The Enemy: An Akan (Twi) Poem in Translation - O. Kambon

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The Enemy: An Akan (Twi) Poem in Translation
ƆTAMFOƆ KYERƐ KWAN A...


Ɔtamfo kyerε aseε a,
Ɔnim ne botaeε
Ɔtamfo nam kwan so a,
Ɔnim deε ɔbεduru
Ɔtamfo kyerε kwan no a,
Ɔnim deε wobεduru
Ɔnim deε wobεhunu
Sε woakɔfa kwanhunu!
Enti onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so,
Ɛnyε obiara a ɔsere kyerε wo
Na ɔyε w’adamfo
Ɛnyε obiara a ɔsɔre kyea wo
Na ɔyε wo dɔfoɔ
Enti onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so,

Ɔtamfo ma wo biribi a,
Ɔnim deε ɔbenya
Ɔtamfo gya wo biribi a,
Ɔnim deε ɔbεfa
Ɔnim deε ɔbεpa
Ɔnim deε εbεba
Enti onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so,
Ɛnyε obiara a ɔsere kyerε wo
Na ɔyε w’adamfo
Ɛnyε obiara a ɔsɔre kyea wo
Na ɔyε wo dɔfoɔ
Enti onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so,

Wo yiedie na ɔtamfo nnwene ho da,
Mogya nso mpa ɔtεn tiri mu da,

Enti onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so,
Ɛnyε obiara a ɔsere kyerε wo
Na ɔyε w’adamfo
Ɛnyε obiara a ɔsɔre kyea wo
Na ɔyε wo dɔfoɔ
Enti onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so,

Onyankopasakyie mmɔ anworamman kwa
Obi pε wo akum wo, wompere nkwa?

Ɛnyε obiara a ɔma wo biribi
Na ɔyε wo domfoɔ
Aboa ɔwɔ nyε w'adamfo,
Ɔyε wo tamfo
Enti onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so
Onua bɔ wo ho ban,
Na da wo ho so!


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When the Enemy Shows the Way...

When the enemy explains,
he knows his objectives,
When the enemy walks on a path
he knows where he is going
When the enemy shows you the way,
he knows where you'll be going
he knows what you will see,
he knows you've taken a worthless path!
So kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared
Cause it's not everyone that smiles at you
That is your friend
It's not everyone who gets up to greet you
That's your lover
So kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared

When the enemy gives you something,
she knows what she will obtain
When the enemy leaves something for you,
she knows what she will get,
she knows which she will pick
she knows what will come about

Considerations of your welfare, never enter into the head of the enemy
And blood is never absent from the head of the tsetse fly (a blood sucking fly...like a big mosquito)
So kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared
Cause it's not everyone that smiles at you
That is your friend
It's not everyone who gets up to greet you
That's your lover
So kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared

So kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared
Cause it's not everyone that smiles at you
That is your friend
It's not everyone who gets up to greet you
That's your lover
So kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared

The vulture doesn't go roaming about for nothing
If someone wants to kill you, shouldn't you strive for your life?

It's not everyone that gives you a gift
That is your benefactor
The snake is no friend of yours,
He is your enemy!
So kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared
Kinfolk protect yourself,
And also be prepared!