To’a kubari – Recaredo Silebo Boturu – Bubi

Ö botyíó bö kó’í,

i ko’è i béérí,

ë rimma ri tyíbí á baiie ba hesó waarí ëbaari,

ë itohi ri puurí, 

ëënökönökö étyíó é hëtyi.

Tö biirí, tö bëëri

tö rëëí, tö rëëi kòròkkò

tö ta báyé bílabba yé sö;

a bairíbbo ba hellò opua ó hnta.

Ö bötyëá bó hëëi

a baissó bá hèríbó ó bóá lë bitélë

ba tá pityo siá pëllá

ë bisëllo bi bòòrí, 

ë loa ë bë’èssí.

We’ve Stumbled – Recaredo Silebo Boturu- Translated by David Shook

The night disappeared,

the roosters crowed,

the dew drenched the men who left for the fields at dawn, 

the sun came out

and the night’s noise quieted.

We danced, we sang, 

we ate, we got drunk!

We didn’t do the traditional things

and the guardian spirits left in the lush forest.

The aubergine plant dried up,

and the women that went out fishing with their poles

and couldn’t fish eels,

their bait rotted.

The sea was crying.