Ipu, Ipu kwa Abiti Joni
Ipu, Ipu kwa Abiti Joni
Kutwa, kutwa kwakutwa jika
Kulya, kulya kwakulya wosope.
Translation: Rice at Miss Joni’s,
When it comes to pounding I do it alone.
But when it comes to eating, everyone is involved.
Yao song: Performed in TA Mposa’s area, Chanyungu.
Apongozi
Iyayi
Apongozi zoona
Apongozi
Iyayi
Apongozi
Zoona
Andilanda chimanga kumitondo
Nanga ine nditani njala yakula
Andilanda chimanga kumitondo
Nanga ine nditani njala yakula
Ali mbeta akwatiwe chaka chino kuli njala,
Ali mbeta akwatiwe
Chaka chino kuli njala
. Njalayi, iyayi. Njalayi, njala yakula
Njalayi, iyayi, njalayi, njala yakula.
Translation: There are two possible translations for this song. In the first context, a daughter-in-law complains that her mother-in-law has snatched away the maize which the daughter-in-law was pounding. The daughter-in-law is at aloss because there is a famine. Her advice is that those who are single should get married in order to avoid the famine that will hit the land that year (the implication is that the marriage will provide food security).
In the second translation, the woman is complaining to her mother-in-law, not about her. One can only assume that other people have snatched the maize. The rest of the context remains the same.
