Kanyoni Kanja
Kanyoni Kanja
Little Robin Bird
Children's Song
Children's Song
(Kikuyu)
(English)
Kanyoni kanja, kanyoni kanja
Gekugwa nja na mitheko
Ndakoria atiri, ndakoria atiri
Wamichore watinda ku?
Ndatinda Koiri, ndatinda Koiri
Ngiaragania mbirigiti
Na mbirigiti, na mbirigiti
Na ndinainukia magoto
Magwa iriaini, magwa iriaini
Gwa cucu wa Kamerukia meru!
Little robin bird, little robin bird
Fell with laughter.
I asked him, I asked him,
"Striped one, where have you been?"
"I have been at Koiri, I have been at Koiri
Spreading pebbles around
And I haven't brought home any banana leaves,
They fell into the lake, they fell into the lake
Kamerukia's grandmother ate ripe bananas!
Notes
According to Emmanuel Kotene Snr, "'Gwa cucu wa Kamerukia meru!' means i went to Kamerukia's grandmother in Meru (a place in Kenya).
According to Ras Kristy Annah, "Love this song. I also thought the "kanyoni ka nja" is a robin, but apparently it's a red billed firefinch..."
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Loose translation by Lisa.
Thanks to Emmanuel Kotene Snr and Mureithi Kangangi for advice about fine-tuning the translation!
