1 4 L in g a la P o e m s MLKJIHGFE
translated & annotated
by M ichael M eeuwis
K ay o -L am p e
RECALL
R e s e a rc h C e n tr e o f A f ric a n L a n g u a g e s a n d L ite ra tu r e '
14 Lin g a l a po e m s ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDC
BY
Ka y o -La m pe
TRA N SLA TED A N D A N N O TA TED BY
Mi c h a e l Me e u w i s
1998
RECALL
Research Centre of Africati Languages and LiteraturesZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Ta b l e o f Co n t e n t s
S e rie s E d ito rs : K a re i A rn a u t &
RECALL w a s
S te v e n R o e ls
f o u n d e d in 1 9 9 7 a t th e D e p a rtm e n t o f A fr ic a n L a n g u a g e s a n d
C u ltu r e s o f th e U n iv e rs ity o f G h e n t, B e lg iu m . T h e r e s e a r c h c e n tr e s p e c ific a lly
w a n ts to a d d re s s is s u e s r e la tiv e to th e d e s c rip tio n o f A fr ic a n la n g u a g e s in d iv e r s e
f ie ld s o f a c a d e m ie a c tiv ity s u c h a s s y n ta x , le x ic o g r a p h y a n d le x ic o lo g y , p r a g m a tic s
P r e f a c e (by
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
M ichael M eeuwis)
1
1 . M p o to - Europe
2
2 . M b o n g w a n a Y a E k o lo - The Tramformation Of The Country
4
3 . M ik ili - Europe
6
4 . M b o ta m a N a A n v e rs - Christmas In Antwerp
8
a n d s o c io lin g u is tic s .
Y o u c a n c o n ta c t u s a t:
R E C A L L s e c r e ta ria t
D e p a rtm e n t o f A fr ic a n L a n g u a g e s a n d C u ltu re s
5 . O .U .A . - O.A.U.
10
R o z ie r 4 4
6 . M o s a la L o b ik o - Work Is Salvation
12
9000 G ent
7 . N d o te - Ndote
14
B e lg iu m
8 . B o z o n g i M b o k a - The Return To The M otherland
16
T e l. + 3 2 - ( 0 ) 9 / 2 6 4 .3 8 .2 4
9 . R a c is m e - Racism
20
F a x . + 3 2 - ( 0 ) 9 / 2 6 4 .4 1 .8 0
1 0 . M a n g a la - Mangala
22
E - m a il:
1 1 . L iw a - Death
24
1 2 . M o lo n g o - The Universe
26
1 3 . B o b o i M b e b a - Renouncing Evil
28
1 4 . E lo m b e A w e i - The Downfall Of The Strong
30
D is c u s s io n a n d a n n o ta tio n s (by M ichael M eeuwis)
32
U n iv e rs ity o f G h e n t
R E C A L L @ a f ric a n a .r u g .a c .b e
14 Lingala poems. Translated and annotated by Michael Meeuwis
b y K a y o -L a m p e
P u b lis h e d b y R E C A L L , G e n t ( B e lg iu m )
R e c a ll L ite r a tu r e S e r ie s N r . 4
C o p y r ig h t © 1 9 9 8 b y th e a u th o r
IS B N : 9 0 -7 6 3 2 7 -0 3 -3
PREFACE
I n th e f irs t p a rt o f F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 8 , K a y o -L a m p e , a C o n g o le s e r e s id e n t in
th e c ity o f A n tw e r p , a p p ro a c h e d m e w ith a m a n u s c rip t o f 1 4 p o e m s in
L in g a la w h ic h h e h a d b e e n c o m p o s in g s in c e th e F a ll o f 1 9 9 7 . H e to ld m e
h e h a d w r itte n th is p o e tr y in h is f re e h o u r s a s a w a y o f ‘o r g a n iz in g h is
th o u g h ts ’, w ith o u t — a t le a s t n o t in itia lly — a n y s p e c ific p u r p o s e o f
p u b lic a tio n in m in d . H e f e it th e p o e m s w e re n o w r e a d y to b e s h a r e d ; s in c e
h e k n e w m e a s a s tu d e n t o f L in g a la a n d m a n o f th e h u m a n itie s , h e a s k e d
m e if I w o u ld lo o k a t th e m . A s a r e s u lt o f m y r e a d in g , I e n c o u r a g e d h im
to p r e p a re th is m a n u s c rip t f o r p u b lic a tio n a n d s u g g e s te d th e R e C A L L
p a p e rs s e r ie s a s a f o ru m . W e b o th c a m e to th e c o n c lu s io n th a t th e b e s t
w a y to p r e s e n t th is c o lle c tio n w o u ld b e to h a v e e a c h p o e m a c c o m p a n ie d
b y a tr a n s la tio n in ju x ta p o s itio n ( f o r w h ic h I v o lu n te e r e d ), b u t w ith o u t
a n y o th e r ‘o n - lin e ’ a n n o ta tio n s , in f o o tn o te s e tc ,, th a t w o u ld b u r d e n th e
p r e s e n ta tio n a n d h a n d ic a p a r e a d in g o f th e p o e tr y f o r its o w n s a k é . T h e
a n n o ta tio n s a r e th e r e f o r e in c lu d e d in
a g e n e r a l d is c u s s io n
o f K ayo-
L a m p e ’s c o lle c tio n , w h ic h I c h o o s e to p r e s e n t s e p a r a te ly a t th e b a c k o f
th is v o lu m e .
M ic h a e l M e e u w is
S e p te m b e r 1 9 9 8
1. M
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
poto
1 . Europe
M p o to m a k a m b o
E u ro p e ’s tr o u b le
nyonso m akam bo.
n o th in g b u t tr o u b le .
M o k ili m a lili
T h e c o u n tr y ’s c o ld
b a to m a lili
p e o p le a re c o ld
m b o te m a lili.
th e ir g r e e tin g s c o ld .
M ib e k o m b u la
S h o w e r s o f la w s
m ib o i b a p a y a
tu r n in g d o w n s tr a n g e r s
m ito n g i b if e lo .
p u ttin g u p w a lls .
A w a m onkanda
h e re p a p ers
k u n a m onkanda.
th e re p a p e rs .
E z a n g i o le n g i
W ith o u t th e m y o u tr e m b le
ezang i b akan gi
w ith o u t th e m th e y b o o k y o u
e z a n g i lip a p u
w ith o u t th e m th e a irp la n e
e z a n g i o le li.
w ith o u t th e m y o u s u f f e r .
B o f a n d i n ta lo
Y o u r s ta y c o s ts m o n e y
b o ta n g i n ta lo
y o u r s tu d y c o s ts m o n e y
b o m e li n ta lo
y o u r d r in k c o s ts m o n e y
b o b e n g i n ta lo .
y o u r c a ll c o s ts m o n e y .
M p o to m in d o n d o
E u r o p e ’s r e g u la tio n s
M p o to m a k a m b o .
E u r o p e ’s tr o u b le .
2
3
2. M
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
bongwana Ya Ekolo
2 . The Transformation O f The Country
L o k ito lo u ti e p a i y a m o n y e le
A h u r r ic a n e r a g e s f r o m th e e a s t
m ib a li n k in g o m o la i lo k o la e k o lo li
m e n w ith lo n g n e c k s lik e th e e k o lo li
m in d o k i m ila i m p e m ik u s e n a m a b o k o
lo n g a n d s h o r t g u n s in th e ir h a n d s
m b a n g o lo k o la m p e p o e m a ti lik o lo .
f a s t lik e r o c k e ts la u n c h e d in to th e s k y .
B a k o ti K in s h a s a , K in s h a s a la b e lle
th e y w a lk e d in to K in s h a s a , K in s h a s a la b e lle
b a z w i m p if o y a m b o k a
to o k h o ld o f o u r c o u n tr y
b a z w i e b o n g a y a b o k o n z i.
to o k th e s e a t o f p o w e r.
N k o m b e N k o m b e a p u m b w i m p e T e m b o a y e i.
W a n a n d e m b o n g w a n a y a e k o lo .
T h e E a g le , T h e E a g le h a s f lo w n a n d th e E le p h a n t a r riv e d .
T h a t’s th e tr a n s fo r m a tio n o f th e c o u n tr y .
B a s i m a p u ta n a m a b o k o
b a n a b a b e le li p a p a , p a p a T e m b o
b a y e m b i m p e b a n g a n g i; to b ik i , to b ik i.
W o m e n in jo y , d r e s s e s in h a n d s
c h ild re n c h e e rin g a t f a th e r, f a th e r E le p h a n t
s in g in g a n d s h o u tin g ; w e ’r e s a v e d , w e ’r e s a v e d .
N kom be akei
T h e E a g le is g o n e
N k o m b e a k im i
T h e E a g le h a s fle d
N kom be yo w api
N k o m b e m o y ib i
E a g le , w h e r e a r e y o u
N k o m b e lo k u ta .
T h e E a g le , a th ie f
T h e E a g le , a lie .
4
5
3. M
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
ikili
3 . Europe
M ik ili b ile i y a b a m is ta
E u ro p e is f o o d f o r th e k id s
m w a n a K in a le li m o k ili w a n a
th o s e in K in a r e d y in g to g o th e r e
b a n z e le n a b a m is ta p o s o p e m b e
g ir ls a n d b o y s a r e a ll w h ite -s k in n e d
n z o to n a b ilo n g i s e m b e s e m b e
th e ir b o d ie s a n d fa c e s s o s m o o th
d a m a g e n a b a s a n té p e p e le .
f o o d a n d H e a lth c a re g a lo r e .
bacop bebo na
p le n ty o f d e a ls a n d
b a s u c c è s d a n g e r.
s u c c e s g u a r a n te e d .
O k iti b a K in lo k ito
B ig d e a l w h e n y o u g o s e e ‘e m in K in
r e s p e c t y a m o tin d o w a n a
m u c h resp e c t
d u s t r is e s a s h e s r e m a in
p u tu lu e m a ti m a k a la m a tik a li
o s o m b i p a la is p e o d o te r m o m i
y o u c a n b u y a h o u s e a n d a f fo r d a w if e
v r a ie p e tite , p e tite n z e le .
a r e a l s w e e th e a r t, y o u r b a b y .
W a n a b a in flu e n c e s y a M ik ili
T h a t’s th e im p a c t o f E u ro p e
h e y , w h o ’d b a d m o u th b a c k in th e o ld n e ig h b o r h o o d
e h , n a n i a lo b a n a q u a r tie r
m w a n a a u ti B e la n a P e n ta g o n e
s o m e o n e w h o ’s b e e n to B e lg iu m a n d A m e ric a
a m o n a b a c h a te a u x n a b a m e tro .
w h o ’s s e e n th e c a s tle s a n d s u b w a y s .
M ik ili, m o n a k a k a
E u r o p e , i t ’s p la in to s e e
succes n a b asu ccès.
s u c c e s s a f te r s u c c e s s .
6
7
4. M
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
botama Na Anvers
4 . Christmas In Antwerp
N s e e k o k a n i n a e b a le
T h e e a r th lo o k s lik e a n o c e a n
e b a le m p e m b e b o e ta n d o y a lik o lo
a n o c e a n w h ite a s th e h e a v e n s
m a ta n g a m p e m b e m a z a li k o k ita
w h ite s n o w is f a llin g
b a la b a la ik o m i lo k o la z e lo y a lib o n g o .
r o a d s a re lik e s a n d o n th e b e a c h .
M o s e lu lo k o la m a fu ta y a n g u m a
A n d s lip p e r y lik e th e p y th o n ’s o il
m ito n d o y a n d a k o m p e m b e
th e r o o f o n e v e ry h o u s e is w h ite
n z e te n y o n s o iz a n g i n k a s a
a ll tr e e s a r e m is s in g th e ir le a v e s
m p io e le i n k a s a y a n g o .
th e c o ld h a s e a te n th o s e le a v e s .
B a to b a la ti lo k o la A r m s tr o n g
P e o p le a re d r e s s e d lik e A r m s tro n g
akei n a san za
w h e n h e w e n t to th e m o o n
b ik o ti n a m itu
m a k o lo m a k o m i lo k o la m a y e m a n z o k u
h a ts o n th e ir h e a d s
th e ir f e e t m u c h lik e th e e le p h a n t’s
m b e b u ip a s u k i m p e z o lo iz a li k o ta n g a
d o v e n lip s a n d d r ip p in g n o s e s
m a to i m a k o m i m p a s i n a n s o n g e .
e a rlo b e s a re a c h in g .
N a n d a k o m o lu n g e
a t h o m e i t ’s w a rm
m o lu n g e y a m o to
th e h e a th o f th e f ir e
m in d a m in g e n g i lo k o la m in z o to
la m p s f lic k e r lik e s ta rs
n d a k o ik o m i b o n z e n g a
b a n d e k o b a s a n g a n i lib o k e m o k o
th e h o u s e s a r e m e r ry
p e o p le to g e th e r, u n ite d in f a m ilie s
b a z a li k o lia , k o m e la m p e k o s e k a
a re e a tin g , d r in k in g , a n d la u g h in g
m in d u le y a N z a m b e m iz a li k o b e ta
G o d ’s m u s ic is p la y in g
e s e n g o e n e n e y a m b o ta m a
th e g r e a t jo y o f C h r is tm a s
M b o ta m a n a A n v e rs
C h r is tm a s in A n tw e r p
M b o ta m a y a M p o to .
C h r is tm a s o f E u ro p e .
8
9
5 . O.U.A.
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
5 . O .A.U
M o k ili n in i w a n a y a b o n z e n g a b o n s o
W h a t’s th is c o n tin e n t o f a ll b e a u tie s
m o k a n g e m i n a m b u in e n e
su rro u n d e d b y v ast o cean s
b a to lo p o s o m o in d o m p e m o ta n e
p e o p le d w ith d a r k a n d lig h t s k in s
b ib a le e b e le
s o m a n y r iv e r s
zam ba bebo
nsi m p e n y am a n d en g e n a n d en g e
p le n ty o f f o r e s ts
f is h a n d a n im a ls o f a ll k in d s
th o u s a n d s a n d th o u s a n d s o f p e o p le
b a to n k o to n a n k o to
b a s i m ib a li
w om en and m en
m ib a n g e n a b ile n g e .
o ld a n d y o u n g .
W a n a A fr ik a .
T h a t’s A f ric a .
E to n g i lik ita lin e n e y a b ik o lo
I t h a s b u ilt a g r e a t a llia n c e o f n a tio n s
lib y a n g e m i O .U .A .
w h ic h is c a lle d th e O .A .U .
O rg a n is a tio n d e 1 'U n ité A f ric a in e
T h e O rg a n iz a tio n o f A fr ic a n U n ity
lif a n d i n a A d d is - A b e b a
b a s e d in A d d is A b a b a
lite y a k a lis a n g a
te a c h in g o n e n e s s
ip h o ld in g h a rm o n y a m o n g th e n a tio n s
lib o n g is a k a e f a n d e li y a b ik o lo
liz a li n d e n k ita y a A f rik a
m ir r o r in g A f ric a ’s d ig n ity
lib o i b o k a b w a n i
r e n o u n c in g c o n f lic t
c o n d e m n in g w a r in A f ric a .
lip e k is i b itu m b a o A fr ik a .
A f rik a to m b o l a O U A
A f ric a , g lo r if y th e O .A .U .
O U A n d e w o lo y a A f rik a
th e O .A .U . is tr u ly A f ric a ’s g o ld
A fr ik a m o k ili y a b a n k o k o .
A fr ic a , la n d o f th e a n c e s to rs .
10
11
6 . W ork Is Salvation
6. M
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
osala Lobiko
W h o w o u ld s a y n o to a m e a l
w h o w o u ld s a y n o to n ic e c lo th e s o n th e b o d y
N a n i a b o y a b ile i
n a n i a b o y a e la m b a k ito k o o n z o to
n a n i a b o y a lo p o s o s e m b e s e m b e
w h o w o u ld s a y n o to a s m o o th s k in
w h o w o u ld s a y n o to s o m e c h a n g e in th e p o c k e t.
n a n i a b o y a f a la n g a n a lib e n g a .
A ll th e s e a re o b ta in e d th r o u g h w o r k
B in s o b in a b iz w a m a k a n a m o s a la
w o rk m e a n s s a lv a tio n
w o rk m e a n s in d e p e n d e n c e
m o s a la n d e lo b ik o
m o s a la n d e b o n s o m i
w o rk m e a n s d e fe n s e
m o s a la n d e e tu tu
w o rk m e a n s s u b s is te n c e
m o s a la n d e e lie lo
w o rk m eans peace.
m o s a la n d e k im ia .
P e a c e o f s to m a c h
p e a c e in th e f a m ily
K im ia y a lib u m u
p e a c e in th e c o u n tr y
k im ia o lib o ta
k im ia o e k o lo
peace at hom e
k im ia o lib a la
p e a c e o n th e r o a d .
k im ia o m o b e m b o .
W o rk m e a n s p r o te c tio n
M o s a la n d e n g u b a
to d a y ’s p r o te c tio n
to m o r r o w ’s p r o te c tio n .
n g u b a y a le lo
n g u b a y a lo b i.
M y f r ie n d , lo v e y o u r w o r k
N d e k o lin g a m o s a la
m y f rie n d , r e s p e c t y o u r w o r k
n d e k o to s a m o s a la
w o rk is s a lv a tio n
m o s a la lo b ik o
s a y n o to id le n e s s
s o w th e s e e d s
b o y a n g o in g o i
h a r v e s t th e c ro p s
lo n a n d u n d a
k a ta b ila n g a
p e p a m b is i m p e k o lis a m a y e le n a k e la si.
s e iz e th e f is h a n d c u ltiv a te y o u r m in d a t s c h o o l.
Y o u r w o r k ’s p a y w ill o f fe r y o u p le a s u re
L if u ta y a m o s a la e le n g i
y o u r w o r k ’s p a y w ill o f fe r y o u in d e p e n d e n c e
lif u ta y a m o s a la b o n s o m i
y o u r w o r k ’s p a y w ill o f fe r y o u p e a c e
lif u ta y a m o s a la k im ia
lif u ta y a m o s a la lip a m b o li.
y o u r w o r k ’s p a y w ill b e y o u r f o rtu n e .
W o r k is d ig n ity
w o r k is s a lv a tio n .
M o s a la n k ita
m o s a la lo b ik o .
13
12
<
7 . Ndote
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
7 . Ndote
S m a ll a n d b e a u tif u l v illa g e
M b o k a e k e m p e k ito k o
o ta n d a m i n a b o s a n d a b o m o k o n g o m w a n g u m a
n d a k o n g a m b o n a n g a m b o y a b a la b a la
y o u s tr e tc h o u t lik e a p y th o n ’s s p in e
h o u s e s o n e a c h s id e o f th e r o a d
o k a b w a n i n a b itu k a m ib a le .
y o u a re m a d e u p o f tw o .
I s e e B ito ti
N a m o n i B ito ti
I s e e T w e lia
I th in k o f th e E m b o lo c la y a n d th e I k u m u r iv e r .
n a m o n i T w e lia
n a k a n is i E m b o lo m p e I k u m u .
P r id e o f th e r e g io n
y o u h a v e s p a w n e d s u c h b r ig h t p e o p le
L o k u m u y a m o k ili
o b im is i b a to y a b w a n y a b o le k i
y o u h a v e b o r n b e a u tif u l w o m e n a n d m e n
o b o ti b a s i m p e m ib a li b o n z e n g a
y o u h a v e e x c e lle d in w a rs
y o u h a v e e x c e lle d in c o m p e titio n s
o b a n g is a k i n a b itu m b a
o b a n g is a k i n a m a s a n o
o k a m w is a k a n a b ile i o m p e la
w e m a rv e l a t th e e ro p o f y o u r r a in y s a is o n
w e m a rv e l a t th e g a m e o f y o u r h u n tin g s e a s o n .
o k a m w is a k a o e le k o y a b o k ila .
Y o u a re k n o w n f o r th e e le p h a n ts
O y e b a n i lik o lo y a n z o k u
y o u a r e k n o w n f o r th e p la n ta tio n s
o y e b a n i lik o lo y a b ila n g a
m w in d a y a b a la b a la n d e m p e tia m p e ti
th e s tr e e tlig h ts a re th e f ire flie s
th e te le p h o n e is th e d r u m .
té lé p h o n e n d e lo k o le .
N a to n d i y o b o to n d i m p o o b o ti n g a i
I th a n k y o u f o r g iv in g b ir th to m e
v illa g e o f m y a n c e s to rs .
m boka ya bankoko.
<
14
15
8 . The Return To The M otherland
8 . Bozongi
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
M boka.
A fr ic a ’s c h ild r e n a r e s c a tte r e d a c ro s s th e g lo b e
B a n a y a A fr ik a b a p a la n g a n i o n s e
b a k im i m b o k a lik o lo y a b itu m b a
f le e in g w a r in th e m o th e r la n d
f le e in g f a m in e in th e m o th e r la n d
b a k im i m b o k a lik o l o y a n z a la
th e y g o to A m e ric a
b a k e i A m e rik a
th e y g o to E u ro p e a n d A s ia
b a k e i M p o to n a A s ia
th e y g o to A u s tr a lia
b a k e i O s tr a lia
th e y g o lo o k f o r h a p p in e s s
b a k e i k o lu k a lib ik i
th e y g o lo o k f o r p r o s p e r ity
b a k e i k o lu k a b o m e n g o
b a k e i k o lu k a k o lo n g o n u y a n z o to .
th e y g o lo o k f o r g o o d h e a lth .
T h e y m a r ry th e w o m e n o f th e h o s t c o u n trie s
B a b a li b a s i y a m b o k a m o p a y a
b a z w i m in k a n d a y a b o f a n d i
b a b o ti b a n a m p e b a s a li m a k a m b o .
th e y o b ta in p a p e r s f o r r e s id e n c e
th e y h a v e c h ild r e n a n d d o a ll k in d s o f th in g s .
B u t d ig n ity is to b e f o u n d in A f ric a
K a s i n k ita e z a li n a A fr ik a
w h e re w o r k is to b e d o n e —
k u n a m o s a la m o z a li —
k u n a z a m b a if a n d i m p a m b a
m ilu k a m p e b ib a le b ito n d i n a m b is i
w h e r e f o re s ts lie u n d e v e lo p e d
s tr e a m s a n d r iv e r s a b o u n d w ith f is h
a n d f o r e s ts a b o u n d w ith g a m e a n d b ir d s .
z a m b a ito n d i n a n y a m a m p e n d e k e .
C h ild r e n o f A f ric a lis te n c a re f u lly
B a n a y a A fr ik a b o y o k a n i m a la m u
it is tim e to r e tu r n to th e m o th e r la n d
e s e n g e li b o z o n g a m b o k a
b o k e n d a k o la k is a m p e k o s a la m o s a la
g o b a c k to te a c h a n d w o r k
g o a n d d e v e lo p th e m o th e r la n d
b o k e n d a k o to m b o la m b o k a
b u ild r o a d s a n d h o s p ita ls
b o to n g a b a la b a la m p e m p ita lo
b o tik a k o te le n g a n a n a M p o to m p e A m e rik a .
s to p h a n g in g a ro u n d in E u ro p e a n d A m e ric a .
O u r d ig n ity is in A fr ic a
N k ita n a b is o e z a li n a A fr ik a
o u r d ig n ity is in th e m o th e rla n d
n k ita n a b is o e z a li n a m b o k a
le t u s r e n o u n c e id le n e s s
to b o y a n g o in g o i
to k im a m o b u lu y a m b o k a te
le t u s n o t f le e th e tu r m o il b a c k h o m e
le t u s s to p lo o k in g a ro u n d f o r p o litic a l a s y lu m
to b o y a k o s e n g a s e n g a n g u n d a
a s y lu m is a d is g r a c e
n g u n d a e z a li n s o n i
n g u n d a e z a li m o s a m b w is i.
a s y lu m is h u m ilia tin g .
D iè s e e z a li b o b o m i n ta n g o m p e b o k o s i
m a y e le n a b is o m a k e n d a k o to n g a A f rik a
P le a s f o r a s y lu m a r e a w a s te o f tim e a n d a lie
o u r m in d s m u s t b e s e t o n A fr ic a ’s r e c o n s tru c tio n
s o th a t w e lif t A f r ic a in to th e F ir s t W o rld
to k o m is a A f rik a M ik ili
16
17
le t u s le a v e b e h in d th e S c h e n g e n r e g u la tio n s
to k im a m ib e k o m y a S c h e n g e n
w h ic h w e re n o t m a d e f o r u s
m is a le m i te m p o n a b is o
m ib o i b o f a n d i m p e b o y e i b w a b is o .
a n d w ill n o t le t u s s ta y n o r c o m e .
C o m p a tr io ts
B ana m b o k a
le t u s g o b a c k to A fr ic a .
to z o n g a A fr ik a .
A fr ic a is p a r a d is e
A fr ik a p a r a d iz o
th e A f ric a n a ir is f r e s h .
A f r ik a m o m p e m p e k ito k o .
L e t u s s a y n o t o w a rs
T o b o y a b itu m b a
le t u s b e o n e a m o n g o u r n a tio n s
to y o k a n a o m e i y a b ik o lo
le t u s in v e s t o u r r e a s o n in w o rk .
to tiy a m a y e le n a m o s a la .
T h e re is n o d ig n it y a b ro a d
M b o k a m o p a y a n k ita e z a li te
o n ly s u f f e r in g a b ro a d .
m boka m opaya m onyoko.
A s y lu m is s la v e ry
R é f u g ié e z a li b o u m b u
A s y lu m is a d is g ra c e .
R é f u g ié e z a li b o z a n g i n k ita .
A f ric a is s h o r t o f h a n d s
A fr ik a e z a n g i m a b o k o
A f ric a is s h o r t o f h e a d s
A fr ik a e z a n g i m ito
le t u s f o llo w M a n d e la
to la n d a M a n d e la
le t u s n o t fle e th e m o th e r la n d
to k im a m b o k a te
to z o n g a m p e to to m b o la A fr ik a .
le t u s g o b a c k to d e v e lo p A fr ic a .
18
19
9 . Racism
9 . Racisme
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
G o d c r e a te d m a n a f te r b is im a g e
N z a m b e a k e li m o to e lilin g i y a y e
w h a t s k in is b e s t
lo p o s o n in i lo le k i
th e W h i te m a n is a p e r s o n
M o n d e le a z a li m o to
th e B la c k m a n is a p e rs o n .
M o in d o a z a li m o to .
M p o n in i n y u n g u n y u n g u o n te i y a b a to
M o n d e le to M o in d o b o n g o lo le n g e y o k o
M o in d o to M o n d e le m a k ila y a m is is a lo le n g e y o o
W h y a ll th is d is c o r d b e tw e e n p e o p le
W h ite o r B la c k s h a re th e s a m e b r a in s
B la c k o r W h ite , s a m e b lo o d in th e ir v e in s
th e r e is n o d if fe r e n c e
b o k e s a m i b o z a li te
m a y e le m a b a n g o n d e n g e m o k o .
th e ir m in d s a re a lik e .
T h e re is b lo o d a n d w a te r in v e in s
M a k ila n a m a i m a z a li n a m is is a
r u n n in g th r o u g h th e m lik e r iv e r s
m a k o ta m b o la b o m ilu k a
a n d w h e n th e h e a d d r o p s
n ta n g o n k in g o e te n g a m i
th e y w ill c o n g e a l in v a r ia b ly .
m a k o te le m a lo le n g e y o k o .
W h o is b e tte r th a n th e n e x t
N a n i a le k i m o n in g a
w h a t is th e s k in o f a b o d y
lo p o s o la n z o to n in i
w h a t im p o r ta n c e c o u ld it h a v e .
lo z a li n d e n a n k ita n in i.
R a c is m is p o in tle s s
R a c is m e m p a m b a
r a c is m is d o o m .
r a c is m e b o z in d o .
20
21
10. M
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
angala
1 0 . M angala
H e u re n a m o n i y o
W h en I saw y o u
n a b a n d i k o m itu n a
I a s k e d m y s e lf
n a n i a b o ta y o .
w h o s e c h ild a re y o u .
O z a li m w a n a M e le k a
Y o u ’r e a s ta r c h ild
k in g o m e n k e te
w ith a g o r g e o u s n e c k
m o in d o y a n g o lo
b la c k a s a c a tf is h
o u r lo v e w ill liv e u n til w e d ie .
n g a i n a y e b o lin g o s u k a s e liw a .
L o le m u m o s o io
A s o f t to n g u e
m o la to lo k a n g a
th e d r e s s o f th e lo k a n g a
e ta m b o li lo k o k u
th e w a lk o f th e lo k o k u
y e n d e n z e le la p e tite
s h e ’s m y little g ir l
y e n d e la d o u c e m o itié .
s h e ’s m y s w e e th e a r t.
B a y a y a b a z a li k o le la
T h e g u y s a d o re h e r
b a m is ta b a z a li k o b in a
th e y a re d a n c in g f o r h e r
M a n g a la la p e tite
s w e e t M a n g a la
n a z a li k o le la
I a d o re
k o le la y o .
a d o re y o u .
22
23
1 1 . Liwa
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
1 1 . Death
L o k o m b i y a m o k ili
T h e h a r p o f th is w o rld
a lia m b is i
m a y e a t f is h
a lia n y a m a
he m ay eat m eat
a lia k a s e b a to .
s till h e m u s t e a t p e o p le .
Y e nani
W h o is h e
y e I k a la n g a n y a
n g o m b a n a n g o m b a e k u ta n a k a te
it’s I k a la n g a n y a
;
m o u n ta in s m a y n e v e r m e e t
I k a la n g a n y a n a m o to .
b u t I k a la n g a n y a a n d p e o p le d o .
j
A z a li k o t a m b o la n a n z e la
A m a n is w a lk in g in th e s tr e e ts
a k u ta n i n a lo k o m b i y a m o k ili
h e m e e ts th e h a r p o f th e w o r ld
a p a s o li liy e b o
th e h a r p k ic k s th e m u s h ro o m
lib im i m a k ila
it s ta rts to b le e d
ak w ei k u b o k u b o .
a n d th e m a n f a lls d o w n .
W a n a n d e lo k o m b i y a m o k ili
T h is is tr u ly th e h a r p o f th e w o rld
a lia m b is i
h e m a y e a t f is h
a lia n y a m a
he m ay eat m eat
a lia k a s e b a to
s till h e m u s t e a t p e o p le
y e n d e I k a la n g a n y a
h e is in d e e d I k a la n g a n y a
akw eyaka kubokubo.
m a n k e e p s f a llin g d o w n .
24
25
12. M
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
olongo
1 2 . The Universe
M w e s e s a n z a n a m in z o to
T h e s u n , th e m o o n , a n d th e s ta rs
b in s o b y a e ta n d o y a lik o lo .
a ll th in g s in th e v a u lt o f h e a v e n .
M b is i n y a m a m p e b a to
T h e f is h , th e a n im a ls , a n d th e p e o p le
n d e k e m b u n a m ilu k a
th e b ir d s , th e o c e a n s , a n d th e r iv e rs
b ik e la m o b y a M o m b a .
c r e a tu re s o f G o d .
B iz a li k o ta m b o la n a e ta n d o
T h e y a re m o v in g o n
b iz a li k o k e n d a m o b e m b o m o la i
ta k in g a lo n g jo u r n e y
b is u s u b ip u m b w i b o m p e p o
b is u s u lo k ito lo k o la n k a k e
s o m e f lo a t lik e a ir p la n e s
b is u s u b ila li m p o n g i
o th e r s r o a r lik e th u n d e r
o th e r s s till a r e s le e p in g
th e s le e p o f th e d e p th s o f th e s e a s .
m pongi ya m ai m a m bu.
L ik o lo m p e m b e
T h e s k ie s a r e w h ite
lito n d i n a m a m p a ta
f ille d w ith c lo u d s
m a m io m a ta n g i
s n o w is f a llin g
th e d r y s e a s o n p o w d e rs th e e a r th
e la n g a e k a o k is i m o k ili
m p e la e z in d is i m o k ili
th e r a in y s e a s o n f lo o d s th e e a rth
e to n d is i m ilu k a n a b iz ib a
a n d f ills th e r iv e r s a n d th e p o n d s
w a n a n d e m o k ili
th is is tr u ly th e e a rth
w a n a n d e m o lo n g o
th is is tr u ly th e u n iv e r s e
m o lo n g o y a M o m b a .
th e u n iv e rs e o f G o d .
26
27
1 3 . BoboiM
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
beba
1 3 . Renouncing Evil
P la y w ith f ir e a n d y o u ’11 m a k e m is ta k e s
O m ek i n a c o u ra n t o su k i m ab e
o s u k i m a b e o k o ti m a k a la
m a k e m is ta k e a n d y o u ’11 e n d u p in p r is o n
o k o ti m a k a la m b u la z e r o
y o u e n d u p in p r is o n f o r e v e r
obuki m obeko ya N kosi
if y o u b r e a k th e L io n ’s la w
o k o s o p a m a k ila .
y o u ’11 b le e d .
T a m b o la m o m p e le
W a lk s tr a ig h t
ta m b o la n a s e m b a
w a lk w ith v ir tu e
b ilu la lu la e z a li m a b e
g r e e d is w r o n g
w a p i m o y e n to y o k a n a .
h o w can I m ak e y o u see.
N s o s o e le li m p e e y e m b l
T h e c o ck c ro w s
n a b w a k i m is o n a p la fo n d
I s ta r e a t th e c e ilin g
m a b a n z o m a k e l m o s ik a n a s a n z a
m y th b u g h ts w a n d e r o f f to th e m o o n
m o te m a m o b e ti m p e m o y e i lu k u lu k u
m o k an o m w a boboi m beba m ozw am i
m y f e v e ris h h e a r t b e a ts in e x c ite m e n t
t h a t’s w h e n I d e c id e to b r e a k w ith e v il
m o p o n i m o n y e le
to c h o o s e th e lig h t
m o b o i b u tu .
to r e n o u n c e th e n ig h t.
N a m a ti m in z o to
I c lim b u p to th e s ta r s
n a ta m b o li n a s a n z a
a n d w a lk o n th e m o o n
nadendi m pe nadondw i
I ju m p a r o u n d
n a k o m ! m o to
I a m a h u m a n b e in g n o w
m o b a li y a n te m b e
a m a n o f s tr e n g th
n a p o n i m o n y e le
I h a v e c h o s e n th e lig h t
n a s a ll m b o n g w a n a
I have m ade a change
m b o n g w a n a y a n k ita .
a c h a n g e f o r d ig n ity .
28
29
1 4 . The D ownfall O f The Strong
1 4 . Elombe
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
Awei
T h e le o p a rd is s u r r o u n d e d
N k o i a z in g a m i
h u n tin g n e ts a r e s p r e a d o u t
m in z a n g a y a b o k ila m ip ik a m i
e v e ry w h e re .
b ip a i n a b ip a i.
“ M a k ila M a b e ” a la li m p e n k o i a fa n d e li y e
“ B a d B lo o d ” is d o w n , th e le o p a r d o n to p o f h im
h e b r o k e h is s p in e .
a b u k i y e lik e le y a n k in g o .
N o w th is s tr o n g o n e , th e m a n , is b a d ly h u r t h im s e lf
Y e e lo m b e w a n a m o b a li a z o k i m a b e
th e re ’s b lo o d a ll o v e r h im
m a k ila m a s o p a n i y e m in g i
th e y b r o k e h is b o n e s .
b a b u k i y e m in k u w a .
T h e h u n te rs lo o k a t h im
B a b o k ila b a ta li y e
h e lo o k s b a c k a t th e m
y e a ta li b a n g o lo k o la
i t’s a ll o v e r , th is is h is e n d .
m a n s o m a s u k i, y a y e e k o k i.
T h e o w l c r ie s h u h u lu h u lu
E s u k u lu e le li h u h u lu - h u lu
th e le o p a r d h a s c lo s e d h is e y e s
a k a n g i m is o
r ig h t p a w in th e a ir.
lo b o k o y a m o b a li lik o lo .
I s ta n d a n d th in k a b o u t o u r f e a r
N a te le m i m p e n a b a n z i b o b a n g i y a
a s h u m a n b e in g s a n d o u r c r ie s
b is o b a to m p e b o le li.
W h e n I k a la n g a n y a c o m e s , y o u g o
S o k i I k a la n g a n y a a y e i k e n d a
d o n ’t c r y b u t r e s ig n —
k o le la te m p e n d im a —
c r y in g a n d w a ilin g is s h a m e f u l
b o le li b o n g a n g i e z a li n s o n i
a c c e p t y o u r p a rtin g
n d im a b o k e i b w a y o
a n d s o y o u ’11 c o m e o u t s tr e n g e r .
w a n a n d e o b im i e lo m b e .
30
31
S e c o n d ly , s in c e th e e a rly d a y s o f c o lo n iz a tio n , f o r m s o f p o p u la r
D lS C U S S I O N A N D A N N O T A T I O N S
th e a te r f u n d a m e n ta lly g r o u n d e d in c o lo n ia lis m a n d p o s tc o lo n ia lis m a n d
W h ile it is w e ll- k n o w n th a t th e D e m o c ra tie R e p u b lic o f C o n g o ( f o r m e r ly
p e r fo r m e d in A fr ic a n la n g u a g e s e m e r g e d in a ll p a r ts o f th e c o u n tr y .3
Z a ir e ) is e x c e p tio n a lly r ic h in v a rie d f o r m s o f ‘tr a d itio n a l’ lite r a tu r e
S in c e th e w id e s p r e a d d is tr ib u tio n o f te le v is io n a r o u n d d e c o lo n iz a tio n a n d
c o m p o s e d , p e rf o rm e d , a n d tr a n s m itte d in A f ric a n la n g u a g e s , it is e q u a lly
in th e p o s tc o lo n ia l e p o c h , s o m e th e a te r g r o u p s h a v e m a n a g e d to p e r fo r m
c o m m o n k n o w le d g e th a t th e p r o d u c tio n o f ‘m o d e m ’ lite r a tu r e in th e
o n n a tio n a l T V
c o u n try h a s d o m in a n tly b e e n in F r e n c h .' I n d e e d , h a rd ly a n y C o n g o le s e
c o u n tr y a n d in e a c h r e g io n s u p p le m e n tin g th e m o r e lo c a lly o r g a n iz e d
C re a tiv e w r ite r f o r w h o m
g r o u p s . M o s t o f th e s e
th e c o lo n ia l a n d p o s tc o lo n ia l e n v ir o n m e n ts
c h a n n e ls , r e a c h in g a n e n la rg e d a u d ie n c e a c ro s s th e
n a tio n - w id e
p r o d u c tio n s
a re
b ro a d c a st fro m
c o u n t a s th e m a jo r p o in ts o f s o c io c u ltu r a l r e f e r e n c e h a s c h o s e n to u s e a n
K in s h a s a , u s e A fr ic a n la n g u a g e s ( m o s tly L in g a la ), a n d a re ty p ic a lly
A f r ic a n la n g u a g e a s h e r o r h is w o rk in g la n g u a g e .
r e f le c tio n s o n , a n d c a ta ly s ts o f, r a p id a n d o n g o in g tr a n s fo r m a tio n s in th e
E x c e p tio n s d o o c c u r , e v e n i f th e y d o n o t c o v e r th e m o s t p r o to ty p ic a l
c a s e s o f w r itte n p r o s e o r p o e try . F ir s t o f a ll, th e re is th e C o n g o le s e
u r b a n tr e n d s a n d s o c ia l r e la tio n s h ip s th a t s h a p e th e liv e s o f ‘m o d e m ’ c ity
d w e l Ie rs .
p o p u la r m o d e m m u s ic . S in c e its o r ig in s in th e 1 9 3 0 s a n d b e c a u s e o f its
h is to r ic a l r o o ts
in
th e
L in g a la -s p e a k in g
c ity
o f K in s h a s a ,
th e
base
B u t,
as
m e n tio n e d ,
C o n g o le s e
p r o d u c tio n s
o f p o e tr y
and
p ro se
a n c h o r e d in m o d e m ity , c o m p o s e d in A f ric a n la n g u a g e s , a n d a im in g n o t
la n g u a g e f o r a ll c o m p o s itio n s in th is g e n r e h a s a lw a y s b e e n L in g a la . A s
so
m uch
at
im m e d ia te
and
p e rf o rm a n c e
c o n s u m p tio n
of a
but
r a th e r
w r itte n
at
th e
lite r a tu r e ,
p u b lic a tio n ,
d e m o n s tr a te d b y m o r e th a n o n e lite r a ry c ritic , th e c o m p o s e r s o f th is m u s ic
d is tr ib u tio n ,
o f f e r C re a tiv e a n d in q u ite s o m e c a s e s ta le n te d lite r a r y c o n c e p tu a liz a tio n s
in e x is te n t. A n y s im p lis tic in te r p re ta tio n o f th is a s y m m e tr y a s a lo g ic a l
a re
v ir tu a lly
o f c o lo n ia l a n d p o s tc o lo n ia l m o d e m ity th r o u g h th e ir ly r ic s .1
2 M o re o v er,
im p lic a tio n o f th e h is to r ic a l a n d c o n n o ta tio n a l ‘m e a n in g s ’ ( o r , w o r s e ,
s in c e r o u g h ly 1 9 9 0 , m o r e a n d m o r e a r tis ts a n d th e ir p r o d u c e rs c h o o s e to
‘a p titu d e s ’ !) o f th e r e s p e c tiv e la n g u a g e s —
a v a il th e s e ly r ic s to th e ir a u d ie n c e s in w r itte n f o rm a s w e ll, b y in c lu d in g
b o u n d to th in g s tr a d itio n a l a n d F r e n c h to m o d e m ity —
th e m in b o o k le ts a c c o m p a n y in g th e c o m p a c t d is k s .
p e rs p e c tiv e b y th e p r e s e n t c o lle c tio n o f 1 4 L in g a la p o e m s w r itte n b y
A fr ic a n la n g u a g e s b e in g
is p u t in to
K a y o - L a m p e . T o m y k n o w le d g e , th is c o lle c tio n is , a s a n in s ta n c e o f
C o n g o le s e lite r a tu r e , u n iq u e in its a im to w rite a b o u t m o d e m ity a n d to d o
1 J o s e p h -M a rie Ja d o t , 1 9 5 9 , MLKJIHGFEDCBA
Les écrivains africains du Congo Beige et du
Ruanda-Urundi, B ru s se ls : A c a d é m ie R o y a le d e s S c ie n c e s C o lo n ia le s K o n in k lijk e A c a d e m ie v o o r K o lo n ia le W e te n s c h a p p e n ; Mu k a l a K a d im a N z u ji, 1 9 8 4 , La littérature zatroise de langue franfaise (1945-1965), P a ris :
s o in a n A f ric a n la n g u a g e .
2 A m o n g m a n y o th e rs , S y lv a in Be m b a , 1 9 8 4 , 50 ans de musique du CongoZaïre (1920-1970), P a ris : P ré s e n c e A fric a in e ; T S H O N G A O n y u m b e , 1 9 9 7 , ‘T a b u
L e y : U n m u s ic ie n c o n g o la is ’, Amales/Equatoria 1 8 , 4 3 5 -4 6 9 .
3 S e e , f o r in s ta n c e , H e n ry Le b a il l y , 1 9 8 3 , La fête révolutionnaire: Le théatre
au Zaïre avant 1960, L u b u m b a s h i: E d itio n s C a th a rs is ; fo r a n e x te n s iv e
h is to ric a l a n d b ib lio g ra p h ic a l o v e rv ie w , Mw a mb a y i K a le n g a y i, 1 9 9 4 , ‘Z a ïr e ’,
In D o n R u b in (e d .), The World encyclopedia of contemporary theatre, volume 3:
Africa, 3 3 1 -3 4 2 , L o n d o n : R o u tle d g e .
32
33
A c c t & K a rth a la .
K a y o - L a m p e , to p u t th e is s u e m o r e p o ig n a n tly , is a ls o in c o n tr o l o f a
in te lle c tu a l c h a lle n g e s o f th e d ia s p o ra c o n s titu te d f o r h im th e v e r y tr ig g e r
‘s e c o n d ’ m o d e r n ity , o n e w h ic h g o e s b e y o n d th e a n c h o r in g p o in ts in
f o r a p o e tic e x p r e s s io n .
c o lo n ia l o r p o s tc o lo n ia l A fr ic a a n d f in d s its id e n tif y in g a n d c o n s titu tiv e
T h e s e c o n d m o d e rn ity r e m a in s , to b e s u r e , p r e d ic a te d o n th e f ir s t o n e .
b a c k g ro u n d in th e d ia s p o ra o f C o n g o le s e p e o p le a c r o s s th e F ir s t W o rld .
W h e r e a s th e o r ig in s o f th is d ia s p o r a d a te b a c k to th e la te 1 9 5 0 s a n d e a rly
1 9 6 0 s , its m a jo r im p e tu s c a m e in th e s e c o n d h a lf o f th e 1 9 8 0 s a n d its a p e x
w a s n o t r e a c h e d u n til th e f ir s t y e a r s o f th e 1 9 9 0 s .4
I t is n o t th e c h a lle n g e s p r e s e n te d b y th e d ia s p o r a a s s u c h , b u t r a th e r its a t
tim e s to r tu o u s r e la tio n s h ip w ith th e f ir s t m o d e r n ity w h ic h is a t is s u e —
a n d , in a n in d ir e c t w a y , th e m o r e
‘c la s s ic ’ r e la tio n s h ip o f th is f ir s t
In its h is to ric a l,
m o d e r n ity w ith tr a d itio n a s w e ll. T h is tr ia n g u la r te n s io n is , I b e lie v e , th e
s o c io lo g ic a l, a n d a n th r o p o lo g ic a l e s s e n c e , th e d ia s p o ra m u s t in d e e d b e
c a lle d a ‘r e c e n t’ p h e n o m e n o n , r e la te d to th e g lo b a liz a tio n o f th e f re e
e s s e n c e o f th e p o e tr y th e a u th o r p r e s e n ts h e re . In th is c o lle c tio n , K a y o L a m p e to p ic a liz e s h is e x p e r ie n c e s a s th e y h a v e a c c u m u la te d th r o u g h o u t
m a r k e t e c o n o m y a f te r th e e n d o f th e c o ld w a r , a s w e ll a s to m y th s a n d
th e th r e e m a jo r ‘s te p s ’ in h is c o u r s e o f lif e a n d w h ic h m a k e u p a n a s y e t
r e a litie s u n d e r ly in g th e s ig n if ic a n c e o f th is e c o n o m ie g lo b a liz a tio n f o r th e
u n r e s o lv e d tr ia n g u la r te n s io n in h is p r e s e n t e x is te n c e .
com m on m an.
I
K a y o - L a m p e w rite s h is p o e tr y w ith in a n d a g a in s t th e c o n te x t o f th is
d ia s p o r a a n d its s e c o n d m o d e r n ity . H e w a s b o m a n d r a is e d in th e S o u th e rn
p a rts o f th e E q u a te u r p r o v in c e in n o r th w e s te m C o n g o a n d c a m e to E u r o p e
in 1 9 9 3 , a t th e a g e o f 5 1 . H e h a s b e e n s p e n d in g m o s t o f h is tim e in
B e lg iu m , w h e r e h e a n d h is f a m ily s o o n c h o s e A n tw e r p a s th e c e n te r f ro m
w h ic h to o r g a n iz e th e ir n e w e x p a tr ia te e x is te n c e . W h e n h e f ir s t s p o k e to
m e a b o ü t th e c o lle c tio n o f p o e m s th a t h e w a s p r e p a r in g , h e h a d b e e n
liv in g in E u ro p e f o r a n u n in te r ru p te d p e rio d o f f iv e y e a rs . T h e d ia s p o r a ,
a s th e c o n te x t in w h ic h K a y o -L a m p e p r o d u c e s h is p o e tr y , is n o t ju s t
a c c id e n ta l, n o r is it m e re ly a s o u r c e o f th e m a tic in s p ira tio n ; n o o th e r
c o n te x t in th e p r io r c o u r s e o f h is life e v e r in v ite d h im to f o r m u la te h is
e x p e rie n c e s
in
a
p o e tic
fo rm .
In
o th e r
w o rd s,
th e
e m o tio n a l
and
d e fe n d
th e
p o s itio n
th a t
in
a
s itu a tio n
w h e re
F ren c h
is
a
s e c o n d /f o r e ig n la n g u a g e o r, a t b e s t, a n in d ig e n iz e d v a rie ty o f a w o rld
la n g u a g e , a n A fr ic a n a u th o r ’s u s e o f a n A fr ic a n la n g u a g e in s te a d o f th is
s e c o n d /f o re ig n la n g u a g e s h o u ld n o t b e a c c o u n te d f o r. W e m u s t ta k e it a t
f a c e v a lu e th a t, a f e w e x c e p tio n s n o tw ith s ta n d in g , a n a u th o r f e e ls m o r e
c o m f o r ta b le , r e la x e d , s k ille d , in s p ir e d , e tc ., to e x p r e s s h e r o r h is p o e tic
in te r p r e ta tio n s in ( o n e o f ) th e la n g u a g e ( s ) s h e o r h e a c q u ir e d f ir s t in lif e
and
used
as
a
d o m in a n t m o d e
o f in te r a c tio n
in
th e
key
y e ars
of
s o c ia liz a tio n . T h e b u r d e n o f e x p la n a tio n lie s , in o th e r w o rd s , w ith th o s e
w h o d o n o t.
K a y o -L a m p e ’s
c h o ic e
o f L in g a la
as
opposed
to
o th e r
A f ric a n
la n g u a g e s , th e n , is a ls o s u c h a ‘lo g ic a l c o n s e q u e n c e ’ o f h is b io g r a p h y , a s
h e w a s b o m a n d r a is e d in a r e g io n o f C o n g o w h e r e L in g a la is o n e o f th e
d o m in a n t la n g u a g e s . I n th e s o u th e m
p a r ts o f th e E q u a te u r p r o v in c e ,
L in g a la o c c u p ie s a tr a n s itio n a l p o s itio n b e tw e e n th a t o f a lin g u a f ra n c a ,-
Ma y o y o B itu m b a T ip o -T ip o , MLKJIHGFEDCBA
1995, M igration Nord/Sud, levier ou obstacle?:
Les Zaïrois en Belgique, B ru s s e ls : A s d o c -C e d a f; M ic h a e l Me e u w is , 1 9 9 7 ,
Constructing sociolinguistic consensus: A linguistic ethnography of the Zairian
community in Antwerp, Belgium, D u is b u rg : L ic c a .
4
u s e d b y m e m b e r s o f d if fe re n t e th n ic g r o u p s f o r in te rg r o u p c o m m u n ic a tio n
b u t s till a c q u ire d e a rly in lif e , a n d th a t o f a f u ll-f le d g e d m o th e r lo n g u e . I t
34
35
is a ls o th e m o s t im p o r ta n t la n g u a g e in w e s te r n C o n g o le s e m u lti-e th n ic
L a m p e ’s lin g u is tic in p u t d u r in g h is life in th e E q u a te u r p r o v in c e . I t
u r b a n c e n te rs lik e M b a n d a k a a n d K in s h a s a — K a y o - L a m p e le ft h is h o m e
f e a tu r e s m o s tly in th o s e p a rts o f h is p o e tr y w h e re th e to p o s o f tr a d itio n
r e g io n to g o to th e f o rm e r c ity in th e e a r ly y e a r s o f a d o le s c e n c e a n d to th e
a n d th e o v e r la p o f tr a d itio n w ith th e f ir s t m o d e m ity a r e m a d e r e le v a n t.
la tte r a s a y o u n g a d u lt. H e r e m a in e d in K in s h a s a u n tü h is d e p a rtu r e f o r
E u ro p e .
L in g a la is ,
C o n g o le s e
e x p a tr ia te
f in a lly ,
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
the la n g u a g e o f c o m m u n ic a tio n in th e
c o m m u n itie s ,
e s p e c ia lly
in
B e lg iu m .5
In
th is
T h e tw o v a r ia n ts o f L in g a la c a n s u c c e s s f u lly b e m o b iliz e d f o r th e s e
th e m a tic p u r p o s e s b e c a u s e th e y a r e v e r y d is tin c t a t th e s u r fa c e le v e l o f
th e ir f o rm a l c h a r a c te r is tic s . T h e K in s h a s a v a ria n t, f o r in s ta n c e , d is p la y s a
r e s p e c t, K a y o -L a m p e ’s u s e o f L in g a la a ls o h a s s y m b o lic p o te n tia l: a s a
m u c h m o r e p e r v a s iv e u s a g e o f c o d e s w itc h in g w ith F r e n c h th a n
w r ite r in a n d o f th e d ia s p o r a ( a n d o f th e p la c e it o c c u p ie s in th e tr ia n g le
n o r th e m v a ria n t. In a d d itio n , th e n o r th e rn v a ria n t is a ls o k n o w n a s ‘s c h o o l
m e n tio n e d a b o v e ) , K a y o -L a m p e is a b le to a d d a n in d e x ic a l v a lu e to h is
L in g a la ’, ‘w r itte n L in g a la ’, o r ‘im p r o v e d L in g a la ’, a la b e lin g it o w e s to
‘lo g ic a l’ r e c o u rs e to L in g a la .
th e la n g u a g e - fo r g in g e n d e a v o rs o f C a th o lic m is s io n a r ie s , a t w o r k in th e
L in g a la is f a r f ro m
n o r th w e s te m E q u a te u r p r o v in c e in th e f ir s t d e c a d e s o f th is c e n tu r y .7
a m o n o c e n tric la n g u a g e b u t m u s t r a th e r b e
th e
id e n tif ie d a s c e n tr if u g e d , w ith in a h ig h ly c o m p le x s o c io lin g u is tic p a tte m ,
J u d g in g th e L in g a la la n g u a g e a s it h a d e m e r g e d u n til th e n to b e to o p o o r ,
a lo n g
d ia le c ta l
to o p id g in iz e d , a n d to o c o r ru p t to f u n c tio n a s a s u ita b le v e h ic le o f
th is m u lti-
e d u c a tio n , C h r is tia n iz a tio n , a n d o th e r m o d e s o f c o lo n ia l c o m m u n ic a tio n ,
v o ic e d n e s s o f L in g a la in h is a tte m p ts to lo o s e n th e tr ia n g u la r te n s io n
th e s e m is s io n a r ie s s e t o u t to g r a m m a tic a lly a n d le x ic a lly e x p a n d th e
w ith in h im .
A t th e r is k o f o v e r s im p lif y in g L in g a la ’s s o c io lin g u is tic
la n g u a g e th r o u g h a s e t o f p r e s c r ip tiv e ly d e s ig n e d m ie s . V ia th e e d u c a tio n
c o m p le x ity , it c a n b e a d v a n c e d h e r e th a t K a y o -L a m p e c a p ita liz e s o n a n
a n d C h r is tia n iz a tio n n e tw o r k s th e y c o n tr o lle d in th o s e n o r th e m p a r ts o f
m any
v a r ia n c e .6
d im e n s io n s
K a y o -L a m p e
of
s u b s ta n d a rd ,
‘n e e d s ’, a n d
s o c io le c ta l,
s k illfu lly
and
o p e r a te s ,
o p p o s itio n b e tw e e n tw o o f its m a in d is tin c tiv e v a ria n ts . F ir s t, th e r e is th e
th e c o lo n y , th e y q u ic k ly m a n a g e d to h a v e th e s e n e w m ie s a d o p te d b y th e
v a r ia n t s p o k e n in , a n d e m b le m a tic o f, K in s h a s a , w h ic h a ls o s p ills o v e r
lo c a l p o p u la tio n s , w h o in te m a liz e d th e m a s ‘n a tu ra l’ a n d p a s s e d th e m o n
in to th e la n g u a g e u s e th a t is ty p ic a l o f th e d ia s p o r a c o m m u n ity . F o r K a y o -
to f o llo w in g g e n e r a tio n s . T h e r e s u lt w a s , a n d s till is , a n in c re a s e d d is ta n c e
L a m p e , th is is c e rta in ly th e m o s t a p p ro p r ia te v a ria n t w h e n h e w is h e s to
in f o r m a l ( m o s tly m o r p h o lo g ic a l a n d le x ic a l) c h a ra c te ris tic s b e tw e e n th is
f o r e g r o u n d th e s e c o n d m o d e m ity a n d its r e la tio n s h ip w ith th e f ir s t. T h e
n o r th e m , E q u a te u ria n , v a ria n t a n d its c o u n te r p a r t in K in s h a s a , w h e r e th e
o th e r is a n o r th e m v a r ia n t, o n e w h ic h f o r m e d a n im p o rta n t p a r t o f K a y o -
m is s io n a r ie s ’ p r e s c rip tiv e e n te rp r is e a im e d a t ‘e x p a n d in g ’ L in g a la n e v e r
h a d th e s a m e im p a c t. T h is f o rm a l d is ta n c e ‘w ith in ’ th e la n g u a g e is w h a t
Me e u w is , o p .c it.
Mb u l a m o k o N z e n g e M o v o a m b e , 1 9 9 1 , ‘E ta t d e s re c h e rc h e s s u r le lin g a la
5 M ic h a e l
6
c o m m e g ro u p e lin g u is tiq u e a fric a in e : C o n trib u tio n a u x é tu d e s s u r 1’h is to ire e t
l’e x p a n s io n d u lin g a la ’, Annales ALquatoria 1 2 , 311-406-, Se s e p N ’S ia l,
‘L ’e x p a n s io n d u L in g a la ’, Linguistique et Sciences Humaines 2 7 (1 ), 1 9 -4 8 ;
M ic h a e l Me e u w is , in p re ss , Lingala, N e w c a s tle : L in c o m .
36
S e e C h a p te r 1 in M ic h a e l Me e u w is , in p re s s, Lingala, N e w c a s tle : L in c o m ;
M ic h a e l M E E U W IS , in p re s s , ‘F le m is h n a tio n a lis m in th e C o n g o v e rs u s Z a iria n
a n ti-im p e ria lis m : C o n tin u ity a n d d is c o n tin u ity in la n g u a g e id e o lo g ic a l d e b a te s ’,
In J a n B lo m m a e rt (e d .), Language ideological debates, B e rlin : M o u to n d e
G ru y te r.
37
g iv e s it its m u lti- v o ic e d n e s s , w h ic h , a s K a y o -L a m p e s h o w s , tu m s o u t to
T h e f ir s t p o e m ,
Mp o t o ,
p r e s e n ts a n u m b e r o f c o m p la in ts a b o u t th e
b e a h ig h ly b e n e fic ia l r e s o u r c e in th e a c h ie v e m e n t o f lite r a ry p u r p o s e s . In
s e c o n d m o d e m ity . T h e r e f e r e n c e s to p a p e r s f o r r e s id e n c e in E u r o p e , to
f a c t, K a y o -L a m p e ’s p o e tic r e n d e r in g o f h is e n v ir o n m e n t a n d b io g r a p h y is
fo rce d
s tr o n g ly p e r m e a te d b y th e s o c ia l a n d e v e n p o litic a !
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
se, b u t a b o u t lif e in
c o m p la in ts a re n o t s o m u c h a b o u t life in E u ro p e per
h is to r y o f th e
r e p a tr ia tio n s b y
a ir p la n e , a n d
s o o n , m a k e it c le a r th a t th e
E u ro p e in th e w a y it h a s to b e e n d u re d b y a C o n g o le s e im m ig r a n t o r
la n g u a g e in w h ic h h e h a s c h o s e n to c a s t it.
A w o r d n e e d s to b e s a id , f in a lly , a b o u t th is e d itio n a n d a b o u t th e
r e fu g e e .
T h is
p o e tic
d is c lo s u r e
of
‘th e
o th e r s id e
o f th e
c o in ’
is
tr a n s la tio n s in p a r tic u la r . T h e E n g lis h tr a n s la tio n s o f fe re d h e r e c a n n e v e r
th e ra p e u tic a lly r e b e llio u s in th e s e n s e th a t it to u c h e s u p o n a ta b o o w ith in
d o f u ll ju s tic e to th e m e c h a n is m s o f c o n tra s t b e tw e e n r e g io n a l a n d
th e c o m m u n ity , b o th in in te r a c tiv e c o n te x ts o f f a c e - m a n a g e m e n t b e tw e e n
s o c io le c ta l v a r ia n ts w h ic h a re s o im p o r ta n t in K a y o -L a m p e ’s u n d e r ta k in g ;
its m e m b e r s a n d , if w e w a n t to in v o k e th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l n o tio n o f
n o r c a n th e y d o f u ll ju s tic e — a n d th is is th e b u r d e n o f a ll tr a n s la tio n s —
r e p r e s s io n , in in tr o s p e c tiv e in te rp r e ta tio n s o f o n e ’s o w n e x is te n c e . T h e
to o th e r lin g u is tic d e v ic e s s e r v in g th e f o r m a l a s o p p o s e d to th e m a tic
n o r m , in th e s e s itu a tio n s o f s o c ia l a n d in tr o s p e c tiv e a c c o u n ta b ility , is to
c o n c e rn s o f th e p o e m s . K a y o - L a m p e is , in d e e d , a ls o v e r y m u c h a p o e t o f
e m p h a s iz e th e virtues o f th e s e c o n d m o d e m ity . K a y o -L a m p e in v o k e s th is
f o r m . H e c a lls u p o n m a n y o f th e lin g u is tic p o s s ib ilitie s o f fe r e d b y L in g a la
p o s itiv e e v a lu a tio n a n d th e n o r m a tiv e p r iv ile g e it e n jo y s in M ikili ( p o e m
to m a k e f o rm g o v e m c o n te n t. T h u s , a lth o u g h th e e s th e tic s o f f o rm is o n e
3 ), w h e re h e a p p r o p r ia te s th e v o ic e o f th e n o r m - re p r o d u c e r s . I n M poto,
o f K a y o -L a m p e ’s m a jo r c o n c e r n s , I c a n o n ly a d m it th a t th e E n g lis h
h o w e v e r , th e a u th o r c h o o s e s to ta k e h is r o le a s a p o e t, a n d th u s a s a
tr a n s la tio n s o f fe re d a b o v e , a lth o u g h f a r f r o m lite r a l o r p u r e ly lin g u is tic in
c r itic a l
a s p ir a tio n , d o n o t c o n s titu te a ty p e o f lite r a ry tr a n s la tio n s th a t a c h ie v e a
u n c h a lle n g e d n o r m s o f th is s o c ie ty .
s im ila r le v e l o f p o e tic s tr e n g th a s is a c h ie v e d in th e o r ig in a l. M o r e o v e r,
a n a ly s t
of
h is
s o c ie ty ,
s e rio u s ly
and
c h a lle n g e s
a ll
th e
I n a n o th e r s e n s e , th e r e b e llio u s d is c lo s in g o f th e d r a w b a c k s o f life in
o f th e o r ig in a l c a n n o t b e
th e d ia s p o r a is n o t o n ly th e r a p e u tic b u t p o litic a l a s w e ll. I t is p a rt o f
r e ta in e d , im a g e s a n d s y m b o ls o n th e o th e r h a n d d o s u r v iv e in tr a n s la tio n s ,
K a y o - L a m p e ’s b r o a d e r a p p e a l a g a in s t th e e s c a p e f r o m , a n d in f a v o r o f a
w h ile
a ll th e
lin g u is tic - p o e tic m a c h in e ry
w h ic h h a s th e u n f o r tu n a te r e s u lt o f r e in f o rc in g o ld s te re o ty p e s a b o u t
r e tu r n to , a h o m e c o u n tr y in n e e d o f r e c o n s tru c tio n . In M poto, th is
A f ric a n C re a tiv e w r itin g a s n o th in g b u t n a iv e c e le b ra tio n s o f im a g e - p la y ,
a r g u m e n ta tio n r e m a in s h id d e n a s a n im p lic it c o n c lu s io n , b u t it a p p e a r s
s im ile , a n d m e ta p h o r . A ll th e s e a r e e n o u g h r e a s o n s f o r m e to in c lu d e , in
m o r e e x p lic itly in p o e m 8 , Bozongi M boka. In c o n tr a s t to th a t p o e m ,
th e th e m a tic a n n o ta tio n s th a t I a m a b o u t to p r e s e n t, in te r p r e ta tio n s o f
h o w e v e r , th e f o r c e o f th e m e s s a g e in M poto is c a r rie d b y a r a d ic a lly
s o m e o f th e f o rm a l c h a r a c te ris tic s o f th e o r ig in a ls a s w e ll. ‘S o m e o f
m in im a lis t s ty le . T h e v e r s e s a r e a ll ‘h a rd ’ , tw o - w o r d ju x ta p o s itio n s . M a n y
th e m ’ , y e s — f o r I d o n o t w is h to o v e r illu s tr a te w h a t r e a d e r s a r e a ls o a b le
o f th e m a r e s u b je c t- p re d ic a te c o n s tr u c tio n s w ith o u t a c o p u la , th e im p a c t
o f w h ic h is s o m e tim e s c o m p o u n d e d , a t th e s tr o p h e le v e l, b y a n o b s tin a te
to e n jo y o n th e ir o w n .
r e c u r re n c e o f th e p r e d ic a te . T h e f if th s tr o p h e , th e n , tu m s th is s c h e m a
38
39
a ro u n d , r e p e a tin g
th e
s a m e p r o ta s is
in
h ig h ly
e llip tic a l
c o n d itio n a l
c o n s tr u c tio n s a n d a s s u c h p r o d u c in g v e r s e - in itia l r h y m e . T h is r h y m e
id e n tif ic a tio n
o f th e
new
m en
in
pow er as
f o r e ig n e r s
and
by
th e
( m o c k in g ? ) d e s c rip tio n o f th e ir p h y s ic a l a p p e a r a n c e . In th is r e s p e c t, th e
e f f e c t is , in th e th ird a n d s ix th s tr o p h e s , a c h ie v e d th r o u g h y e t a n o th e r
d is tr ib u tio n o f th e te rm s ekolo ( ‘c o u n try ’) a n d mboka ( ‘m o th e r la n d ’,
m a n ip u la tio n o f L in g a la ’s m o r p h o lo g ic a l s tr u c tu r e . T h e r h y m e is v e rs e -
‘h o m e ’) is a ls o to th e ir d is a d v a n ta g e . Ekolo — in th e f irs t s tr o p h e e c h o e d
a n d w o rd - in itia l ( a te r m I p r e f e r to ‘a llite ra tio n ’) , lo d g e d in th e u s e o f
in ekololi a n d likolo — is m o r e n e u tra l th a n th e a ff e c tio n a te mboka, w h ic h
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
in th e f ir s t n o u n , mibeko,
h o m o n y m ie p r e f ix e s , i.e . th e n ö m in a l p r e fix mi-
‘th e f o re ig n e rs ’ h a v e ‘ta k e n ’ a n d th u s d o n o t b e lo n g to . A n d f in a lly , b y
a n d th e f o rm a lly id e n tic a l v e rb a l p r e fix e s in th e v e rb s miboi a n d mitongi.
p o in tin g a t th e ‘E le p h a n t’, L a u r e n t K a b ila , in K is w a h ili (Tembo) — in
T h e f a c t th a t I h a v e c h o s e n ‘E u ro p e ! a s a tr a n s la tio n o f M poto ( a s w e ll
L in g a la h e
b e Nzoku — ,
w o u ld
th e
a u th o r a g a in
u n d e r s c o re s
th is
a s o f M ikili a n d o th e r e q u iv a le n t te rm s r e a p p e a rin g th r o u g h o u t th is
E le p h a n t’s o r ig in s a s f o re ig n , e s p e c ia lly w ith r e g a rd to th e L in g a la -
c o lle c tio n ) n e e d s a c o m m e n t. T h e s e te rm s d o n o t n e c e s s a rily r e fe r to
s p e a k in g c ity o f K in s h a s a w h ic h h e c a m e to c o n q u e r.
E u r o p e a s o p p o s e d to , f o r in s ta n c e , A m e ric a o r o th e r c o n tin e n ts , b u t
W h a t is d o n e in
Mik il i is
n o t d if fe re n t, a t th e r e fe r e n tia l le v e l, o f w h a t
r a th e r to E u ro p e a s th e b e s t- k n o w n r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f th e ‘d e v e lo p e d ’ F ir s t
w a s d o n e in M poto: th e a u th o r p r o v id e s a d e s c r ip tio n o f life in th e
W o r ld , a n d a s o p p o s e d to A f ric a a s th e ‘d e v e lo p in g ’ T h ir d W o rld . I h a v e
d ia s p o r a .
f o u n d tr a n s la tio n s s u c h a s ‘F ir s t W o rld ’, e tc ., to o p r o s a ic to b e u s e d h e r e ,
d ia m e tr ic a lly o p p o s e d . I n M ikili, K a y o -L a m p e g iv e s th e f lo o r to th e
w h ile I th in k th a t a n o th e r p o s s ib ility , ‘th e W e s t’, is to o m u c h r e m in is c e n t
y o u n g , s h a r p , a n d ty p ic a lly u r b a n f a n a tic s o f m o d e rn ity in K in s h a s a
o f d iv is io n s th a t w e re r e le v a n t d u r in g th e c o ld w a r o n ly .
( ‘K in ’) a n d r e p r o d u c e s th e ir v e r s io n o f ‘m a k in g it’ to th e F ir s t W o r ld . T h e
Mb o n g w a ma Ya Ek o l o ,
th e
second
poem , m ak es
r e fe r e n c e
H o w ev e r,
th e
v o ic e s
b e h in d
th e s e
tw o
d e s c rip tio n s
a re
to
a u th o r w r ite s in , a n d a t th e s a m e tim e m a g n ifie s , th e s la n g v a ria n t th a t is
L a u re n t K a b ila ’s ( th e E le p h a n t) o u s tin g o f p r e s id e n t M o b u tu S e s e S e k o
ty p ic a l o f th e s u b c u ltu r a l g e n e r a tio n h e is q u o tin g , th e r e b y d e n o u n c in g
( th e E a g le ) in M a y 1 9 9 7 . P h e n o ty p ic a l c h a r a c te ris tic s o f th e T u ts is o f
th e ir ig n o r a n t a d o ra tio n o f th e g litte r o f th e F ir s t W o r ld a n d o f th o s e w h o
R w a n d a ( e .g ., th e ir lo n g n e c k s , c o m p a r e d to th a t o f th e e k o lo li b ir d ), th e n
h a v e ‘b e e n th e r e ’. T h is v o ic e - s h ift a lre a d y s ta r ts in th e title , w h e r e M ikili
K a b ila ’s a llie s , a lte m a te w ith to k e n s o f th e ir m ilita r y e x c e lle n c e , o f w h ic h
( lite r a lly , ‘th e w o rld s ’) is th e s la n g e q u iv a le n t o f M poto, w h ic h is u s e d in
th e in f o r m e d r e a d e r c a n s e n s e th e im p lic it c o n tr a s t w ith th e d ila p id a te d
th e f ir s t p o e m a n d w h ic h is m u c h m o r e p a r t o f th e E q u a te u r ia n a n d
a n d u n d is c ip lin e d s ta te o f M o b u tu ’s a rm e d f o rc e s a t th e tim e . T h e
s o c io le c tic a lly ‘h ig h ’ v a ria n t th e a u th o r u s u a lly r e s o r ts to f o r c o n v e y in g
a u th o r’s o w n p o s itio n w ith r e g a r d to th e ‘tr a n s f o r m a tio n o f th e c o u n tr y ’ is
h is o w n v ie w p o in t. T h e s la n g v a r ia n t m o b iliz e d in th e title th e n p e rv a d e s
c a u g h t in a m b ig u ity th r o u g h o u t th e p o e m a s a w h o le — o r a t le a s t u n til
th e e n tir e p o e m , f e a tu r in g p r o f u s e c o d e s w itc h in g {basanté, basuccès,
th e coup de grdce q u a lif ic a tio n s o f th e o ld r e g im e a s k le p to m a n ic a n d
odoter, quartier), r e le x if ie d lo a n w o r d s (damage, palais, danger), m a n y
d e c e itf u l in th e la s t tw o v e rs e s . T h e g r a n d e u r o f th e n e w a rm y a n d th e
c o llo q u ia lis m s (ya motindo wana, nani aloba, Bela, Pentagone), a n d a
c h e e r in g
d is tin c tiv e ly o r a l s ty le . S o m e le s s s tr a ig h tf o r w a r d f e a tu r e s , h o w e v e r,
r e a c tio n s
of
th e
p o p u la tio n
40
a re
c o u n te r e d
by
a
c le a r
41
s h o u ld b e m e n tio n e d a s w e ll. H e r e ta in s th e o m is s io n o f w o r d - in itia l
c o n te n t, i.e . th e c o n tr a s t b e tw e e n C h r is tm a s in E u ro p e a n d C h r is tm a s in
n a s a ls p r e c e d in g
v o ic e le s s c o n s o n a n ts , s o ty p ic a l a n d d is tin c tiv e o f
C o n g o . T h e p e n u ltim a te v e rs e s u m m a r iz e s th e th e m e d e a lt w ith u p to th a t
K in s h a s a L in g a la , in h is s p e llin g o f th e w o rd s MLKJIHGFEDCBA
poso, pem be, a n d pe, w h ic h
p o in t: th e u s e o f th e p r e p o s itio n na ( ‘in ’) c o n v e y s th a t a ll th e p r e c e d in g
in o th e r s p o e m s , w h e r e th e E q u a te u r ia n v a ria n t o f L in g a la is p u t to u s e , h e
s ta te m e n ts a re a b o u t ‘C h r is tm a s in A n tw e rp ’. R e p la c in g th e p r e p o s itio n
w rite s a s m poso ( o r loposo, w h ic h is e v e n m o r e s u g g e s tiv e o f a ‘h ig h ’
w ith a c o n n e c tiv e (ya, ‘o f ’), th e a u th o r je ttis o n s th e a s s u m p tio n th a t th e re
v a r ia n t), m pem be, a n d m pe.
of
is , a t a g lo b a l le v e l, o n ly o n e C h r is tm a s , w h ic h is m e r e ly c e le b ra te d
s o c io le c ts a n d d ia le c ts , f in a lly , th e v e r s e putulu em ati m akala m atikali
d if f e r e n tly in d if fe r e n t n a tio n s . T h e u s e o f th e c o n n e c tiv e s u g g e s ts ,
a ls o d e s e rv e s s p e c ia l a tte n tio n . T h is lin e s ta n d s o u t in th a t it r e p r o d u c e s
in s te a d , th e e x is te n c e o f d is c o n n e c te d ‘C h r is tm a s e s ’ — th e o n e p ic tu re d
E q u a te u ria n L in g a la ( s e e , e .g ., th e c la s s c o n c o r d in th e v e r b m atikali,
in th is p o e m is th e C h r is tm a s o f E u ro p e , a s o p p o s e d to th e C h r is tm a s o f
in e x is te n t in th e K in s h a s a v a r ia n t) . I t is n o t, h o w e v e r, in c o n s is te n t w ith
C o n g o a n d th e C h r is tm a s e s o f s till o th e r p la c e s . A s s u c h , th e s h e e r
In th e c o n te x t o f th is m a n ip u la tio n
th e K in s h a s a a n d s o c io le c tic a lly T o w ’ v o ic e th a t s ta n d s b e h in d th e p o e m
n a rr a tio n o f c u ltu ra l d if fe re n c e s is , in th a t la s t lin e , c o m p le m e n te d w ith a
a s a w h o le . T h e lin e is a p r o v e rb , a n d L in g a la -s p e a k e rs in K in s h a s a ,
h in t o f p e s s im is m a b o u t h o w w e ll th e g a p b e tw e e n th e a u th o r’s p r e s e n t
in c lu d in g th e y o u n g g e n e ra tio n d e p ic te d h e r e , a lw a y s s e t o f f p r o v e r b s
a n d f o rm e r liv e s , i.e . th e g a p b e tw e e n th e w o r ld o f th e s e c o n d m o d e m ity
f r o m th e ir m o r e r o u tin e la n g u a g e u s e b y s w itc h in g to th e E q u a te u ria n ,
a n d th e w o rld s o f th e f ir s t m o d e m ity a n d tr a d itio n , c a n b e b r id g e d .
‘w r itte n ’ v a ria n t s o a s to im b u e th e m w ith a ll th e f o rm a lity a n d e d u c a tio n
T h e f ir s t m o d e m ity is th e th e m e in O.U.A. ( p o e m 5 ) , in w h ic h th e
th is v a ria n t c o n n o te s . T h e r e s u lt is a n e s te d p a tte m o f v o ic e -s h if tin g :
a u th o r
w ith in h is o w n a s s u m p tio n o f th e y o u th ’s v o ic e , th e a u th o r e m b e d s
p o s tc o lo n ia l A fr ic a . B u t th is p o e m a ls o s h o w s h o w th e f ir s t m o d e m ity
a n o th e r v o ic e -s h if t, i.e . th e ir a s s u m p tio n o f a ‘h ig h ’ s o c io le c t a n d o f a ll
a lw a y s r e m a in s p r e d ic a te d o n tr a d itio n . T h e in v o c a tio n o f A fr ic a ’s n a tu ra l
th e s o c ia l s o p h is tic a tio n a tta c h e d to it. T h is te c h n iq u e a d d s to th e o v e ra ll
s p le n d o r , a s w e ll a s th e f in a l r e fe r e n c e to th e a n c e s to rs a s a n in c e n tiv e f o r
e ff e c t, in th a t f a n a tic is m a b o u t m o d e m ity , b e it f irs t o r s e c o n d , is o n c e
th e p o litic a l in te g r a tio n o f th e c o n tin e n t, c o n f ir m th is r e la tio n s h ip . T h e
m o r e c r itic iz e d a s a m a rk o f S tre e t in te lle c tu a ls a n d p e tty s n o b s .
v a ria n t o f L in g a la
e x p resse s
h is
c o n c e rn s
used
h e re
about
is
th e
th e
p o litic a l
E q u a te u r ia n
in te g ra tio n
one,
w hose
of
r ig id
K a y o - L a m p e c o n s tru c ts a
a p p lic a tio n o f c la s s c o n c o r d p r o v id e s K a y o -L a m p e w ith a r e s o u r c e f o r
d e s c rip tio n o f th e c ity w h ic h h a s b e c o m e h is n e w p la c e o f r e s id e n c e in
v e r s e - in itia l r h y m e . T h is te c h n iq u e is f e a tu re d in th e th ir d s tr o p h e , b u t it
E urop e,
a ls o a p p e a r s , f o r in s ta n c e , in th e la s t tw o v e r s e s o f th e f ir s t s tr o p h e , w h e r e
I n th e f o u r th p o e m ,
in
p a r tic u la r
Mb o t a m a Na An v e r s ,
of
its
a p p e a ra n c e
a ro u n d
C h r is tm a s
tim e .
D e s c r ip tio n s o f th in g s th a t a r e ‘n e w ’ w ith r e g a r d to h is w o r ld o f o r ig in
it is c o m b in e d w ith in te r n a l r h y m e a n d a s s o n a n c e .
( th e s n o w , th e c o ld , th e h e a v y c lo th in g ) a r e s c a ff o ld e d b y im a g e s th a t
MOSALA Lo b ik o r e s e m b le s , in its te c h n ic a l a s p e c ts , th e f irs t p o e m ,
s te m d ir e c tly f ro m th a t w o r ld ( p y th o n , e le p h a n t) . A c o n tr a s t c re a te d
M poto, in th a t its th e m e is a ls o w o rk e d o u t th r o u g h th e r h y th m ic e ff e c t o f
g r a m m a tic a lly in th e la s t tw o v e r s e s s y n th e s iz e s th e c r u x o f th e p o e m ’s
r e p e titio n . T h e m a tic a lly , it a p p e a rs to lin k u p m o s t s tr o n g ly w ith a p o e m
42
43
iik e O.
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
U.A. : a t is s u e is th e r e c o n s tru c tio n o f A fr ic a th r o u g h th e e f f o rts o f
r e le x if ie d lo a n w o rd , c o v e r s a m o r e s p e c if ic r e fe r e n t w ith in th e r e fu g e e
its o w n c h ild r e n , w h o s h o u ld n o w
w o rk in f u ll in d e p e n d e n c e . T h is
s e m a n tic d o m a in , n a m e ly th e s ta te m e n ts o r p le a s th r o u g h w h ic h c a n d id a te
in d e p e n d e n c e , h o w e v e r, is n o t ju s t a p r e c o n d itio n b u t m u c h m o r e a r e s u lt
p o litic a l r e f u g e e s h a v e to p r o v e th e v a lid ity o f th e ir a p p lic a tio n s f o r
o f s u c h e ffo rts . I n d e p e n d e n c e — lik e , m o r e o v e r, p o litic a ! a n d m ilita r y
a s y lu m w h e n s u m m o n e d b y th e c o m p e te n t a u th o r itie s . T h e u s e o f M ikili,
s ta b ility
f in a ll y , c o u ld b e in te r p r e te d a s a c a s e o f captatio benevolentiae: th e
—
cannot be
a c h ie v e d
w ith o u t
h a rd
w o rk
and
lo n g - te rm
d e d ic a tio n .
a u th o r a d d r e s s e s th e a u d ie n c e h e ta rg e ts in a la n g u a g e th a t is th e ir s in a n
T h e to p o s o f tr a d itio n is d o n e f u ll ju s tic e in
Nd o t e .
T h e title is th e
n a m e o f th e a u th o r ’s n a tiv e v illa g e , w h ic h is a d d r e s s e d in a n o d e r a d ia tin g
a tte m p t to c o n v in c e th e m to tu r n A fr ic a in to th e ty p e o f F ir s t W o r ld
c o u n tr y th e y s o m u c h a d m ire .
a n e m ig ra n t’s m o s t p r o fo u n d e m o tio n s o f n o s ta lg ia . T h e d e s c rip tio n o f
T h e d if f ic u ltie s w h ic h K a y o - L a m p e is c o n f ro n te d w ith a s a f o re ig n e r
N d o te a s d iv id e d in tw o p a rts is n o n - f ic titio u s , b u t th e ir n a m e s ‘B ito ti’
in
E u ro p e
w e re
n o t o n ly
to p ic a liz e d
in p o e m s
lik e M poto,
M ikili,
a n d ‘T w e lia ’ a r e d e s ig n e d b y th e a u th o r h im s e lf to e n h a n c e th e e ff e c t o f
M botama Na Anvers, a n d Bozongi M boka, b u t a c tu a lly c o n s titu te d th e
p e r s o n if ic a tio n , a s is th e c a s e f o r ‘E m b o lo ’ a n d T k u m u ’. A s tr ik in g im a g e
v e r y tr ig g e r f o r th e ir c o m p o s itio n T h is a ls o s e e m s to b e th e c a s e in
u s e d in a r tic u la tin g th e v illa g e ’s g r e a tn e s s is f o u n d in th e f o u r th a n d f if th
RACISME. A s in Bozongi M boka, th e ‘h ig h ’ L in g a la v a ria n t is d e e m e d
v e r s e s o f th e th ir d s tr o p h e . K a y o - L a m p e b a s n o in te n tio n o f r e p o r tin g a n y
m o s t a p p r o p ria te to c o n v e y th e s e r io u s n e s s o f th e to p ic . T h e te n th p o e m ,
h is to r ic a l w a rs o r g a m e s w h ic h th e p e o p le o f N d o te w o u ld h a v e e n g a g e d
Ma n g a l a ,
in w ith n e ig h b o r in g v illa g e s . W h a t is s u g g e s te d , r a th e r , is th a t N d o te
d is tin c tiv e ly
s h in e s w ith p r id e a n d d ig n ity , lik e a w a r rio r o r g la d ia to r r e tu m in g h o m e
c o d e s w itc h in g a n d a n u m b e r o f r e le x ifie d lo a n d w o rd s . L ik e in M ikili, I
f ro m v ic to ry o n th e b a ttle fie ld .
w ill a ls o
T h e lo n g e s t o f a ll th e p o e m s in th is c o lle c tio n is
Bo z o n g i Mb o k a .
It
on
th e
o th e r h a n d , is
‘tr e n d y ’
m e n tio n
s ty le
of
m o re
th e
p ro fa n e
K in s h a s a
K a y o -L a m p e ’s c h o ic e to
w rite
and
w r itte n
v a ria n t,
w o rd s
in
th e
in c lu d in g
lik e
kingo
( ‘n e c k ’) a n d suka ( ‘e n d ’) in a c c o rd a n c e w ith h o w th e y a re p r o n o u n c e d in
is a ls o th e m o s t d ir e c t a n d e x p lic it a c c u s a tio n o f th o s e in th e s e c o n d
K in s h a s a L in g a la , a s o p p o s e d to h o w
m o d e m ity w h o a re r e s p o n s ib le f o r th e p o litic a l a n d e c o n o m ie status quo
L in g a la , w h e re th e y w o u ld b e nkingo a n d nsuka. A n o th e r f e a tu re o f
b a c k h o m e . T h e v o ic e o f th e p o e m a s a w h o le is th e a u th o r’s , b u t in s o m e
c o llo q u ia l K in s h a s a s p e e c h in th is p o e m is th e u s e o f M ekka ( ‘A m e ric a ’).
p la c e s h e a c c o m p lis h e s e x a c tly w h a t p o e m 3 (M ikili) w a s a b o u t in its
T h is te rm r e fe r s n o t to s o m e g e o g r a p h ic a l o r ig in o f th e g ir l w h o is b e in g
e n tir e ty , i.e . th e a p p ro p r ia tio n o f th e v o ic e o f th o s e h e is c ritic iz in g in
w o o e d b u t to h e r e x c e lle n c e a n d b e a u ty in g e n e r a l, f o r w h ic h th e id e a o f
o r d e r to b e tte r e v o k e a n d c o n d e m n th e ir w o r ld v ie w . T h is s h if t o c c u r s in
‘A m e ric a ’ is a c o m m o n m e ta p h o r . ( O th e r m e ta p h o rs u s e d to h ig h lig h t th e
th e s ix th a n d f if th s tr o p h e s . Ngunda is th e g e n e ra l te rm , in th e s la n g
g ir l’s b e a u ty a n d g r a c e a re th e lo k a n g a a n d th e lo k o k u , tw o A f ric a n
v a ria n t o f K in s h a s a a s w e ll a s in th e d ia s p o r a , th a t r e fe r s to e v e r y th in g to
b ir d s .) O n c e a g a in , th e u s a g e o f th e c o llo q u ia l K in s h a s a v a ria n t o f L in g a la
d o w ith a s y lu m p r o c e d u r e s , th e s ta tu s o f p o litic a l r e f u g e e , e tc . Dièse, a
c o u ld b e in te n d e d a s im p ly in g a s h if t in v o ic e . O n ly a t th e s u r f a c e le v e l is
44
45
th e y a r e r e a liz e d in E q u a te u r
vSv*V vw *v-
th e a u th o r te llin g u s s o m e th in g a b o u t th e g ir l; a t a d e e p e r le v e l, h e m ig h t
a s w e ll b e ty p if y in g ( a n d r id ic u lin g ) th e k in d o f u r b a n y o u n g s te r s k n o w n
to c o u r t in w o rd s lik e th e s e . F in a lly , a te r m th a t is p a rtic u la r ly d if f ic u lt to
tr a n s la te is MLKJIHGFEDCBA
menkete, a s it r e fe r s to a v e r y s p e c if ic s ig n o f b e a u ty th a t
c o u n ts a s c u ltu r e - s p e c ific . M enkete is s a id o f a y o u n g g ir l’s n e c k th a t
s h o w s d e lic a te r o lls .
d e v e lo p in g th e m e s lik e d e a th , th e c le m e n ts a n d th e ir d iv in e c r e a tio n , life ,
L/w a , d e a th
w h ic h d o n o t n e c e s s a rily o f fe r le s s e x c itin g p e r s p e c tiv e s .
M akila M abe ( ‘B a d B lo o d ’) in EWM BE AWEI is th e n a m e o f th e
h u n te r s ’ g u n d o g . B a d B lo o d w a s k ille d , b u t h is k ille r h a s n o w p e r is h e d
h im s e lf. D e a th its e lf is th u s a c y c lic p r o c e s s : e v e n if s o m e o f u s s e e m to
b e s p a r e d a t s o m e p o in t, th e y a r e u ltim a te ly to u c h e d th e m s e lv e s , a n d in
T h e p o e m s in th e la s t p a r t o f th e c o lle c tio n a re e x is te n tia l in n a tu r e ,
a n d o ld a g e . I n
b ir th a n d d e a th a n d to d o s o b y f o llo w in g th e lin e s o f v ir tu e a n d d ig n it y ,
— p e rs o n if ie d u n d e r th e n a m e o f I k a la n g a n y a
— is a n u n f a ir , u n s a tis f ia b le , a n d u n b e a ta b le o p p o n e n t. I k a la n g a n y a is
h im s e lf n o t h u m a n b u t h a s c o n tro l o v e r h u m a n life ( fo r w h ic h th e a u th o r
u s e s th e m e ta p h o r o f th e m u s h r o o m ) a n d o v e r th e w o rld in g e n e r a l, w h ic h
c a n n o t b u t ‘u n d e rg o ’ h is a t tim e s w h im s ic a l d e c is io n s a n d c h o ic e s . In th e
s e c o n d s tro p h e , K a y o -L a m p e m a n ip u la te s a w e ll- k n o w n L in g a la p r o v e r b
th e lo n g r u n e v e ry o n e is s tr ic k e n . T h is c y c lic lif e , w h ic h d e a th h im s e lf
h a s th e p r iv ile g e to e n jo y , s ta n d s in s h a rp c o n tr a s t to w h a t d e a th m e a n s
f o r th e in d iv id u a l m o r ta l, n a m e ly a n ir re v e r s ib le e n d to a lin e a r lif e . B u t
a g a in , th is is o n ly a p p e a ra n c e . N o t o n ly is it c e r ta in th a t th e in d iv id u a l h a s
a p la c e to g o to a fte r lif e , it a ls o m a k e s a d if fe re n c e h o w h e o r s h e c h o o s e s
to c o p e w ith d e a th . I f y o u m a k e th e r ig h t c h o ic e , d e a th m ig h t tu m o u t n o t
to b e a n e n d in g a t a ll, b u t r a th e r a n a d v a n ta g e o u s e x p e rie n c e — n o th in g
e ls e , in f a c t, b u t a g o ld e n o p p o r tu n ity f o r c a th a r s is a n d s e lf- im p ro v e m e n t.
(ngomba na ngomba ekutanaka te, se bato, ‘m o u n ta in s d o n o t m e e t, o n ly
p e o p le d o ’, i.e . ‘h o w e v e r h a r d y o u try to r u n a w a y o r h id e f r o m s o m e o n e ,
h e o r s h e w ill a lw a y s f in d y o u ’) to a rtic u la te m a n ’s in e s c a p a b le e n c o u n te r
w ith d e a th .
T h e la n g u a g e in th e n e x t p o e m MOLONGO, a s in Liwa, m a k e s u s e o f
th e p r e f ix e s o f E q u a te u ria n L in g a la to a c h ie v e c h ia s m u s a n d w o rd - a n d
v e r s e - in itia l r h y m e . C h ia s m u s a ls o r e a p p e a rs a s a n im p o rta n t s ty lis t ic
r e s o u r c e in th e f ir s t lin e s o f th e n e x t p o e m ,
BOBO! Mb e b a .
W h ile it
in v o k e s th e r e je c tio n o f id le n e s s , lik e M osala Lobiko ( p o e m 6 ) , th is
th ir te e n th p o e m is n o t s o m u c h a p o litic a ! te x t, c o n d e m n in g th e e m p tin e s s
o f life in th e d ia s p o r a a n d a rg u in g f o r th e r e c o n s tr u c tio n o f th e h o m e
c o u n tr y , b u t r a th e r a d e e p ly e x is te n tia l o n e . lts th e m e is lif e a n d th e
r e a s o n s n o t to th r o w it a w a y . In th e c o n te x t o f th e s u r r o u n d in g p o e m s o n
th e in e v ita b ility o f d e a th , it u r g e s u s to m a k e th e b e s t o f o u r tim e b e tw e e n
46
47
;r*K* **+*******
\
i
lZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
RECA LL
R e s e a rc h
C e n tre
o f A fric a n
Ca l l
L anguages
and
L ite ra tu re s
f o r m a n u s c r ipt s
I . P u b l i c a t i o n p o lic y
R e c a ll p u b lis h e s in th r e e d o m a in s :
1. Re c a l l Li n g u i s t i c s Se r i e s
I n a c c o r d a n c e w ith its m is s io n s ta te m e n t R e c a ll is p a rtic u la tly in te re s te d in p u b lic a tio n s
w h ic h a d d re s s is s u e s re la tiv e to th e d e s c rip d o n o f A fr ic a n la n g u a g e s in d iv e rs e fie ld s o f
a c a d e m ie a c tiv ity s u c h a s s y n ta x , le x ic o g ra p h y a n d le x ic o lo g y , p ra g m a tic s a n d
s o c io lin g u is tic s .
T h e Rtcal/ Ltxicograpby Group e n c o u r a g e s th e p u b lic a tio n o f d o c u m e n ts w h ic h a d d re s s
is s u e s o f le x ic o g ra p h y o f B a n tu la n g u a g e s .
2. Re c a l l Li t e r a t u r e Se r i e s
R e c a ll w is h e s to e n c o u r a g e p e o p le to s u b m it th e ir lite ra ry p r o d u c ts in a n y A fric a n
la n g u a g e f o r p u b lic a tio n . T h e d o m a in o f g r a s s - ro o ts lite ra tu re is c o n c e iv e d in th e b r o a d e s t
p o s s ib le te rm s : d ia rie s , s h o r t s to rie s , tra n s c rip ts o f o ra l p e r fo r m a n c e s , p o e m s , e tc .
3. Re c a l l Ed u c a t i o n a l Se r i e s
A p p lie d lin g u is tic s b e in g o n e o f R e c a ll’s p rio ritie s , a u th o r s , p a rd c u la rly th o s e w h o a re
te a c h in g A fr ic a n la n g u a g e s a re k in d ly in v ite d to s e n d in p u b lic a tio n s w ith s p e c ific
e d u c a tio n a l o r p e d a g o g ie p u r p o s e s .
I I. S ty le s h e e t
U n le s s s p e c ia l a r ra n g e m e n ts h a v e b e e n m a d e w ith th e e d ito r s , R E C A L L w is h e s o n ly to
re c e iv e c a m e ra -re a d y m a n u s c r ip ts w h ic h c o m p ly w ith th e fo llo w in g s ta n d a rd s :
♦ la s e r -p r in te d (m in . 3 0 0 d p i) A 4 s h e e ts .
♦ fo n t: a n y s e r if c h a r a c te r s e t a t 1 4 p t w ith 1 8 to 2 1 p t lin e s p a c in g .
♦ m a rg in s : to p a n d b o tto m : m in . 2 c m ; le ft a n d rig h t: m in . 3 c m .
»
p a g e n u m b e r in g a t le a s t 2 c m f ro m th e b o tto m o f th e p a g e .
♦ illu s tra tio n s o r d ra w in g s a re m o u n te d o n to n u m b e re d p a g e s .
Michael Meeuwis