Mali vs. Guinea Sunu

[Waraba]

Great, great, great. The YouTube title says Sunou & Soboninkun--but wasn't there a transition into Koraiba around 6:00?

[bops]

Hey iten, thanks! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the song. I learned it from Funé Diarra, who is a great singer and dancer (she also performs with Amadou & Mariam). As you may know, you can also hear it on Ibrahima Sarr's disc Porte 386. I agree that it's a beautiful song. :) Soon I will write out the words for you, so you can learn it too. It's basically praising the dancers, drummers and jaliya.

Best,
Paddy

[bops]

Great, great, great. The YouTube title says Sunou & Soboninkun--but wasn't there a transition into Koraiba around 6:00?

Good ear! :) Yes, we used Kairaba as a transition between the two rhythms.

[iten]

That seems like a question for Paddy.

I think so too but I also think that if Paddy answers here in this topic then not only one person will have an opportunity to learn the song )

hallo,Paddy! I enjoyed the song a lot-trying to sing for last two weeks) Thanks for historical background!
Waiting forward for your message,

Thnx.Iten

[bops]

Eh, Sunun ba lèè
Sunun ba lèè, sunun ba ba, Sunun ba lèè
Nyani ma jugu saya dè ka jugu

This first part is praising Sunun ba, who was the great dancer after whom the rhythm is named. Prior to that, this rhythm was called Goi. The last line means "Even your struggles are not as bad as death" which I guess is another way of saying "Don't sweat the small stuff."

La ilaha illallah, Mohammed rasul allah

This is a line from the Koran, meaning "There is no god other than Allah, Mohammed is a prophet of Allah." This is pronounced differently in Bamana than in Arabic.

Fen beni allah che, Fen beni kira che

"It's between me and God." ... another way of saying "I swear to God" or "With God as my witness."

Foli kadi joni ma ko foli kadi jembe fo che baw ma.
Kora kadi, kora kadi, jembe fo che baw
kora kadi nyani ma jugu saya de ka jugu.

This is praise of the music, and specifically of the jembe players (jembe fo che baw) and jeliya (kora kadi). The last line is a reprise of the line "Even your struggles are not as bad as death".

I hope this helps you! Let me know if you (and your group) learn the song, I would love to see you guys singing and playing!

All the best,
Paddy

[Michel]

Oh yeah! That's great. Thanks for those lines. I heard versions of it (apart from in your video) from Ibrahima Sarr, on weddings etc. Great to have the words!

[Waraba]

Is there a way to connect electronically with Ibrahima Sarr?

[bkidd]

Yeah, thanks Paddy!

[iten]

God bless internet and people who are ready to share such useful information Thnx a lot Paddy!

Let me know if you (and your group) learn the song, I would love to see you guys singing and playing!

I'll try to make a record of our Sunu perfom for you, but it will be funny-we just in the beginning of the way)