Fatoumata Diawara (born 1982) is a Malian musician currently living in Fran… Read Full Bio ↴Fatoumata Diawara (born 1982) is a Malian musician currently living in France. Born in the Ivory Coast to Malian parents, Diawara moved to France to pursue acting, appearing in Cheikh Oumar Cissoko's 1999 feature film La Genèse, Dani Kouyaté's popular 2001 film Sia, le rêve du python, in the internationally renowned street theatre troupe Royal Deluxe, and played a leading role in the musical Kirikou et Karaba. She later took up the guitar and began composing her own material, writing songs that blend Wassalou traditions of Southern Mali with international influences. Noted for her distinct “sensuous voice,” she has performed and recorded with Oumou Sangaré, AfroCubism, Dee Dee Bridgewater (on Red Earth: A Malian Journey), and the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. Her new EP was released May 9, 2011 and her debut album Fatou with World Circuit Records was released in September 2011.

Alama
Fatoumata Diawara Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa uwoo

Nyani nyani le nyani nyani
Sèngèn sèngèn le sèngèn sèngèn

A ye n'sòn jila ko ne ko kè n'wolonaw ye
A ye ne sòn kumadala ko ne ko kè n'wolofaw ye
A ye ne sòn hinèla ko ne ko kè n'jigi muso ye
A ye ne sòn hinèla ko ne ko kè n'balimaw ye
A ye ne sòn sabalila ko ne ko kè n'teri muso ye
Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa uwoo
Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa, ala aye

Ni n'donna maa min gasila o ka yafa n'ma n'ye denin ye
N'ko nin dònkili bè dala jònni ye
Nin dònkili bè dala fatanw nye a bè dala batanw ye dunia

A bè dala jigitanw ye a bè dala batanw ye dunia
Ni n'donna maa min gasila o ka yafa n'ma n'ye deninye hee

Overall Meaning

The song Alama by Fatoumata Diawara is a powerful message about the importance of unity and the impact of collective action. The first verse talks about how people should come together to help one another and work towards a common goal. The line "Ni mun kèr'I la I ta to ala na kira ma" means "Let's join hands and go towards the same direction." The next few lines talk about the different challenges people face, such as poverty and ignorance, and how they can overcome them by working together. The repetition of "jali olu" and "nangaraba" emphasizes the idea that people need to communicate and share what they know in order to make progress.

The second verse is structured around the refrain "a ye ne sòn," which means "we are all one." Each line describes a different community within Mali, such as the Jola, Wolof, and Bambara, showing that despite their differences, they are united in their humanity. The line "n'balimaw ye" refers to the Balimawo, a group of musicians and storytellers who keep traditional culture alive in Mali. The overall message of the verse is that despite the many divisions that exist within society, there is a common thread that unites us all.

Overall, the song is a call to action for people to come together and work towards a common goal. It emphasizes the importance of communication and sharing knowledge, as well as the idea that despite our differences, we are all part of the same community.

Line by Line Meaning

Ni mun kèr'I la I ta to ala na kira ma
I am always here waiting for you, hoping that you will come back to me

Kabini n'cinini
Everything will be fine

Ko n'ma n'sunguruba
Even if I have to fight alone

U ko n'ma jaheli olu ko n'ma nangaraba
I will run and shout, I will not give up

Ko n'ma kònò tinyèla u ko n'ma subaga
I will be patient and I will persevere

U ko n'ma jaheli olu ko n'ma nanfigi
I will not be afraid, I will not retreat

Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa
I will keep waiting for you, my heart is still beating for you

Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa uwoo
I will never stop loving you, no matter what happens

Nyani nyani le nyani nyani
Sing, sing and keep singing

Sèngèn sèngèn le sèngèn sèngèn
Dance, dance and keep dancing

A ye n'sòn jila ko ne ko kè n'wolonaw ye
Let us unite our efforts and work together

A ye ne sòn kumadala ko ne ko kè n'wolofaw ye
Let us come together as one people

A ye ne sòn hinèla ko ne ko kè n'jigi muso ye
Let us come together and build a better community

A ye ne sòn hinèla ko ne ko kè n'balimaw ye
Let us come together and celebrate our culture

A ye ne sòn sabalila ko ne ko kè n'teri muso ye
Let us come together and share our stories

Ni n'donna maa min gasila o ka yafa n'ma n'ye denin ye
I will fight for what I believe in, no matter what challenges come my way

N'ko nin dònkili bè dala jònni ye
I will not be defeated by the difficulties of life

Nin dònkili bè dala fatanw nye a bè dala batanw ye dunia
I will overcome the hardships of this world, by working hard and being persistent

A bè dala jigitanw ye a bè dala batanw ye dunia
I will be strong and resilient, even in the face of adversity

Ni n'donna maa min gasila o ka yafa n'ma n'ye deninye hee
I will never stop fighting for what I believe in, no matter the cost

Writer(s): Fatoumata Diawara

Contributed by Gianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Arafa Khalifa

4y↑32

Alama

Whatever happens to you, trust in God

Whatever happens to you, trust in God

Since I was a little girl

I was called a whore

I was called a liar

I was called cheeky, and a witch

People even said I had several abortions

I don‟t know why these people attack me

I don‟t know why these people attack me

What a hell, what a hell

What a suffering, what a suffering

What a hell, what a hell

What a suffering, what a suffering

Give me water, so I can give it to my mothers

Give me a voice so that I can talk to my fathers

Give me pity so I can share it with the woman who supports me

Give me pity so that I can share it with my brothers

Give me tolerance so that I can give it to my friend

I don‟t know why these people attack me

I don‟t know why these people attack me

What a hell, what a hell

What a suffering, what a suffering

What a hell, what a hell

What a suffering, what a suffering

Sorry if I have offended you, I am only a child

Sorry if I have offended you, I am only a child

Who is this song for?

I‟m singing it for orphans who have no father or mother

For those without hope, and those with no mother in the world

Sorry if I have offended you, I am only a child

What a hell, what a hell

What a suffering, what a suffering

What a hell, what a hell

What a suffering, what a suffering

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/alama-alama.html-0

Lisa Manara

4y↑7

Ni mun kèr'I la I ta to ala na kira ma
Kabini n'cinini
Ko n'ma n'sunguruba
U ko n'ma jaheli olu ko n'ma nangaraba
Ko n'ma kònò tinyèla u ko n'ma subaga
U ko n'ma jaheli olu ko n'ma nanfigi
Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa
Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa uwoo
Nyani nyani le nyani nyani
Sèngèn sèngèn le sèngèn sèngèn
A ye n'sòn jila ko ne ko kè n'wolonaw ye
A ye ne sòn kumadala ko ne ko kè n'wolofaw ye
A ye ne sòn hinèla ko ne ko kè n'jigi muso ye
A ye ne sòn hinèla ko ne ko kè n'balimaw ye
A ye ne sòn sabalila ko ne ko kè n'teri muso ye
Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa uwoo
Ne dun m'a kun dòn muna makòrò bè n'juguya sa, ala aye
Ni n'donna maa min gasila o ka yafa n'ma n'ye denin ye
N'ko nin dònkili bè dala jònni ye
Nin dònkili bè dala fatanw nye a bè dala batanw ye dunia
A bè dala jigitanw ye a bè dala batanw ye dunia
Ni n'donna maa min gasila o ka yafa n'ma n'ye deninye hee

All comments from YouTube:

Arafa Khalifa

4y↑32

Arafa Khalifa

@Username 0130 💕

Username 0130

2y↑1

Thanks for the translation 👍🏻
It's a deep song..

Yurungai

Khanimambo

Arafa Khalifa

3y↑1

@CallmeEm 💜

CallmeEm

3y↑1

Thank you

2 More Replies...

Paulo José de Souza

6y↑12

Música linda. Já ouvi mais de cem vezes. Que voz deliciosa de se ouvir 💛

Mateus Maturana

Se acha brasileiro em todo lugar....

zoumana simpara

7y↑14

I don't get tired listening to this song.Fatoumata you rock !

Javier Vargas Acosta

8y↑13

Todo el sabor de la madre África en la voz y la bella figura de Fatoumata Diawara, actriz y cantante nacida en Costa de Marfil y residente en Francia y a la que tuve la oportunidad de ver en un musical en TF1 en París en el año 2014. Nótese el gran parecido con la base melódica del género cultural desarrollado en el Caribe colombiano, especialmente en las barriadas con gran influencia afro de Cartagena y Barranquilla: La Champeta. ¡Espectacular!