Kanou
Fatoumata Diawara Lyrics
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O donna, ne ni n’furunyògòn de kèlèla, O donna
Chorus:
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kan na
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kun na
A y’i ban ki nyè jò ne nyè la
Ne dusu kolo bè n’diminna
N’ko ne dun bè n'jarabi fè
Ne dun bè n’kanu fè
N’ko ne dun bè n'jarabi fè
Ne dun bè n’kanu kò
Hodounannnnyeeeee Hodounannnn
Chorus
Ne dusu kolo bè n’diminna
N’ko ne dun bè n'jarabi fè
Ne dun bè n’kanu kò
N’ko ne dun bè n' jarabi fè
Ne dun bè n’kanu kò
Hodounannnnyeeeee Hodounannnn
Hodounannnnyeeeee
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne sin kan
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kun na
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kan na
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne bolo kan
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kun na
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne bolo kan
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne sen ka
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
A y’i ban k’i bolo da kunkolo la
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne sin kan
---
[English]
The other day I argued with my love
The other day I argued with my husband
And now ...
His hands no longer touch my neck
His hands no longer touch my waist
His hands no longer stroke my hair
He no longer looks me in the eye
And my heart aches
Chorus:
I love him so! I love my darling so much!
I love him so!
I will always follow my love
His hands no longer touch my neck
His hands no longer touch my waist
His hands no longer touch my breasts
His hands no longer caress my head
And my heart aches
Chorus x 2
His hands no longer caress my breasts
His hands no longer touch my waist
His hands no longer caress my hair
His hands no longer touch my neck
His hands no longer touch mine ...
---
The song "Kanou" by Fatoumata Diawara expresses the pain and longing of a woman who has had an argument with her love. In the first two verses of O donna ne ni n'jarabi de kèlèla and O donna ne ni n'furunyògòn de kèlèla, she laments how her husband no longer touches her neck, waist or hair. She feels the distance and separation between them and her heart aches. Then the chorus comes in with the repeated lines of A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kan na, which means "I love him so! I will always follow my love." This romantic declaration shows that despite the pain, she is still devoted to her husband and willing to follow him wherever he goes.
The second verse repeats the same lines as the first, strengthening her sense of sadness and wanting, but the chorus lifts her spirits and reaffirms her love for him. The song then ends with a repetition of the lines "His hands no longer caress my breasts, His hands no longer touch my waist, His hands no longer caress my hair, His hands no longer touch my neck" as she reflects on all the places where he no longer touches her. This highlights the physical distance between them, but the chorus reminds us that even though things may be tough, love conquers all.
Line by Line Meaning
O donna ne ni n’jarabi de kèlèla, O donna
Oh woman, he no longer touches my neck
O donna, ne ni n’furunyògòn de kèlèla, O donna
Oh woman, he no longer touches my waist
Chorus:
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kan na
I love him so! I love my darling so much!
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
I will always follow my love
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kun na
I love him so!
A y’i ban ki nyè jò ne nyè la
I will always obey him
Ne dusu kolo bè n’diminna
His hands no longer touch my neck
N’ko ne dun bè n'jarabi fè
His hands no longer touch my waist
Ne dun bè n’kanu fè
His hands no longer stroke my hair
N’ko ne dun bè n'jarabi fè
His hands no longer touch my waist
Ne dun bè n’kanu kò
His hands no longer caress my head
Hodounannnnyeeeee Hodounannnn
Chorus
Ne dusu kolo bè n’diminna
His hands no longer touch my neck
N’ko ne dun bè n'jarabi fè
His hands no longer touch my waist
Ne dun bè n’kanu kò
His hands no longer caress my head
N’ko ne dun bè n' jarabi fè
His hands no longer touch my waist
Ne dun bè n’kanu kò
His hands no longer caress my head
Hodounannnnyeeeee Hodounannnn
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne sin kan
I will always love him
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
I will always follow my love
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kun na
I love him so!
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kan na
I love him so! I love my darling so much!
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne bolo kan
I love him deeply
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
I will always follow my love
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne kun na
I love him so!
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne bolo kan
I love him deeply
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne sen ka
I will always love him
A y’i ban k’i bolo da cèkisè la
I will always follow my love
A y’i ban k’i bolo da kunkolo la
I will always be with him
A y’i ban k’i bolo da ne sin kan
I will always love him
Contributed by Jack V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PaoloMuccio
ITALIAN VERSION
I LOVED IT
L'altro giorno
ho litigato con
il mio amore
L'Altro giorno
ho litigato con
il mio uomo
E adesso...
Le sue mani
non sfiorano
più il mio collo
Le sue mani
non afferrano
più il mio bacino
Le sue mani
non accarezzano
più i miei capelli
I suoi occhi
non si perdono più
nei miei occhi
Ed il mio cuore
soffre per questo
Lo amo tanto
Ti amo tanto
Continuerò
a seguire
il mio cuore
@eresara2014
Traducción del Bambara al Español:
"Amor
El otro día discutí con mi amor
El otro día discutí con mi esposo y ahora ...
Sus manos ya no tocan mi cuello
Sus manos ya no tocan mi cintura
Sus manos ya no acarician mi cabello
Ya no me mira a los ojos
Y me duele el corazón
¡Lo amo tanto!
¡Amo mucho a mi amor!
¡Lo amo tanto!
Siempre seguiré mi amor
Sus manos ya no tocan mi cuello
Sus manos ya no tocan mi cintura
Sus manos ya no tocan mis pechos.
Ya no me acaricia la cara
Y me duele el corazón
¡Lo amo tanto!
¡Amo mucho a mi amor!
¡Lo amo tanto!
Siempre seguiré mi amor"...
@Simona-Mona
I cannot explain, how this music makes me feel. Some inexplicable joy and a need to move your body :) to celebrate life...
@mariodemartino2946
I felt this way as well, until i found out what this song is about
@americanbrother1
Fatou's music moves me...I feel a deep sense of connection, as if my ears here something so new & almost Neo Soul, while at the same time recognizing authentic African music sang by my ancestors that speak to my soul..Love & Respect Fatou!
@sunnymilasolnyshka6941
Beautiful woman, beautiful voice, beautiful music 😍
@frederiquebourdon4721
Merci Fatoumata !
@buttergurls6401
She's sooo beautiful
@sarahpospischil
The other day I argued with my love The other day I argued with my husband And now... His hands no longer touch my neck His hands no longer touch my waist His hands no longer stroke my hair He no longer looks me in the eye And my heart aches I love him! I love my darling so much! I will always follow my love His hands no longer touch my neck. [It's from the inlay of the album "Fatou"]
@Ekaekto
Thankyou, now it makes sense why this song makes me feel so achy. It really comes through what she means :)
@neciebooyaw
The magnetism in her voice
@mahagonyprincemahagony3793
I'm proud that I'm African😍