Youssou N'dour

Agouyadji

Youssou N'dour


(A gong used by the Peuls to call a meeting) 

The agouyadji is sounding 
Able bodied men rise up 
In today's world, honor is becoming rare 
So let us examine our consciences 
And seek to refine our race 
Our language is not the least important factor 
In our dignity 
So let us learn it 
And let us teach it 
That will pay off 
From here to the Fouta, Poular is spoken 
From Somalia to Mali 
From Benin to Guinea 
From Cameroon to Gambia 
From Egypt to Ethiopia, they speak Poular 
If all these people came together 
They'd know we have the same mother 
Whatever the difference in our dialect 
We have the same father 
I called Coumba 
And Coumba replied 
I called Samba, Samba replied likewise 
I used to believe 
Those of us who speak Pulaar 
Were inferior 
But I realized I was wrong 
Let us be united 
From whichever part of the country we come, 
We are all Senegalese 
If you go to Casmance, they speak Diola 
Go to Cap Vert, and you'll hear Lebou 
In St. Louis, the dialect is Wolof 
At Sine, it is Serer 
If you address the Senegalese, the Mandinkas will reply 
Or the Bassaris, or the Halpoulars, 
The Kassounkes, the Manjacks or the Gnominkes 
Sayang, Sayang, Ibrahima Malick 
Malick Barou Sall, You are a good friend 
Sayang Sissokho who comes from Mali 
Ibrahima Kalilloulaye 
Yangkou Ba, my friend from the Gambia 
Malick Pathe Sow, father of Pathe Sow 
My friend from Senegal 
Baaba Baidy, Baaba Debbo from the Fouta 
Wherever we come from, 
We are all Senegalese 
Ah it is late my dearest Mariama Dianke 
It is very late Mariama Soda, Mama 
Marie don't be cross with me 
Dearest One 
Be careful not to cross me 
Peace is all I want 
Don't ever take my love for granted 
I would never give you my love and then withdraw it 
If we break that trust our enemies will laugh at us 
For me, all I want is peace 
Let us be of one mother 
Let us have one father 
Let us work together 
So that our country may prosper 
Mama 
Ah my son, Oumar Malle 
My friend, my little babe 
Oumar yoo, Oumar 
Don't lose your temper with me 
Oumar, Oumar Barou 
Don't be angry with me