NOTE: This interpretation and translation is the fruit of working with Dave Kobrenski, a musician and instrument maker who has written a nice piece analyzing this song as an homage to Mamady Keïta as a djembé (cf. jɛnba) player and teacher.
Kejuu la kani, sunkudun kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly girl!
Kejuu la kani, sunkudun kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly girl!
Kejuu la kani, kamaren kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly boy!
Kejuu la kani, kamaren kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly boy!
N tˈi la kani dɔ; wuyafɔla, n tˈi la kani dɔ
I have no love for you; oh liar, I have no love for you
N tˈi la kani dɔ; janfante, n tˈi la kani dɔ
I have no love for you; oh traitor, I've got no love for you
Kejuu la kani, kamaren kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly boy!
Kejuu la kani, sunkudun kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly boy!
N tˈi la kani dɔ; wuyafɔla, n tˈi la kani dɔ
I have no love for you; oh liar, I've got not love for you
N tˈi la kani dɔ; janfante, n tˈi la kani dɔ
I have no love for you; oh traitor, I've got no love for you
Kejuu la kani, sunkudun kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly girl!
Kejuu la kani, sunkudun kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly girl!
Kejuu la kani, kamaren kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly man!
Kejuu la kani, kamaren kejuu la kani man di n ye!
Falling in love with an ugly person, I don't want to fall in love with an ugly girl!
🧐 Please don’t copy and paste this interpretation and translation elsewhere! You can contact Coleman if need be.