The prayer for Tano from the below CD has some variation to it but is basically the same.
TRANSCRIPTION and TRANSLATION: “Talking Drum” text from Rhythms of Life, Songs of Wisdom: Akan music from Ghana, West Africa CD insert. Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings.1996.
Transcribed and translated by Dr. Daniel Agyei Dwarko from the University of Cape Coast.
Segue to Poetry Honoring the River Tano
Asuo twa okwan, okwan twa asuo, opani ne hwan?
The river crosses the path, the path crosses the river, who is the elder?
Asuo twa okwan, okwan twa asuo, opani ne hwan?
The river crosses the path, the path crosses the river, who is the elder?
Yeboo kwan no katoo asuo no,
The path was cut to meet the river,
Asuo no firi tete
the river is of old,
Asuo no firi Odomankoma a oboo adee
the river comes from “Odomankoma” the Creator
Konkon Tano,
Konkon Tano,
Brefa Tano,
Brefa Tano
Asuo brekete
Asuo brekete
Agya Kwaa Ata ei!
Father Kwaa Ata ei!
Asu berempon
The great river
Asuo twa asuo
River that passes/crosses a river
Takasi berempon
Takasi the Great
Woama Bosompra adi afasee
You have caused Bosompra to eat the water yam
Me nam, Me nam, Me nam, Ma si Ta ko mu
I have wandered, and wandered, and wandered, I have stepped into the deep floods of Ta
Takasi berempon
Takasi the Great
Frampon damirifa
Frampon, condolence,
Damifira,
Condolence,
Damifira,
Condolence,
Damifira due,
Deepest condolence,
Damifira due,
Deepest condolence,
Takasi berempon
Takasi the Great
Frampon damirifa
Frampon, condolence,
Asu berempon
Great river
Frampon damirifa
Frampon, condolence
Actual Drum Language Glorifying The King of Denkyira
Adawu, Adawu, Denkyira mene sono.
Adawu, Adawu, Denkyira the devourer of the elephant
Adawu, Adawu, Denkyira pentemprem, Omene sono, ma wo ho mene so
Adawu, Adawu, Denkyira the quicksand, devourer of the elephant, come forth in thy light, exert yourself
Pentenprem, ma wo homene so,
Quicksand, come forth in thy light,
Ma wo ho me ne so
Exert yourself, in glory
Kronkron, kronkron, kronkron
Your holiness, holiness, holiness
Amponsem Koyirifa, ma wo ho me ne so
Amposem Koyirifa, come forth in thy light, in glory
Ako nana ma wo ho mene so
Grandson of the Parrot, come forth in thy light
Ako nana a ho a ne mframa mene boo, ma wo ho me ne so
Grandson of the Parrot whose winds sweep and devour even the stones, come forth in thy light
Wo a wofiri dodo mu
You who came from many,
Wo a wutu a ewiemu den se asamando, ma wo ho me ne so
You who fly and the skies become still like the cemetery, come forth in thy light
Amponsem nana a “odi sika to,” atomprada, ma wo ho me ne so
Amponsem’s grandson who “eats mashed gold dust,” and uses only freshly mined gold in his daily transactions, come forth in thy light
Agona adehyekan nana
First grandson of the Agona line,
Wo a wode osee ye oyo
You promise and you fulfill it
De nkoden akyekyere Denkyiraman, de ape no sibre, ma wo ho me ne so
Having fought hard to establish the Denkyira state, and having found it a place among the nations, come forth in thy light
Ayekra Adebo nana
Grandson of Ayekra Adebo [first ruler, fetish priestess of Denkyira]
Ahihi Ahaha nono
Grandson of Ahihi Ahaha
Wirempi Ampem nana a owo ntam na yenka, ma wo ho me ne so
Grandson of Wirempi Ampem whose oath is not to be sworn, come forth in thy light
Otibu Kwadno nana
Grandson of great King Kwadwo Otibu,
Wo a wode Denkyiraman firii Abankesieso baa Jukwaa, ma wo ho me ne so
Who led the Denkyira people in their great migration from Abankesieso to settle in Jukwa, come forth in thy light
Odeefoo, ma wo ho me ne so
Benefactor, come forth in thy light
Ma wo ho me ne so Agona,
The Agona clan,
Denkyiraman do wo ase,
The Denkyira state
Yeda wo ase a ensa,
Expresses its endless
Esie ne kagya nni aseda
Gratitude to you