something there,
but I couldn't tell what it was. It didn't
look like a human, and it didn't look like
any animal that I knew. So I asked her,
"Are you sure it is a baby?" She said yes.

-10-

Miss Jensen said she wanted to see it.
When she saw it she said, "No, this is not
a human baby. It might be a little baby
monkey."

"No," I said.

"It doesn't have a tail," she said, "but
are baby monkeys born with tails?"

"Yes," I told her, "they are born with
tails."

"Well," she said, "that surely doesn't
look like a woman's baby. Go and weigh
it."

I brought the scales and we weighed it.
It weighed 2 1/4 pounds and it was 3 weeks
old. Miss Jensen said, "Well, I don't
know what it is, but whatever it is, tell
the women to carry it back. If I were not
going to the coast today I would take it.
I know it will die, but anyway, just to
give it a chance."

I carried it back to the woman. She
said, "Well, I will throw this thing away."

I said, "But how can you throw it away?
It is breathing."

She said, "By the time I reach a big
tree, I will know how to throw it away. I
will just put it under the trunk of the
tree. It will soon die, because the eyes
are already set, and the jaws."

I told her, "Oh, you can't do that."

She said, "What else can I do? The
white woman has seen death in it, and I
have seen death in it. I didn't mean to
bring it, but I kept getting all these mes-

-11-

sages from people: 'Take the baby.' 'If the baby dies, we will report you to Salala.' That is the only reason I brought this kind of thing.'

I said, "Well, since you are going to throw it away, give it to me. When it dies, I will put it in a box and bury it."

She said, "All right."

The people came to look at it and said, "But what is this? What kind of baby animal is this?"

And I said, "They say a woman had it."

It was so small and skinny you couldn't tell what it was. Its face was all shrivelled up, the jaws were set, the eyes were set. If you took a feather and rubbed it on the eye, it wouldn't even blink. Everyone was afraid of it. But anyway, I kept it. I said, "Well, let it stay. When it dies, I will bury it."

The mouth was so small it couldn't take a nipple, and I had to feed it with a medicine dropper. The girls said, "What are you doing? This is not a human baby. Did you ever see a woman have a baby that looks like this? Maybe the woman picked up this creature on the road."

So the baby stayed until she was 4 months old. Then we started giving her egg yolk, and that brought her out fine. She was so cute, everybody loved her. She grew just fine, and she was very intelligent. She was pretty and clean. We called her Little Lady until she was a big girl.

Now she is fine, and married and has five children.

-12-

And then there was Richard. First his father died and then his mother. He was about 6 months old. His 3 yr-old brother was taking care of him, so you know what kind of care he was getting. The relatives gave him something to eat, but they left the little 3 yr-old brother to take care of him all day.

After some time, the people saw that he was declining, and we heard about it. So the nurse (it was not Miss Jensen) went to town and saw him and asked about him. They told her he was an orphan, and she asked why they did not bring him to the mission, and they said they did not have anyone to take care of him, only that little boy. So she told them to bring him anyway, because if he stayed in town, he would die.

They did, and we cared for him. Finally he began to gain. Now he is a nice boy, attending LTI.

Then there was the baby who was all broken out with the itch, and everyone who took care of her got the itch. Well, we couldn't have all the girls with the itch, so we quarantined her with just two girls to take care of her. Both of them became full of itch. Everyone said, "This little Mandingo girl is giving us all the itch."

Well, as I have told, after those first 2 babies, it was not long before 1 more came, and then another, and another, just as Miss Jensen said. And finally we had to open a nursery.

But when the first two turned out so well, we were encouraged to take more. Some died, of course. But many of them grew up. I think maybe there were 50 or more who

-13-

è lui

duu maa-zolo-wogai mavaa wulovs ga
kui-zoga. ani yà è lui lo na ga pago
kce vaa ma è 6akpa è ys ga nuwuti vago,
a ks tii è kui wuloa. ks ani è lc ys
na yAsni, mavaa ya wulo è ys kui ma-
vilisii zu ya yB woolozu ma. è lc
wolo-wolo woloa faa 6aa ma.

to ga faa yaa wua a de vaa ma ga
de yi gaa zis ga kpaanaga é vile velei
va a da de leaitis lo da. geteai maa
ya velisu. ws lc zooga wo wo leaitis
lo ga velei wo yaa veaitis te wo loni
la. faa vapa tamaa ya beazu ga looma
zui zu, toku ge zei wui tuoi va. ws
lc sa wolo-wolo yee laa wo luo vele
wolo-zayagi ma vala-wonsgi niitis
wulo vaa ma su ga te yB ga nuwutia.
getea niinsi nii é vaazu looma zui zu
pa-su lamava ba. k6e k6ni da zoo de ma-
vagoi boga mayowùi te yoozu wulo, na
ya yee na nii pagsi de na ziyi. dai
de ga lopaitis te yaa veaitis to ga de
vaa vaa ga de de leaitis yavele 6ct6
getea niinsi nii vaa ma.

to ga faa yaa wua kolai maa veaitis
6oo6oo faa ma ga te yi gaa zis niitis
ma te ga duu-yaa veaitis vaa vaa. ko-
lai maa veaitis ta geteai ya ga pele
niins. ta wui fai ts lc 6oni. k6e
kolai maa veaitis ta velei ya é ga
pelei pagsi geteai nii vaa ma maa veli-
su. yai è ga kolai maa nu to ga è vaa
vaa gala gaazu ga è è lui lo é yB ga
kolai maa nu.

gala deaitis

sisgi ta duu yaa la to ga kuu-zu-
n6s zis. de ps duu w6i ya de ma na
ya yee na da 6oo luu zolo wo na de wuu

-1-

zu ya nss. lopaitis ta ga faa-nsi da
solo wo gala zeea. ani da duu maa
zolo wo na, gala ka maa nsi de mama.
ksni wono da kwë ga nii é ga de vaa
vaa gala zii-mai mavele ma duu vai zu.

wa duu yaa na wa wuu zu nss. kë
kolai maa nu na kuu-zu-nss zis kpo-
6oogi ya ga voloi dui ya yss la ga gala
duu. ta bataize yss na ga è lui, ksi
ya na ga gala duu.

pages te bataize vs ga kolai maa
veaitis yaazo te leaitis. a ms ls na
maa kpowũ. kë nui taniga ts ls nii
yaa yaa. kolai maa nu yila ge boni mà
ga ts ls bataize yssni ga dui, 6ovs-
laale é ysni ga see6s-see6s duu, na ya
vs na ts ls ęsni laani la ga ani towas
wulo su. na mu ka maa nsi vs te batai-
ze vs la ga maa vilea, kss vaa ma ani
ó zaa na é li. é ys ziize va. sis ta
zu kolai maa veaitis ta laa wulo bo
faa zu pasitai ma ga é bataize vs ga
te leaitis. nii ls pele ma. gala ka
yee zei duuyšga wu è vs velei no ya
kss la ga nuwutia. é wōini te vs ga ná
do è vs velei no é wōini la de vs ga
ná do. yà daa-mii ęsni ve è lui ya
yìs daa-zu wulo yìs maa zeve wulo.
tei towo è natis vsszu, pages mu to mu
è vaa la gala po kss vaa ma é fai kpa-
kpa kelegi maa zolo wo, na ya ga balo-
lai. ms ls too pulu. yà duu maa zolo
wo na 6oo no, vaa la pasitai wo ga è
bataize vsa la.

yà vaa na ga è lui bataizei vaa ma,
yà gala ki to ga fai taniga. yà va
ga è lui é vs ga gala na pelai wu nui
ta è vs velei no è la... towo nii zu-
wulo-zu ya ga to ga è vaa vaa ga è è
lui lo ga è vs ga gala dui ta.

yà ki-to bo ga yà va ga è lui gala

-2-

pelai wu. nii ya ga faa yaa wua. ms
ls ná maa kpowũ ga lopoi woolo. page
é vs ga duuyšgi ta dee tis va gala
pelai wu. na ya vsa na towa vs sa
woolozu yis faa maa wole é vile ziize
va ta këea gala. towaa ya faa maa
wolizu é vile velei va ya laa la ga
kolai, na ya vsa na yis ęeteai vs ga
zii-ma vele. ? ani é lui ls vs liizu
gala pelai wu, towaa leve vs le é kwë
ga to ga gala pelai wu nui ta? ? ani
é lui ls faa maa wolini ó vile gala
ba, towaa leve vs le é kwë ga gala ka
ga keea?

lopo wolo ya vs na 6oo no laa wolo-
zu, towaa zoo é gala-feli vele maa
woli. ani towaa zoo yis 6os è wo to-
waa zoo 6alaa ps é 6os gala po. kë
wai wo ga kaa veaitis keni wa 6o ba
é gala-feli vele maa woli.

lopo wolo ya zoo é faa maa woli é
vile ziize va. a da faa wolo-zayaga
wo de leaitis ma é vile faa lamaa va.
a da zoo 6alaa de gala koloi zu vaa
wolo-zayaga wo te ma. de leaitis ta
vs na sa ziize wësu, ta wõi la te
laa la. ziize ysni tea, "a 6e lopai-
tis va te va po. a ms ls 6esa te luo.
6ovslaale te yavelei ya gala ta masa-
dai te vaa ma."

nii pages wo vaa ma wai wo ga kolai
maa vea to ga wis lopaitis yaazo lili
yee naps wis te yala bo é vile ziize
va. yee ta wa sa nii vszu wa yala
pelai wu. kë ani ws ls ksszu, page
wis ks. towo keni wo leaitis tis va
gala pelai wu 6alaa ps tis vsa nuwu-
tiitis va ta tisni tis gala feli.

wa gala ki to ga wo wo lui lo é
vs ga deaitis te yila. lopaitis te
ls no faa maa wolia ó vile nii va da

-3-

to ga wo vaa vaa ga wo gala-feli
velei la ga wo leaitis.

-4-

bo te ma. kə̂ ta faa maa woli 6alaa ps
fai nii zu ta wəls de va diə kə. dai
de ga kəlai maa vea to ga de vaa vaa
ga a de vs ga po-kəə pagə de leaitis
vaa ma, kəs vaa ma te vile de wulu tis
luo ga kəlai maa nu luo vele. dai de
ga kəlai maa vea lopaa te de ya maa
nəs a de wo psls wu luoi vs ga velei
kəlai maa nu na tuo ɛ lə. wə̌ila, goo-
la-ma, zii-laa ɛ vəs kuu-zu-nəs va te
ŋaazo ta ga kəlai maa nu wo psls wu
vaa. velei duu keeai ta duu dee ta luo
la ga yii te lui ya ná maa 6s. de luo
velei la loowuga de leaitis va. looma-
gitis te leveni vs le te loomagitis ya
vaitis wəs ɛ vəs ta nu wolo-zayagitis
ya vaitis va? wa bo ga "gé wəsləni ba
gé yeeani zeea." taitis te ga kəlai
maa vea maa nəsəs te leaitis te zəo
te bo te vs tea, "gé vileni kəlai maa
nu na tuoi wulu, 6ovəlaale gé wəsləni
ba gé yeeani zeea." daitis de ga kəlai
maa vea to ga de vaa vaa a de de leai-
tis lo te vs ga gala bea.

doto-zu wodo

de kwəni ga faa yilagi ɛ́ va ga zii
zuuli looma nu lamaa wo to ga te leai-
tis wuloi ts la boga su. ani da duu
maa zolo wo na, de wuu zu ya nəs. kə̂
da yə zii-zəls wu ɛ́ yəsu lopoi wulo
su, 6ovəlaale de kwəni ga lopaa lamaa
tə la wuloa su. na ma daitis de ga
lopaa keea vea de vaa vaa ya ga lopai-
tis loto-zu-wodo vai. gala ge boga
de va ga velei de pele vago wə̂səgə la
sa ɛ́ vile de 6ala zo faa va duuyɛ̂gitis
ma, kəs vaa ma te yə ga loto-zu-wodoa.
pagə wo faa maa woli ɛ́ vile velei va
nu ya 6ala zo da lopaa ma. looma kolo
felego ya na te laa ga duuyɛ̂-maazu-

-5-

vets fai. ta bo yìs ga velei yà fai
niitis yss la é vile duuyëgitis maazu-
vets faa va ks s vaa ma te ms le zeebs.

to ga faa yaa wua boo-boo ga è laa
yata fai nii woga va è nazai ma, bove-
laale duu dee ya ná tii bakpai duuyë-
maazu-vets fai zu.

è nazai ya ko siyi na boo no, keni
yà yi gaa zis é vile nii va. na ya ga
pages é li sale velsi la é sale yai
zolo wo ta tene goi yá bo ba ga é dui
ya negbelëi. ani na ya yee na dui-yaa
zisgi ya ziiti na, page é li sale velsi
la ga é laa yii.

duu dee ya laa yii na, pages yís lo-
poi zivi yís lii la sale velsi la wo ga
te wels ba boo ss-sa. page é nii yaa-
zo yé yá bo lopoi va doto zu wodo.
ani wo lui ya zeebs na ga sis ta napsa,
a ms le yee la sale ta bono ma oo tene
go o ta napsa. kë a li sale velsi la
ga maa vilea, ks s vaa ma nii é ga gaa-
ma zalei te kpes bé.

è lui ya yé na lalaazu to ga faa
yaa wua ga è nazai yis wels maazu va
ga kpaanaga. maa le nsesi ó neni nôwo-
nôwoga la la bovelaale niitis ta ks
é zeebs. page tis daa-mii neni vago
ve zéea. bovelaale ani ta guo na,
daa-mii neni solowogsi mavaa ma towaa
a dee nini yisi wo-ga zivi. faa lamaa
wonsa duuyë-maazu-vets koloitis zu é
yee nu lotoi va. niitis ta bo wo va
ga wo wels na va ga wo leaitis te
loto zu wodo.

lopo wolo yee-zo kulo vai zee ma

getea vele-velegi le yaga lopo wolo
va to kaa la. dai de ga nuwutiitis de
leaitis ta faa maa wole de ya é vile

geteai va. to ga faa yaa wua ga nu
duu lo gaama velei zu ks s vaa ma yá
woolo na é yé ga nuwuti vago.

gala koloi ya bosu yís yé tea,
"lopo woloi lo ga é yé pelei nii zu
maa nss é zis la. ani yá woolo na
é le ziyia pulu." fai nii é pele ma
ta nii le pele ma te yoozu-les vai
ya ga faa yaa wuai yila a de leaitis
lo fai zu. a da zoo de nii yé pele
felego zu. gilagi ya ga da zoo de
te yee-zo kulo te yee ma ta faa yee
na le pele ma, ks s vaa ma te wels na
va ga ta to kps nu ma fai nii zu le
pele ma. zoi wo ka ga ta faa vago
yee na de su loo te yé dis te yii lo
ks s vaa ma tis wói yé ga te vile gaama
velei wulu.

gala koloi ya yeezu tea, "è lui
yee-zo kulo zee ma, na ya yee na towaa
è yii nss è wuu zu ga kpakpaa." to
wono yeezu tea, "kolo baya boga zii-
yaa-wâla-woga lopo wolo ma ta kele-
vele fe zéea. kë lopo woloi ya yé na
no boo yee ma, towaa dee wûfe."

dai de ga kolai maa vea de kwëni
ga de leaitis ta ga faa yowû-yee vea
è yé velei no de ps de la. da va ga
de leaitis gala po ga te bataize yé
ga tis ks s vaa ma te te ya wono ga
niins te yé ga nu niinse. da va ga
tis gala po ga é ta vaa yowûitis zu
vaa yé. lopo woloi nii é le yé yëni
ga gala deaitis te gila towaa vile nu
buse zis velei yaazo zu. nii wo ka
é ga faa yowû-yee velei. da de leai-
tis yala bo ga te luo ga kolai maa nu
luo velei. da nii yé ga velei da bo
da te va te faa wës é vile ziize va
te wói la.

kë keni wono da te yala bo ga te
luo zii-yaa-wâlai nii va gala ka bo

-6-

-7-

de ya ná togi-ŋala-ŋala faa ma. da
nii ɣe ga te ɣeess-zo-kuloa te yee ma,
ani ta faa ɣeess na le pele ma.

a wui to nii ma. to ga faa yaa wua
ga dai de ga kolai maa vea fai nii é
pele ma gala gaazu ta nii le pele ma
gaazu de te yoozu le ga de leaitis.
ta faa maa woli é vile nii va é ga gaa-
ma ta nii le ga gaama nu 6use zaama.
ani è lui ya wûmo wo na, anss balaa
mangnii vssn, ya zòo è to kps ma mavai
zu. bovslaale wûmo-woga ya ga fai le
pele ma nu 6use zaama. ani è lui ya
nu ta viiwù na, ya malo kps ma, bovs-
laale nu ps ge kwëni ga nii le pele ma.
kè pages a de leaitis te gala na togi-
tis wëss ta zii-mai balaa ps. ta gala
na togi nala-nala na, pages de te yss-
zo kulo te yee ma è ye velei no da kes
la ga tis ani ta de yaa logi ta nala-
nala na.

to kono balaa ga faa yaa wua ga de
leaitis te faa wëss é vile gala na
wõilai va. wõilai da ds ga tis dai de
ga te yaa veaitis towaa so te va te gala
na wõilai wëss. ani nài gè ga duu keeai
gà wõi na ga dùi, na ya ks è kwës ga
vele ya na de yeea gala wõivai la ga
dis. ani de leaitis ta faa ta yss na
le pele ma su-vaa-ys ma Balaa ya ye te
ma. ani da te zu vaa yss na, na ya ks
balaa ps te faa wëss é vile gala na nu
zu-vaa-ys fai va. to ga de vaa vaa ga
dis de leaitis yii lo yee nps ga te
zis gaama velei zu. da zòo de te lss
na ya yss na de te yss-zo kulo te yee
ma. kseni wono da te yii lo dis pele
wulo ga tis.

da da wõilai le ga de leaitis ani
da te γεσ-ζο kulo na te yee ma, kss
vaa ma ta woolo na nii é ga gaama te
kwess ta nii le ga gaama. nii ya ga

-8-

duu keeai boga duu dee te vaa vai.

## netea maa-veli fai

nyeteai maa ya velisu. sic ta zu dai
de ga nuwutiitis da wels tuoi va ya ye
wosu netea niinsi zu de wü kpskpsnë dis
yi gaa zis ga 6 le vaazu yeezu ga faa
ta nps. ds le wolo-wolo zooga do li
wulu tuo wolo-zayagi zu. yee ta ds le
tuo niinsi yaa yaa. kè to ga faa yaa
wua de mavaa ma dai de faa ta wěni é
vile neteai va ga a de de leaitis lss
a de te yavele bsts netea niinsi vaa ma
te vaazu kessu.

faa yilagi è looma tuo lamaa maa
veliga to ga kolo-wës fai. de leaitis
lamaa ta liizu sa kolo vels wu. zessi
è yigi ba ga kolo-wës fai ya ks è lui
vs? a de yi gaa zis le fai nii zu-
wulo-zuve ma -- na ya ga wo leaitis lii
vai kolo vels wu.

mamaa wûgi pa page wo leaitis te li
kolo vels wu. na ya ga wo lea zinaa ta
wo lea nazaa. nui nps 6 ds liini kolo
vels wu kavele le bsts netea niinsi
vaa ma è vaazu da yui zu ga maa vilea.
ani è le yeni è lui leveni kolo vels wu
ya ya è balasu faa yaa wuai nii ma ya
yè zéea ga è boc yavele bsts neteai
vaa ma.

ksei è gaa ya ga kolo-wessgai ts vile-
kpu 6 le è lui yavele bsts boc kpowù.
a ms le yi ks kala-moitis va ga te wo
leaitis lo. mavaa wulove ga duu-ya
veaitis taniga ta wòi yessu ga te te
leaitis ve kolo velsi vs. ani no te
lui ya lo na kolo velsi wu 6 le sa wolo-
wolo yss te yi ga ga te vaa vaa ya ga
to fai. ta ye yessu tea, "yís sa wui
tuo maa woli, a6si sa ga kala bo da?"

-9-

duu-vaa vea lamaa yaazu ya vs kala-moi
va é pele wulo ga te leaitis fai yaazo
zu yis te vs-zo kulo te yee ma. ani
te leaitis ta vs na ga goo-meni tala
vea oo ani ta vili na faa 6aa su, ta
pes ga kala-moi la.

nii ls ga gaama. kala-moitis te
kolo vslei wu ta 6o wo leaitis va te
faa niins lamaa maa woli naitis te ga
tono-ba vaa. ta lii ya ga te wo leai-
tis yala bo ga te kolo lodo te kolo
wons, na ya vs na te ta woleitis zu
vaitis wës. ta lopaitis vs-zo kulo
te yee ma kolo vslei wu. kë kala-moi
vaa vaa ls zooga ó vs ga é wo leai-
tis lo. wa lii ya ga na, wai wo ga
lopaitis yaa veaitis.

na ma keni wo zogels ya vs 6oo kolo
vslei zu é wa lai zu. keni wa wels na
va ga kala-moi ya wo leaitis yala bosu
ga pago. page wo yee zei kala-moi ma-
vaa wu é vsn senii yaazo va pages lo-
paitis vaa ma te kolo vslei wu. na
ya vs na keni wa vili wo leaitis
maazu-vaa-woga va wic te lans wic pele
wulo ga tis wa vsleitis wu. kala-moi
ls zooga ó vs ga ná kala dopoitis te
yeea.

loomagitis ta te leaitis leve nu
ta wo ga é te lo sis tamaa zu. a vi
gaa zis nii ma ga ani to pele ma ga
wo ks, waitis wo ga kolai maa ves wa
do vele 6oo6oo ma.

wa vaa na ga wo lui bataize vaa
ma, wa gala ki to ga wa to ga yis
kolai maa nu maluo wo. ani wa fee
na nu ta ya ga é to, a ks tii wa wulo-
zu wo vaa vai ya wic wa vi-togi zivi
ma. ani nui nii wo lopoi veea zeea
é ls ga kolai maa nu, na ya yowú ga
vike. su-wulo-zu ya ga wo lui ya sa
a leve vs le é woolo é vile kolai maa

-10-

nu na tuo wulu?

sis ta zu loomagitis ta te leaitis
leve te yaa yôwoi ta wo maloovia ga
te lii kolo vslei wu. nii mawú ge ls
sa ba, bovelaale kolo vslea ta sa loo-
mati lamaa zu. sis tamaa zu lopai-
tis ta li maloovia ta laa-howo wo ga
6oo6oo su. yee ta ta lii na ga te li
kolo vslei wu. kë numaitis ta vs te
va ta te vsle-gboda ga te tii ta vs
oo te makiti vs. sis ta zu lopaitis
ta vile no tis leve-teve te mawú faa
ls vs te va. towo ta vili no faa zu
ga su vilea. 6e ba è lui ys è va.
su ls vaazu woozasu é zivi è va, yá
6akpa na.

qaza nu ta vaani pò vs ga folo yila.
su woozani é ls seni woo naps menisu
ó wulo dui wo vs é yeni tii vszu ma-
loovia. é yeni mà, "wai wo ga wuigi-
tis wa ya wo gé leaitis loo kolo vslei
wu. te wo luo velei maa wolia. towo
ts ls sa 6alani gé ma, gái gé ga te
yaa veaitis."

nii ya ga gaama? ooi. sis tamaa
zu to ga gaama ga lopo woloi ya lii
na kolo vslei wu towaa wulo na pelsi
wu é wulu yaa ve ná numaitis va.
kolo vsle wu lopaitis taniga ts ls
goo-meni kuloa. ta yee wulo te yaa
veaitis vaa zu, bovelaale natis ts ls
zooga to wui goo wo oo ts ls ga kolo-
wës bea. wui tuoi woolaa ls ziyini
fai nii va. kë fai nii maza6ui ta
vileg wo va, wai wo ga lopaitis yaa
veaitis.

? ani wo lui ya lii na kolo vels
wu, wo zogels ya vs fai nii zu yá vs
maa wolizu? ?wa wo lui yaa-zaya ks
ga é ná koloitis lodo wa velsi wu
kss vaa ma wo goo meni, velei 6alaa

-11-

THE MUSLIMS

By
M. D. Miller

Translated by
Yella Quaqua

Wozi
September 1962
1000
199

zeli-wo beaitie te zui zu za ta zoo te
ziti miyō wū naago zee saago zu. ta ga
kolai maa veaitis gaa wai su naa sei-zu
Yila tiigo. kē-afeleka yuu ōuumei zu zeli-
wo bea lamave nā e leve gala-zeke-keē vea
mazii ta nepo ba.

?tei tōwo kolai maa veaitis boga zeli-
wo beaitis ta bo ga ta gala felizu, to ye
le ta laa-zeigitis maa veligei, na ya yee
na tiē bo ga te le wuloni ga ve? ?tei te
zei-zu felego gala koloi te ya, to ye le
mu, koloi niitis maa veligei?

mamaa wūgi pa kolai mavai wolo-za yaga é
leve zèli-wo fai ya. de pe de kwèni ga ko-
lai mavai loo zeini gala dui ziize va é
vaa ni zui zu. na ya wuló na su dusiitis
ta Yala feliai e vee ta Yele-Yelegi va é
vile gala ba mavai loo zeila zu woozaa wolo
kwena wulu taniga levege ma.

a lii na ga zèli-wo fai wo vele, mavai
loo zeini kwenagi 622 zu, tei faa ta yèni
mohama na yeteai zu nii é ga mavai loo-zei
nui.

na mā a de wels mōhama na yeteai zu va
bo sese.

mōhama

te mōhama yaani makaa kwenagi 570 zu,
na ya ga kwena 570 leveni kolai yai ma.
makaa lai ya aleebia yui zu. aleebia yui
Ya eezia yuu ōuumei zu maa wāla le wooza-
ni dusi yui va.

mōhama ōeni volo ga eebolehēs nu zuwui
ta eebolehēs duu zuuhui iisemē mababii ma
nii é kaani heegā ya. tei mōhama ōeni ga
kwena dozita luu kāa veaitis te zaani.

-1-

tei é wooloni ná tii ſeni ga é vœ yaa-
woa va te li siilia, zui nii é nu yee za-
su folo wulo-zu vaa va aleebia yui vaa va
ve dusiitie te ſe ná ga sei. ná ſa é wu-
ni ná ga kolai maa vea lamaa e vœ dusii-
tie va é faa lamaa maa woli sa te ya e vi-
le gala ḃa. bovelaale mohama wo taa-zu
veaitie raazo te ſeni ga po-koo gala-feli
vea.

tei sa mohama ſeni ga kwena 25, é po
naza wuloni daa ga kadija, nii é ſeni ga
kwena 40 naza nu. Kadija ſeni ga kpoſe
naza nu. mohama ſeni sa ga ná yaawoitie-
maazu-vete nu. é zooni tii nii la ga
kpakpaa.

tei mohama ſeni ga kwena 40 nada ſeni
wuuzu gaazu nii é boni ga é ſeni ga gala
kœ vaa. ó li zeye zu makaa wulu vele é
bo ga gala na keelai geebolo vaani po é
bo má ga é gala goo wo.

ná gala goo-wogai zu ó numaitie lene ga
te 6e po-koo gala-felia va te gala kpoobö-
gi veli nii é no yilekpu. bovelaale nu-
maitie te ſeni galá tamaa velizu.

kè numaitie te ſeſeni na kala-bogi va
te Yaazu wude maazu. názai boga báa Yile-
gilega e vœ na kaalaitie va ta no te nii
ziyini ga gaama é ſeni bosu.

kè tei towo é Yilini gala goo-woga va
nu lamaa te vœni sa ga vilega púlu, nii
wo ge'kè ga síli veaitie te zili la ga
tamaa, te vœni ga kpoalaga e vœ púlu
veaitie va. é vela sa é wulo makaa va.
é li sa ná woba lai ta zu daa ga medina,
bovelaale nu lamaa te ná gala goo-wogai
ziyini ga gaama ná. te tilini ga é ſe ga
te wū-tuo nu. mohama va bu.

to sici nii lili yalaſu woi zu, nii é
ga te laa woi, ga hijela. zeli-wo beaí-
tie te ta wena dodogi loo zei sa mine.

netaea nœni mohama ma medina é tai nii-

zu vaa la ma ſetea yie nœ ná vea ma. sici
na--zu vai ſeni ga te laa le yaawoa wu
zuu voi zu te navolo wulo te ya ta soolaa.
nii mavele ma mohama é nii ſeeni é bete sa.
sie ta-zu numaitie ó te zo to va bu ga te
vile púlu. zoitie to 6e na ſeɛzu, ó te ſe
ga woo yowóa yie napi wo te wo. é boni ga
é ſeni nii ſeɛzu ga é baa la gala ma. kè
nii ſavele luoí mazaſu ma é vœ sa ná zui
va te beteni. naza 12 ſa é ſeni mohama ya.

mohama yowói bóló kele ge ſeni ga makaa
veaitie. te Yiliini ſelea va bá ta ná kala-
boġi, te ſata ta ſala polo-zayagiti mavaa
va. kwenagi 629 zu sa, zée leve makaa
veaitie va é ſe ga tai na maazu-vaa-wo nu.
é ſe sa su-alebia veaitie bogope te ſe bú
ga velei zée leveni la numaitie va koo zu.
na yee luo vele é kœni ná gala zekegi ziti
numai zoitie lamaa ma te maa woozai ſe.

é kœni mākaa maazu ga kwena saago, see-
6e páa sa. é ſeni ga kwena 63.

mohama, luo velei

mohama luo velei ſeni ga fai yila é kœ-
ni ná gala zekegi loo zei ga kpaanaga.

mohama ſeni ga zee zu-baa wū-tuo nu. ó
yee zie numaa zu é te leve.

mohama ſeni ga nui é le bega zili vea
Yaazu maa-wōi ſa ta niitie to faa vœ bá.
ó te vaa titi ani to 6e na wōi ſeɛzu to ſe
bú.

é ſeni ga faa-nœ-nœ nu, na ſa ſe na
é boni ga nu po ka ga kaala yila.

mohama ſeni ga nui taaliai ſeteai vai-
ſee vele zu. é navolo wœa vaa boga toga
é te beteni.

mohama ſeni ga nui gala tuo bapai zéea.
ó yi gaa zie gala faa ma ga kpakpaa yie
gala feli.

mohama ſeni ga nui é le bega ziyi ſe

-2-

-3-

vaa wulu. na ya ga faa ta le bega ke 3
ziyi yeë vaa wulu.

mohama na gala zekegi wulove tuo velei
taniga zu, towaa kaalai le é pele le netea
yekegi zu. Yee ta towaa va bu ga te nu-
maitie yele gbede te ye ga zeli-wo bea.
pileg gala felia va ta gala zeke-keë vai-
maazu-vetagi.

Jekta maa veli fa'

mohama é aleebia veaitie ta netea maa
velini ga tamaa. taniga ta ga:

mohama letele koi beani ga pilegei ye
nu-vaa-vaa va kaalai nii zu wolo te nu
vaa su mawui-wulo vaa zu.

mohama duuyê-paa vai beani ga zalaya-
wulo vaa zu.

é kœni nazaïtie tie po neni zolo wo.

é boni ga to ga gaama ga te numai nii-
tie vaa to be yee zeizu zeli-wo fai wu.
(kè te kpeteni ga kolai maa veaitie boga
dusiitie te me le natie vaa. te navolo
wec no.)

é kpa teani doo-bôale vaa ma.

é naza liigoi nu ya sei é kwêc teveni
ga naago ani no manu 3 te yaazo te maazu
vete ga tii. (kê é boni ga to yagi le
veoni te ya. 3 zoo é naza zei é leve 4 va.)

é kwenà-dodo pele niinë maala leveni.

na ya yeë na è to tamaa beteni è vile
netea-yeë velei va, è ye velei navolo-weë
vai la ta neni-zolo-wo pele è veë naza-
wulo vaa va è li sa la ga luo velei.

kolâgi

?mohama kœni ye le togi niitie yaazo
veë ná ki-gaa-zioitie va tie te wée? é
te woneni kolo ma é tili ga kolã. nii zu-

wulo-zu ya ga dodogi, towaa é ga zeli-wo
beaitie ta do yala koloi.

kolãgi yaa wéeve su ga toso 114, taniga
te zu woozage, taniga te zu buoai. toso gi-
lagi ya ga mohama boo yeelawoi. kè tosove
zoitie yaazo ta ga nii é bošu ga gala ka é
te woni è ye velei gala ta yeelai geebolo
dœni la ga mohama.

mohama ye keela woi niitie woge yalabu
woi zu, nii é ga mohama laa zii woi. na ma
ta yalabu woi lili ga gala daa zii woi, zii
woi nii maa wuai.

é le yeë ga fai ya wulo ga nu ga tei mo-
hama é kolai maa vea wœni ta dusia, maa
nec de yele gala koloi-zu vaa lamaa va kolã-
gi zu. su-vai niitie boofoo ta ga è ye ve-
lei gala ge zui beteni la è veë dusiitie te
mavaa wolo-zayagi taniga va.

kolàgi ya faa wosu è vile gala ba.

towaa de ga gala ka yilekpu, gwala bakpai.

towaa de ga faa yowù boga faa vago te wu-

Toni gala zeea.

towaa de ga gala ka tii ye nu buse na ne-
tea zu.

towaa de ga gala ka faa yaa leve ga folo
yaa-bela foloi. kè to wono a na ye na luo
é de ga nii é vaazu yeezu ga nu na neteai
zu.

kolàgi ya faa wosu è vile daa-nowo-wo na-
dalay va yie de ga nadi vè nu ya laa-nowo
wo ná.

kolàgi ya faa wosu wono è vile gala ta-
va, yie bo ga zie yaa-sekaga ta na, doo ná
nii le nu zoga, gulua te na, gulu vaani te
na, naza nu vapaga te na, ná ga nadi nu ya
ye ná nu niinë wolo zu wo.

to dooluo

to tamaa ya kolàgi zu e vile netea-yeë
velei va. togi niitie zu, dooluo ya è ná

-4-

-5-

booloi. ta ga:

1--kèni yà mavaa zi yi ga gaama.

2--kèni yà gala feli.

3--kèni yà faa-nèè yè.

4--kèni yà vili zi su.

5--kèni yà li makaa.

niitiè te zu-wulo-zu ya ga:

1-kèni yà mavaa zi yi ga gaama. kèni
nui nèpè è ga zèli-wo nu è yee zei zee-la-
ma velei nii wu: "gala tabono ge le nà
è wulo galagi wulu (na ya ga ala); mo-
hama ya è ga dàa woo-wo nui."

2-kèni yà gala feli. kèni zèli-wo nu
nèpè ka gala feli pele mazii ta zu vele.
kèni yà nii yèèla yè loolu folo ma: 1-
gela ya bo na ga niine; 2-foloi ya ko ga-
le na ga ta wolo; 3-foloyai ó teya vee
looózu; 4-foloyai ya too na no; 5-fitili
ka yè na puuzu.

gala feliai to yagi ó teya yè yèezu
kèni nu ya yaazu wuo ta zee(è ziti zee-
booolave) è vee kowo ya.

seeze-wo nui ya gala-feli ziègi ma-
zeeze wo.

gala feliai ya yè zuwā zeyè ma.

kèni nui ya yaazu wote makaa wo vele.

kèni nui ya yèezu gala-feli ziègi zu.

kèni gala feliai wulo kolàgi zu.

dowo wala volo nu pè ka li ga folo
gaa-lo-ga zèli-wo kwòtai wu. ta na gala
felizu, malo-tuo ya yèè nà nii yà gala
goi wo.

3-kèni yà vili zi su. zèli-wo nu nèpè
page è vili zi gaa-wuai zu yalogi lama-
dà zu, na ya ga yalogi zu kolàgi mavaa
wuuni la mohama yaazu.

Yalogi nii yee wu zèli-wo beaitie te
le laa mia è zi yi subu ma è loo kpoko
Ya lei-lei ma. ta laa mi ga kpidi.

ani ta yè na zìezu oo tìè zeebè, ta
zoo te vili zìgi zu sìè tabono su.

-6-

ani nui le yèni vilini zìgi zu, towaa
zoo è faa-nèè yè nòole nu ve ga zi doi. kè
pa kelei ya ga nui vili zìgi yàgi zu.

Yee ta è wèles na va ga lamadà zu zìgi
le zitiè siè gilogì no ma kwenagi zu. nii
zu-wulo-zu ya ga mohama kwena-dodo pelei maa
velige da dei va. ó yalogi lodo ga siègi
Yalogi ó laa la geezu è zi yi na ma è loo sì-
gi na ma zoi yalogi ya laa la. è yè sa tea
Yalo 12 ya è kwena gila su.

Kè ani yà yalogi lodo na ngà na, yà wèle
na va ga yà yè woza vilizu kùlòogi zu yìè
molo leve liè-lièi zu. nii ya ga gaama, bo-
velaale yàlo tiigoi è foloi mawenagi zu to-
waa leve yalo 12 va te laa velei ma geezu.
Yalo 13 ya yà yè kwenagi zu, na ya ga folo
365. na wulo su, kpala-ga-lii-yèè ziègi,
sama yìè, e vèc kòole-vaa ziègi va, to zoo
te leve foloi mawenagi zu. na ma da kwenagi
lodoge ziyi foloi na kwenagi la, na ya ga
folo 365. na ya yèè na de gàa wè su ga yalo
12. kè velei ya wèle la ba yalo koloi zú,
Yalo 12 niitiè te zu le ga zèli-sèli è yè
velei yalogi ya laa la geezu. na ma lamadà
Ya va ga maa vileà kwènà gile-giledai zu.

4-kèni yà faa-nèè yè. maa nèè zèli-wo
nu nèpè ge weligi ta wè. taniga ta yè ga
nii gala zeke-kèè lo-tuoitiè ta bo mà ga è
fé. tà bo mà ga è fe ga kwena nèpè.

na ya wulo na su kèni yà siyi yìi ma è na-
volo ve numaa ya niitiè te balaì oo è fe
gala zeke-kèè lii vaa ma.

5-kèni yà li makaa. maa nèève zèli-wo nu
nèpè ge liila yè yìle makaa nà jetèai zu nii
è ga tai maa wuai, anì mazobo ka yè na bè.

na zu-wulo-zu ya gà anì towaa zòo è sìsi
manavolo zolo wo, na ya yèè na è zòo è bala
zo wo pèle-wu vea ma.

yà ziti na makaa, niitiè ya te ga baa vaa
ga è kè:

kèni yà wuo è gala feli.

-7-

kèni yà yogbo felègo loo wo ba nii
solo po ge le γεε bá.

kèni yà kowo-ya-woloi wulo wowo ya.

kèni nu wùgi me le wo, zée zàigitiè
te me le leve.

kèni nu li zèli-wo kwota walai wu.

kèni nu laa vèè kwoti leigi va.

kèni ya gala-zeke-keè nèni maa litèda
γe lofela.

kèni yà li gala-zeke-keè nàdalava zo
lavàtie.

kèni yà gizi walai safa le, na ya γee
na è bize nà boga gizi walai mawa
te yoozu na zèi-zu γe lofela.

kèni yà gala goi meni.

kèni yà nii nàdcivè nà laa ga muzi-
dalifa.

kèni yà kwoti vili sebe saagoitis ma
te mina.

kèni yà zalava wulo.

towaa tuuyiè maa zolo wo ta towo vago
fai nii γaazo-γee vaa ma.

## zèli-wo fai γezège zu zu

zèli-wo fai γezège zui γaazo zu gaa-
baa maazu ta maa-nec-nec. zèli-wo bea la-
maa te nu zolo voga è vee te va ga velei
to te zo da koo zu tie te γele gbede ga
te wolo te vè.

kè zèli-wo misiligitie ta γaa baazu ba-
laa ga te zoitinè maa nec-nec ga te yee zei
ta γala-zeke-keè velei wu.

zai nènii zu zèli-wo fai zu baavè alee-
bia yui zu na do vele bocoota ma ta afeleka
e vee èdia va.

## zèli-wo fai boga kolai mawui

yà zoo è wele ná va ga faa vii boc ga
zèli-wo fai boga kolai mawai te le ga γa-
vele.

-8-

kolai maa veaitie ta bosu ga kolai ya
è ga gala duu yilekpugi nii è γeèni ga nu
buse. na ya γee na kolai ya ga pelei è ga
gaamai è ga zevui nu γaazo vaa ma ta yee-
la-mai zaala zu, sai mazaou ma è boni pèè-
pulu-wulu likpii ma ta bu-ziyii è boni saa
ya.

zèli-wo beaitie ta bosu ga kolai le ga
gala duu. ta bosu ga te le kpakoni pèè-
pulu-wulu likpii ma, kè púlu veaitie te
siyini te nu bono kpakpo po ga. ta bosu ga
mohama ya è ga gala daa woo-wo nu bococogi.

to mú faa lamaa ya na maa veligei, kè
niitis ya te ga mawùgi.

-9-

tuo vaa wo

gala dui ziiize yeni beteai zu yie
mole numaitie ve. e faa lamaa yeeni
te ve. e laa liini te ma, e laa wolo
te wo. e ta zeebaitie valoni te ma e
te yala bo e vile gala ba.

ziiize yeni ga kala-moo vago. e
boeni numaitie wo ga gaa-wodoa. e
boeni goi yaa yaazu le yeni baani.
e faa ta yee ni e love na va, na ya
ga e te yala boni e vile gala ba ga
pelei nu ta nespe le yeni wolo te yala
boni la. Ó nii ye bovelaale e yeni
ga gala duu. e yeni ga keea gala
kweega.

e yeni ga folo yila tei ziiize
yeni numaitie yala bosu, zo lopo
yila ge ye ma, "kala-moo, zebε ya
ga ke ge wolo-wolo yavui zolo wo?"
ziiize ye ma, "zebe ya poni ga togi?
ya dodo ye le?"

zunui gaa wote e ye tea, "wa woí
ga wo yeea gala ga wo yigi zu bogoe
ta wo luo velei bogoe su e veε wa
yaa-bai bogoe ba! keni wa woí ga wo
wo kui-zu veaitie e ye velei wo boo
woíni la."

ziiize ye ma, "e gaa wotega ga
gaama. nii ye ya zavu zolo wo."

na yeszu zunui ye ziiize ma, "be
ya e ga po kui-zu nu?"

dodo ke leí e kwé velei ziiize gaa
woteni la.

e yeni ga folo yila tei ziiize
yeni nui taniga yala bosu, zo lo-
po yila ge ye ma, "be ya e ga po
kui-zu nu?" ziiize gaa wote ga
sakpe.

2

ziiize ye tea, "zunu ta yeni lii-
zu sìe ma."

11

tei ziize woloni, e ye gaa-zaya-
kee-wo nui ma, "e yi su zinaa
saagai nutie zu, be ya e yeni
ga zunui dowai ye po kui-zu nu?

12

zunui é gaa-zaya-kei woni e ye
tea, "nui e gaazu maa-woi yaani."
ziize ye ma, "li è ke na na."

gaa belagi

kolo-lodo beaitie ga sa gaa-zaya-
kei nii vilisu wo ma; be ya e ga è
wo kui zu nui? nui bogope ka e ga è
wo kui zu nu. nui bogope.

samalia nui le yeni de wolo weleni
zunui va te nada zeini ba. ke zunui
te nada zeini ba e yeni balani ga nu
ta e bo ba. na vaa ma samalia nui bo-
ni ba. e gulo wuuni na palaitie ya ta
sale e te yaa yili. e sei na soo
vaalegi wo ma e lii la taa zu. tei te
ziilini na, e yilini bala zoga va ma.
na wulu zubui fe tei samalia nui o li
na sici ma. ke e le yee wuloni zunui
vaa zu te dowani. e navolo veeni wass
vela maazu-vete nui ya e bo ma ga e
bala zo zunui ma te dowani. e bo ma
ga nii nepa ya kwes faa ma ga vaa na
wulu ga ya dei wulo su.

ziize ye zunui ma, é gaa-zaya-kei
woni, "li e ke na na." ziize ya daa-
ma dai wosu de ma. to bosu de ma ga
de li de bo nui bogope ba, e le no ga
numaitie te ya velei wu, e le no ga
numaitie te e wo kui zu, e le no ga
numaitie te ya lai zu, e le no ga nu-
maitie te ya yui zu. e le no ga nu-
maitie te ga loomaga. ziize ya bosu
de ma sakpegi nii zu ga de bo nu
bogope ba --- niitie de woî te ma ta
niitie de woî le te ma, niitie de te
weni ta niitie de le te weni. bove-
laale nu bogope ka ga de wo kui-zu nu.

Nu ta nape go vaa wu zivizu, é
wu zivini é ná sereitíe wu boji
zu é gili é leve sa é li.

Jô Somo liini kpetea. Vele vaa mavai
væsni la: Voloi GooGoogi no te kolo va-
lsi laa wuluni la doowo fai ma, Jô Somo
boga boi ta te væni liizu ná pelsi la, é
væ na ma, "Gà yiizu gè ys Zeze va."

Zeze va é vani ga Jô Somo disi nii é
vani tii vassu Maloovia. Zeze liini de
wolo vss Maloovia ga é li na kolo vole wu.
Na mazia su kolo vole ls ñeni de pó taa
zu. Na ma é liini kpetea é ys boi ta
va yís li kolo vole wu kss vaa ma é kele-
yele maa zolo wo. Tei é woloni kolo lo-
savai ma, é tii zolo woni é ys sa Maloo-
via.

Jô Somo na sereitis wuoni é te vss
foloi va ga te wo. Tei dee tilini na
mabokoi ga é laa mi é vani ma, "Tei towo
sa te kolo velsi laa wuluga, vss woza-
woga va nina."

Jô Somo to vilekpu no va dee yee lai
vs ma. Keea ls ñeni sa petea. Tei towo
dis vani kpetea, to vilekpu no sa ó zoo
é tii vs dee vs.

È ls ñeni boni dee ma ga to yiizu
kpetea. È vani ga kwessga ga dee ls be-
ga ks ó va bu ga é li. Na ma nu ta nape
go vss wu zivizu na wulu zubui, é wu
zivini é ná sereitis wu boji zu é gili
é leve sa é li. È ls velini nu ta nape
ma.

Tei é ziitini Zozoo, é kaa-zis nu ta
maa nsseni ga na lii la Maloovia. È
vani tea, "Gà liizu kpetea Zeze wo vs.
Da ziiti na towa kaa voonsi ve."

Kaa-zis nui vaani bu, bovelaale é
vani ga kwessga ga Zeze va tii vassu Ma-
loovia. Tei te ziitini, Jô Somo liini
dis wo vss é vs ma, "Gè vaa ga gè ys è
va gis li vs kolo vole wu. De lee va

-3-

é tèvega. Gà le ds kaa-zis nui vonsi veeni, na ma kai mavoonsi ve kai ..."

Zeze devei vols fai wuloni la. 8
ls yæni kwæni ga pela ya é boni. Na ma
é navoloi veeni zèea.

Tei Jò Somo Jee manini baolo vels
wu veaitis la ga e lii bocca zels
ge vilini ma. 8 le gæni kwæli ga uji
ò ks, toku ge zei ga nu napsa le gæni
na ga é kpala-ga lii ys bé.

Na wulu voloi é welsni naza nu ta va
nii é yæni yavele batazu ga é li kpetea
sinigi wo vs é yæni na kpedsi wu. E
yæni ma, "Yà wels na Zeze va, bo ma ga
é Somo leve wulu é nà kpala-ga lii ys."
Daza nui li sa. Kà é le keela woi woni
Zeze ma, bovelaale sinigi le yæni zeini
Maloovia.

Jò Somo deveni ga é tii yaa zis Dulu
Kolo taa zu, bovelaale é menini ga nu
ya navolo lamaa zolo wo na. E boni dis
ma ga to liizu é tii yaa zis. Kà é yæni
tii yaa ziszu ga gela-bo pele vile-gile
towo é le ta zolo woni. Nu ta napsa ga
le yæni wøi yæzu ó kolo vels wu nu ziyi
ga é tii ys bé. To mu folo nu lamaa
yæni tii yaa ziszu na mazis su, towo te
le yæni ta zolo wosu.

Tei te kolo velsi laa laoni kono, Jò
Somo liini ga te ná daa-zeigi zivi ga
yís li kolo vels wu. Te boni ma ga yís
li kolo vels wu ga kpoko volo, toku ge
zei ga lopaitis lamagsi ys. Kala-moi
boni te ma ga kæni navolo ya ys te ya
ta weloitis vaa ma ta seve zii gilagi
nii ó vs te pe te ma. Na yæni ga kaaki
zeve boga mavels kpuo.

Jò liini navoloi vaa ma dis wo vs.
Zeze deeni zèea, kò zit le yæni laani

-4

mavaa zu.

È yæni nazaï ma, "Zsòsi é kss gé lee
yís Somo leve pò vs? ? Kolo vels ya vaa
ve é le gé wo tao zu é vaazu yssu vs?
Gà le navolo lamaa zolo wosu, towo kpoo
leaitis te zèea kolo velsi wu. Wels,
yæni gà kòlo kulo gè navolo ve wono ná
seveitis vaa ma ta ná koloitis. Maa
nsi vs é ys gé wo taa zu é 6o gé lee va
é kpala-ga lii vs. Na ó zolowo é leve
páa vai va kpeteavs vs."

È yæni sa ga folo gila zunu ta va
ga kolo Zeze wo. Dee ya é keela leveni.
È boni ma ga Jò Somo vela ya é boga,
maa nassv é li wulu ga maa vilea.

Tei Jò Somo wuloni kolo vels wu é va
ga kpokoi na, Zeze yii yaa wàlani zèea
ga kavele teego. È boni ma ga towaa
pili kaa zu na wulu volo é teve wulu.
Somo pee veeni, kò Zeze le vaani bu.
To mu zii wala yaa wàlani no.

Na wulu volo zeze kaa voonsi veeni
zèea é bo ma ga é li. Zeze li sa ga é
tii ys.

Jò Somo wuloni sa pelsi va. È lii-
ni zis laave ga é Zozoo kaa yaa zis.
È yæni loni na yis wels numaitis va
tis ta yasoi wu kaitis zu. Kè ná dei
é le kæni ó vili kai ta zu. Maloovia
wòi yæni ma. Ani ó lii na wo taa zu,
pkala-ga lii no ya ó vs kæzu, towo é
le yæni wòini ó na vs.

È vi gaa ziseni yís bo vigi zu yís
vs tea, "Gà liizu kolo vels wu. Kpala-
ga lii le mawaa ma. Gè wòini gè ys
vs gè wolo kolo ma gis sa tii vs wofi-
sii ta zu."

È yæni no loni na é wels baa wolo
vels wu veaitis taniga va tis leve.

-5-

Eletuisiti malaboi ta všeni lumui zu ta luidisi ta. Na nšeni Kulušo vsa ga vikes.

E loni na yá lobi vaa lc na zo é gaa woola kono na livi.

-8-

Kulušo liini kpeteavs. É ls všeni wöini ó li, toku ge zei ga é ls všeni de volo liini kpetea. É všeni luozu. Bai-tus lamaa te liini sa na. Natis wo te všeni gaaazu ma duoi vaa ma é všeni bosu.

Te všeni ma, "Ani yà lli na kpeteavs, na wöi ya woolo è ma sa volo ga è le wöi yas ga é li wulu wo taa zu è ya na."

Kulušo poe nui Moluša všeni tii yaaazu Bomi Hee. Towa é keela leveni tuo ga é li po vs. Na ma toli Kulušo wo taa zu veaitis taniga te všeni liizu Maloovia, é všeni te va ta tionsi te li. Tei te ziitini na, taitis ta tionsi te liini na-tis ya te daa-zu všeni. Na wulu voloi é vilini sa kan zu é li Bomi Hee.

Fai yaazo mavaa wuloai ya no Kulušo yaazu ga faa niins. To mu folo tei te ziitini Maloovia kpidii na, faa niinsi yaazo é welsni ba é všeni maluo wosu ga kavele teego ga le volo všeni galaa wöi yaaazu ga é wulo kai zu é vile. É ya baitis ta le všeni mavaa gasoni, é le všeni kwessga ga zoi ó ks.

Köbei ya é pels wuloni Bomi Hee. Köbei na zui no ya pelsiGOO všeni ma. To ya ta poe nu te všeni bu. Lumu gila no ya é všeni te ya, kë Moluša lumui zu leveni ga gala é ya sa su ga lumu felego.

Eletuisiti malaboi ta všeni lumui zu ta luidisi ta. Na nšeni Kulušo vsa ga vikes. Dii volo bokoi na tei Moluša wuloni petea, é loni na yá laboi vaa le na zo é gaa woola kono na livi. Mavai maa volo-wolagsi gaaazu ga tamaa. Moluša boni ma ga tovaa elatuisiti malivi-vili wolui ta voca yís diyi-vili ga, kaa vaa ma é ms le ya laa loozu ntabu-loo vaa zu ga yee naps. É všeni ma, "Kovi zolo-wosu gaaavës ya." Nii wuloni.

-9-

ga Kulu6o ga kavele teego, toku ge zei
ga kovi vala ga le loa nu ta napsa ma
te wo taa zu.

O lii na taa zu ga sis napsa, soolaa
vapa tama-lamagitis te ys podi-loo valsi-
tis wu te mavai o wulo la ga kpakpaa.
O wale woi-ys-ma geni lamaa va. Yee
ta o navolo vaa wo Moluba ma ga na fe
zeea é seve niins yeea la oo koko niins.
Molu6a o navolo ve zeea ga sis napsa,
6ovslaale é yeni ga kw6aga ga Kulu6o is
navolo loo no ga gaa-vala pele ba.

To mu folo navolo liigoi na to do
penii niitis wulu ts le bega geea te wo
taa zu na mavai wala looni ba. Keni to
kovi yeea, te gulu-wulu geea, moloi na
do lei sa da bo. penii yaazo yeni ga
navolo, towo te ta napsa s6wo le geni
looni bu.

Tei é nii mayili zayani poo nu ma,
na yeni ma, "Da yaazu laa zis ga nada
ta vs ya zoo yis tulu kulo na. Na ya
ysa na da sa da daa-mii gani zolo wo
6oo vaa ma, yee ta volo ta wulo na wulu
6alaa ga yis s6wo wulo dowoi zu." Nii
mawoi yaa nasi ga Kulu6o.

Kè fai taniga te yèni na ts le Kulu-
6o yil laani. Numaitis te yèni 6uwui zu
te yèni ga zii laali-taalì tamaa. Looma
nazaa vile-gile no ya maa 6uai vs ba.
Towo é le bega zoo ó yapsa nazai zoitis
wo keni no ó 6os te wo ga wui goo vile-
gilegi na é maa wolini. Na ya wulo na
su, nazaitis taniga to ys kpos laa les-
zu yil wu, 6ovslaale mavaa wuloai ys ga
nui ta ó 6e na yaszu ga boi mazii ta é
le bega laa la.

Kè tei sa Kulu6o la wolo lebini na,
ta boga Looma nazai zoitis te nasi.

-10-

To li sa tis laali yil ma ga folo siagi
zu te wu veaitis to yee la tii yes-zuve.

Kulu6o welsni na va ga baitis lamaa
te yeni tuo niins zivizu. To va na
zee6azu ts le boga li zowea wo ó no ys
ga ta yagi to li te tife wulo 6oo vaa
ma. Kè to li sole velsi la. To daa-
mii gani niinca mazimiga lesni ga Kulu-
6o, na ya ga niitis to li tis te yee
podi-loo valsitis wu, towo é te 6ets
velei maa woli sa. E yeni na maa-w6i-
w6i kulozu ga é tuo niinsi niitis vala-
ma w6o.

Daza nu vile ge vaani ga yee ta é
ys ma, "Va dii V6i taa zu Gala pels wu."
Kulu6o le gani ds wolo liini vile Gala
pels wu. Na ya te Gala daa-maa-les wui-
tis looni na Gala goo-wo nui wo ge wu
zivi sa é lo é kolo ta lodo é faa lamaa
zu wulo sa é vile Gala ba.

Kulu6o le gani ds tamaa yaa vaani ga
maa wu pa. Kè ó vilini lia va na ga
dowo napsa. To mu folo é boni Moluba
ma ga maa nasea na yis li na to 6alaa.
Tei sa é lebini Goeizu Moluba la ga fai
nii, na vasi sa lia va Gala pels wu.

Tei sa valo gile-gile ge leveni, to
ps Moluba ps te vasi numaitis va te
yeni kelasii nii zu te yeni faa maa
wolizu su ga te Gala zis wu te wûmo.
Faa niinsi te maa wolini Gala pelsi wu
é vile Ziiza Kolai va é te yil laani
tis sa w6i ys ga te va ga pulu vea.

Kulu6o vasi sa Looma koloi maa-
wolia va, Ksi na te wo taa zu é welsni
sinaitis taniga va tis kolo lodo, kè
ná ki-gaa-zisi yeni no wo ga na le na-
zaitis vaa ma. Towo kolo-lodogai yaa
wala nsi va sa la. To mu folo pasetai
boni te ma ga ani ta Looma koloi lodoga

-11-

maa woli na, ta sa ta te yala bo ga te
wui koloi lodo.

È yeni ga folo gila nu ta va ga kee-
la woo Kulufo wo ga dee ya zee6e2zu, keni
a li wulu wo taa zu. Zii-2s1s ge yeni
ma é vile dee mavai va. È yavele 6ets-
ni sa ga é wu ziyi na wulu zubui.

È velini sa poo nu ma yíó yé ma,
"Gà sa liizu gè wals na va ga velei na
vaitis te yé2zu la. Kè gá la lebisu na.
Su la lebisu è wals bà yé."

Tei sa Kulufo yani vilisu kai zu ga
é le, kigi looni na zu ga velei é yani
luozu la, tei ds é vaani kpeteavs. È
looni sa ga na laa ga baitis te na yani
na luo te bo ma ga gaama vele.

Na ya ga tei te yani ma, "Yà yíi na
kpetea yà na wala wói yé folo sa ga è la
wói yé2 ga è va wulu wo taa zu ga è yé
na."

+++++

-12-

è kwěni ye le

By

Wesley Sadler

Woozi

1200

Sepetember, 1954

36

è kwěni ye le

è yeni ga folo yila gè wle zunu
ta va zozoo. gè pateni boc no gè kwèè
ga to ga zowo bovelaale saleitie te ye
zeleni ma. salei taniga te yeni mela
zu, taniga te yeni gbodolo su.

yà wle na zunu ta va yie va pelei
ma maa yiliai ga peelu zeye, nu lamaa
pulu, ya kwèè ga to ga masa gwala.

yà wle na zunu va yie li doboi zu
ga kpidi, kpede zéea ta kpidi labo,
yà kwèè ga to ga doso.

yà wle na zunu va zeini kalagi
ya yie looma kolo lodo, yà kwèè ga to
ga kolo-lodo nu.

yà wle na nazaa va tis li ziave tie
li ga tumoi, ya kwèè ga ta ga feza-
kpas vea.

yà wle na nu va yie li nai kwota
la yie li ga file, ta bai, e vee tiyi
va, ya kwèè ga to ga kolu-nai nu.

yà wle na zunu va zeini seye-zolo
kolu ma yie seye zolo e vee wle ba,
yà kwèè ga to ga seye-zolo nu.

1

2

yà wèle na nu va yìè zìè sìi yìè pelei yaa zìè luo ga nà tukpoi, ya kwěè ga to ga gaazu-wuu nu.

yà wèle na nu va yìè yee zìè yǎi zu, ya kwěè ga to ga nàda-bèè nu.

yà wèle na zunu va yìè pèle lo, ya kwěè ga to ga pèle-lo nu.

yà wèle na naza nu va ko ge ba, ya kwěè ga to vaazu duu yaazu.

yà wèle na nu ta va yìè leve taa zu yìè zeeze, yà kwěè ga to ga seeze-wo nu.

yà wèle na zunu va maa yilai sòdasi zeye ma yìè li ga kpede, ya kwěè ga to ga sòdasi.

yà wèle na naza nu va yìè nini lo dui la, ya kwěè ga to ga duu dee.

yà wèle na nu va è kpeewa ya, èè é kpidi wèle wu, ya kwěè ga è faa yowù yèni.

3

yà wèle na nu va yie li sale vèlei
la bebe zu, yà kwèè ga to zeebezu.

yà wèle na tii-ye nu va sale vèlei
la yie seèbe vèa valo, yà kwèè ga to ga
nu-valo nu.

yà wèle na nu va maa yiliai ga seye-
zaya ga folo nèpe, ya kwèè ga to ga
moolè nu.

yà wèle na nu ta va yie kpee loo, yà
kwèè ga kùu zu le nèeni.

yà wèle na nu va yie kaba yèye leve,
yà kwèè ga nu ta zaani.

yà wèle na numaa va tis yaa wo, yà
kwèè ga te wuu zu nèeni.

nu ya niks vaa na, yà kwèè ga nu
taniga ta daba lamaa mi.

tinei ya laa le na pua wu ga folo
nepè, yà kwèè ga sama yie vaa.

yà ti ta meni na gee-zuve, yà kwèè
ga gove dède ve.

ani nu ya gaa-vala-ba wulo na ga
nabu folo-nee zu, yà kwèè ga pele ya
yala, oo tai bogope.

4

5

yà wele na nu ta va, nii e ga zìize
nu, yà kwěe ye le ga to ga zìize nu?

fai nii bogope gè poneni maazu, è
te wěni faa-menì faa zaala zu, oo faa-
vete faa. nii è yeszu è kwèni faa-menì
faa zaala zu ta faa-vete faa. yà nu
luo velei wèè yelei manui ya bo da e
vee velei va yà kèè la.

na vaa ma yà zììze nu wèè tuo velei
zaala zu, na ya ga nii zììze nu ya bo
ta nii ya kò towaa de ga yìe anì manui
ya ga zììze nu.

ani yà wele na nu ta va yìe sale
bete ga è faa wo ma, yà kwèè ga è le
ga zììze nu.

yà wele na nu va yìe govei wo, yà
kwèè ga è le zììze mavaa ziyini ga
gaama kpowũ.

yà wele na nu va yìe wùmo wo, yà
kwèè ga è le zììzu ga gala na tagitis.

yà meni na nu ta yìe koto loo, oo
yìe zeevaa wo, yà kwèè ga è le zììzu
ga gala na kala-bo goitis.

6

yee ta nu taniga te bataize-yes vai
zolo woni ta maa-vii vai, te le lua e
ye velei ziize nu ya kss la. e yoni
ga yee ta nui nii mazii ta yoni leve-
tevesu wotaa zu. è weleni kawoloi va
polo-zayagi ga viks moolsi. manui
kwèni ye ga nu ta nepe ga le kawoloi
ya ga e wele maazu va. kawoloi nii e
ziize nui nii yaa-zaya kseni ga è bo
ba, kè ziize nui yeleni ba. zunui nii
yeni ga ziize nu boobo? mayaa-wotegi
ya ga -- ba.

zunui ya bosu·kawoloi va ga
kovi lamaa

7

yāi è ga zìiṣe nu --- ma nɛs è woi
e vɛs è yɛs vai va te de ga numaa wɔ
ga yā ga zìiṣe nu. numai niitie te lɛ
de ga zìiṣe nu ta, ta sa welezu è yɛs
vai zu va ga siɛ nɛpe. te wōini te
pete velei zìiṣe nu ya kɛs la. te
wōini te meni nii zìiṣe nu ya bo. ani
yā kɛs na ga pago, è wele zoitie maazu
va ga pago yiɛ bɔ tiɛ yiɛ woo vagoi wo
e vile te va, te yii ya lɔ ga te yɛ ga
zìiṣe nu.

kə ani ta wele na è va yiɛ faa yowǔ
yɛ, ani ta meni na è faa yowǔ wo e
vile zoitie va, ta bo yiini ma, abe
vaa zu gá yé ga ziiże nu? ziiże nui
gé pɛtɛni gégói meni é lɛ ga nu vago\è leve niitie va te lɛ de vileni ziiże
wulu."

yai e ga ziiże nu --- gala kolɔi ya
bosu yiɛ ga numaitie ta kwěe ga yā ga
ziiże nu è luo velei zaala zu. ta kwěe
ga yā ga ziiże nu è woi zaala zu ta è
γεε vai.

è luo velei vage? yā ga wǔ tuo nu
faa vago vaa ma è wɔ taa zu? yā ga wǔ
tuo nu ga è ná vete ga faa yowǔ mɛ lɛ
γe?

8

taitie te faa yowǔ yɛni ga yiɛ --
--- ta vaa na è wɔ ga ki pago tiɛ è
yaa-zaya kɛ ga è te zu vaa yɛ --- yā
te zu vaa yɛ? oɔ yā te wote è te
leve? yā yaa baa ga folo nɛpe ga è
bɔ zoitie va? numaitie te è wɔ taa
zu --- te kwěni ga yā ga kpo-ba-wo nu?

yai e ga ziiże nu --- nu liide ya
e zii looni ga te li gala pelai wu
gala faa-meni faa ma? è nu liide
yala boni e vile gala ba ta dui ziiże?
yā ga ziiże nu, na vaa ma to ga yā
lii ga è faa vagoi niitie yɛ.

maa nɛs è gala feli dui ziiże na
daa-zeigi zu ga è kele-yele fè e ya
ta zee-la-ma walai e vɛs wǒi lai va.
gala ka ná gaa-bai leve è wɔ. ná
gaa-bai zaala zu yá zoo è faa vago
bogope kɛ. gala feli wɔ dúi ziiże
na daa-zeigi zu. gala feli wɔ ga
zee-la-mai.

9

tei nui b ogope go yavelo beteni, te
yilini ta zieli woga va ga te li pele-
veegei weesgi ma. yakpazuo yeni kono
loni tolokii zu.

kpidi zaama maa buoni tei tolokii
maa buoni siili-zuve weesgi ma. numai-
tie te boloni, nii-woi te ma, te woini
te ziili ga maa vilea. te lotoni boo
no tai va e yeni ga pele-veegei weesgi,
toloki wowoi e yeni na luove nu yee-za
su vele, e wulo tolokii va te lei zu.
nii yeeni tei e yeni levesu ga tolokii
pele biinegi zu. tolokii wuuni e
yakpazuo vili powu e loo wiii ma.

nui bogope su wuuni ba tie luo tie
laa wolo ga woo wala tie loba. numai-
tie te yeni taa zu te na woomenini tie
va ga kpize. te yopo-yapagi zu woolo-
ni. tei numaitie te yeni yeszu viiyi,
te gila ge weleni yakpazuo va laani
zuwava fiyiligei. e zoitis taniga
lilini te yakpazuo wu ziyi ga pago te
lii la pelei ma ve na wodoai ye. dayita
vaani na kai zu. numaitie te gaa-zaya
ke ga e wele yakpazuo va. dayitai
vaani bu. tei e woloni, e toloki-zie
nui yaa-zaya keseni e ye ma, "mine ya
zunui nii yeni liizu na? e zunui nii
weni? na wee vagoi ta nepe ka ve?"

toloki-zie nui gaa woteni ga e le
yeni zunui weni, oo ve e yeni liizu
na. e ye dayitai ma, "ge kweni ga e
yeni liizu ga ta deyei te wui tai zu
pelei weesgi ma."

2

na yeszu no zunu ta le kpogi zu yele-
zeze e wele yakpazuo va laani e loba e
ye tea, "diei ya! zebे ya e yee ba?
нада zeive ba ga yowuwa? zebе ya e
yes ba?"

dayitai yaa woteni zunui ma e ye ma,
"ya ga die, kesee? na vage, e liisi
nada zeive ba ga yowuwa. ga lii la na
sale velei la. na le woozani. bo ba
de da na kai zu."

nu vikaa te boni ba te yakpažuo la
kai zu. te keseni ga pago kee vaa ma te
me le na nada-ye-bai ta wu ma. yakpazuo
yevu yeni su, ke fiyiligei ye. tei te
zitini sale velei la, te kuloni kai zu
te da bote ya. na yeszu dayitai yee ga
ba vetega ga pago. tei e woloni, e
yakpazuo deyei lilini e ye ma, "tei e
liisi. wuloni toloki zu, e looni wiii ma.
wele kuli walai nii va wiii va. e nada
zeini wii kpoloi va. dotoi ta nepe faa
le yeeni la. kai ta nepe ge le yaleni,
maa le zaya-zayani. be ba e ye ve. ga
maazu vete ga pago. ya wulo na boo no
fiyili dai zu, ga zoo ge ba vete ga pago."
yakpažuo deyei vaani bu.

yakpazuo le wuloni fiyili dai zu e
yesu e ye ga folo saago e ziyi faa
bawugi yes volo ma. dayitai yeni zeini
yakpazuo na botei woba. tei yakpazuo
yaazu laoni, yakpazuo laa wulugi luuuni,
ke goo le leeni. na yeszu o zoo e ye
tea ga woo wolo, "mine ya ge na? zebе
ya e yes?"

3

su keni pele yila no zu. ki ge le bega
ye faa ta npe su e vile boo va bawu
fai o vee yeezu. ke nii e yeni yeezu
la sa e kpogope gaa yaani. o su leve
kpe wo e su leve tuo wo. velei e yee
la bawu fai o vee yeezu e yeni sa kono
ye na.

tei yakpazuo boga deyei te zitini
taa walai zu, nii to leve ba no to vee
zitizu te wo taa zu, zunu ta vaani
yakpazuo wo e laa li ma. zunui yakpa-
zuo wešni ga gaa wodoa. ke yakpazuo yi
ge le yeni su. ke towo e laa liini
zunui ma e leve ba e li. tei te yoozu
woozani kii va, yakpazuo ye deyoi ma,
"be ya ga zunui nu?" deyei gaa wote e
ye tea, "ya laa masagi ya na." yakpa-
zuo ye tea, "e keeee!"

tei te yeni ziyingtai na zu, yakpa-
zuo boga deyei te leveni zinaa felego
va. ɛ̈ le deeni ga e te wešni, ke zinai
natie te yakpazuo wešni te le taa zu
tie bo numaitie ma ga, "yakpazuo wuu zu
fize laa woge nu va, na ya e kee ɛ̈ le
boeni ge wo."

nii le ŋeni ga gaama. te ni woni
bōvelaale te le ŋeni de faa menini e
vile yakpazuo na faa bawugi va e yeeni.

tei yakpazuo boga deyei te yeeni ga
lotoga te wo taa zu va, yakpazuo zu
wuuni ba. e ziyingtfaa bawugi yee volo
ma ga yakpazuo, ɛ̈ le ŋeni de nu ta npe
kwěeni, oo ki ge ye su. nui bogače

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mayaa yaa bidini la. ɛ̈ le ŋeni kwěni
nii o ye o ziti na po taa zu.

nii te leveni ba ga maa wu e yeni ga
nai kwota. nu vikaa te yeni bu. tei
yakpazuo boga deyei te loni nai kwotai
la, zinaitie te wuloni bu ga te tuo.
yakpazuo laa yeni toi e yaa baa ga e
luo e ye ya te weš. ka pulu wuloni,
bōvelaale tei zinaitie te liini wulu
nai kwotai wu te yeni yiini ma, "faa ta
ya yakpazuo va."

tei te zitini taa soobogi zu, zinaa
lamaa ta nazaanamaa e vee lopaa lamaa
va te yaa leeni ba yakpazuo ma ta deyoi
tie laa li te ma tie te luo. yakpazuo
laa yeeni toi e boe te wo ga tāmaa e
yaa baa e luo e ye e yeni te wěni.
naza nu yila ge looni kpogi zu ga e li e
yakpazuo luo. tei zoitis te wešni ba
te ziyingi tuo ga e leve, bōvelaale e
yenī ga yakpazuo naza. naza nui e laa
yeeni toi ga kuu-zu nāa yie yee zakpa
ga e tuo. e yilini yakpazuo na daa-
zeigi woga va ga goo-zu boe yie ye tea,
"kuu zu nāa e ga e vaa. kuu zu nāa e
ga e vaa." yakpazuo laa yeeni toi ma
e ye velei e kaeni la ga zoitis bogače
e ye ma, "maa, kuu zu nāa e ge wele
yie." naza nui lo no ye e yenī na,
daa-ye toigi bea e ye boo ma, "poo nui
ya. woi ya ma, ka e tuoni e ye velei
e zoitis luoni la. ɛ̈ le balaa tilini
ga na daa-zeigi, ka e ye no ma, 'maa'."
na yeezu e lite e bize e li na pelai
wu e loo na betei ya ga kpee.

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nui bogope e yeni na te weleni velei va yakpazuo e nazai luoni la. e wuloni ga tis. na yeesu nu ta e loponolo zei yakpazuo yee loko zu. yakpazuo yee yensi ma bebe e ye ma, "e vaa maa nesve. ya laa-zeigi?"

nii kseni nui bogope e yeni kpogi zu te lo kpe, bavelaale dui e yeni yakpazuo yee loko zu e yeni ga duu booboo. numaitis te weleni yiini gaa-zu va. te gila ge goo-zu-bbe wo yis ye tea, "faa ta ya yakpazuo va. wele velei va e nazaì luoga la. ë le neni balaa kpoò lui weseni."

kpidii na tei yakpazuo deyei yeni taa zu e nu lamaa woo menini tie gaa-zaya-kei nii wo tis ye tea, "zebe ya e yakpazuo va? na vaa ma na wulu zubui e po kui zu veaitis lilini nada yila ta vele walai wu e ye te ma, "yakpazuo bawu faa yensi la e nada zei wu kpoloi va. towaa zoo e yi gaa zis ga pago e deve wo e faa nepo gaa yaa. ke faa yila ka e le zooga o ke. to ga ki ge le yeni faa nepo su e yeseni la faa bawugi o vee yeesu la. ë le neni kweëni. ë le nenikweni ve e yeni na, oo na tai na daa-zeigi. tei wo tuoni nina, wo peteni ga ë le neni wo weseni. ë le neni balaa nazai weseni ta duì. yakpazuo loto zu wodove, su bai, kele-yelegei. ke faa yila no e ba --- to ga ki ge le yeni faa ta nepo su e vile boo va bawu fai o veë yeesu la tolokii zu. ke ge yi ka na ga towaa loo zu. dayitai boni ma ga ge va ga

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yakpazuo pulu yalo dozita yeewu kee yaa ma ë ba. vete kono. yee ta towaa balo. ga na ye bavelaale ge siyia ga gaama ga dayitai yele-yelege e ga nu vago, ya zoo e yakpazuo valo. na yoo-zuve a de yaa baa de bogope ga de ye ga nu vago mawaa ma. a de bo ba. mawú ka ga a de wöi la. dayitai boni ma ga na ya bo ba e leve faa ta nepo ba da zoo de ke mawaa ma ve. be de na ye. yalo dozita ya leve na, ga lii la dayitai wo kono.

yakpazuo na numaitis te na yensi kpowú. te boni ba ga vike te wöi la e leve keezu va. yalo dozita leveni yakpazuo deyei liini la wulu dayitai wo. dayitai balo. yakpazuo loo zu.

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