IBILISA DA DA ZONGE
[THE DEVIL AND ZONGE ( DESERT DATE )]
Yaka (Amina Kakkaba)
(recorded in early 1990 s in Potiskum by Abubakar Garba, transcribed by Alhaji Maina Gimba ca. 1999, translated by Russell G.
Schuh; published in Dindi Bo Pikka, Potiskum: FIDA, 2000, pages 34-38)
Y_IDZ
000 IBILISA DA DA ZONGE THE DEVIL AND ZONGE ( DESERT DATE )
001 J m osh k D Z ng , m0 i k t wo. Again this one too Zonge, a certain man married her.
002 Ishi kala Ibil s k n int n adoó But he was the Devil and he dressed up
003 t k , t jiy , binn n d ww . shoes, cap, what is it& pants.
004 D shi n ishi ndolt wo, ita n , Well he said he loved her, and she said,
005 ìIna k n w t m j no.î  As for me, I ve gotten my husband.
006 D Z ng l m t bØ im miíyíy to m takkØ sa, Zonge, even a good-bye to her family she didn t render,
007 ita nde nd i. she arose and went away.
008 Ita ppab boi gorzo ye k r i k r i k r i, She followed behind her husband karai-karai-karai,
009 sh k nan D Z ng nd yyi. well, Zonge went off.
010 D Z ng ndakk , When Zonge had gone,
011 gorzo y b in b r lo b r wa, the husband, when he went hunting gazelle meat,
012 nto ita ng , he would give it to her and she would eat it
013 ishi kala ng a ye m m . but he, he was eating HUMANS.
014 r D Z ng i i l i, Finally Zonge got pregnant and gave birth,
015 l w to gorzo boit . and her male child was on her back.
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge
016 M let , s ni sorom, ita k ppap p íumt n , Her younger sister, a year later, she planted a gourd plant, saying,
017 ìIn ndoluu p íum em kaa bØ b n D Z ng .î  I want this gourd plant (to go) up to Zonge s door.
018 P íum jo, jo, jo kapa bØ b n D Z ng . The gourd plant ran and ran and ran up to Zonge s door.
019 Bati nonto ndak y , b lattaí í b n sa. When her sister went, she didn t find her at home.
020 G b ri y d m in sh shin , In the pot was blood for his drinking,
021 em g b rim m0 ye mma in D Z ng . this other pot it was water for Zonge.
022 L w ye p kk ti d m b n ti b ri ye The girl dipped out the blood and washed the pot,
023 d m t b n ye kul su b n . she swept the house, and their pots, she washed them.
024 D shi, aía, ita nding n , Well, oh, she (Zonge) came and said,
025 ì lenshil l ?  What has brought you?
026 Ina m ss z uno s ra ll h, shi ndettu?!î As for me here is my life in God s hands and you come?!
027 Ita i nk b b b ni n bati nonto ye. She made food quickly and gave it to her sister.
028 TakkØ, ita n , When she (the sister) had eaten, she (Zonge) said,
029 ìIn z ushi g g re mus r o g re oyum?î Should I put you in the necklace granary or the money granary?
030 Ita n , ì a! G re mus r!î She said,  Oh! The neckalce granary.
031 Z uto g g g re mus r, She put her in the necklace granary.
032 ishi kala Ibil s ndin ko b i b r n y , He then the Devil when he came from his hunting place, (said,)
033 ìD Z ng , did m b mmu sa,  Zonge, flies indeed are not in our house,
034 D Z ng , l la m b mmu sa, Zonge, spiders are not in our house,
035 D Z ng , b n mu kul mu l ? Zonge, who washed our calabashes for us?
036 D Z ng , ltim mma l ? Zonge, who brought us water?
037 D Z ng , d m m b mmu l ? Zonge, who swept our house for us?
038 D Z ng , did m b mmu sa, Zonge, flies indeed are not in our house,
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge
039 D Z ng , l la m b mmu sa, Zonge, spiders are not in our house,
040 D Z ng , b n m kul mu l ? Zonge, who washed out calabashes for us?
041 D Z ng , ltim mma l ? Zonge, who brought us water?
042 D Z ng , an wan g g re l ? Zonge, who is moving in the granary?
043 D Z ng ... Zonge, & 
044 D shi, ita n kala, Well then she said,
045 ìG bumbu em an nd k0 l ?  Into this bush who s gonna come?
046 B ka g tt g ina, ka nganno ka p te, If you re tired of me, eat me and be done with it,
047 ss l w ko boin .î here s your son on my back.
048 D shiti, ish n sun nj l sa j g re, Well, he spent the night (but) didn t sleep next to the granary,
049 ita D Z ng k an nj l sa, s t g lle. she Zonge too she didn t sleep, and the dawn came.
050 Nd j n bØ b r pempel n y , When he had gone for his crazy hunting,
051 ita íy tu d0 sho ngirm j j n , she caught a stallion and groomed it,
052 d ppe kar i im bati nont , she assembled some things for her sister,
053 k ni aska mash r yy g bØ w yy dosho y , she took sharp razors and affixed them to the tail of the horse,
054 l w to m boi ye (n ), and her child on her back (said),
055 ìB ba, n nd w or bongiro,  Daddy, I ve left borì bongiro,
056 Kapa g nd k0 or bongiro, Until (my) returning borì bongiro,
057 B Ä„ba n nd w or bongiro, Daddy, I ve left borì bongiro,
058 Kapa g nd k0 ...î Until (my) returning& 
059 Ita p r im moleto ye n , She said to her little sister,
060 ìB m m sa conc n , nd k0 yi  If I don t go back now, he ll come
061 shaí í ng ti mimmu boll ngim . he ll eat us up the two of us.
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge
062 Sh k l shi innann n nding , You indeed even if you see him come,
063 b íyuw bØ p t d0 sho y , if he grabs the horse s tail,
064 aska ye k rr g s n . the razors will cut up his palms,
065 B ow bØ l m d m y , When he stops to lick the blood,
066 kobØ shi íyori sa, shi i gaya. don t stop, gallop away.
067 B shi lad ratt í í ushi shi b ri yaw , When you jump over the river, release some potash,
068 ushi p laj n .î and the river will swell up.
069 D shi, osh (D Z ng ) majj to, ishi ndettu Well when that one (Zonge) returned, he came
070 t pi wayy d0 sho ye and he caught the tail of the horse
071 bØ íy ll k0 l w ye 0 d ti it . in order to pull off the girl so that he might kill her.
072 D shi sunn ye l y , aska ye k rre g s n . Well his name what was it, the razor cut up his palms.
073 K r g s n , d shi ishi nde When it cut his palms, well he arose
074 sØme lem d m ye p l m p l m p l m p l m, and began licking the blood pelem pelem pelem.
075 l w gaya gaya gaya. and the girl was galloping, galloping, galloping.
076 Ø l m b l kintan ye, ita l d ratt í í ushi Before he had licked and set out to find her, she had jumped over the river
077 ita b ratt y y w . and had dropped some potash.
078 D shi sh k nan, t kkanj su g ish . Well she had gotten away from him.
079 Ita ndin j to b n , ndin j to b n , d shi bati b0 to k , When she came home, when she came home, her paternal half-sister indeed
(said),
080 ìIna k n nd na kapa m m yun D Z ng y ,  Me too I m going, I have to find Zonge,
081 na k n nd n .î I too am going.
082 Ita m leto ye n , she the younger sister said,
083 ìM hím , b n ye b ni mecce sa.î  Mh m, the house is no place to go.
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge
084 ìIyØ shi ng n no ye inko bati nonshi ye o?î Oh yeah, you d stop me for the sake of your full sister?
085 Ita, ìTØ sh k nan.î She (said),  OK, fine.
086 D shi ita nde ita k i shir to ita nd i. Well she arose, she too made her preparations, and she went.
087 Ndakk , b lassuí í b n sa, ita, When she went, she didn t find them at home, and she (said),
088 ìL a, z l b nn y m íy l sh k m m ,  Oh my, the beams of his house are human shin bones,
089 em y ye m d m g b ri ye, this one here, blood is in the pot!
090 L , D Z ng , shi k i íya mamm ?! Oh my, Zonge, you married something like that?!
091 ng ti sh !î He will eat you up!
092 Ita n , ìSh m b shi wallaj j shi, bark de!î She said,  You, if you get out of this, good luck!
093 Ita to t shi b b m yi g g re She made her some food in a hurry, had a look at the granary,
094 z di it , g re oyum. and put her in it, the granary for money.
095 D shi ita n , ìShi i nn sa.î The she said,  Don t do whatever.
096 L w raj j to g g re ita g w kikilkil kikilkil kikil. When the girl entered the granary, she was banging kikilkil.
097 Ishi nding , When he came, (he said),
098 ìD Z ng , did m b mmu sa,  Zonge, flies indeed are not in our house,
099 D Z ng , l la m b mmu sa, Zonge, spiders are not in our house,
100 D Z ng , b n mu kul mu l ? Zonge, who washed out calabashes for us?
101 D Z ng , ltim mma l ? Zonge, who brought us water?
102 D Z ng , an wan g g re l ? Zonge, who is moving in the granary?
103 Ita n , ìL , l , l ! G bumbu em an nd k0 l ? She said,  Oh my, oh my, oh my! Into this bush who s gonna come?
104 D ci b lo ita i bØ g re ye rØpe ko bati b0 to y . Well then she climbed to the mouth of the granary and rapped the head of her
half-sister.
105 ìShi r0 p konno?!  You re rapping my head??!
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge
106 Bati nonshi ye ndin ye, shi attam mamm o?!î (When) your sister came, did you do like that to her?!
107 Ita n , ìP mu asirmu m , ng ti mimmu de!î She said,  Keep our secret for us (or else) he ll eat us up!
108 D shi sh k nan, ita nd . Well then, she arose.
109 S nakk , d shi s t g lle. When she had passed the night, well the dawn came.
110 Ishi nd j n m lan ye, bati b0 to ye d pp to kar i. When he had gone off to his bush, her half-sister assembled things for her.
111 Ita rin g bumbu y , d shi, When she had come into the bush, well,
112 ìB ba, n nd wo or ongiro!î (the baby said,)  Daddy, I have left bori bongiro!
113 t run y , bØwu ye s ungo, osh maj j to y . When he finished his song, the father lept up, (but) that one had gone back.
114 Ishi tap w yy d0 sho y , k rr g s n y , When he grabbed the horses tail and (the razor) had cut up his palms,
115 j l m j l m d m ye j . he was licking and licking the blood.
116 ìL k n kai ye ka an sowwo?! Sub n ll y !  Oh my, and now you, you re a sorcerer?! Oh my God!
117 D Z ng y k le gorzo kapa kai? S ban !î Zonge lacked any husband except for you?!
118 Øwi j to bØ s r t . She just sat chattering.
119 D shiti ishi mett , Well he came back,
120 d shi t pitt ko ko d0 sho ye lte ditto. and he grabbed her off the horse and broke her neck
121 Kont d y d y d y . When he took her diya diya diya, (he said,)
122 ìD Z ng , m m ss , tt shi ink no.î  Zonge, here s this, cut it up and cook it for me.
123 Ita nnatt m m leto y , b le ... When she saw her little sister, she cried &
124 Ishi n , ìHa! Y ne shi j b le o?î He said,  Ha! And now are you crying?
125 Ita n , ì í , m b l l ?î She said,  No, what would I be crying about?"
126 Ita na, ìKapa ka otte y kko ka inke y kko, She said,  Just do your own cutting and your own cooking.
127 Ina kØy b ka íyuwun m m kØy , Ya know, me, if you catch a human, ya know,
128 ina n inkØ sa.î me I won t be cooking it.
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge
129 Ishi nde nk , ishi nde nke l nn ye. He arose and cooked it, he arose and cooked his meat.
130 D shi nke lo b r w to t yyi. Well she cooked her gazelle meat and ate it.
131 B lo m te 0 no, 0 no, 0 no t re suram, Then they were living and living and living for a full month,
132 ita nde jittu j to. and then she arose and fled.
133 Jin j to ye, d shi ishi ndett . When she had fled, well he came.
134 Ishi ndin y , d shi g nd kinn n ye, When he came, well upon his arrival,
135 ita ringo p r in b0 to, and when she had come in, she said to her father (and the rest of the
household),
136 ìMaza pp no uyo.î  Quick dig a hole for me.
137 M te ppe uyo d pp di sh0 wi, d pp di r , They dug a hole, piled wood in it, piled chaff in it,
138 w si t i r m r m r m r m. and the fire was burning rum rum rum rum.
139 D shi m te nn n j m int n ado Well they were looking at him, and again he had put on the finery
140 p t n kond kar in nakat y , of the day that he had put on his finery earlier,
141 P ten g boi g nuwa, d ww s ti. When he came out of the toilet, his pants slipped down.
142 ìD ww ko sutuw .î (They said,)  Your pants have slipped down.
143 N , ìIn konuwØ ko ten .î He said,  This is where I got them.
143 ìT jiy sutuw .î  (Your) cap has slipped off.
144 ìIn konuwØ ko ten .î  This is where I got it.
145 íY ll b m cce ... [false start] Who if he travels &
146 0 m te r i bumbu ye j , ngur b w r. Before they went into the bush, he was left naked.
147 D shiti ishi nding . ìL , l le, l le, l le!î Well when he came, (they said,)  Oh, welcome, welcome, welcome!
148 M yi d wun g ng z n g bØ yo y . They sought a deleb palm mat and laid it out for him at the edge of the hole.
149 ìYaww , koni l w ko ka nd i ka owi  Right, take your son and go and sit
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge
150 mu el ko amma.î and we ll bring you some water.
151 Ish nd w ow g bØ yo y , w w w g wo. When he came and sat at the edge of the hole, wu wu wu, he fell in.
152 D shi si ndun tug! g konn g l w n . Well the fire arose tug on him and his son.
153 Ishi n , ìKala j n d t bati b0 sh !î He said,  But I killed your half-sister!
154 M te n , ìK mu d want n kai g l w ko!î They said,  But we have killed you and your son!
155 D pp n li, y ll g konn m te nde b gin . They piled dirt on him, everything onto him and they set to beating him.
156 D shi ishi m ti. Well he died.
157 Sh k nan b lo k ib n wØ. That s it and the marriage came to an end.
Dindi Bo Pikka [Tales in Bole] by Yaka  Ibilisa ga Da Zonge