Nɔkwɔlɛ Trɔmɔɔ Tsakemɔ Lɛ : Loo Nɔ Hewɔ Ni Gbɔmɛi Nyiɛɔ Yɛ Nɔkwɔlɛ Trɔmɔɔ Naa – Jalada Africa\n“Kudinyana*” by Linda Musita\n“Exorcist” by Busamoya Phodiso Modirwa\nAnthology, Translation Issue\nAisha Nelson and Moses Adjei\nTsuutsu blema ko lɛ, Gbɔmɛi kɛ amɛniji kɛ amɛnaji nyiɛɔ tamɔ kooloi naji ejwɛjwɛɛjwɛ tsɛmɛi nyiɛɔ lɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ. Gbɔmɛi he yɛ oya fe Kpɛŋkpɛlɛ, Kootsɛ kɛ Kplotoo-Adino. Naji kɛ Niji kɛ amɛhe bɔɔ shraa fe Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii krokomɛi lɛ. No ji akɛ, Niji kɛ Naji yɛ talɔi ni je amɛhe yɛ amɛjebɔ kɛ amɛnitsumɔi amli: Kɔɔji kɛ Gboji; Nikutsei kɛ Nakutsei; Nane-talɔi kɛ Nine-talɔi; Nine-kɔkɔji kɛ Nane-tokotai ni waobii enumɔ enumɔi tsɛlɛ amɛhe. Niji kɛ Naji yɛ Nine-gɔnti kɛ Nane-gɔnti kɛ amɛwaosɛɛkpelɔi, ni waobii lɛ eko fɛɛ eko yɛ waosɛɛlami. Nakai bei amli lɛ Nine-gɔnti bɛŋkɛ Nine-waobii krokomɛi lɛ; nakai nɔŋŋ ji Nane-gɔnti hu tsa Nane-waobii krokomɛi lɛ. Naji kɛ Niji tsɛɔ amɛhe akɛ hii-enyɔ-bii abii.\nAmɛwaa amɛhe kɛtereɔ Gbɔmɔtso lɛ kɛyaa hei fɛɛ ni etaoɔ akɛ eya: jarai anɔ jio, shwapoi amli jio, aakwɔlɔ tsei ni akpeleke gɔji jio – no ji, he fɛɛ he ni eeehia Gbɔmɔtso lɛ yaa. Ni kɛji eba lɛ nu hiɛ tɔɔmɔ hu lɛ, Niji kɛ Naji feɔ ekome kɛha ni Gbɔmɔtso lɛ anyɛ nu lɛ hiɛ atɔɔ, loo nu mli esele, loo etsɛ ewo nu mli. Amɛteŋ mɔ ko enaaa ehe fe enyɛmi, ni ekomefeemɔ kɛ shramɔ kpakpa ka amɛteŋ jogbaŋŋ. Amɛnyɛɔ amɛmaa Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii krokomɛi lɛ anifeemɔi –tamɔ gbee ni gbɛɔ kɛjɛɔ Daa, ninumɔ ni Toi nuɔ, nifuu ni Gugɔ fuɔ, kɛ nii ni Hiɛŋmɛi naa tete.\nBɔ ni Niji kɛ Naji kpaa gbee kɛ bɔ ni amɛtsuɔ amɛnii fɛɛ ekome lɛ ha Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii krokomɔmɛi lɛ ye amɛhe awuŋa. Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii krokomɛi lɛ to amɛyiŋ akɛ amɛkɛ amɛhesalɛ yeŋ amɛbuaŋ hii-enyɔ-bii abii nɛɛ dɔŋŋ. Awuŋayeli nɛɛ shwila Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii krokomɛi lɛ, ni eha amɛhiɛjejei amɛhenɔ akɛ Naji kɛ Niji nɛɛ nɔŋŋ ji mɛi ni kɛ Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ yaa hei srɔtoi ni amɛkɛ lɛ kuɔsɛɛ kɛbaa. Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii krokomɛi lɛ bɔi yiŋ fɔŋ too yɛ Niji kɛ Naji he.\nLilɛi yama yiŋshwiemɔ kɛjɛ Jwɛŋmɔ dɛŋ ni ekɛ yiŋshwiemɔ lɛ wo feemɔ mli amrɔ nɔŋŋ. Ebɔi eyiŋ shwiemɔ kɛ ehe saji srɔtoi bimɔ, nɔ hewɔ ni Niji kɛ Naji yɔɔ hewalɛ srɔto yɛ Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ ateŋ lɛ. Lilɛi tee nɔ ni ebi akɛ, “Amɛteaŋ namɔ yɔɔ hewalɛ fe enyɛmi?” Enɛ ha hii-enyɔ-bii abii, ni kulɛ amɛteaŋ mɔ ko mɔ ko kwɛɛɛ nɔ ni enyɛmi yɔɔ kɛ nɔ ni enyɛmi nyɛɔ efeɔ lɛ, tee amɛyama gbee kɛjɛ Daa dɛŋ, ni amɛkɛbabɔi niiamlijiemɔ kɛ niiamlitsɔɔmɔ yɛ mɔ ni he hiaa Gbɔmɔtso lɛ fe enyɛmi. Oya nɔŋŋ, kɛkɛ ni niiamlitsɔɔmɔ lɛ batsɔ shwaa kɛ henikɛɛmɔ: Nine shwa akɛ eyɛ waobii legelege, kakadaji, fɛɛfɛji; ni ebabɔi wiemɔ kɛ Nane shimɔ akɛ, Nane-waobii yɛ kpitibii tsɔ, ni amɛtilɛ kpontikpontii hu ni amɛyɛ taŋ. Akɛ ni ekabalɛ akɛ Niji baaye Naji nɔ hewɔ lɛ, Nane-waobii hu wie amɛshi Niji, kɛtsɔɔ bɔ ni Niji waobii etatai loo gbonyogbonyo oookɛɛ mɛi ni hɔmɔ miiye amɛ. Tswaa ni Niji kɛ Naji tswa nɛɛ tee nɔ gbii saŋŋ, ni ehaaa hii-enyɔbii-abii nɛɛ anyɛ ekomefeemɔ kɛha nitsumɔ jogbaŋŋ dɔŋŋ. Naagbee lɛ, ebalɛ akɛ abi mɔ ni yɔɔ hewalɛ fe enyɛmi. Kɛtsɔ enɛ nɔ lɛ, Niji kɛ Naji kɛ sane lɛ tee amɛkɛyaŋmɛ amɛnyɛmimɛi krokomɛi lɛ ahiɛ koni abua aha amɛ.\nLilɛi kɛ mpleshii jwɛŋmɔ ko ba. Mɔ fɛɛ mɔ kpa gbee akɛ jwɛŋmɔ lɛ hi. Mɛni ji jwɛŋmɔ nɛɛ? No ji akɛ aha Niji kɛ Naji ashi mple. Mɛi batsɔɔtsɔi mpleshii srɔtoi – abɔtirifɔɔ, akpɔlɔtsuu, tɛfɔɔ kɛ foidamɔ, kɛ awaleshwɛmɔ loo damishwɛmɔ. Shi aŋɔɔɔ mplei aŋaawoi srɔtoi nɛɛ eko kwraa nɔ, ejaakɛ mplei lɛ ekomɛi hi ha Niji kometoo loo Naji kometoo, ni mplei lɛ ekomɛi hu yeŋ ebuaŋ amɛteŋ mɛi enyɔ lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome loo mɔ kroko lɛ. Lilɛi nɛɛ nɔŋŋ saa etee Jwɛŋmɔ ŋɔɔ ni eyama yiŋ kɛha ŋaawoo kokro, kɛha mpleshii ni yɔɔ mɛlɛo kwraa. Ekɛɛ Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii lɛ fɛɛ kɛ mpleshii ŋaawoo kome aba: kɛ ajɛ mɔ kome nɔ lɛ, kɛkɛ lɛ atee mɔ kroko nɔ. Nine kɛ Nane kpɛlɛ ŋaawoo nɛɛ nɔ.\nAbato mpleshii he nɛɛ yɛ koo lɛ teŋŋ he ko tɛtrɛɛ ko ni ahu jɛi fɛɛ fɛɛfɛo, he ko ni yɛ faa ko he. Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii lɛ fɛɛ fee kralo kɛ miikwɛ akɛ oshra ko loo nɔ ko ni aaate Gbɔmɔtso lɛ shi trukaa kwraa ko akaba, be mli ni ehe nii lɛ kɛ amɛhe ebɔi tswaa nɛɛ. Hiŋmɛii folɔ amɛhe amɛkwɛ he fɛɛ he shɔŋŋ kɛ kpaakpa, akɛ ablaŋ ko aaajie ehiɛ kpo lo; Toii hu gbɛgbɛi amɛmli ni amɛbo he fɛɛ he ni gbɛɛmɔ fɛɛ gbɛɛmɔ aaanyɛ ajɛ aba toi; Gugɔ hu gbɛ emli waa akɛ aleeenɔ, eeenu oshara ko ni Hiŋmɛii kɛ Toii ayanyɛɛɛ ayɔse enamɔ loo ehe fuu lo; ni Lilɛi hu fee kralo kɛha boo kɛ bolɔmɔ, aleenɔ kɛji naagba ko aaapue.\nAhum gbɛ mpleshii sane lɛ eshwa kɛtee koo lɛ koji ejwɛ lɛ fɛɛ, aahu kɛtee nu kɛ kɔɔyɔɔ hei tɔɔ. Kooloi naji ejwɛjwɛɛjwɛ tsɛmɛi fata mɛi klɛŋklɛŋ ni naa bakpeshi yɛ tɛtrɛɛ lɛ mli lɛ ahe; kooloi wuji lɛ hiɛhiɛi tsei agbeji kɛ amɛnɔ bai, kɛ miitsɔɔ akɛ amɛba yɛ toiŋjɔlɛ mli. No ji akɛ, eyɛ fɛo pam kɛji okwɛ bɔ ni Kla, Kootsɛ, Jata, Kplotoo-Adino, Gbee-Kla, Shwuɔ, Girafi, Afukpɔŋɔ, Kooŋtsina ni koji kɛlɛ, Batafo, Adowa, Baayelɔ, Kpɛŋkpɛlɛ, Kwakwe-Ofiɔ kɛ Obishi fɛɛ ebabua shi lɛ. Kɛha mpleshii lɛ kwɛmɔ hewɔ lɛ, nu mli kooloi – tamɔ Loo, Baa kɛ Nu mli Shwuɔ – kɛ amɛyitsei bajwere faa lɛ toii, be mli ni amɛnaji hɔlɔ faa lɛ mli. Kooloi naji enyɔnyɔɔnyɔ tsɛmɛi – tamɔ Duguma, Aŋsaŋ kɛ Maŋtsɛ-Loofɔlɔ – lɛɛlɛi amɛfiji amli kɛ mlifilimɔ. Loofɔji bolɔ kɛ lalai kɛ flikimɔ, kɛnyiɛnyiɛ tsei anɔ. Klilii hu nya kɛ lalai babaoo yɛ he fɛɛ he. Anaanu, Titiamɔɔtɔi, Ŋmaatsakii, Ofɔlɔŋ kɛ shikpɔŋ waamɔ kooloi komɛi hu wamɔ kɛ nyiɛnyiɛi shikpɔŋ kɛ tsei anɔ fɛɛ. Ni be ni Obosumaŋkɛtɛo miidɛŋkɛ shi blɛoblɛoo kɛ miiho biɛ kɛ biɛ lɛ, Odaakɛlɛo hu hiɛ foi kɛ shifoo ni ehiii lɛ he kome tamɔ. Aduŋ-Akaa, Aduŋ-Kua kɛ Hɔɔ hu ekpɛlɛɛɛ kwraa kɛ tuumɔ kɛ sɛŋmɔ, kɛjɛ tso gbene kome nɔ kɛtee tso kroko gbene nɔ. Kɔɔyɔɔ fioo ni tswaa hewɔ lɛ, bɛ nɛkɛ Tsei kɛ Jwɛi lɛ hu tsiɔ amɛhe kɛhoɔ kɛyaa kɛbaa – ni amɛdamɔɔɔ he kome dioo – kɛ dɔrɔɔ amɛhe oookɛɛ amɛmiijo.\nNaabu wo egbee nɔ kɛ lala ko ekɛ gbele akaŋshii lɛ naa:\nWɔmiifee enɛ ni wɔ kɛshɛje wɔmii\nEjaakɛ wɔ fɛɛ wɔjɛ Adebɔɔ kome mli.\nNine kɛ Nane bakpɛlɛ nɔ akɛ, bɔ fɛɛ bɔ ni mpleshii lɛ naagbee baatamɔ lɛ, amɛbaaŋɔ nɔ nakai kɛ miishɛɛ: mɔ ko tsui nɔ woŋ lɛ, mɔ ko woŋ enyɛmi he gbeyei akɛ ebaakpa mple lɛ shii, loo mɔ ko baashi mple lɛ miɔɔ miɔɔ.\nNiji ji mɛi ni kɛ klɛŋklɛŋ mpleshii lɛ ba: amɛfɔ tso gbiŋ kuku ko amɛŋmɛ shikpɔŋ. Amɛkɛɛ Nane-abɛku loo Nane-jurɔ loo Naji enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ afee ekome ni amɛkɔ tso gbiŋ kuku lɛ yɛ shikpɔŋ. Niji tee nɔ amɛkɛɛ akɛ, Naji enyɔ lɛ baanyɛ amɛye amɛbua amɛhe kɛ ŋaawoi srɔtoi yɛ mpleshii lɛ mli be fɛɛ be, ni amɛbaanyɛ amɛha amɛnanewaobii lɛ hu awa amɛ ekome loo kutuu yɛ gbɛ fɛɛ gbɛ nɔ ni amɛbaatsɔ kɛtsu nɔ ni aha amɛ tsumɔ lɛ. Naji bɔ amɛhe mɔdɛŋ bɔ ni amɛbaanyɛ aahu – amɛtsɔmɔ tso lɛ kɛtee kɛba, amɛtsi tso lɛ kɛtee hiɛ kɛba sɛɛ, amatsake ni amejaje amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛhe shii abɔ – shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Naji nyɛɛɛ tso gbiŋ kuku lɛ amɛkɔ yɛ shikpɔŋ. Bɔ ni Niji-waobii na ni etɔɔ Naji ehaa lɛ ha Niji-waobii ma gbee kɛjɛ Daa dɛŋ, ni amɛkɛŋmɔ Naji kɛ ewebii lɛ kwaa! kwaa!! kwaa!!! Niji, ni ji mɛi ni kɛ mpleshii nɛɛ ba lɛ, batɛje amɛhe ni amɛkɛ amɛwaobii legelegei lɛ babɔi mɔ fɛɛ mɔ tsɔɔmɔ, tamɔ bɔ pɛ ni afeɔ yɛ hefɛo mpleshii mli lɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ. Kɛkɛ ni Niji-waobii bafutufutui amɛhe ni amɛtotoi amɛhe yɛ gbɛi srɔtoi anɔ kɛkɔ tso gbiŋ kuku lɛ yɛ shikpɔŋ. Niji fɔ tso lɛ kɛtee koo lɛ teŋ he ko shɔŋŋ. Enɛ ha gwabɔɔ ni bua shi lɛ mli mpleshilɔi kɛ kwɛlɔi lɛ fɛɛ bo kɛ miishɛɛ, ni amɛnya, ni amɛbo oshe. Niji jie kɛtsɛi krokomɛi hu: amɛhala tɛi bibii yɛ omɔ mli; amɛtsɛrɛ abui; amɛfee shwiilii bibii komɛi ni astiɔ kɛgbalaa nibii ni tsii tsii; amɛfee akpɔlɔi, ni amɛtsɛtsɛi akpɔlɔi kɛtee koo lɛ mli hei shɔŋŋ. No ji akɛ, Niji kɛ ewebii lɛ wo ŋaaŋ yibii srɔtoi babaoo, yibii kɛ nifeemɔi ni Naji kɛ ewebii lɛ nyɛŋ amɛwɔ ni amɛla tete, aahu akɛ amɛ aaaka emli eko feemɔ amɛkwɛ. Enɛmɛi ha Naji kɛ ewebii lɛ tara shi vii vii, ejaakɛ kɛji amɛkwɛ bɔ ni amɛtsɛkwɛmɛi abii legelegei lɛ tsakeɔ amɛhe kɛjeɔ kɛtsɛi kɛ ŋaaŋ yibii srɔtoi lɛ, efee amɛ ahuntoo kɛ naakpɛɛ kɛ hiɛgbele fɛɛ. Hesuɔmɔ kɛ yiŋkomefeemɔ ni ka Niji mpleshilɔi lɛ kɛ kwɛlɔi ni fi Niji sɛɛ lɛ fɛɛ aniji teŋ hewɔ lɛ, Kwɛlɔi lɛ aniji pia Niji kɛ dɛŋtswaa hoo oookɛɛ ŋwɛishiimɔ. Enɛ wo Naji kɛ ewebii lɛ amlila pam, ni eha amɛfee yeyeeye. Shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Naji ŋmɛ amɛyiŋ kpɔ akɛ bɔ fɛɛ bɔ ni ji lɛ, amɛbaaye kunim. Enɛ ha Naji-gɔŋtii babɔi nibii bibii komɛi ŋmalamɔ kɛ tɛŋmɔ yɛ shikpɔŋ shia lɛ mli, nakai be mli nɔŋŋ lɛ, kɛmiisusu akaŋ nifeemɔ krɛdɛɛ ni Naji kɛbaatswa Niji mpoa he, bɔ ni afee ni Naji anyɛ aye kunim yɛ mpleshii lɛ mli.\nNaagbee lɛ, ebashɛ Naji kɛ ewaobii anɔ ni amɛhu amɛkɛ amɛmpleshii nifeemɔ lɛ afɔ jara mli. Amɛtsɔɔ nɔ ko ni, yɛ amɛsusumɔ mli lɛ, ejeee nɔ ko keketee ko kwraa. Amɛkɛɛ Niji awo Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ fɛɛ kɛjɛ aklabatsa ni afo lɛ fa kome, ni amɛkɛya fa kroko lɛ. Enɛ pɛ kɛkɛ! Niji kɛ ntɛŋ susu amɛto he amɛkɛɛ “Oh, enɛ lɛ, bɛ kwashiai asane nɛ! Bɛ enɛ feemɔ waaa kwraa!” Shi esa ohiŋmɛiaŋ, kɛji obaje jɛmɛ. Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ batsɔmɔ amɛbu shi. Niji bakpiti shi; Hiŋmɛi baje shikɔŋŋ gbɛ, ni enikwɛmɔ fɛɛ bama ehiɛnaashi kɛmiikwɛ shikpɔŋ; Gugɔ bawu mulu kɛ shia, ni ebɔi tsinemɔ amrɔ; Naji kɛ waobii baje ŋwɛi gbɛ, kɛmiibɔle amɛhe yɛ kɔɔyɔɔ lɛ mli. “Naji aya ŋwɛi!” gwabɔɔ lɛ fɛɛ babɔi bolɔmɔ kɛ ŋmɔlɔ, kɛye Niji kɛ ewebii lɛ ahe fɛo:\nNaji aya ŋwɛi!\nGbeyeishemɔ ko kwraa bɛ!\nAnyiɛ Naji sɛɛ ko!!\nNyɛhaa wɔflikia kɛnyiɛa kɔɔyɔɔ lɛ mli!!!\nShi kwɛlɔi lɛ fɛɛ ahiŋmɛii yɛ Niji kɛ ewebii lɛ anɔ, ni amɛmiikwɛ nɔ ni Niji kɛ ewebii lɛ aaanyɛ afee yɛ mpoa ni Naji tswa amɛ lɛ he. Abɔi bimɔ akɛ, “Kwɛ, jeee Niji nɛɛ nɔŋŋ ni hiŋmɛitswai fioo ko ni eho nɛɛ lɛ, amɛjieɔ ŋaaŋ nifeemɔi kɛ kɛtsɛi srɔtoi kɛtsɔɔ amɛhesalɛ lɛ? Jeee Niji ni atswa dɛŋ hoo aha amɛ bianɛ nɔŋŋ lɛ? Abgɛnɛ lɛ, mɛni eba ni Niji nyɛɛɛ nɔ ko kwraa amɛfee nɛɛ? Mɛni nɔŋŋ eba ni asaŋ, Niji nɛɛ nyɛɛɛ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛhe kɛ Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ amɛtsi kɛya hiɛ fioo po nɛɛ? Fee sɛɛ ni Niji babɔ amɛhe mɔdɛŋ ni amɛnyɛ amɛfamɔ shii fioo lɛ, kɛkɛ ni Kɔŋji bɔi kɛɛmɔ kɛ yaafo, Nine-kantoi kɛ Ni-kutsei amli gbede, ni amɛfɛɛ amɛŋmɛɛ Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ he amɛtswa shi gbia. Niji jɔɔ amɛhe fioo, kɛkɛ ni amɛka Gbɔmɔtso lɛ katamɔ ekoŋŋ. Shi agbɛnɛ lɛ, Niji ha ewaobii lɛ gbɛgbɛi amɛmli ni amɛbakpiti shi jogbaŋŋ akɛ eeehi lo, shi Nine-gɔntii lɛ pɛ ji mɛi ni nyɛ amɛmli amɛgbɛ fioo. Fee sɛɛ lɛ, Niji ka ni eha Gbɔmɔtso lɛ agba ataalai, shi aŋɔɔ enɛ nɔ ahaaa Niji, ejaakɛ akɛɛ ebaaba lɛ akɛ Naji aye abua Niji yɛ amɛgbɛfaŋ nɔ yɛ mpleshii lɛ mli. Ebashɛ Naji kɛ ewebii lɛ anɔ ni amɛhu amɛbaaŋmɔ. Kɛha ni amɛŋmɔ Niji jogbaŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, Naji kɛ ewebi lɛ tee Sɛ ŋɔɔ amɛyama gbee hɔɔŋ – gbee ni kɛ bɛlɛkpamɔ gbee lɛ ni Niji-waobii yama kɛ ŋmɔ Naji be kukuoo ni eho nɛɛ shiɔ koŋ. Be ni Niji kɛ ewebii lɛ nu Naji kɛ ewebii lɛ aŋmɔlɔ lɛ he lɛ, amɛ kɛ mlifu kɛ hiɛdɔɔ ekaa ka akɛ amɛbaakata Gbɔmɔtso lɛ ekoŋŋ, shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Niji nyɛɛɛ faamɔ kome po amɛfa. No ji akɛ, Nine-waobii egbugbaa, Kɔŋji kɛ Nine-talɔi amli fɛɛ ejɔjɔi, ni Niji kɛ ewebii lɛ fɛɛ kɛ ahuntoo ŋmɛɛ Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ he amɛtswashi shi ekoŋŋ – ni amɛkɛŋmɛɛ mpleshii lɛ he. Kɛkɛ ni Naji bɔi nyamɔ kɛtsɔɔ amɛhewalɛ kɛ amɛhesalɛ: Naji bɔi foijee kɛ foidamɔ, amɛbɔi tuumɔ kɛ hurumɔ, amɛbɔi nibii tɛkemɔ kɛ he kome shifoo, amɛbɔi kɛtsɛi srɔtoi babaoo jiemɔ. Enɛmɛi fɛɛ mli lɛ, Naji haaa Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he ko he ko asa shi shi kome po. Kwɛlɔi lɛ fɛɛ anaji babɔi shishiimɔ kɛ nyamɔ, kɛha Naji sɛɛ piamɔ kɛ hewalɛwoo. Niji wele amɛhe nɔ kɛtee ŋwɛi, kɛmiibi ni amɛwie amɛshi Naji osheboo nifeemɔi lɛ. Be lɛ, Niji fee tamɔ amɛhiɛ eje amɛhe nɔ akɛ amɛ ji mɛi kɛŋklɛŋ ni bɔi mpoa tswaa, be mli ni amɛje akaŋshii lɛ shishi lɛ.\nFee sɛɛ lɛ Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii lɛ kɛ kwɛlɔi lɛ fɛɛ yɔse naakpɛɛ nɔ ko yɛ Niji ahe: Gɔntii lɛ – ni tse amɛhe be mli ni Niji bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ ni amɛkata Gbɔmɔtso lɛ – eka. No ji akɛ, Gɔntii lɛ kpɛtɛɛɛ Niji-waobii krokomɛi lɛ dɔŋŋ. Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii krokomɛi ni yeɔ awuŋa lɛ tee Niji ŋmɔlɔ ekoŋŋ pɛ kɛkɛ ni amɛyɔse nɔ kroko ko hu: moŋ, akɛ ni Gɔŋtii hetsemɔ lɛ baaha Dɛŋ he aje kpa lɛ, hetsemɔ lɛ ha Dɛŋ niiamlimɔmɔ kɛ niiamlitswɛtswɛmɔ ye emuu. “Mɛni nɛ ei? Kwɛmɔ akɛ kpajee moŋ etee nibɔɔ kɛ niwajemɔ hewalɛ wulu shi!”\nFee sɛɛ ekoŋŋ lɛ, abɔi kadaagbamɔ yɛ Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii – Niji loo Naji – ni esa ni akɛ mpleshii kunimyeli lɛ aha he. Kadaagbamɔ nɛɛ tee nɔ gbii enumɔ sɔŋŋ, tamɔ bɔ ni Waobii enumɔ yɔɔ Nine kɛ Nane kome he lɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ. Shi shii abɔ ni Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii lɛ ta mɔ ni sa kumimyeli lɛ naa lɛ, amɛnyɛɛɛ yiŋkpɔ kome amɛŋmɔ. Shi moŋ, Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii lɛ fɛɛ kpa gbee amɛkɛɛ akɛ, Niji kɛ ewebii jio, Naji kɛ ewebii jio, kuu fɛɛ kuu he esa naakpa yɛ nibii ni enyɛɔ efeɔ mli. No ji akɛ, ehiii kuu kome ko nɔ ko feemɔ be mli ni kuu kroko lɛ he bɛ mli. Enɛ ha Gbɔmɔtso he nii lɛ bɔi niiahesusumɔ kɛ yiŋshwiemɔ vii kɛbibii amɛhe akɛ, “Mɛni kwraa po ji Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ?” Sɛɛ mli lɛ, amɛbayɔse akɛ Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ ji ehe nibii lɛ fɛɛ ni amɛtsa yaa kɛfee ekome. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, esa ni Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ he nii atsa akpɛtɛ enyɛmi ko aloo ahɔ enyɛmi ko mli, ejaakɛ amɛ fɛɛ amɛyɛyɛi yɛ amɛnyɛmimɛi lɛ ahewɔ. Ana hu akɛ, esa ni he nii fɛɛ he nii atsu egbafaŋ nɔ jogbaŋŋ, kɛha Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ fɛɛ hewɔ.\nShi kɛha ni anyɛ aku nɛkɛ mpleshii srɔtoi ni baanyɛ shi ate ekoŋŋ wɔsɛɛ ko hewɔ naa lɛ, ni kɛha hu ni Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii ko kwraa akawo ekroko ko najiaŋteŋ dɔŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, he nii lɛ fɛɛ ba gbeekpaamɔ akɛ, kɛjɛ kɛyaa nɛɛ, Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ baanyiɛ yɛ ekwɔlɛ trɔɔmɔɔ nɔ – Naji baadumɔ shi kɛnyiɛ shikpɔŋŋ, ni Niji baahi kɔɔyɔɔŋ gbɛ. Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ lɛ na nɛkɛ gbeekpaamɔ nɛɛ he miishɛɛ pam, shi amɛŋmɛ hegbɛ akɛ Gbekɛbii akahe lolo ni amɛkɛ amɛ-Niji kɛ amɛ-Naji fɛɛ anyiɛ, bɔ ni afee ni akɛkai Gbɔmɛi ashishijee. Enɛmɛi sɛɛ lɛ, Gbɔmɔtso he nii lɛ jara nitsumɔi lɛ amɛha amɛhe: Naji ji mɔ ni baatere Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ kɛya he fɛɛ he ni sa yaa, shi kɛji ayashɛ he lɛ pɛ, Niji ji mɔ ni baamɔ dadei kɛ nibii krokomɛi amli kɛbaatsu nitsumɔi ni sa ni atsu lɛ fɛɛ. Be mli ni Naji kɛ ewebii lɛ tsuɔ tsiimɔ nitsumɔ ni ji Gbɔmɔtso lɛ teremɔ kɛyaa kɛbaa lɛ, Niji kɛ ewebii lɛ hu kɛ amɛhesalɛ baatsu nii ni amɛkɛbaakura wɔhewɔŋ nibii fɛɛ ni ebɔle wɔ, bɔ ni afee ni niyenii ashɛ Daaŋ daa kɛ daa. Daa hu baakwɛ akɛ Nyanyɔji baata niyeenii lɛ, ni akɛtsɔ Sɛ mli kɛha Musu. Musu baagbɛlɛ niyenii lɛ, ni ebaagbala niyenii lɛ mli nui kɛ fɔi – niyenii lɛ mli hewalɛhamɔ nibii kɛ nibii kpakpai krokomɛi fɛɛ. Kɛkɛ lɛ, Musu baafɔse niyenii lɛ mli nibii kpakpai nɛɛ fɛɛ ewo Gbɔmɔtso lɛ gbɛjegbɛi kɛ gbɛjianɔtoi amli, kɛha ni nibii kpakpai nɛɛ ashɛ ni afee lɛɛnii kɛ sɛɛnamɔ eha Gbɔmɔtso lɛ mli kɛ ehe nii fɛɛ. Musu baabua niyenii lɛ mli nibii ni he bɛ sɛɛnamɔ (dɔŋŋ) lɛ anaa yɛ amɛtoohe, kɛjɛ he ni sɛɛ mli lɛ, Gbɔmɔtso lɛ baashwie niibii nɛɛ ashi yɛ agbo naa he ko ni sa, loo Gbɔmɔmɔtso lɛ baatsa shi ni efu nɛkɛ niibi nɛɛ ewo shikpɔŋ shia mli. Enɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Tsei kɛ Nibaanii baaye shikpɔŋ shia mli hewalɛ nɛɛ, ni enɛ baaha amɛdara ni amɛwo yibii, yibii ni Niji baatse emli eko ewo Daaŋ, koni Daa ana niyenii ekoŋŋ ni eye. Hɛɛ, lɛɛlɛŋ, enɛ ji walashihilɛ hefoo kɛ hebɔlemɔ lɛ!\nAja shwɛmɔi kɛ hiɛtsɛrɛjiemɔi tete po aha Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii lɛ fɛɛ: ashi lalalamɔ, ŋmɔlɔ kɛ wiemɔ aha Daa; akɛ nyiɛmɔ, tuumɔ, foijee kɛ bɔɔlotswaa ha Naji; ni atuu bɔɔlofɔɔ kɛ emɔmɔ shwɛmɔi fɛɛ awo Niji adɛŋ – nɔ ni yɔɔ mli pɛ ji akɛ, Naji ni baajo foi ni he baahia lɛ fɛɛ. Yɛ foidamɔ mli lɛ, Naji baakɔ ŋɛlɛ nɔ nifeemɔi lɛ tsiimɔ. Nɛkɛ nitsumɔi ni ajara pɛpɛɛpɛ aha Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ lɛ ha Gbɔmɔtso lɛ bastɔ adebɔɔ tsɔne ko ni he yɔɔ gbeyei naakpa – aahu akɛ, Gbɔmɔtso lɛ kɛ ŋaa kɛ hɛsalɛ baanyɛ nibii babaoo tsumɔ fe kooloi ni kulɛ amɛdara ni amɛyɛ hewalɛ hu shɔŋŋ fe Gbɔmɔtso lɛ.\nYɛ enɛmɛi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii lɛ yɔse akɛ gbɛjianɔtoi ni atsakeee dɔŋŋ ni amɛhe amɛwo mli nɛɛ baanyɛ ekɛ bei bibibii kɛ naataamɔi aba lolo. Yitso ni eyaje ŋwɛigbɛ lɛ baanyɛ esusu akɛ eyɛ gbɛnaa pɔtɛɛ fe Naji ni eyaje shikpɔŋgbɛ lɛ, aloo Yisto baanyɛ ejwɛŋ akɛ lɛ ji Gbɔmɔtso he nii ni yɔɔ shishigbɛ lɛ anuŋtsɔ, ni enyɔji ji amɛ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ ba gbeekpaamɔ akɛ, kɛji ebalɛ hegbɛ hiɛmɔ lɛ, Yisto kɛ mɛi ni yɔɔ eshishigbɛ lɛ fɛɛ yeɔ hegbɔ. Kɛma enɛ nɔ mi lɛ, Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ fi shi akɛ hewaa kɛ miishɛɛ ni baaba amɛteaŋ mɔ kome nɔ lɛ, ekrokomɛi lɛ fɛɛ baanu he nakai pɛpɛɛpɛ. Amɛtee nɔ ni amɛwo Daa shi akɛ kɛji eewie ni eekɛɛ akɛ mi-nɛkɛ kɛ mi-nɛkɛ lɛ, ekai akɛ eewie eeha Gbɔmɔtso muu lɛ fɛɛ, shi jeee akɛ yɛ lɛ pɛ enɔ mli.\nGbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ wo lala nɔ amɛla amɛkɛɛ:\nWɔyɛ ha wɔhewɔŋ.\nLilɛi ji wɔgbee kome.\nMɔ mimli ni mamɔ omli,\nNi wɔkɛtswaa Gbɔmɔtso ni kpɔiaŋ yɔɔ hewalɛ.\nEkomefeemɔ mli fɛo yɔɔ.\nWɔfee ekome kɛtsu nii,\nNi wɔkɛtswa Gbɔmɔtso ni kpɔiaŋ yɔɔ hewalɛ.\nEkomefeemɔ mli wɔhewalɛ yɔɔ.\nEnɛ batsɔ Gbɔmɔtso Muu lɛ Fɛɛ Jaku Lala. Gbɔmɔtso lɛ laa enɛ kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ, ni no tsɔɔ srɔto ni yɔɔ Gbɔmɛi kɛ kooloi – loo mɛi ni kwa kwɔlɛ trɔmɔɔ shihilɛ tsakemɔ lɛ – ateŋ.\nYɛ nibii ni amɛna fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, kooloi naji ejwɛjwɛɛjwɛ tsɛmɛi ekpɛlɛɛɛ tsakemɔ nɛɛ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ. Kooloi nɛɛ kɛɛ, “Lala nɛɛ yɛ nɔ ko. Abɔ Daa ni eye nii, jeee ni ela!” Kooloi nɛɛ tee nɔ ni amɛtse Adebɔɔ Ni Tsakeee Amegbɛjianɔtoi Kuu lɛ, ni amɛkahe yɛ amɛgbɛi kɛ amɛnifeemɔi memeji lɛ nɔŋŋ amli.\nKɛji Gbɔmɛi Adesai kase tsakpaa ni ka Gbɔmɔtso lɛ he nii fɛɛ ateŋ lɛ, amɛnifeemɔi fɛɛ yeɔ emuu ni amɛshwereɔ. Shi kɛji Gbɔmɛi na Yitso kɛ Gbɔmɔtso he nii fabii lɛ akɛ hegbɛ heplelɔi ni kɛ amɛhe miitswa lɛ – akɛ ni mɔ kome yɛ mɛi kroko lɛ aŋwɛigbɛ hewɔ lɛ – Adesai baa amɛhe shi kɛ tamɔɔ amɛtsɛkwɛmɛi abii kooloi ni kwa nɔkwɔlɛ trɔmɔɔ tsakemɔ lɛ.\nAisha Nelson dreams, writes, thinks, teaches and currently lives in Accra, Ghana. Some of her writing was shortlisted by Erbacce Press; another won Akwantuo Writing’s Harmattan Poetry Prize. More of Aisha’s work has featured in Kalahari Review, One Ghana One Voice, an Accra Theatre Workshop production of short plays, Munyori Literary Journal, a Writers Project of Ghana poetry anthology, Phillis Wheatley Chapter, Afreada, a Caine Prize short story anthology, Saraba Magazine, a curatorial art exhibition at KNUST, Prairie Schooner and Obsidian. Also in Ga, Luganda and Kiswahili translations, Aku the Sun Maker is Aisha’s first children’s storybook. A manuscript of her collected short fiction, Lens and other Stories, won The Professor Kofi Awoonor Literary Prize (2018). Aisha shares some of her writing at Nu kɛ Hulu (Water and Sun) https://aishawrites.wordpress.com/ .\nMoses Adjetey Adjei is a Sound Archivist of the Gramophone Library (Music and Sound Library), of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), the national broadcasting station of Ghana. He is also a Programme presenter in the Ga language on Obonu TV, (Ga local language channel) and on GTV as well. He was a teacher by profession and has taught Mathematics, Music and the Ga language for over 15 years until he switched to study Music and Information Science in the University of Ghana, Legon. He holds MPhil in Music and has been working on a Digitalisation Project at the GBC’s Gram Library for the past 12 years.\nMr. Adjei’s passion is in Preservation in general, and has continually seek to preserve his culture, most especially, the Ga language, for which he has given his all to preserve the rich Sound and Audio visual materials in GBC and to make them accessible for media production, research, entertainment and other benefits of humanity. He has many programmes for his credit and always contributing to enrich and build the Ga culture. He is the founder and the director of the Odehei Minstrel Group, a Ga contemporary folk music group, which is an international award winning group, that has performed on many platforms including most of the television and radio stations in Ghana.\nJalada June 20, 2020