Serwa Akoto Song plus Translation into English-gctid90430

KobieSmith · Aug 16, 2013, 09:26 AM

Mekyea mo nyinaa,

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2MY7FL8SAzE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2MY7FL8SAzE

This is one of my favorite songs to listen to. Its called Serwa Akoto. It has a beautiful melody and overall, a good message for women. I translated the song into english so perhaps all Twi students can listen to the song and assist me with making sure the words are written correctly. Thank you in advance for helping me with this project.

(1st verse)

Mmaa nyinaa te s‎‎ɛ me nua ba a,
Serwa Akoto anka ny‎‎ɛ s‎‎ɛ y‎‎ɛ ber‎‎ɛ
S‎‎ɛ anka aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ ne s‎‎ɛ nko ara
anka etuo nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da o

If all women were like my sister
Serwa Akoto there would be no suffering
If beauty is only like this
A shot wouldn't be fired in the wilderness

N'ano ne kasa Serwa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nsuo nwunu
‎‎Ɔbue n'ani a, ‎‎ɔbaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nuwura
Ne nan y‎‎ɛ gurantee s‎‎ɛ wohu no a b‎‎ɛfa no la
Suban papa akyinnye nni h‎‎ɔ s‎‎ɛ ‎‎ɛb‎‎ɔ no ho
Wamp‎‎ɛ nkurob‎‎ɔ Serwa Akoto nso ‎‎ɔbu no ho

Her words, Serwa Akoto, are like cool water
If she opens her eyes, lady Akoto, its like a white cloth
When she wears high heels her legs are beautiful and if you see them you will fall in love
Her character is good and she doesn't like making disputes
She doesn't like fighting, Serwa Akoto, she also respects herself

(1st Chorus)

B‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ b‎‎ɛ dwa mu de‎‎ɛ wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔbaa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, o wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa

As for telling your business in public she hasn't done that before at all
Lady Akoto, beautiful stool, o she hasn't done that before

(2nd Verse)

Mmaa nyinaa te s‎‎ɛ me nua ba yi a,
Serwa Akoto anka ny‎‎ɛ s‎‎ɛ y‎‎ɛ ber‎‎ɛ
S‎‎ɛ anka aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ ne s‎‎ɛ nko ara
anka etuo nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da o

If all women were like my sister
Serwa Akoto there would be no suffering
If beauty is only like this
A shot wouldn't be fired in the wilderness

N'ano ne kasa Serwa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nsuo nwunu
‎‎Ɔbue n'ani a, ‎‎ɔbaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nuwura
Ne nan y‎‎ɛ gurantee s‎‎ɛ wohu no a b‎‎ɛfa no la
Suban papa akyinnye nni h‎‎ɔ s‎‎ɛ ‎‎ɛb‎‎ɔ no ho
Hw‎‎ɛ, wamp‎‎ɛ nkurob‎‎ɔ Serwa Akotot nso ‎‎ɔbu no ho

Her words, Serwa Akoto, are like cool water
If she opens her eyes, lady Akoto, its like a white cloth
When she wears high heels, her legs are beautiful and if you see them you will fall in love
Her character is good and she doesn't like making disputes
She doesn't like fighting, Serwa Akoto, she also respects herself

(2nd Chorus)

B‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ b‎‎ɛ dwa mu de‎‎ɛ wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔbaa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, o wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Obibini s‎‎ɛ buroni aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Me nua ba aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, o wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Serwa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, o wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa

As for telling your business in public she hasn't done that before at all
Lady Akoto, beautiful stool, o she hasn't done that before
Kmtyw woman with western beauty, beautiful stool, she hasn't done that before at all
My sister, beautiful stool, she hasn't done that before
Serwa Akoto, beautiful stool, o she hasn't done that before at all

(3rd verse)

Mmaa nyinaa te s‎‎ɛ me nua ba yi a,
Serwa Akoto anka ny‎‎ɛ s‎‎ɛ y‎‎ɛ ber‎‎ɛ
S‎‎ɛ anka aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ ne s‎‎ɛ nko ara
anka etuo nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da o

If all women were like my sister
Serwa Akoto there would be no suffering
If beauty is only like this
A shot wouldn't be fired in the wilderness

N'ano ne kasa Serwa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nsuo nwunu
‎‎Ɔbue n'ani a, ‎‎ɔbaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nuwura
Ne nan y‎‎ɛ Plasiform s‎‎ɛ wohu no a b‎‎ɛfa no la
Suban papa akyinnye nni h‎‎ɔ s‎‎ɛ ‎‎ɛb‎‎ɔ no ho
Hw‎‎ɛ, wamp‎‎ɛ nkurob‎‎ɔ Serwa Akotot nso ‎‎ɔbu no ho

Her words, Serwa Akoto, are like cool water
If she opens her eyes, lady Akoto, her eyes are like a pure white cloth
When she wears high heels, her legs are beautiful and if you see them you will fall in love
Her character is good and she doesn't like making disputes
She doesn't like fighting, Serwa Akoto, she also respects herself

(3rd Chorus)

B‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ b‎‎ɛ dwa mu de‎‎ɛ wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔbaa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Obibini s‎‎ɛ oburoni aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, o wany‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔsei Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ, wany‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa

As for telling your business in public she hasn't done that before at all
Lady Akoto, beautiful stool, o she hasn't done that before
Kmtyw woman with western beauty, beautiful stool, she hasn't done that before at all
‎‎Ɔsei Akoto, beautiful stool, she hasn't done that before

--------------

1) The meaning of the proverb "s‎‎ɛ akyekyede‎‎ɛ nko ara a, anka etuo nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da o"

2) How do you spell the word "white cloth" Nuwura. I haven't been able to find it in the dictionary

3) In the chorus, are they saying ‎‎ahoɔf‎‎ɛ dua ‎‎ɛ ( beautiful tree) or aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ (beautiful stool)? There is a dispute on this lyric but most people I ask on the Asante region say aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dua which comes from the word nipadua.

4) In the chorus, they say: "b‎‎ɛyi w'ano wɔ bɛ dwa mu de‎‎ɛ. Why b‎‎ɛ dwa mu instead of just b‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ dwa mu? It sounds a bit confusing to me but I follow.

5) The last lyric of the 3rd chorus says : ‎‎Ɔsei Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ. Why call a woman ‎‎Ɔsei which is a man's name? I asked someone about it and they said ‎‎Ɔsei is the mmrane of Akoto. However, I would need to verify that with an expert.

6) when they say: "wob‎‎ɛfa no la" where does the word la come from? Is it Ga or just slang?

Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé · Aug 17, 2013, 05:27 PM

Woayɛ adeɛ pa ara! Masiesie emu mfomsoɔ kakra. Bɛhwɛ.

(1st verse)

Mmaa nyinaa te s‎‎ɛ me nuabaa yi a,
Sewaa Akoto anka na ɛnni s‎‎ɛ y‎‎ɛbr‎‎ɛ
S‎‎ɛ anka aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ ne s‎‎ei nko ara
anka etuo nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da o

If all women were like my sister
Sewaa Akoto there would be no suffering
If beauty is only like this
A shot wouldn't be fired in the wilderness (This is a riff on the proverb Aka nwa ne akyekyedeɛ nko ara wɔ kwaeɛ mu a, anka etuo nto hɔ da 'If it were only the snail and the tortoise in the forest, guns would never shoot there.')

N'ano ne kasa Sewaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nsuonwunu
‎‎Ɔbue n'ani a, ‎‎na ɔbaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nnwera
Ne nan y‎‎ɛ guarantee; s‎‎ɛ wohu no a, wob‎‎ɛfa no la
Suban papa akyinnye nni h‎‎ɔ s‎‎ɛ ‎‎ɛb‎‎ɔ ne ho
Ɔmp‎‎ɛ nkurob‎‎ɔ Sewaa Akoto nso ‎‎ɔbu ne ho

Her words, Sewaa Akoto, are like cool water
If she opens her eyes, lady Akoto, it’s like white calico cloth
When she wears high heels her legs are beautiful and if you see them you will fall in love
There is no dispute that she was created with good character.
She doesn't like gossip, Sewaa Akoto, she also respects herself

(1st Chorus)

B‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ badwam bi de‎‎ɛ, ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔbaa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ (wɔ) dwa ‎‎e, o ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa

As for telling your business (This may be better rendered as talking back in public, (i.e. giving you lip)) in public she hasn't (Negation of past perfect wayɛ (he/she has done) is ɔnyɛɛ (he she hasn’t done). Negation of ɔyɛɛ (he/she did) is wanyɛ (he/she didn’t do). It’s counter-intuitive and is probably the thing that gives Twi learners the most difficulty in the grammar.) done that before at all
Lady Akoto‘s beauty out in public, o she hasn't done that before

(2nd Verse)

Mmaa nyinaa te s‎‎ɛ yɛn nuabaa yi a,
Sewaa Akoto anka na ‎‎ɛnni s‎‎ɛ y‎‎ɛbr‎‎ɛ
S‎‎ɛ anka aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ ne s‎‎ei nko ara
anka etuo nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da o

If all women were like my sister
Sewaa Akoto there would be no suffering
If beauty is only like this
A shot wouldn't be fired in the wilderness

N'ano ne kasa yi a! Sewaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nsuonwunu
‎‎Ɔbue n'ani a, ‎‎na ɔbaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nnwera
Ne nan y‎‎ɛ guarantee a! s‎‎ɛ wohu no a, wob‎‎ɛfa no la
Suban papa akyinnye nni h‎‎ɔ s‎‎ɛ ‎‎ɛb‎‎ɔ ne ho
Hw‎‎ɛ! Ɔmp‎‎ɛ nkurob‎‎ɔ Sewaa Akoto nso ‎‎ɔbu ne ho

Her mouth and this speech! Sewaa Akoto, is like cool water
If she opens her eyes, lady Akoto, it’s like a white cloth
When she wears high heels, her legs are beautiful and if you see them you will fall in love
There is no dispute that she was created with good character
She doesn't like gossip, Sewaa Akoto, she also respects herself

(2nd Chorus)

B‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ b‎adwam’ bi de‎‎ɛ, ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔbaa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwae, o ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Obibini s‎‎ɛ buroni aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa‎‎e, ɔny‎ɛ‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Me nuabaa aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwae, o ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Sewaa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwae‎, o ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa

As for telling your business in public she hasn't done that before at all
Lady Akoto, beauty conceit, o she hasn't done that before
Kmtyw woman like a white person's beauty conceit, she hasn't done that before at all
My sister, beauty conceit, she hasn't done that before
Sewaa Akoto, beauty conceit, o she hasn't done that before at all

(3rd verse)

Mmaa nyinaa te s‎‎ɛ me nuabaa yi a,
Sewaa Akoto anka na ɛnni s‎‎ɛ y‎‎ɛbr‎‎ɛ
S‎‎ɛ anka aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ ne s‎‎ei nko ara
anka etuo yi a nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da

If all women were like my sister
Sewaa Akoto there would be no suffering
If beauty is only like this
A shot wouldn't be fired in the wilderness

N'ano ne kasa ko yi a Sewaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nsuonwunu
‎‎Ɔbue n'ani a, na ‎‎ɔbaa Akoto te s‎‎ɛ nnwera
Ne nan y‎‎ɛ Platform s‎‎ɛ wohu no a b‎‎ɛfa no la
Suban papa akyinnye nni h‎‎ɔ s‎‎ɛ ‎‎ɛb‎‎ɔ ne ho
Hw‎‎ɛ! Ɔmp‎‎ɛ nkurob‎‎ɔ Sewaa Akoto nso ‎‎ɔbu ne ho

Her mouth and this one speech, Sewaa Akoto, are like cool water
If she opens her eyes, lady Akoto, her eyes are like a pure white cloth
When she wears platform shoes, her legs are beautiful and if you see them you will fall in love
Good character there is no dispute that she was created with it
Look! She doesn't gossip, Sewaa Akoto, she also respects herself

(3rd Chorus)

B‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ badwam bi de‎‎ɛ, ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔbaa Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa‎‎e, ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa
Obibini s‎‎ɛ oburoni aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwae, o ɔnyɛ‎ɛ bi da o koraa
‎‎Ɔsɛe Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwae, ɔnyɛ‎‎ɛ bi da o koraa

As for telling your business in public she hasn't done that before at all
Lady Akoto, beauty conceit, o she hasn't done that before
Kmtyw woman like a white person's beauty conceit, she hasn't done that before at all
‎‎Ɔsei Akoto, beauty conceit, she hasn't done that before at all

--------------

1) The meaning of the proverb "s‎‎ɛ aka akyekyede‎‎ɛ (ne nwa) nko ara a, anka etuo nto w‎‎ɔ kwae‎‎ɛ mu da o" – If there were only the tortoise and the snail, a gun wouldn’t be shot in the forest ever (as they’re not fast enough to need one to catch/kill them)

2) How do you spell the word "white cloth" Nnwera – it’s referred to as calico. You can do a search of the PDF and find it. I haven't been able to find it in the dictionary

3) In the chorus, are they saying ‎‎ahoɔf‎‎ɛ dua ‎‎ɛ ( beautiful tree) or aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwa ‎‎ɛ (beautiful stool)? There is a dispute on this lyric but most people I ask on the Asante region say aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dua which comes from the word nipadua. Sewaa Akoto ahoɔfɛ dwa e - Sewaa Akoto’s beauty out in public (i.e. running around with different guys). The first is badwam’ and the second is dwa. This is parallelism. For the following lyric to be ɔnyɛɛ bi da o koraa, it has to refer to an action or behavior that she hasn’t done before. Neither ahoɔfɛ dua (beautiful tree) or ahoɔfɛ dwa (beautiful stool) do this, but looking at ahoɔfɛ as ‘her beauty’ the other meaning of dwa (public) allows for this. Her beauty out in public (i.e. shopping her beauty around dealing with various guys). The other option is dwae - conceit

4) In the chorus, they say: "b‎‎ɛyi w'ano wɔ badwa mu de‎‎ɛ. Why ba dwa mu instead of just b‎‎ɛyi w'ano w‎‎ɔ dwa mu? It sounds a bit confusing to me but I follow. Look in your dictionary for bagua. This is the public assembly. Parliamentarians are called mmarahyɛ badwafoɔ. Note that any time you’re looking for dwa in Asante, search for gua in Akuapem (Akwapim).

5) The last lyric of the 3rd chorus says : ‎‎Ɔsɛe Akoto aho‎‎ɔf‎‎ɛ dwae. Why call a woman ‎‎Ɔsei which is a man's name? I asked someone about it and they said ‎‎Ɔsei is the mmrane of Akoto. However, I would need to verify that with an expert. Ɔsei is anglicized as is Serwa, the proper spelling is (Ɔ)sewaa coming from ɔse – father and waa – feminine. Ɔsɛe is the mmrane of Akoto. Do a search for the anclicized Osei Akoto and you’ll pull up hundreds. They go together. Ɔsɛe is literally the destroyer.

6) when they say: "wob‎‎ɛfa no la" where does the word la come from? Is it Ga or just slang? It’s an emphatic marker
Attached files sewaaakoto.docx (21.4 KB)

KobieSmith · Aug 18, 2013, 11:06 AM

Medal wo ase pii me nua

Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé · Aug 18, 2013, 03:16 PM

Yɛnni aseda. Sɛ woahu krataa a mede atare ho seesei?

Serwa Akoto Song plus Translation into English-gctid90430

KobieSmith

Aug 16, 2013, 09:26 AM

Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé

Aug 17, 2013, 05:27 PM #1

KobieSmith

Aug 18, 2013, 11:06 AM #2

Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé

Aug 18, 2013, 03:16 PM #3