Tue Tue Mareema
Abi sent this version of Tue Tue with this note:
"I understand you have found a Ghanaian version of this song and you might find this information below of interest as well, as I know many versions exist of most African songs as it is, after all, the natural outcome of a mostly aural tradition.
As far as I'm aware, this is a song which accompanies the Moribayassa rhythm of the Malinke people from Northeast Guinea.
Moribayassa is a rhythm which is played only once in a woman's life, if at all. After she has overcome her lowest, toughest point, whether that be illness, or a child's illness. Afterwards she will fulfill her vow and dance Moribayassa.
The words of this version are actually..."
![Tue Tue Mareema - Guinean Children's Songs - Guinea - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World - Intro Image Tue Tue Mareema - Guinean Children's Songs - Guinea - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World - Intro Image](https://www.mamalisa.com/images/photos/mandinka_dancing.jpg)
Tue Tue Mareema
Tue Tue Mareema
Children's Song
Children's Song
(Twi ?)
(English)
Tue tue Mareema tue tue
Tue tue Mareema tue tue
a bossum ta, amma Yaroma tue tue
a bossum ta, amma Yaroma tue tue
Tue tue mareema tue tue
Tue tue mareema tue tue
a bossum ta, amma Yaroma tue tue
a bossum ta, amma Yaroma tue tue
Mareema tue tue Mareema tue tue
Mareema tue tue Mareema tue tue.
If anyone could provide a translation,
please email me.
Notes
"Also, Guinean djembe master Mamady Keita has a book with more details of this rhythm, from which I paraphrased with the meaning above." -Abi
Comments
We welcome help with a translation of this version of "Tue Tue" and also to confirm the language. Abi wrote, "I'm pretty sure Twi is a language only spoken in Ghana, so this would not be Twi, as Moribyassa is a Guinean rhythm - around 37 languages are spoken in Guinea, so I'm not sure which one it is yet I'm afraid!" Yet the song is based on a Twi song, so perhaps the sounds were simply changed to make it more pronounceable to the singers. If anyone can provide more info, please email me. Thanks! Mama Lisa
![Listen](https://www.mamalisa.com/images/ml_images/listen_english.jpg)
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Abi Bailey for sharing this version of "Tue tue". Abi wrote, "Many thanks to Samantha Everett for teaching me this song."
Photo: "Mandinka Dancing, Women's Cultural Celebration, Gambia 2006" by shaunamullally - [1]. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.