P Patouma was the name of an old (Bobo) woman who could still dance beautifully. To challenge her to dance again, people would shout “Patouma Nje Nje“. (also – for example – Batouma and Fatouma are names you could easily use in the song).
At Bwaba parties, this song is often played in a triptych with ‘Wa Ere’ and the ‘Gne Ni’ rhythm (with another song added). The accompaniment with different percussion is the same for all songs. Gne Ni focuses on misfortune, bad luck, poverty, all that is bad in the world, corruption, jealousy, etc. Wa Ere then calls for living and celebrating life, and Patouma Nje is a party song with dance and fun. Through the triptych, people are taken from the ‘unlucky position’, lifted up to make a party of it together. It is mainly danced by the adults, not so much the youth. As the triptych, there is a modulation to Patouma Nje Nje, or a transformation must take place (in Patouma Nje‘s notation) to ▲ / O instead of ✱ / ▲. In the transition from one piece to another, the melody of the current piece is played together once more, and then together the melody of the following piece.
Patouma Nje Nje Nje, (2x)
Patouma a wa ba rou zama Patouma Nje Nje Nje ( the audience calls),
or
Batouma a ba hana ba bara Batouma Nje Nje Nje ( all men and women call),
or
Fatouma a ‘NAME’ lo (=‘NAME’ calls), Fatouma Nje Nje Nje
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