SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
In the early hours of the morning
Yes! You will hear the cocks crow
The arzaan of the nearest mosque will be calling
As if that is not enough,
Your neighbor sheik will be shouting salaat! Salaat!
By your window, grap make you go pray he would say, as if he is talking to you directly.
You don’t know when you will die. But the shiek is my mother’s brother’s cousin ar bin tell una say salone wi all fambul

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
The Mamie will tie her bum bag
Tight around her waist we call it orjah
Carry her bamboo basket on her head, yes e make the kata
Basket weave with our river line scrubs
As she got to the junction all she could hear was
Eastern police! Eastern police! Ar nor get change ooo
Apprentice, can you please move aside ar wan enter, I am late already the lady with the suit says, dovecut go don fulup d mamie mention, hope  today will be a better day for me the other man said with a sigh. Dis driver na wan woman wey wi komot na d same village ein pekin e marred. Salone wi all fambul yah

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
Six o’clock everybody is out, street is packed full
With traders hustling whatever goods they have for the day.
It is too crowdy here, that man has just been pick pocketed, aaaa yah make ar go ba make dem nor cam cors mi
That lady’s phone had been snatched she was slapped too
I can’t find my lunch the school girl cried, how will I even get home. Five O borbor dem and clique guys are at work.
Can anybody hear anything at Abacha street, musics, megaphones with pre-recorded adverts, hey girlfriend, fine girl, baby na Facebook, d Mamie na WhatsApp they called out to anyone passing.
If you touch their goods without buying, wondri buyer bo pass wit u bad luck. What can we do the street is full with our aunts and sisters, I told you earlier wi all fambul

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
Your nice neighbor has an occasion, she would go around
Informing every member or household in the community
me pekin de marred ooo
All will gather at their compound and na Awujor start so
No one will mind the loud music, d bachelor’s eve e swit oooo.
Our throats are dry they call for more alcoholic drink, we wan Jerry we yai
Your parent will be like, na Fatu ein pekin don married so
When will you marry, my daughter? Papa, I am still in school. D orkor n d yawo are long distance cousins, yes Salone wi all fambul

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
Every household should bring their own bowl ooo, ar nor get pan n na so me pan dem all don take loss
About to dish out this cassava leave, the jollof rice  will be kept for the guests.
No cook that day in the community.
Everyone will save that day’s chop money for life’s other troubles 
We will eat now, went to the wedding and still make wahala
If not given food, me dem nor serve me sef dem bin de look face
Meanwhile, Mamie Sallay had two black plastic bags filled with food
Yet, she sits as if she has not eaten or received any food. Hmmm, u know udat na me, na me pekin ein paddy ein cousin na ein marred so. Salone wi all fambul

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
The church closer to us had been singing and praying
Through the night; they did that, yes na all net dem get
They justify. Pa Morlai comes out of the house shirtless as he stretches from side to side
He said, whole net mi nor sleep sef, this church with their prayers
They grumbled but never report
They are Godly and they fear the wrath of God
That’s why when you ask them, how the body? they’ll reply tell God tenki
How for do? Na for bear normor make God bless we yah n bless Salone. That’s all he can say because his brother’s daughter is the head of the choir unit in the church. Salone wi all fambul

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
An elderly woman was passing by and saw her standing
In a corner with a boy, she came closer and even point her touch on their faces
As if to make sure, is that you with a man, she asks? Na pipul Pekin u de-squeeze na corner so
Let me go and inform your parents, 100 meters is too short for both of them
Obviously, she won’t report but will call and advice especially the girl
Pay attention in school, komot been man biznes e nor de pass
Next time I won’t hesitate to tell your parents, da borbor de na me paddy ein paddy ein pekin n e nor serious wan
When did we lose this again? Wi all fambul

SALONE WI ALL FAMBUL
Mama Loko Limba falls in love with papa Sherbro Krio
Awor! They gave birth to united nations, which one should I identify as again?
No matter what region and tribe you are from
We are all related, wi all na wan as granny kin say
Even our relatives in the diaspora will say na me Salone Broda
Salone blood nor de hide, we love to party and have a good time
Is it paddle time yet? Or lantern? we may fight, we may argue
Mostly when these politicians try to divide us for their own gain
But as our wise people will say fambul tick de bend but nor de broke
Yes! Salone wi all fambul.

©By Rahima Vandy-Kargbo

http://www.dasalonetiti.wordpress.com

http://www.dasalonetiti.com