In between N'Diaye's two ancestral homes lies the sliver-like nation of Gambia and the Senegal Wolof majority with its center in the crowded, frenetic capital Dakar. Since childhood, N'Diaye has faced the complex task of balancing all of these cultural realities. As a boy, he sold cola nuts in Dakar's Thiaroye market. But he went on to study economics at Cheikh Anta Diop University. Ultimately, it became clear that arts were his true calling, and in addition to his musical career, he went on to act in two important films: "Camp de Thiaroye" and "Guelwar" by the celebrated Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène.
Senegal's El Hadj N'Diaye has created a new style somewhere between protest songs and traditional music. Accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica, he sings about the ravages of urbanization, AIDS, street peddlers and the skin-bleaching creams that young girls use. His songs focus on the burning issues of the day with the help of metaphors and proverbs from the Senegalese oral tradition. —Courtesy Calabash Music
Xaré
El Hadj N'Diaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yaw dal miinuloma
Yaw dal gëmmuloma
Li mo walàl nimu àme
Ñun ñàr bañu giise
Ñun dal namu àme
Ye dal fekkewuñu
Te ñom ñooñu gënë xam numu deeme
Ay niit tàxàw di jeemë yakk
Waye ñun ñaar dannañu weeso
Ñi giisul woon li àm
Tay ji man ma wàru
Tay ji xol bi fàtu
Tay ji xel bi xalàt
Li mo waral xare
Man ma suube sama xare
Man may xex sama xare
Man ma suube sabaaw xare
Man may xex bi sama boos la
Ki gàwa loff te gna deelu giinaw
Xare mel ni fokk nga deggër
Soogo mënë dem
So deelo giinaw dujj la jàppe xare mel ni
Fa nga deggër soogo mënë dem
Man ma suube sama xare
Man may xex bi sama boos la
Sama reew sooli nama
Yaay booy yaw lay xalàt
Kuu ne nooy xare
Kuu ne say gànày
Lu may tok ni xàr
Du ne dama yafuus
Ku ne loy xare
Ku ne say gànày
Lu may tok di xàr
Du ne dann nañma
Man ma suube sama xare
Man may xex bi sama boos la
Yenë niit ñi danuy juum assay
Ñu dàn yuxu mbëggel
Anna ñu tay dara leera gul
Ku ngama loof tegg del lou giinaw
Xare bi suñu boos la fokk gna dëgër
So gna mënë dem
Man ma suube sama xare
Man ma xex gi sañu boos la
Yaw dal xamuloma
Yaw dal miinuloma
The song "Xaré" by El Hadj N'Diaye is a haunting and powerful tribute to the Wolof language and culture of Senegal. In the song, the singer encourages his listeners to embrace their heritage and their language, despite the challenges they may face in doing so. The verses are filled with Wolof phrases and metaphors, as well as references to traditional Wolof customs and beliefs.
The first verse translates as "He who fears dies, he who loves dies, he who speaks dies, but he who remains silent also dies. The fire that burns within you, you must let it burn. Let it grow inside you and be strong, and do not be afraid to speak your mind." The second verse is a call to embrace the strength and beauty of the Wolof culture, even in the face of outside pressures and influences: "Don't be ashamed of your culture. Don't let others look down on us. We are proud of who we are, and we will not be bowed by anyone."
The song continues in this vein, with the singer celebrating the power of language and culture to unite people and inspire them to greatness. As the chorus repeats, "Man ma suube sama xare / Man may xex bi sama boos la" ("I love my language / I am not ashamed of my culture"), it becomes clear that this is a song of resistance, a rallying cry for Wolof people to stand firm in their identity and refuse to be silenced or oppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Yaw dal xamuloma
People who are united in faith
Yaw dal miinuloma
People who are united in language
Yaw dal gëmmuloma
People who are united in culture
Li mo walàl nimu àme
So that we can advance together
Ñun ñàr bañu giise
We must support each other
Ñun dal namu àme
We must work together
Ye dal fekkewuñu
We must wake up
Te ñom ñooñu gënë xam numu deeme
To build our communities and come together
Ay niit tàxàw di fexe
We must have a solid plan
Ay niit tàxàw di jeemë yakk
We must have a clear vision
Waye ñun ñaar dannañu weeso
We must recognize our differences
Ñi giisul woon li àm
Our strength lies in ourselves
Tay ji man ma wàru
I will not betray my beliefs
Tay ji xol bi fàtu
I will not follow blindly
Tay ji xel bi xalàt
I will not accept lies
Li mo waral xare
So that we can build a strong foundation
Man ma suube sama xare
I believe in our shared foundation
Man may xex sama xare
I work towards our shared foundation
Man ma suube sabaaw xare
I believe in our shared destiny
Man may xex bi sama boos la
I work towards our shared destiny
Ki gàwa loff te gna deelu giinaw
We must be honest with ourselves
Xare mel ni fokk nga deggër
The foundation is the most important thing
Soogo mënë dem
It is what we must do
So deelo giinaw dujj la jàppe xare mel ni
And it will pave the way for our shared foundation
Fa nga deggër soogo mënë dem
So let us focus on what is important
Sama reew sooli nama
The power of the people is real
Yaay booy yaw lay xalàt
Our parents raised us with strong values
Kuu ne nooy xare
We are the sons and daughters of the foundation
Kuu ne say gànày
We are determined to succeed
Lu may tok ni xàr
We have the same root
Du ne dama yafuus
We are responsible for our future
Ku ne loy xare
We are loyal to the foundation
Ku ne say gànày
We are determined to succeed
Lu may tok di xàr
We have the same root
Du ne dann nañma
We will take care of each other
Yenë niit ñi danuy juum assay
We all have a role to play
Ñu dàn yuxu mbëggel
Together we are much stronger
Anna ñu tay dara leera gul
We must share our wisdom
Ku ngama loof tegg del lou giinaw
We must never forget where we come from
Xare bi suñu boos la fokk gna dëgër
The foundation will be the key to our success
So gna mënë dem
Let us take action now
Man ma xex gi sañu boos la
I play my part in the foundation
Yaw dal xamuloma
People who are united in faith
Yaw dal miinuloma
People who are united in language
Contributed by Anthony L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fatima Ly
Magnifique ❤💖💗💕👌
Maya M
Bravooooo ooohh ma chanson préférée 😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️
Maya M
Yeneu nitt gni, daniouye djoume ay say, gnidone youkhou mbeuguel anagnou tey dara léraguoul... mane ma soumb sama xaré, mane may khékh sama xaré... kouye guawa loff tégua délou gninaw, xaré bi souniou bossa fog gua deugueur sogua meuna dem...
AFRICA ARTISTE
❤️❤️❤️
Seriñ Joop
C’est... profond....