TwaTanbou

Creole English Translation

Twa Tanbou Three drums

Kap f yon diskisyon Are having an argument
Yon gwo dimanch maten A great Sunday morning
L yo sot nan Ginen On their way back from Guinea

Yon Ti Kata A little Kata

Yon Tanbouren A little Tanbouren
Yon Gwo Boula A big Boula

Boula rete li di Boula declared

Li di li ka frape pi f That he can hit the loudest
Boula rete li di Boula declared
Se li ki ka frape pi f I can hit the loudest!

Tanbouren said I have the most beautiful

Tanbouren di li gen pi bl son sound
Li di l map site, se rete tande He said when I perform, keep quiet and
listen!

Kata ki tap koute, li rete li move Kata who was hearing all this became angry
Li pa te ka konprann kouman de He could not comprehend how two soldiers
kamarad, Who are dressed with the same outfit
Ki abiye ak menm rad And are children of the same mother
Ki pitit menm manman Are sitting around making a scandal
Chita ap f deblozay

Yon bon jou Madigra, Kata tonbe zouke One fine Mardi-Gras day, Kata started to
Dnye moun ki te la yo tout tonbe zouk
danse... Every single person there began to dance

Tanbouren and Boula who were there

Tanbouren ak Boula kite la ap tande listening
Pou f ft la pi bl: yo tou fon ribanbl To make the party more exciting, they started
a great throng

Jou sa-a That day,

Yo chante yon chante kem pap janm They all sang a song that Ill never forget:
bliye:

Tout tanbou ki dispse All drums that are dispersed

An nou kole zepl Lets put our shoulders together
Poun f la vi pi bl To make life more beautiful
-Louis Marie Celestin
li pi bon - He the best
se vre - Its true