Bazani

BThéra 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. That aerea once was ‘Bwaba-land’ 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. But he is also missed in these days. ‘Where are you now, as we could use you iun this difficult times. There is a nice book by Nazi Boni, a Bwaba (and also wrote in the Bwamou language): ‘Crépuscule des temps anciens’.

Bazani-ye-i swabe jaro, …… wa lo ba dja ra
Bazani ba bareje za na, …… ye-i tabahanama zane
Bazani ye-i mani baja ro, …… wal lo ba dja ra
Bazani wanamana ma ve, …… waba manama ve
…… 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, without you our village is lost, if the men are afraid, the women have no fear, I have no father and mother, come help me, where are you now?

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Sources:

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