Lest we forget, in paying tribute to his mother, Prince Nico Mbanga of
"Sweet Mother" fame, did so to all our African mothers. May he rest in
peace.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Adelaide Fiske [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 12:23 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: English Translation of the Poem in Honor of the African
> Woman
>
> I concur with you Emilie.
> Adelaide F.
>
> >>> Emilie Ngo Nguidjol <[log in to unmask]> 03/10/00 03:42PM >>>
> Next time any of you posts something here in English, I'll demand its
> French translation.
> Following is an English translation of the poem "Femme noire, femme
> Africaine" by Camara Laye.
> As someone said, "the translator is a traitor."
>
> TO MY MOTHER
>
> Black woman, woman of Africa, O my mother, I am thinking of you...
>
> O Daman, O my mother, you who bore me upon your back, you who gave me
> suck,
> you who watched over my first faltering steps, you who were the first to
> open my eyes to the wonders of the earth, I am thinking of you...
>
> Woman of the fields, woman of the rivers, woman of the great river-banks,
> O
> my mother, I am thinking of you...
>
> O you, Daman, O my mother, you who dried my tears you who filled my heart
> with laughter, you who patiently bore with all my many moods, how I should
> love to be beside you once again, to be a little child beside you!
>
> Woman of great simplicity, woman of great resignation, O my mother I am
> thinking of you...
>
> O Daman, Daman, you of the great family of blacksmiths and goldsmiths, my
> thoughts are always turning towards you, and your own thoughts accompany
> me
> at every step. O, Daman, my mother, how I should love to be surrounded by
> your loving warmth again, to be a little child beside you...
>
> Black woman, woman of Africa, O my mother, let me thank you; thank you for
> all that you have done for me, your son, who, though so far away, is still
> so close to you!
>
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