Rosano / Lyrics

kasha langu | mombasa roots

kasha langu la zamani kasha lisilo t'umbuu
kasha langu la zamani kasha lisilo t'umbuu
kitasa ndani kwa ndani na ufunguo ni huu
alofunguwa n'nani amelivunda maguu
alofunguwa n'nani amelivunda maguu

Kasha langu la zamani kasha lisilo t'umbuu
Kitasa ndani kwa ndani na ufunguwo ni huu
Alofongua n'nani amelivunda maguu

Kasha muundo wa kale Si muundo wa kisasa
Ni kazi ya watu wale sidhaniya ni Mombasa
Usifanye mak'elele melipa mengi mapesa

Mafundi wot'e wa kale kwa hivi sasa hakuna
Nawalobaki wafile kabisa hutawaona
Ilobaki mvulele Na kazi sijaiona

Kasha la mkaafu Madhubuti sawasawa
Lenye harufu ya fuu Kula ukilifunguwa
lanukiya karafuu na waridi isotiwa

Kasha Langu
kasha langu la zamani
kasha langu la zamani
kitasa ndani kwa ndani
alofunguwa n'nani
alofunguwa n'nani

aa nanjiwa rero
aa nanjiwa rero
sipiki chungu hamnyima mkwe
sendi manga nanjiwa rero
sipiki chungu hamnyima mkwe
sendi manga nanjiwa rero

kasha muundo wa kale
ni kazi ya wat 'u wale
usifanye makelele

mafundi wot'e wa kale
na walobaki wafile
ilobaki npulele

kasha langu lamkafur
lenya harufu ya fuu
lanukiya karafuu

kifuwa cha kasha hilo
mvir ingo ndimu zalo
mato johari (i)yalo

My Strongbox (a rough english)

My strongbox from the good old days, my strongbox which has no staple and hasp; it has a lock, and I have the key; who was the one who unlocked it? he has broken its legs

Ah, [I am here] with [my] pigeon today;
It is impossible for me to cook a pot of rice and not to give some of it to my in-law;
I am not going to Arabia, [I am here] with [my] pigeon today.

[My] strongbox is a product of the old school, not something modern, it is the handiwork of those [who knew what was good], not of Banyani craftsmen from Mombasa; do not make a fuss, [even 'though] I paid a lot of money for it.

The craftsmen of the old school are no more; and those who survived have died; one will not look upon their like again - not at all; what remains is worthless, and I have yet to see the workmanship

My strongbox of camphor wood is very strong; it has an unmistakable scent; whenever it is opened it smells cloves, and rose-water need never be placed within it

On the front of this strongbox [there are] nearly-ripe grapes and figs, [and] round fat limes, [which look like] her bosom; [her] eyes are like jewels which have been created in her face

sources

Part of Kenya 2025.

Topics: swahili.
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