Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides a video of and information, and comments about the meaning of the song "Kumu Neexul" by Senegalese singer Viviane Chidid Ndour. Wolof lyrics to that song are also provided in this post.
The content of this post is provided for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks Viviane Chidid Ndour to for her musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT VIVIANE NDOUR
From http://www.africansuccess.org/visuFiche.php?id=1041&lang=en
Viviane Chidid Ndour born March 8, 1972, is a half Lebanese & Senegalese singer , known under the name of the "Queen of Mbalax."
She was born in Mbour, a small port to the south of Dakar. She is divorced with two children from her ex husband Bouba N'dour .
She started her career by singing with a group of artist freinds and then became a choirist with Senegalese star and International singer Youssou N'Dour. A few years later she married Bouba N'Dour, Youssou N'dour's brother. Bouba has since become Viviane's manager and has said that he will continue to do so, despite their divorce. She has gained international notoriety from her appearances at international concerts, singing with Youssou N'dour with Neneh Cherry, and their international success - Seven Seconds."
-snip-
In standard American English the word "notoriety" means "negative attention". I think that a better English word for this passage would have been "popularity", or "fame."
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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viviane_Ndour
"Viviane Ndour (born Viviane Chidid) is a Senegalese pop singer who is the former sister-in-law of Youssou N'Dour. She is known by some as the "Queen of Mbalax".
Ndour was born in Mbour, Senegal, one of the coastal cities near the Atlantic Ocean. Her father is from Lebanon and her mother is from Mauritania. Her grandmother from her mother's side is from Mali. Her racial mix plays a big role in her music. Her music combines traditional Senegalese mbalax music with elements of U.S. rap, R&B and Country music. She released her first album in 1999 and formed a group called Le Jolof Band in 2001. Most of her songs are in either Wolof or English though a few are in French, the official language of Senegal. She is Muslim...
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbalax
"Mbalax (or Mbalakh) is the national popular dance music of Senegal and the Gambia. Mbalax is a fusion of popular Western music and dance such as jazz, soul, Latin, and rock blended with sabar, the traditional drumming and dance music of Senegal. The genre's name derived from the heavy use of accompanying rhythms used in sabar called mbalax."...
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SHOWCASE VIDEO- Viviane - Kumu Neexul
gelongalvideo , Uploaded on Apr 28, 2011
Viviane dans toute sa créativité. Kumu Neexul entre tradition et modernisme. Pour le plaisir des fans de la reine du Jolof Band. Réalisée au Sénégal par Gelongal
Google Translate FROM French to English:
Viviane in all its creativity. Kumu Neexul between tradition and modernism. To the delight of fans of the Queen of Jolof Band. Conducted in Senegal by Gelongal
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KUMU NEEXUL LYRICS (in Wolof)
yow la
deugeu deugeuuuu deugueuuuu yow rek laaaa
thiow li
thiow li
nekhoul ba nekhoul ndiaye do séne morom
koumou nékhoul djalal feulé
koumou nékhoul topal neulé
sunu khol yi yow ya ci né
ndakh sa mbakh nieupeu nio ka séddé
gaindé ndiaaye sa deuggeu deuggeu
fing ka djapp fofo deuggeur
yakka baari feem meunna déémm
yang niouy takha dioyy té dooro niou
nio ngui assamane té nawou niou
teudeul teudeul nelaw
nelaw ba yandoor sa guanaw bandang
mane beugueuuu naaaaaaaaaaaaa leuuuuuu
gueumeul yalla dji
gueumeul yalla dji téééééé khamni mom rek kay mayyé
gueumeul yalla dji tékhamni mom rekkkkk kay doggallll
koumou nékhoul djalal feulé feulé
koumou nékhoul topal neulé thiey li
sunu khol yi yow ya si né
ndakh sa mbakh nieupeu ka séddé
gaindé ndiaaye sa deuggeu deuggeu
fing ka djapp fofo deuggeur
yakka baari feem meunna déémm
yang niouy takha dioyy té dooro niou
nio ngui assamane té dawou niou
teuddeul teuddeul nelaw
alboury biram penda ndiemé
borom djolof bouna njorté
biram penda farimata mi mou dembothioro bé
moy mami serigne ndiaye bouna
bouna ba djoloff marré nane
bouna yaaa beunoub tene wadjouramm di sa nane ba rewmi naat
yacine gueye massar sa yaye serigne ndiaye bou mansour bouna
serigne ndiaye aziz fama mansour oumi mame fama ndiaye bayou sophie ndiaye
han an an an aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan annnnnnnnnnn serigne ndiaye bouna
nelawal ba yandoor sa guinaw bandang maaaaane beuuuugeuuuu naaaaa leu
biram ndieme aissa ndiaye bou kaari bigué sangoulene alboury diakher alboury baye bouna ndiaye
mami mame famara ciré ndiaye bouna ndiaye
man ngua yandoor soy nelaw
koumou nekhoul topal feule
koumou nekhoul djalal neulé
nelaw ba yandoor sa guinaw bandang mane beugeuuuu naaaaaaa leuuuuuuu
Source: Fatoumata Traore, 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6OnE-DTBJw
Unfortunately, I've not been able to find these lyrics online in English, or French, or in any other language given in Google Translate.
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COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SONG'S MEANING
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6OnE-DTBJw
1. Lin Zing,2011
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHATS THE MESSAGE IN THIS SONG PLEASE?, I DONT UNDERSTAND WOLOF.
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2. Mamkumba Sosseh, 2011
in reply to Lin Zing
"@sweetj15 basically the message is saying "Whoever doesn't like it, they can leave....because she loves him regardless""
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3. ss884412, 2011
"its a beautiful song really. N for those who don't understand wat she's saying, it's a very positive song. it has nothing to do with race or colonialism. this song is something about praising 'alburi dieye' a king in senegal's history n how great he was. senegalese love to entertain n most of her songs are love songs......"
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4. jumellevierge, 2011
"SHE'S singing a king of a senegalese kingdom and his descendants: alboury ndiaye"
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5. Cheikh Camara, 2014
"This song is dedicated to a King called Alboury Ndiaye. He used to rule over the kingdom of Djolof, a province in Senegal. Alboury is famous for saving his population during the period of drought, Senegal experienced back in the days, by digging lots of wells. She is now magnifying and glorifying that king and his family.
The title means "Go To Hell If You Don't Like It". She is referring to the haters denying his legacy.
Ninaskype1 right as there is a disconnect between the words and the pix. Basically, She is marveling the beauty of our tradition, hence the costumes.
I hope you find this helpful. Best wishes for 2014!"
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From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDFIDIUucyo title: "African Divas - Senegal - Viviane - Fulani Queen and Beyonce of Africa" published by Seka Moke, May 30, 2011 [This is the same video that is embedded in this post.]
1.AjahDawn, 2011
"Translation: If you don't like it It's you, In truth it's only you. All the talk, they talk but everyone knows you are not their equal. If you don't like move over/get out of here, if you don't like it stand over there. You are in our hearts Because your kindness has been witnessed. Young Lion you are where it's at. You are making us cry and you did not even hit us, you are in heaven and you don't envy us. Rest, Rest in peace. I love you. Trust in God and know he is the only one. Trust in
2. AjahDawn,2011
God and know that only He decides. (singing leaneage of a King's descendants [those names given in the original comment]rest in peace. I love you. (still singing about the king's descendants) and telling people who don't like her [profanity deleted by me] to [profanity deleted by me]"
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COMMENTS ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN CLOTHING & HAIRSTYLES WORN BY THE WOMEN IN THIS VIDEO
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDFIDIUucyo title: "African Divas - Senegal - Viviane - Fulani Queen and Beyonce of Africa" published by Seka Moke, May 30, 2011
Monsieur Africain, 2011
"She dresses like a Fula woman but yet she doesn't sing in Fula language (well at least in this song).
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jarvis, 2011
in reply to Monsieur Africain
"What language is she speaking then? I really want to know."
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Monsieur Africain, 2011
in reply to ayana jarvis
"She is singing in Wolof."
**
lissamaria09, 2011
"Sorry but Viviane is so not Fulani, her father is Lebanese and Wolof and her mother Mauritanian and Bambara. Love the song though, and the tama is amazing!"
-snip-
Here's some information about the Fulani
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_people
"The Fula people or Fulani or Fulɓe (Fula: Fulɓe; French: Peul; Hausa: Fulani; Portuguese: Fula; Wolof: Pël; Bambara: Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Africa, numbering approximately 40 million people in total. They form one of the most widely dispersed and culturally diverse of the peoples of Africa.[16] The Fulani are bound together by the common language of Fulfulde, as well as by some basic elements of Fulbe culture, such as The pulaaku , a code of conduct common to all Fulani groups.
A significant proportion of their number, (an estimated 13 million), are nomadic, making them the largest pastoral nomadic group in the world.[17] Spread over many countries, they are found mainly in West Africa and northern parts of Central Africa, but also in Sudan and Egypt. [18]"...
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From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj4zGPP9cb8 "VIVIANE NDOUR KUMU NEEXUL", published by pabelolo lolo Apr 28, 2011
1. ZainabJagne1, 2011
"Im in love with this song, i love the traditional clothing shes wearing... Its from my Tukulor/Narr heritage.. :)"
-snip-
Here's information about the Tukulor:
From http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/608590/Tukulor
"Tukulor, also spelled Tukolor or Toucouleur, a Muslim people who mainly inhabit Senegal, with smaller numbers in western Mali. Their origins are complex: they seem basically akin to the Serer and Wolof peoples, and contacts with the Fulani have greatly influenced their development. They speak the Fulani language, called Fula, which belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family.
From the 10th to the 18th century the Tukulor were organized in the kingdom of Tekrur, which, until the emergence of a Tukulor empire in the 18th century, was ruled by a succession of non-Tukulor groups. In the mid-19th century, many Tukulor supported a religious war against other groups in the area and, unsuccessfully, against the French. Defeated, many fled to present-day Mali, where they continue to live.
The Tukulor embraced Islam in the 11th century and take great pride in their strong Islamic tradition"...
-anip-
Notice that the Britannica article quoted above indicates that "they [the Tukolor] seem basically akin to the Serer and Wolof peoples, and contacts with the Fulani have greatly influenced their development."
end of quote.
"Development" certainly could include female clothing and hairstyles- which means that the commenters (and the video uploader) who described Viviane Chidid Ndour & the other females in this video as (dressing like) Fulani and the commenter who indicated that they wore Tukolor outfits are both right.
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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/examples-of-fulani-african-female.html "Examples Of Fulani (African) Female Beaded Hairstyles (videos & quotes)"
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Tuesday, 1 July 2014
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