DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0124
108
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
Notes. Cangarib Sogillie (v. 3) was a king of the Mibtta, who died a few years ago, when
nearly a hundred years old. This verse has no sense connected with the song, as is usual
with the popular refrains.
82
hiddi Daggabasa baqqe
kqkku gadi ydsa lonko
likki ddggamdca Ddrgve
Idma Dasta fakkdta
5 IdfaSkka tdbbd cirera
dima Tasdmma fakkdta
mamcNkka daggaca HayNeda
turki hatfe kdte kdte
dubbi lafe tdte tdte
1 The flowers of the plant hiddi are the toga of Daggabasa. 2 I will lead my cattle down
to Kekku. 3 Surely the daggazmac (son) of Dargib, 4 the fragrant Dasta, you resem-
ble! 5 I have weeded the ground as far as the ascent. 6 You resemble the red Tasamma!
7 You are a man like Daggac Haylib! 8 The Turk of the Emperor runs and runs. 9 The
matter of the heart (lit. of the bones) stays and stays!
Notes. As to the plant hiddi (v. 1), see song 135. Daggabasa and Kekku (v. 1, 2) are
two villages in Calliya Obo. Daggac Dasta (v. 3-4) son of Ras Dargib, governed Calliya
Obo (he died in 1892). As to Daggac Haylib, brother of Ras Makonnen, see song 35. The
Gondarfe, a corps of cavalry under the command of Daggac Damissie, were called by the
Galla, turki, “ the Turk.”
This song was composed by a girl who celebrates the beauty of her beloved by comparing
him with the governors of the nearby regions.
— id Kumsa gabbari Gote
nd gubba maggdli Nmbko
— obo Gote qlta ddma
83
yd'se kokd Nr a gagdma
nd kvennituf ilmd diesa
nd ddwdttu masienta
1 0 Kumsa, pay the tribute to Gote! 2 Answer my song, 0 my little son! 3 Lord Gote
sends his message in haste. 4 0 you, who have drooping breasts, 5 give me (yourself) and
you will bring forth a son! 6 If you refuse, you will become sterile!
Notes. As to Daggac Kumsa Gabra Igzi ’Abher, see song 32; Daggac Gote is the chief
of Libqa Qiellem, who killed Captain Bottego (see song 49 and Prose, text 3). The song is
an example of the poetical contests between a man and a woman. The woman usually
begins by defying the man with a distich; the man answers with verses audaciously gallant.
These contrasting songs are called maggala.
Miniliki arbi hate
Lofe baunko bundfi
84
hibbiliki ndNra bate
boe dabunko sumdfi
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
Notes. Cangarib Sogillie (v. 3) was a king of the Mibtta, who died a few years ago, when
nearly a hundred years old. This verse has no sense connected with the song, as is usual
with the popular refrains.
82
hiddi Daggabasa baqqe
kqkku gadi ydsa lonko
likki ddggamdca Ddrgve
Idma Dasta fakkdta
5 IdfaSkka tdbbd cirera
dima Tasdmma fakkdta
mamcNkka daggaca HayNeda
turki hatfe kdte kdte
dubbi lafe tdte tdte
1 The flowers of the plant hiddi are the toga of Daggabasa. 2 I will lead my cattle down
to Kekku. 3 Surely the daggazmac (son) of Dargib, 4 the fragrant Dasta, you resem-
ble! 5 I have weeded the ground as far as the ascent. 6 You resemble the red Tasamma!
7 You are a man like Daggac Haylib! 8 The Turk of the Emperor runs and runs. 9 The
matter of the heart (lit. of the bones) stays and stays!
Notes. As to the plant hiddi (v. 1), see song 135. Daggabasa and Kekku (v. 1, 2) are
two villages in Calliya Obo. Daggac Dasta (v. 3-4) son of Ras Dargib, governed Calliya
Obo (he died in 1892). As to Daggac Haylib, brother of Ras Makonnen, see song 35. The
Gondarfe, a corps of cavalry under the command of Daggac Damissie, were called by the
Galla, turki, “ the Turk.”
This song was composed by a girl who celebrates the beauty of her beloved by comparing
him with the governors of the nearby regions.
— id Kumsa gabbari Gote
nd gubba maggdli Nmbko
— obo Gote qlta ddma
83
yd'se kokd Nr a gagdma
nd kvennituf ilmd diesa
nd ddwdttu masienta
1 0 Kumsa, pay the tribute to Gote! 2 Answer my song, 0 my little son! 3 Lord Gote
sends his message in haste. 4 0 you, who have drooping breasts, 5 give me (yourself) and
you will bring forth a son! 6 If you refuse, you will become sterile!
Notes. As to Daggac Kumsa Gabra Igzi ’Abher, see song 32; Daggac Gote is the chief
of Libqa Qiellem, who killed Captain Bottego (see song 49 and Prose, text 3). The song is
an example of the poetical contests between a man and a woman. The woman usually
begins by defying the man with a distich; the man answers with verses audaciously gallant.
These contrasting songs are called maggala.
Miniliki arbi hate
Lofe baunko bundfi
84
hibbiliki ndNra bate
boe dabunko sumdfi