Semira Semira Gual Asmara
This rhyme is well-known in Eritrea.
"It's actually sung by a man whose love disappears. He finds her later, but cannot be with her due to having to go to war (the war of independence). Hence the last line." -Reddit
Semira Semira Gual Asmara
Semira, Semira from Asmara
Hand Clapping Rhyme
Hand Clapping Rhyme
(Tigrigna)
(English)
Semira Semira gual Asmara
Gezana a'tseyato nabey keyda
Tekhedku-tekhedku si'inaya,
Ab ghem-ghem bahri rekibeya!
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Be'al edl iyu zwesdeki!
Semira, Semira from Asmara
She closed the gate to our house, where did she go?
When I went to look for her, I couldn't find her
Later, I met her at a forest near a lake.
Bye, bye, bye, I'm leaving you
Bye, bye, bye, I'm leaving you
Bye, bye, bye, I'm leaving you
Someone luckier than me will have you.
Notes
"Semira is a girl's name mostly for Muslims in Eritrea." -Eritrea-chat.com
People often put in the name of a kid they're singing this to in the place of "Semira".
Asmara is a city and the capital of Eritrea.
Comments
If anyone can provide the lyrics in Ge'ez script, please email me. Thanks! Mama Lisa
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Lisa. Based on a translation on Reddit.
የቐንየለይ! Yekeniyeley!
