N.B.

All songs are Yanvalou unless otherwise noted

Legba

1.
Ouve baryè a pou Atibon,
Papa Legba ki t ape pase ah Vye Zo
Ah Vye Zo, Vye Sayan, Vye Zo
Ah Vye Zo Katawoulo, Vye Zo
Papa Legba lwa m nan ki t ape pase Legba, Vye Zo

Open the gate for Atibon,

Papa Legba would pass, oh Old Bones
Ah Old Bones, Old Sayan, ah Old Bones
Ah Old Bones, Katawoulo, ah Old Bones
Papa Legba, my lwa, would pass, Legba, ah Old Bones

2.
Papa Legba makout la sou do,
se ou-menm ki nan chemin, w a ouve baryè pou lwa yo
Papa Legba makout la sou do,
se ou-menm ki nan chemin, w a ouve baryè pou lwa yo
Papa Legba w inosan ou nayiv o
Papa Legba w inosan ou nayiv o
Alegba sen an, Alegba sen an ki mache anwo

Papa Legba, straw bag on your back

It is you who is in the road, who opens the gate for the lwa
Papa Legba, straw bag on your back
It is you who is in the road, who opens the gate for the lwa
Papa Legba, you are innocent, you are naïve
Saintly Alegba, Saintly Alegba who walks on high

3.
Legba nan baryè a, Legba nan baryè a
Legba nan baryè a, se ou ki pote drapo
Se ou ka pare sole pou lwa yo

Legba in the gate, Legba in the gate

Legba in the gate, it is you who carries the flag
It is you who can shield the lwa from the sun

4.
Papa Legba mwen vin’ chèche w pou nou monte
Atibon Legba mwen vin’ chèche w pou nou monte
Si w pa ka mache, Alegba, m a pote w
Papa Legba mwen vin’ chèche w pou nou monte
Atibon Legba mwen vin’ chèche w pou nou monte
Si w pa ka monte, Alegba, m a pote w sou do m

Papa Legba, I am coming to look for you so we can rise

Atibon Legba, I am coming to look for you so we can rise
If you can’t walk, Alegba, I’ll carry you
Papa Legba, I am coming to look for you so we can rise
Atibon Legba, I’m coming to look for you so we can rise
If you can’t rise, Alegba, I’ll carry you on my back

5.
Alegba o anye o, Sobagi Sobo
Papa Legba o anye o, yo vini gade m la
Pou ya Alegba le, yo vini gade m la pou ya Alegba le
Alegba anye o, Alegba kiyan kiyan

[Only translatable phrase: “They come to see me here”]

Marasa

1.
Marasa elou, Marasa elou elou e
Marasa elou, Marasa elou elou e
Ewa ewa, ewa ewa Marasa elou elou e
Ago ago e, ago ago

[Untranslatable]

2. (for Maman Marasa)

Ti moun la yo, sa nou gen la? n ape kriye.
Zanfan la yo, sa nou gen la? n ape kriye.
Mwen ba nou bwe, ba nou manje.
M ba nou bwe, men ba nou manje,
O akasan sa k mel’ ak siwo.
Nan lakou Dereal n a pase wè yo.

Children, what’s going on? We are crying.

Children, what’s going on? We are crying.
I give us drink, give us food.
I give us drink, give us food,
That akasan mixed with syrup.
In the Dereal compound, we’ll go see them.

3.
Maman Jumo, Papa Jumo anye,
m pral rele Pyè Danbala sa pou m di avè yo
Maman Jumo, Papa Jumo anye,
m pral rele Pyè Danbala sa pou m di avè yo
M pa gen maman, m pa gen papa anye
Msye, m pa gen maman, m pa gen papa anye
M pral rele Pyè Danbala sa pou m di avè yo

Mother of twins, father of twins,

I am going to call Pyè Danbala so I can say this to them
Mother of twins, father of twins,
I am going to call Pyè Danbala so I can say this to them
I don’t have a mother, I don’t have a father
Sir, I don’t have a mother, I don’t have a father,
I am going to call Pyè Danbala so I can say this to them

4.
Marasa Dosou Dosa o miyanvalou mwen
Jouda medizan yo di yo mare n wanga e
Marasa Dosou Dosa o miyanvalou mwen
Jouda medizan ki di yo mare n wanga e
Bondje devan, Marasa dèyè
Bondje devan, Marasa dèyè la
Marasa nou genyen je pou nou gade
Zoray nou la n ape koute yo
Jouda la yo, miyanvalou mwen

Marasa Dosou Dosa o I yanvalou

Gossips and evil doers say they do magic against me
Marasa Dosou Dosa o I yanvalou
Gossips and evil doers say they do magic against me
God in front, Marasa behind
God in front, Marasa behind
Marasa, we have eyes to see them
Our ears to hear
Those gossips, I yanvalou

5.
Nou genyen je o, Marasa la yo, nou genyen je o
Nou genyen je o, Marasa la yo, nou genyen je o
Nou genyen je o, nou genyen je Marasa pou nou gade ou vre.

We have eyes, Marasa, we have eyes

We have eyes, Marasa, we have eyes
We have eyes, Marsa, to truly see you
6.
Marasa la yo, ou gen youn abitid, ou di w pa manje.
Marasa la yo, ou gen youn abitid, ou di w pa manje.
Kou sèvis komanse, ou pase dèyè kay,
kou sèvis pral fini, ou di w pa manje.

Marasa, you have a habit, you say you haven’t eaten.

Marasa, you have a habit, you say you haven’t eaten
When the service begins, you hide behind the house,
When the service is about to end, you say you haven’t eaten

7. (zepol)
Marasa elou o, Marasa elou e,
Sa k ap pale pou mwen, Marasa elou e?
M pa gen fanmi sa k pou pale pou mwen, Marasa elou e.
M pa gen parènn, m pa gen marènn sa k pou pale pou mwen, Marasa elou,
M pa gen zanmi. . . etc.

Marasa elou o, Marasa elou e

Who will speak for me, Marasa elou?
I don’t have any family to speak for me, Marasa elou e.
I don’t have a godfather, I don’t have a godmother to speak for me, Marasa elou
I don’t have friends. . . etc.

8. (zepol)
Maman Jumo, Papa Jumo se revele o, se revele o
Maman Jumo, Papa Jumo se revele o, se revele o
Maman Jumo, Papa Jumo sa ki manje manje Marasa, ba yo lavi pou mwen.

Mother of twins, father of twins, it is revealed, it is revealed

Mother of twins, father of twins, it is revealed, it is revealed
Mother of twins, father of twins, what you’re eating is food for the twins,
give them life for me.

Danbala

1. (this song is used first to announce you are calling)

O Dan, bonswa bonswa, bonswa Danbala Wedo
O Dan, bonswa bonswa, bonswa Danbala Wedo
M ape mande kouman ou ye o o
M ape mande kouman ou ye o o
Wi nou la, wi nou la Danbala Wedo, lavi nan men Bondieu

O Dan good day, good day, good day Danbala Wedo

O Dan good day, good day, good day Danbala Wedo
I’m asking how are you doing
I’m asking how are you doing
Yes, we’re here, yes, we’re here Danbala Wedo, life is in the hands of God

2. (can also use this one when you move to a new home)
Nou rive, ago e, ko a miwaze Danbala Wedo
Nou rive, ago e, nou antre, ago e
Ko a miwaze Danbala Wedo

We arrive, ago e, ko a miwaze Danbala Wedo

We arrive ago e, we enter, ago e
Ko a miwaze Danbala Wedo

3.
Kreyol bonswa Danbala Wedo, kouman ou ye
Kreyol bonswa Danbala Wedo, kouman ou ye
Danbala Wedo reponn nou la e
Ayida Wedo reponn nou la e o
Kreyol nou mach’ ann nou deu

Kreyols, good day, Danbala Wedo, how are you

Kreyols, good day, Danbala Wedo, how are you
Danbala Wedo responds we are here
Ayida Wedo respond we are here
Kreyols, let’s walk together

4.
Nou tout blan e, Danbala Wedo rele Wenken,
nou prale Lovige, Papa, nou tout blan blan.
Nou tout blan e, Danbala Wedo, m rele Wenken,
nou prale Lovige, Papa, nou tout blan blan.
Basèn sa basèn Danbala Wedo,
Basèn sa basèn Ayida Wedo.
Danbala Wedo, m rele Wenken,
nou prale Lovige, Papa, nou tout blan blan.

We are all foreigners, Danbala Wedo, call Wenken

we are going to Lovige, Papa, we are all foreigners
We are all foreigners, Danbala Wedo, call Wenken,
we are going to Lovige, papa, we are all foreigners
This basin is Danbala Wedo’s basin
This basin is Ayida Wedo’s basin
We are going to Lovige, Papa, we are all foreigners

5.
Pyè Danbala, m asire, lè a rive pou m ale o
Pyè Danbala, m asire, lè a rive pou m ale o
Mwen se pitit Papa Pyè Danbala
Kote m pase m siye non mwen

Pyè Danbala I am assured, the time has come for me to go

Pyè Danbala I am assured, the time has come for me to go
I am a child of Papa Pyè Danbala
Where I pass I sign my name

6.
Danbala se lwa koulev la ye
Ayida se lwa koulev
M ba yo siwo

Danbala is the snake lwa

Ayida is the snake lwa
I give them syrup

7. (zepol)
File m ape file, file m ape file
File m ape file, Danbala, men lwa koulev la

Crawl, I will crawl, crawl, I will crawl,

Crawl, I will crawl, Danbala, behold the snake lwa

8. (zepol)
Danbala Wedo se koulèv o
Ayida Wedo se koulèv o
Danbala Wedo se koulèv o
Ayida Wedo se koulèv o
M pral fè yo wè sa ayibobo
M pral fè yo wè sa ayibobo

Danbala Wedo is a snake

Ayida Wedo is a snake
Danbala Wedo is a snake
Ayida Wedo is a snake
I am going to make them see that, ayibobo
I am going to make them see that, ayibobo

Lasirènn

1. (kongo)
Lasirènn, Labalènn, chapo m tonbe nan lame
Lasirènn, Labalènn, chapo m tonbe nan lame
M ap fè karès pou Lasirènn, chapo m tonbe nan lame
M ap fè dodo ak Labalènn, chapo m tonbe nan lame o

Lasirènn [the mermaid], Labalènn [the whale], my hat falls into the sea
Lasirènn, Labalènn, my hat falls into the sea
I caress Lasirènn, my hat falls into the sea
I lie down with Labalènn, my hat falls into the sea

2. (twarigol)
Sirènn o, se mwen Balènn o
Sirènn o, se mwen Balènn o
Nan pwen anyen pase Bondje nan peyi a
Sirènn o, se mwen Balènn k ap komande

Sirènn o, it is me Balènn o
Sirènn o, it is me Balènn o
There is nothing greater than God in the country
Sirènn o, it is me Balènn who commands

3.
Sirènn, rele Labalènn, Labalènn o k ap mennen m al li
Nan peyi Gelefwe oungan mache sou do
Nan peyi Gelefwe oungan mache sou do
Sirènn, rele Labalènn, Labalènn o k ap mennen m al li

Sirènn, call Labalènn, Labalènn takes me with her

Sirènn, call Labalènn, Labalènn takes me with her
In Gelefwe, oungan walk on their backs
In Gelefwe, oungan walk on their backs
Sirènn, call Labalènn, Labalènn takes me with her

Azaka (all Kouzen songs are djouba)

1. (use this first to announce/call Kouzen)

Kouzen Zaka m ape di w bonswa, o bonswa, o Minis o
Azaka Mede m ape di w bonswa, o bonswa, o Minis o
Azaka ki kote w a prale, Kouzen Zaka ki kote w a prale
Azaka Mede, m pral nan Bakosi men move tan bare mwen

Kouzen Zaka I am saying good day, o good day, o Minister o

Azaka Mede I am saying good day, o good day, o Minister o
Azaka, where are you going, Kouzen Zaka, where are you going?
Azaka Mede, I am going to Bakosi but bad weather blocks me

2.
Kouzen m ap di w bonswa e, Minis m ap di w bonswa, kouman ou ye?
Kouzen m ap di w bonswa e, Minis Zaka m ap di w bonswa, kouman ou ye?

Kouzen I am saying good day, Minister, I am saying good day, how are you?
Kouzen I am saying good day, Minister Zaka, I am saying good day, how are you?

3.
Bonswa Kouzen, Bonswa Kouzin o
Bonswa Kouzen, Bonswa Kouzin o
Ayayay Kouzen, Ayayay Kouzen
Konsa y a wè mwen, konsa mwen danjere

Good day, Kouzen, good day, Kouzin

Good day, Kouzen, good day, Kouzin
Ayayay Kouzen, Ayayay Kouzen
So you see, I am dangerous

4.
Minis o anye nou la
Minis o anye nou la
Azaka, yo lome m youn depite, anye nou la

Minis o we are here

Minis o we are here
Azaka, they call me a deputy, we are here

5.
Tann mwen, Azaka tann mwen
Tann mwen, Azaka tann mwen
Azaka sou bwa Vodou pèdou fòtoun o

Wait for me, Azaka, wait for me

Wait for me, Azaka, wait for me
In the Vodou forest, Azaka lost his fortune

6.
Kouzen o, pa fè m fache
Pa fè m fache, Minis, pa fè m fache
Kouzen o, pa fè m fache

Kouzen o, don’t make me angry,

Don’t make me angry, Minister, don’t make me angry
Kouzen o, don’t make me angry

7. (for Kouzin)
Jete dlo a pou mwen, jete dlo a pou mwen
Se larèn o ki t ape pase, jete dlo a pou mwen
Jete dlo a pou mwen, limèn balènn an pou mwen
Se larèn o ki t ape pase, jete dlo a pou mwen
Maladi sa a vini pou touye m, medanm, maladi Bondieu
Maladi sa a vini pou touye m, medanm, maladi Bondieu
Jete dlo a pou mwen, jete dlo a pou mwen
Se larèn o ki t ape pase, jete dlo a pou mwen

Throw water for me, throw water for me

The queen would pass, throw water for me
Throw water for me, light a candle for me
The queen would pass, throw water for me
This illness has come to kill me, Madam, it is from God (incurable)
This illness has come to kill me, Madam, it is from God
Throw water for me, throw water for me
The queen would pass, throw water for me.

8.
Kouzen o, mwen sòti anwo, pyè m pa touche tè a, tande
Minis o, mwen sòti anwo, pyè m pa touche tè a, tande
Sòt kayi mèlton, wòch la woule, me’ l tonbe sou pyè m
Ala m pasa mache, tande. Se woule, m a woule, woy!, tande

Kouzen o, when I ascend, my feet don’t touch the ground, you hear
Minister o, when I ascend, my feet don’t touch the ground, you hear
I go to harvest militons, a rock rolls and falls on my food
Now I can’t walk, you hear. So roll, I’ll roll, wow, you hear.