Né mana kèlè la, né mana woyo la
né mana kèlè la,
Né mana kèlè la, né mana woyo la
Né mana kèlè la
Né mana kèlè la, né mana woyo la,
Né nana bèn dé la, an ga bin
Nan ti bin,
Yafa né ma, saboula kèlè mandi
Ni djonni fila bin na
Ka ou tè siya kèlè ou yè
Fó aou ka djè ka kè sabali baou yé o
Dounia ka bow
Djonni siya ka tchan
An bè nan ga lada an bè nan ga mirina ou
O massa ma ko kèlén da
(Rokia Traoré)
When two people meet,
each brings a part of himself to the other.
That is how we learn, create ourselves and develop.
I bring you what makes me different from you.
Give me a part of what you are
but do it gently and with forbearance,
because anything you impose upon me coercively will only leave the imprint of your force and arrogance.
