Bala Saho

[Vladimir Kortensky]

Bala Saho is an archivist and historian. He is the author of Contours of Change: Muslim Courts, Women, and Islamic Society in Colonial Bathurst, the Gambia, 1905–1965 (Michigan State University Press, 2018).

He wrote this. Not sure I get it.

Translated from the Mandinka by Bala Saho

Nderi oh. Nderi Kumba Mbayi!
I am afraid of a fight between co-wives,
Nderi oh. Nderi Kumba Mbayi!
I am afraid of a fight between co-wives,
Kumba Mbayi.
You can harvest the bitter tomato,
But do not uproot it.
If you insult her, do not touch her parents,
If you insult her, do not touch her roots.




Maañoo kee la Yaamaroo

Nderi oo Nderi Kumba Mbayi!
Nmaŋ hañi sinaayaa keloo le ñaa
Nderi oo, Nderi Kumba Mbayi!
Maŋ hañi sinayaa keloo le ñaa,
Kumba Mbayi.
Jaato kati,
Kanaa a suloo wuri
Niŋ I be a neŋ na, kanaa a kooma ma,
Niŋ I be a neŋ na, kanaa a suloo ma.

[Mister Big]

What language is that? Google Translate thinks it's English.

[tinybones]

Cool! What else did he write?

[Len Crobbs]

Inspiring black writer he is.

[Rita Howard]

Interesting. I like it.

[Patriotic Kerry]

He must have been famous in his time.

[Rita Howard]

^It's my first time reading his work

[Ignored]

Thanks for sharing this piece of history with us.

[Elijah]

I don't quite get the poem, but it's cool nonetheless.

[Rita Howard]

That might have been his only poem.

[Micah 6:8]

Someone will have to share their metaphors about this masterpiece.

[Sincerity]

Interesting poem!

[Miss Rozelyn]

He died young. RIP

[cherrydarlin999]

I don't 100% get it, but it works!

[Miss Rozelyn]

His legacy lives on.