My name is Koumbaadyo, princess of N'Gabou.
I am the great-great-granddaughter of Ramatoulaye Télico, the first storyteller and poet of Fouta Djallon.
I am the great-granddaughter of Princesses Kolima and Serima, of the Moon Queen and the Sun Prince.
I am the heir to the indisputable traditional crest, the raging pearls, and the radiant doudhal.
I carry within me the unchanging whiteness of milk,
the strength of bulls in heat,
the laughter of the pastures.
I carry within me the memory of my shepherd ancestors,
Almamy, kings, queens, griots.
I am the great-great-granddaughter of Ramatoulaye Télico, the first storyteller and poet of Fouta Djallon.
I am the great-granddaughter of Princesses Kolima and Serima, of the Moon Queen and the Sun Prince.
I am the heir to the indisputable traditional crest, the raging pearls, and the radiant doudhal.
I carry within me the unchanging whiteness of milk,
the strength of bulls in heat,
the laughter of the pastures.
I carry within me the memory of my shepherd ancestors,
Almamy, kings, queens, griots.
Koumanthio Zeinab Diallo (born 1956) Guinea
Translated by Bruce Levitan
Source: L'Afrique Ecrite au Feminin
Translated by Bruce Levitan
Source: L'Afrique Ecrite au Feminin
doudhal = Quranic school
griot = West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician
Almamy = West African Muslim rulers
Thank you for sharing this lovely poem. I am interested in poetry that speaks truth in a way that no other medium can. This one does that.
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