KODHI MA ODAGI TI (“The seed that won´t grow”)

for tenor and piano (2020)

an art song in the Dholuo language of Kenya

Performance by Eddie Mony in March 2021
(sung in Dholuo with English subtitles)

 
Eddie Mony (poet and singer) and Daniel Cueto (composer) discuss their first artistic collaboration. They speak about the challenges that they encountered in trying to create the first Classical "art song" in the Dholuo language of Kenya, and how they worked as a team to overcome those challenges and produce a new piece of music.
 

Text

Nyathina, ndalo mang’eny osekalo
Nyaka nyicha aweyi e piny kanyo;
Ne ok en dwaro na,
Ne en mana sa na!
Koro osepidha e lo ka kodhi ma odagi ti.

Nyathina, ang’eyo lit ma aweyi go,
Ang’eyo pi wenge te ma isechwero;
To ok in kendi
Nikech pod an kodi
Kata ka osepidha e lo ka kodhi ma odagi ti.

Nyathina, ka ichiko iti maber
Ibiro winjo dwuonda e auka ma uko
Kata e koth ma chuwe oko;
Kik iluor nikech ok in kendi
Kata ka osepidha e lo ka kodhi ma odagi ti.

My child, many days have passed
Since I left you there in the world;
It wasn’t my desire,
It was just my time!
Now I have been planted in the soil like a seed that won’t grow.

My child, I know the pain with which I have left you,
I know all the tears that you have shed;
But you are not alone
Because I am still with you
Even when I have been planted in the soil like a seed that won’t grow.

My child, if you listen closely
You will hear my voice in the wind that blows
Or in the rain that falls outside;
Don’t be afraid because you are not alone
Even though I have been planted in soil like a seed that won’t grow. 

Photo of Lake Victoria. Taken by Eddie Mony.

Photo of Lake Victoria. Taken by Eddie Mony.

Details


Duration: 9 minutes

Composed for: Eddie Mony, tenor

Text written by: Eddie Mony, in his native tongue - the dholuo language of Kenya

Premiere: web-premiered on October 14, 2020