Blaka Kownu

m’ e si yu mi Blaka Kownu
mi Anamu m’ e si yu
ala mi lobi puwema no sari
f’ bar’puru fa mi lobi yu

sabi taki yu na a leti
a star’ a fermamenti
ten na ten m’ e si yu mi gudu
m’ e kibri na ini a sombra f’ y’ leti

mi lespeki Kownu

m’ e si yu mi gudu
fa y’ e tyar’ yusrefi nanga reti
ala den bigi Kownu fu bifo
e ori baka gi yu

yu Kra libisma no man broko

m’ e opo-tenapu e nak’ anu gi yu
fa y’ e spankrakti kweki den siri f’ yu

ten na ten m’ e gi y’ ala grani te na ten

nanga tap’ mofo
y‘ e du ala bun di yu man du
y’ e teki yu frantwortu
lek’ Brada
lek’ Skadiladi
lek’ Masra
leki Papa

opo yu ede

nak’ y’ srefi na tapu yu skowru

lafu mi gudu lafu

lafu nanga yu Sapatiya mofobuba

kaka y’ borsu

mi Kownu yu sabi suma na yu

no luku n’ a ogri-ati nanga dreygi
di no wani gi y’ okasi
f’ y’ brasa yu pikin ori
fu den firi yu krakti
firi yu waran

mi lespeki m’ e libi
na ini na sombra fu yu leti
m’ e mek’ wan dipi kosyu gi yu
mi Blaka Kownu m’ e si yu

Black King

I see you my black king,
My "Anamu" i see you
All my love poems
are not enough
to shout out
how much i love you.

Know that you are the light,
the star on the firmament
Time after time i see you my dear
I take shelter in the shadow of your light

My respectfull king
I see you my dear
how you carry yourself
with respect.
All the great Kings of the past
are watching your back.
Your spirit cannot be broken by nobody.

I stand up to applaud you,
how you gather your strength
in raising up your seeds.
Time after time i give you
all the glory,
time after time again.

With closed mouth
you are doing all the good
that you can do,
You take your responsibility
As brother
As lover
As husband
As father

Lift your head up,
pat yourself on your shoulder,
laugh my dear, laugh
laugh with your sapotile
smile /(sweet smile).
Stand proud my king
you know who you are.

Do not look at the evil heart
and threats of others,
who dont want to give you
a chance to embrace your children,
so that they can feel your power,
and feel your warmth.

My respectfull king
I live in the shadow (Sombra) of your light,
I bow deeply towards you
my black king,
i truly see you.

Poem by Celestine Raalte
Translation by Patrick Raalte