Ahmed Dollars – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Mariam Ba LAGARÉ

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the rich sounds of Malian culture with Mariam Ba LAGARÉ's "Ahmed Dollars." This song, steeped in the Mandingue tradition, offers a unique opportunity to explore the lyrical beauty and rhythmic complexities of the Bambara language (or other local languages it might incorporate) through a modern Afrobeat lens. By listening, you can gain insight into the art of praise singing and the cultural values celebrated in West African music, making it a captivating way to begin your language learning journey.

[English]

Praise be to God

Ahhh, so much sweetness makes me envious

Papa M'Nienda

There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

I’ve endured the suffering, my little one

I’ve endured the suffering, my little one

The young man gave me Ahmed dollars

Ahmed, you’re mine

Yimani, you’re my Djoula friend

Amadou, my friend, you’re also my Djoula companion

Eh Yah, the young man gave me Ahmed, you’re mine

Wow, he gave me a lot, my friend

I’ll give you Djoula, my dear

Amanisoro, the one who shines brightly

Mama Doumani, you’re also my Djoula companion

Bala kolonifi

They’ll come to ask for my child

Eh yah, Bala kolonifi

They’ll come to ask for my child, but I won’t give them away

Eh yah, the world is truly strange

I’ve done what I could, I’ve done what I could

It’s my Ahmed Dollars

My friend

Kele ta yili

Soukou yili

Chekin an kebe ni do

Atogolou, Mama Doula, they’ve taken my child

Neka ba

Balo la fitini, they’ve taken my child

Mama Rouladoular

Iye sakou ni sa, they’ve taken my share

Foronto Musa ba

Atabena foronto

Njounya ni ni sabe, they’ve taken my Foronto

Eh yah, they’ve taken my friend, my path is now clear, like Mohammed Maye

Eh yah, we’re following Mohammed Maye

Njounjo Rahe, they’ve left me with nothing

Nami ke

Konjolo, they’ve taken everything

Iye ahou, they’ve taken everything, but Mama Doula remains mine

Nono te

Ni wouligoro, they’ve taken my strength

Neka n'tima

They’ve taken Mama Doula, my village is in ruins

They’ve taken everything, my strength is gone

Ni fa ta Djingili te ka

Ni wori Djingili te ka

Fa Djingili te ka

Nako touma, they’ve taken my pride

Awou wo djouno, they’ve taken my path

Wori ka ki kou ka tele ba ma Doula ma ka

Awi ka wori la yaka la ni aka la

Ife ka nou ba la fila yi

Namounami no

Na

Eh yah, they’ve taken everything

Ndulu ngou so te se kon chori la

Somou nou so te se kon chori ke ka djouga mo

Note

Dougou la njia mou so te se kon chori la

Sarakani mawoulouni ta ni mawou la

Djelou Djoulani mawou la ta ni mawou la

Mousou Djoulani wori wori ma wo la ta ma Djoula la

Nka Djigui Allah ma ka Djingili ma kourou be ni ma ko le ma Doula ma dje li ye

Ila

[French]

Alhamdoulilahi

Ahhh, tant de douceur me vas a l'envie

Papa M'Nienda

Laillaha Illallah Mohammadou Rassouloulahi

Naka souma la minidou gni

Naka souma la minidou gni

Fata ba medi Ahmed dollars

Ahmed te ni fe

Yimani to ke djoula wadi

Amadou mani soro awou tana ke djoula yadi

Eh Yah Fata Ba Medi Ahmed te ni fe

Wayeh, Awou ba ni doroba Medi

A tan fa ni djoula ya bari fe

Amanisoro chebe n'kene louka

Mama Doumani soro awou tana ke djoula yadi

Bala kolonifi

Do sou bebe teni ni ma

Eh yah Bala kolonifi neeh

Do sou bebe teni ni ma awou wa te binda mou na wada

Eh yah fo ko la yero kono

Woli ki fali fa, woli ki fali fa

Ne ka ma Ahmed Dola

Sakhi sa

Kele ta yili

Soukou yili

Chekin an kebe ni do

Atogolou Mama Doula aba ba ragou za kono

Neka ba

Balo la fitini yayala ni dolo ma

Mama Rouladoular

Iye sakou ni sa, njanani wo so ko ni sa ko we

Foronto Musa ba

Atabena foronto

Njounya ni ni sabe, ye sabe na foronto

Eh yah ko dina ma medi ma alou boli sira cha Mohammed Maye

Eh yah wana to so Mohammed Maye

Njounjo Rahe namou kou le ngila na mi na no

Nami ke

Konjolo sou ni da fara sou ye

Iye ahou koncholo gnene ye, gnene ye ba ba Doula yi ne sa

Nono te

Ni wouligoro gobolo ni cheka ninja kono

Neka n'tima

Wo ri be mama Doula ma dougou boloni chi re

Wori be wori be ta yini ma bolo ni cheka nin

Ni fa ta Djingili te ka

Ni wori Djingili te ka

Fa Djingili te ka

Nako touma wo ya ni kebe ni ma doula ma yi ne chimba

Awou wo djouno ye sira la n'kancha yi ma ma doula ma djeli

Wori ka ki kou ka tele ba ma Doula ma ka

Awi ka wori la yaka la ni aka la

Ife ka nou ba la fila yi

Namounami no

Na

Eh yah, konchori ne

Ndulu ngou so te se kon chori la

Somou nou so te se kon chori ke ka djouga mo

Note

Dougou la njia mou so te se kon chori la

Sarakani mawoulouni ta ni mawou la

Djelou Djoulani mawou la ta ni mawou la

Mousou Djoulani wori wori ma wo la ta ma Djoula la

Nka Djigui Allah ma ka Djingili ma kourou be ni ma ko le ma Doula ma dje li ye

Ila

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
doula /ˈduːlə/ B1	noun - Douala (city in Cameroon)
dollars /ˈdɒlər/ A2	noun - currency unit
fe /fe/ A2	verb - to give
soro /ˈsɔro/ A2	noun - top, summit
medi /ˈmedi/ A2	noun - person, someone
wadi /ˈwɑdi/ B1	noun - valley, riverbed
doroba /doˈroba/ B1	noun - work, labor
teni /ˈteni/ A2	verb - to have
konchori /konˈtʃɔri/ B2	noun - story, tale
souma /ˈsuma/ A2	verb - to give
bara /ˈbara/ A2	verb - to want
fali /ˈfali/ A2	verb - to fall
bele /ˈbele/ A2	noun - road, way
yili /ˈjili/ A2	noun - house
sabe /ˈsabe/ A2	verb - to know
djeli /ˈdʒeli/ B1	noun - storyteller, griot

Key Grammar Structures

• Ahhh, tant de douceur **me** **vas** à l'envie

  ➔ French quantifier "tant de + noun" + object pronoun "me" + verb "vas" (incorrect verb form)

  ➔ The phrase "tant de" means "so much". The word "**me**" is the object pronoun and "**vas**" is a form of the verb "aller" (should be "me donne" for "gives me").

• Naka souma la **minidou** gni

  ➔ Use of the particle "minidou" as a verbal noun marker (similar to gerund)

  ➔ "**minidou**" turns the preceding verb into a noun-like form, allowing it to function as the object of the sentence.

• **Fata** ba medi Ahmed dollars

  ➔ Subject‑verb‑object order with "ba" as a copular verb meaning "is/are"

  ➔ "**Fata**" is the subject, "**ba**" functions like the verb "to be", and "medi Ahmed dollars" is the complement.

• Yimani **to** ke djoula wadi

  ➔ Infinitive marker "to" introducing a purpose clause

  ➔ "**to**" signals that the following verb phrase "ke djoula wadi" expresses the purpose of "Yimani".

• Awou ba **ni** doroba Medi

  ➔ Conjunction "ni" linking two noun phrases (similar to "and")

  ➔ "**ni**" works like English "and", joining the objects "doroba" and "Medi".

• Bala kolonifi **neeh**

  ➔ Negative particle "neeh" placed after the verb to negate the statement

  ➔ "**neeh**" acts like English "not", turning "Bala kolonifi" into a negative statement.

• Woli ki **fali** fa

  ➔ Imperative verb form "fali" used to give a command or request

  ➔ "**fali**" is the imperative of the verb meaning "go" or "move", urging the listener to act.

• Ne **ka** ma Ahmed Dola

  ➔ Modal verb "ka" expressing ability or possibility (similar to "can")

  ➔ "**ka**" functions like English "can" – "Ne **ka** ma" means "He can" or "It is possible that he...".

• Iye **sakou** ni sa

  ➔ Verb "sakou" in a habitual aspect, indicating a repeated or customary action

  ➔ "**sakou**" conveys that the action is done regularly – "Iye **sakou** ni sa" can be read as "He/She usually does it".