Poetry

Tribute

by  Maky Madiba Sylla
translated by Maky Madiba Sylla
A black and white photograph of Maky Madiba Sylla speaking at a lectern
Photo by Gavyn Redd

Baay
Baay, sunu baay bi
Baay dundal
Na sa tur sell
Na sa nguur dëgër
Ndax sag dundu am na ñjariñ
Baay dundal yàgg fi te wér
Lo nekk baay Yàllaa nay jàmm
Baay, sunu baay bi
Nun ndaw ñi
Naw nanu la
Baay, sunu baay bi
Sag dundu am na njariñ
Li am solo mooy
Nun ndaw ñi gërëm nanu la
Sant nanu la baay
Sa liggéey rafet na
Dina nu topp say tànk baay
Dundal Baay

Father
Father, our beloved father
Live a long life
May your name be sanctified
May your strength be strong
Because your existence is useful
Father, live long and in good health
May peace cover all your undertakings
Father, our father
We the youth
Have great esteem for you
Father, our father
Your existence is useful
The most important thing is
That we the youth thank you very much
And are grateful to you, Father
We magnify your work
We will follow in your footsteps, Father
Long may you live, Father

Editorial note: Senegalese filmmaker Maky Madiba Sylla delivered this tribute at the dinner in Diop’s honor on October 26, 2022. His Murambi at Heart documentary is forthcoming.

Maky Madiba Sylla is a Senegalese filmmaker and also a singer known as Daddy Maky (his stage name). He studied cinema at the Birmingham Film School in the UK. El Maestro Laba Sosseh is his first documentary film. He also directed another film, Il Chantait Rouge, about the Senegalese communist militant emblematic figure and politician Amath Dansokho. He is currently working on his new documentary film Murambi at Heart, which explores the life and work of renowned author Boubacar Boris Diop.

Buy PRINT Issue  Subscribe TO WLT