“N Sabi N Sabili Ŋo” Texts

Below are Dagbanli Ajami, a Dagbanli Roman transliteration, and an English translation of “N Sabi N Sabili Ŋo.” You can also find Baba Issahak’s performance, historical context, super cool inline audio player, and video and transcripts of Baba Issahak discussing the song with Fuseini Abdul-Fatawu and Saeed Alhassan Dawuni on this site.

Ajami Manuscript in Baba Issahak’s Hand

N-Sabili-N-Sabili-Ngo

https://songsofafaajura.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/N-Sabili-N-Sabili-Ngo.pdf

“N Sabi N Sabili Ŋo”

Dagbanli language in Roman text. Transliteration by Saeed Dawuni.

1. N sabi n sabili ŋɔ m mabihi wummiya, Lahibali sheŋa tini daa zina Nageria
2. Ghana zuɣ’lana Doktor Kwame Osajefu, Duna n pii ti niriba anahi n tahi Nageria
3. Yahaya Iddi, Mumuni Iddi, Mahamadu Gba, Bɛ zaasa daa chaŋya ti baŋ Nageria
4. Yuusifu so ŋun sabi ŋɔ gba daa Pahiya chaŋ, Ti zaasa daa yiɣimi chaŋ Nageria
5. Ti chaaji mini ti laɣ’dira gomnati daa yo, Ti zaasa so laɣ’pia daabi yi Nageria
6. Tin paai ni oyiko loori ka gomna daa yihi titi, Ka ti kperi gɔri biɛɣ’kam tiyubu Nageria
7. Paɣ’ba ni bihi zaa daa yina n doli pala, N niŋdi suhi pɛlli bɛ daa Nageria
8. Nageria gomna daa tibigiti pam, Maŋdeebu dalimaa kamna ti nya Nageria
9. Yɔribanima, Ibonima, ni Gbengberi, Jikurinima, Baribarinima, Nageria
10. Ti zuɣ’lana Umar Igala daa beni, Bani n daa be tooni ka ti doli Nageria
11. Ti zuɣu lana zaɣ’yino Kojo Botsio, Bani na daa be tooni ka ti dolo ?? Nageria
12. Ti zuɣulana Kumahi Nakɔhi-naa daa bɛni, Alhaji Tanko m-maliti gori Nageria
13. Nyaɣisim ni suhu piɛlli daa ka buɣusibu, Ti nini nyɛya ninvuɣ’suma Nageria
14. Amaa ti Ghana ŋɔ ti gaŋdu tinsini, Ghana nyɛla gandɔɣu bia ni doobia
15. Tingbani mi nyaɣisim chelli ti ti Ghana ŋɔ, Tingbani mi zoobu chelli ti Nageria
16. Ti daa bi nyɛ dahama gonchaŋ tinsi pam, Amaa ti daa chaŋ tinkara Nageria
17. Tinini nyɛya ninvaɣusuma ka bɛ puhi ti pam, Ka naan yi yari Ghana yi sɔŋ Nageria
18. Sa’a Ahmadu Bello bi zaa daa beni, Yi zaa sa pun wumdi o yuli Nageria
19. Zuɣ’lana Abubakari Tafa ogba daa beni, Yi zaa sa pun wumdi o yuli Nageria
20. Nnamdi, Ojukwu, Kiwa Bikira o daa beni, Yi zaa sa pun wumdi o yuli Nageria
21. Doo da ka nyabu maŋdeebu dalimaa hai mira, Baŋsim lana sokam mi o Nageria
22. Kifa Abaafu Awal daa beni, Yi zaa sa pun wumdi o yuli Nageria
23. Maalam Aminu [Sarkin muslimin] Kano-naa gba o daa beni , Yi zaa sa pun wumdi o yuli Nageria
24. Salchi Muslim mini Kano-naa daa beni, Kaduuna-naa ni Baribari ni Zaaria
25. Afanima, Baŋdikaɣ’la bi zaa da beni, Baŋdikara bizaa bɛ be Nageria

“N Sabi N Sabili Ŋo”

English translation by Saeed Dawuni Alhassan

I am writing a story, listen to it my brothers and sisters, The stories we bring from Nigeria

Ghana government, Dr. Kwame Osagyefo, He selected four of us to go to Nigeria

Yahaya Iddi, Mumuni Iddi, Mahamadu, too, All of them went to Nigeria

Yuusifu, the one writing the story also went to Nigeria, We all flew to Nigeria

Our fares and chop money were paid by the government, None of us paid a single pesewa

When we got there, their government gave us a car, And we were using it to go everywhere we wished all day

All women and children came out in the streets, And were jubilating because Nigeria gained independence

The government of Nigeria took us to be big men, On that Independence day, come and see Nigeria

The Yoruba, Ibo, and Hausa (Gbengberi) people, The Jikuri, Baribari, and all in Nigeria

Our leader Umar Igala [Imoru Egala] was there, They were leading and we were following in Nigeria

One of our leaders was Kojo Botsio, They were leading and we were following in Nigeria

One of our leaders, the chief butcher of Kumasi was there, Alhaji Tanko, they were leading us going in Nigeria

Joys and happiness were beyond description, We saw a lot of great people in Nigeria

However, Ghana is among the biggest countries in Africa, Ghana is the greatest country

The peaceful country is Ghana, And the biggest country is Nigeria

We didn’t get time to travel to many cities/states, But we were able to travel to the big cities

We met the greatest people and they greeted us very well (a lot), And they were telling us, “Ghana, you have to help Nigeria.”

Sir Ahmadu Bello, were all there, I am sure you all have been hearing his name, Nigeria

The leader Abubakari Tafawa [Balewa] was there, I am sure you all have been hearing his name, Nigeria

Nnamdi, Ojukwu, Kiwa Bikira were there, I am sure you all have been hearing his name, Nigeria

The great man, come and see him on Independence Day, The knowledgeable person, everybody knows him in Nigeria

Kifa Abaafu Awal was there, I am sure you all have been hearing his name, Nigeria

Maalam Aminu, chief of Kano [Aminu Kano?] was there, I am sure you all have been hearing his name, Nigeria

The chief of Muslims and chief of Kano were there, The chief of Kaduna and the chief of Baribari were there

The imams and knowledgeable people were there, The big knowledgeable people were all there in Nigeria

Nigerian Politicians Mentioned in “N Sabi”

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