DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0119
THE FOLK-LITERATURE OF THE GALLA
103
Horfd! is a war-cry which usually precedes the boasting-songs. It may be compared
with the Amharic cry, zarrdfl
sold buttdn dakkutti said
cirriqun durba said
said lama bdtdni
71
lama baccifatani
5 dvrdrra diessun said
1 The edge of the sword on the apron is shameful. 2 To spit on a girl is shameful. 3
After bringing two edges (of a spear), 4 after ordering two (edges of a spear) to be brought,
5 the flight from men (i.e. enemies) is shameful.
Notes. As it is shameful to assail the peaceful shepherds (v. 1), or to insult a girl
(v. 2), so is it shameful to flee when one hears arms (v. 3-5). The Galla warriors used to
be followed by their valets, who bore the extra spears. Ddkku (v. 1) is a kind of leather
apron worn by the Galla shepherds (Amharic, sir dr a}.1
durba qarre golbodd
kal ’iced gorbd sdyd
dibbiekze hidi dibbi
fagakie Iola ’dddu
5 ani qopaen dufd
72
qopai na eg du
halt dira gcwadd
kdn galef tiesse bosi
kdn du’ ef kusa kufti
1 The girl has a shaved tonsure; 2 (her) clothes are (made from) calf of cow (’s skin).
3 Play on your drum and strike it 1 4 Clean your flute! 5 I will come prepared. 6 Prepare
yourself and await me! 7 The mother of the warrior is stupid. 8 She sits down and weeps
for him who has returned; 9 she makes preparation for him who is dead!
Notes. The mother weeps, moved by the return of her son (v. 8); the mother does not
believe the news of her son’s death (v. 9).
afurin binndn bule
sanin binndn dafure
fdrda magald^mbittu
kdn boqd qabu Ndisu
5 durba magdld ^nfudu
kdn karru qabduNdzsu
wdl lolli wall lama
tokko matumd Ndaqu
tokko ddquNdarbatu
10 bosiettin wall lama
73
tokko mdtd'nulattu
tokko uldttu^nurgoftu
wdl lolli mdfi gibbu
gabbi bade barbddda
15 duldcca kufe kasd (G. S. B.: kiesd)
mucd dute awdla
boyen bordtta mall
kdn takkaSncardnini
ilma "bbdn dalce mail
20 kdn takka^nwaranini
1 Cf. Guidi, Vocabolario amarico-italiano, op. cit., sirara.
103
Horfd! is a war-cry which usually precedes the boasting-songs. It may be compared
with the Amharic cry, zarrdfl
sold buttdn dakkutti said
cirriqun durba said
said lama bdtdni
71
lama baccifatani
5 dvrdrra diessun said
1 The edge of the sword on the apron is shameful. 2 To spit on a girl is shameful. 3
After bringing two edges (of a spear), 4 after ordering two (edges of a spear) to be brought,
5 the flight from men (i.e. enemies) is shameful.
Notes. As it is shameful to assail the peaceful shepherds (v. 1), or to insult a girl
(v. 2), so is it shameful to flee when one hears arms (v. 3-5). The Galla warriors used to
be followed by their valets, who bore the extra spears. Ddkku (v. 1) is a kind of leather
apron worn by the Galla shepherds (Amharic, sir dr a}.1
durba qarre golbodd
kal ’iced gorbd sdyd
dibbiekze hidi dibbi
fagakie Iola ’dddu
5 ani qopaen dufd
72
qopai na eg du
halt dira gcwadd
kdn galef tiesse bosi
kdn du’ ef kusa kufti
1 The girl has a shaved tonsure; 2 (her) clothes are (made from) calf of cow (’s skin).
3 Play on your drum and strike it 1 4 Clean your flute! 5 I will come prepared. 6 Prepare
yourself and await me! 7 The mother of the warrior is stupid. 8 She sits down and weeps
for him who has returned; 9 she makes preparation for him who is dead!
Notes. The mother weeps, moved by the return of her son (v. 8); the mother does not
believe the news of her son’s death (v. 9).
afurin binndn bule
sanin binndn dafure
fdrda magald^mbittu
kdn boqd qabu Ndisu
5 durba magdld ^nfudu
kdn karru qabduNdzsu
wdl lolli wall lama
tokko matumd Ndaqu
tokko ddquNdarbatu
10 bosiettin wall lama
73
tokko mdtd'nulattu
tokko uldttu^nurgoftu
wdl lolli mdfi gibbu
gabbi bade barbddda
15 duldcca kufe kasd (G. S. B.: kiesd)
mucd dute awdla
boyen bordtta mall
kdn takkaSncardnini
ilma "bbdn dalce mail
20 kdn takka^nwaranini
1 Cf. Guidi, Vocabolario amarico-italiano, op. cit., sirara.