Bazani

BTerra Bazani was a rebel leader who stood up against the French occupiers in the beginning of the last century (around 1916). He comes from Torola, which is in Mali on the border with Burkina Faso. The Bwa (or Bwaba) are just a small ethnic group. Within their culture, there is no lying, no stealing, and no desire for someone else’s wife. The Bwa never had slaves. Bazani is known to everyone as a legendary hero. He rebelled against the French ‘Colon. There is a nice book by Nazi Boni, a Bwaba (and also wrote in the Bwamou language): ‘Crépuscule des temps anciens’.

Baazani-ye-i swabe jaro, Baazani wa lo ba dja ra
Baazani ba bareje za na, Baazani ye-i tabahanama zane
Baazani ye-i mani baja ro, Baazani wal lo ba dja ra
Baazani wanamana ma ve, Baazani waba manama ve
Baazani wa i wanama ve
…… wa fe wanama ve
…… wa zo wanama ve
a bazani debebi bobou
a wa ba barimba zou na
a wa za wa ba a ri ja ra

Bazani, you strong man, oh come here again, Bazani, without you our village is lost, Bazani, if the men are afraid, the women have no fear. Bazani, I have no father and mother, come help me.

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Sources:

Youssouf & Kassoum Keita, Konsankuy, Mali januari 2011.
supplemented by Youssouf Keita, Bobo Dioulasso, januari 2016.