Negro Folk Rhymes Part 41

THE OWL

We are indebted for this Baluba rhyme to Dr. and Mrs. William H.

Sheppard, pioneer missionaries under the Southern Presbyterian Church.

The little production comes from Congo, Africa.

Sala wa men tenge, Cimpungelu.

Sala wa men tenge, Cimpungelu.

Meme taya wewe, Cimpungelu.

Sala wa men tenge, Cimpungelu.

_Translation_

The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.

I'm the owl.

The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.

I'm the owl.

I now tell you by my dancing, I'm the owl.

The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.

I'm the owl.

SAI BODDEOH SUMPUN KOMO

OR

I AM NOT GOING TO MARRY SUMPUN

1. Sai Sumpun komo.

De Sumpun nenah?

Sumpun se jello jeppo Boddeoh Sumpun.

2. Sai Sumpun komo.

De Sumpun nenah?

Sumpun auch nahn jehn deddoc.

Boddeoh Sumpun.

_Translation_

1. I am not going to marry Sumpun.

What has Sumpun done?

Sumpun doesn't live a seafaring life Boddeoh Sumpun.

2. I am not going to marry Sumpun.

What has Sumpun done?

Sumpun does not support me.

Boddeoh Sumpun.

BYANSWAHN-BYANSWAHN

OR

A BOAT SONG

O-O Byanswahn blay Tanner tee-o-o.

O Byanswahn jekah jubha.

De jo Byanswahn se kah jujah dai.

O Byanswahn blay dai Tanner tee-o-o.

_Translation_

Oh boat, come back to me.

Since you carried my child away, I have not seen that child.

Oh boat come back to me.

THE TURKEY BUZZARD

Dr. C. C. Fuller: a missionary at Chikore Melsetter, Rhodesia, Africa, was good enough to secure for the compiler this rhyme, written in Chindau, from the Rev. John E. Hatch, also a missionary in South Africa.

Riti, riti, mwana wa ras.h.i.+ka.

Ndizo, ndizo kurgya ku wande.

Riti, riti, mwana wa oneka.

Ndizo, ndizo ti wande issu.

_Translation_

Turkey buzzard, turkey buzzard, your child is lost.

That is all right, the food will be more plentiful.

Turkey buzzard, turkey buzzard, your child is found.

That is all right, we will increase in number.

THE FROGS

The following child's play rhyme in Baluba with its translation was contributed by Mrs. L. G. Sheppard, who was for many years a missionary in Congo, Africa.

Cula, Cula, Kuya kudi Kunyi?

Tuyiya ku cisila wa Baluba.

Tun kuata tua kuesa cinyi?

Tua kudimuka kua musode.

_Translation_

Frogs, frogs, where are you going?

We are going to the market of the Baluba.

If they catch you, what will they do?