Sona Jobarteh's debut music video "Gambia" in
celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence for the Gambia in 2015.
This video features the traditional Mandinka Drum called the 'Seruba', an instrument no longer featured much in Gambian mainstream society. By featuring the drum in this song, Sona aims not only to resonate with the deep history of the Mandinka people, but also to boost and promote awareness of this instrument both in the Gambia and internationally.
[…]
FEATURING:
The Fab Team, Gambia (Dancers)
Musafilly Jobarteh (Percussion)
Mamadou Sarr (Percussion)
Sekouba Bambino
Students of the ABJ Music School, Gambia
Lamin Suso
-snip-
Statistics (as of Feb 17, 2021 at 7:28 PM ET
Total # of views - 16,362,235
Total # of likes - 141K
Total # of dislikes - 3.3K
Total # of comments- 7,252
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
English translations of the Mandinka lyrics to this song are included in this post along with a conversation among several commenters about one of those translations.
I didn't include any other comments. However, I want to note that more nations from every continent and region of the world are represented in this discussion thread than in other discussion threads of African music that I have read to date.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Sona Jobarteh and thanks to all others who are associated with this video and thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE MANDINKA LYRICS FOR SONA JOBARTEH'S SONG "THE GAMBIA"
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtmmlOQnTXM&ab_channel=TheAfricanGuild
"As I go through the comments, I seem to understand that many do not
understand or would like to know what
Sona Jobarteh is saying. I'd
therefore like to do my best to
translate my scant understanding of
MANDINKA (the language of MANDINGOS) for
especially the international
audience. Literally here it goes...
0:49 Peace knows stability and progress
welcomes it
0:58 Hospitality, happiness feel the
faces of the country, the Gambia is a good country
1:14 Where ever you are never let
yourself forget your homeland/fatherland Gambia
1:24 Truth is, if you forget your
homeland means you forgot yourself/roots
1:37 We are proud (chorus), I am proud
of my country... we are proud (chorus)
1:46 Let's come together and be united
for that's the way forward and benefit for all
1:54 (Chorus) Where are the people of
the world? This is a beautiful country, where are the people of the world? This
peaceful country
2:02 (Chorus) Where are the people of
the Gambia? This is my country. Where
are the people of the Gambia? This is hard to find!
2:20 It is blessed that is why people
respect her. It's honored that is why people should not forget this beautiful
country
2:50 Citizens of the country let's come
join (hands) together.
3:00 Honestly I do not regret being a
citizen of this country at all
3:08 When I travel the world, I'll
sell/tell the beauty of this country.
There is no place like the Gambia
3:17 (Chorus) Where are the people of
the Gambia? This is a beautiful country. Where are the people of Gambia? This
peaceful country
3:30 This is our country, where are the
people of Gambia? This is hard to find! (Repeats this few times)
4:02 It is Gambia! It is Gambia I am
talking/singing about! (Repeats this few times with chorus)
4:38 (With Chorus) Peace is home;
hospitality is home; stability is home; Family is home; blessing is home; honor
is home... even God Gambia... (Repeats not necessarily in these order) Finishes
thus: "Family values oh Gambia!!"
Please forgive me Sona or anyone for
that matter, if I miss-translate! That's not my intention at all! Love!!
****
Reply
2. Adama Koita, 2016
"Albert Johnson Thanks for the translation
Albert for the benefit of those who don't speak Mandinka. Sona has made me
proud as a mandinka and a Gambian"
**
Reply
3. Albert Johnson, 2016
"Adama I tried!...I wanted the fans to
get even a better feel for not just the rhythm/melody but the soul of it!! Sona is a gem/rising elites of African music.
Gambia proud!!"
**
Reply
4. Adama Koita, 2016
"Albert Johnson yes sure Albert you feel
the music more when you know what it says. sona is a star so proud of
her......have you ever visited Gambia??? if you've never visited the Gambia
please try and visit some day."
**
Reply
5. Albert Johnson, 2017
"Last time I was in Gambia was 1998!! By
the way Happy 52nd Independent anniversary!!"
**
Reply
6. Baba Saho, 2017
"I am Mandinka but i think you did a
better job that i will do"
**
Reply
7. Albert Johnson, 2017
"Thank you Baba!"
**
8. cheezhead Z, 2018
"Simply beautiful. Here is an English translation I found:
The Gambia
Built in peace and stability,
hosted by development and progress,
Humanity
and happiness is on all faces,
our outstanding country Gambia.
Wherever you are
, never forget
your homeland Gambia
For if you forget your roots,
you turn your back on who you are.
(Refrain):
We are proud…
We are proud of our country
(Refrain):
We are proud…
Let us come together and unite
(Refrain):
We are proud…
This is what will result in progress
People of the Gambia; this is the
beautiful land
People of the Gambia; this is the
peaceful land
People of the Gambia; this is the land
of our people
People of the Gambia; there is nothing
that compares to this land
People honour this country because it is
blessed
We should not abandon our beautiful
country
Sons/daughters of this land, let us come
to together
I will truly always be proud to be a
Gambian
Wherever I travel, I shall tell of the
wonders of this country
There is nowhere that compares to Gambia
Outro:
The home of Peace… everyone say “Gambia”
The home of Blessings… everyone say
“Gambia”
The home of Humility… everyone say
“Gambia”
The home of Family… everyone say
“Gambia”
****
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