Signs of Life

Mchemko (by Kulikoyela Kahigi, 1979, translated by Saad Johar Mwenda and S. DeTray).
This poem was written in the venerable custom of Swahili poetry by my friend Kahigi, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. He asked me one day if I would put the poem to music. It was a natural, with its theme of transcendent rhythms freeing people from life's troubles. I played it for him the next day at a celebration.

Mapigo yavumayo hewani, mapigo ya marimba,
On the air, humming drum beats, pounding marimba drums
kubwa na ndogo; mapigo ya ngoma, kubwa na ndogo;
big and small; pounding of the skin drums, big and small
mapigo ya njuga, lugha ya mchemko
ringing of cymballs, the language of boiling
icharukayo kwa mawimbi mivuma
energy surges forward, the humming becomes a wave
mapigo uwanjani.
and a rhythm on the earth.

Mvumisho, mcharuko hewani
the air is humming, dancing in the air
mapigo ya moyo, misuli na damu
hearts throbbing, muscle and blood

wazimu wa mapigo, uwashikao watu
drumming madness grabs the people
wakajibwaga uwanjani, wakacheza wakacheza
bodies in wild freedom, dancing and dancing
kufuata mapigo; marimba, ngoma, na nyimbo
following the rhythm; marimbas, drums and songs
mapigo yatekayo mioyo, mioyo ikalewa mapigo
drum beating pulls on hearts, hearts drunk on the rhythm

mapigo! mapigo yakatayo pingu za huzuni moyoni
drumming! Rhythm that frees the heart from sadness
mioyo ikaruka, ikapaa kwa uhuru
hearts fly, rising freely
usiokadirika
don't control the dance

mapigo! mapigo yaunganishayo watu
pounding! Pounding rhythm unites the dancers
wasahau kwa muda dhiki moyo zikusao
they forget for a time their hearts suffering
mapigo ya uhuru wa mwili na moyo
with the rhythm freeing body and heart


Please e-mail Steve DeTray for ordering information:
stephen.detray@gmail.com

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