Mandela wə́ sɔ́’ bí Leah

Ghomala

Nelson Kamkuimo

E lə ghɔ̌m gaə́ “Gɛ̌ŋ, pə́ cə́ â hə́ŋ ywə́ tə́ nə̀ há lə̀pʉə̀ ɔ̀”

Pə́ nə́ŋ sʉm mtǿ nə́ bú yú tâmbɛŋ Robɛn Ayland.

E lə ghɔ̌m gaə́ “Gɛ̌ŋ, zhyə̌nwə̀ cə̂ pá’ bíŋ ŋkyə ɔ́” – 

Yú Môgò Pakistan, pó mtø̀pféŋ nə́ sə́ ě, da’gaə́ pə́ cə̀ pwɔ̀k.

E lə ghɔ̌m gaə́ “Gɛ̌ŋ, pə́ cə́ nə píŋtʉ́m cú mò ɔ̀” – 

Tà’ gì  dyə̂cɛ̌ŋ Dapnci, mô ním gì da’gaə́ bə́ wə́ ŋkwɔ́pcə́, 

Pə́ cə̀ pí ŋkà’ é nthʉ́m ghʉ̌m pəcənə̌ŋgúŋ.

Ǎ lu m pó’o, zʉ̌ nə̂ khʉ̀, yəŋ ncí gì ghɔ lə́ sɔ’– 

Mandela, Malala, Leah Sharibu – ŋkà’

Nə gɔ́m “gɛŋ” pa’ Prometeʉs, gwà mɔ́k pó zhuɔpshyə mkù’,

Á pə́ wə́ jɔ́ zhyə̀, mú’ ŋkyə̀’nyə́ gwà mɔk pə́ wə́ ntuɔ́kcə nthʉ́m

Shíbɔ́k pó Dapnci, pó’o nə ŋkyə’ gùŋ pə̌ m sə́.

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Read the English translation – Mandela Comes to Leah by Prof. Wole Soyinka 

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Nelson Kamkuimo is a Cameroonian poet, short story writer, government teacher of French and English and literary translator. His texts have featured in collections and magazines in Cameroon and abroad.