The Translation of Wakar Mai Babban Daki (The Queen Mother) By Sa'idu Faru

“Waƙar Mai Babban Ɗaki” by Sa’idu Faru

Muhammad Arabi UMAR

Department of Languages and Cultures,

Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Email:arabiumar@fugusau.edu.ng, arabizulaiha@gmail.com

 

And

 

Abdullahi Dahiru Umar

Department of English and Literature

Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria
abdullahidumar@gmail.com

Ba ki yarda da wargi ba
Kina shire yar malam Muhamman,
Mai babban ɗakin ƙasar Kano,
Alhajiya babar Sa’idu

Translation:

Where reason reigns, no folly finds its hold,
With wisdom armed, your spirit ever bold.
Kano's Queen Mother, a beacon ever bright,
Hajiya Asabe, Sa'idu's guiding light.           

Dan nan babban ɗakin Kano,
Ba wani mai iko kamar ta,

Translation:

Kano's heart, her power untold,
None within her realm so bold.         

Dan nan har bisa ƙofar Legas,
Mai babban ɗaki gudata

Translation:

Lagos far, Kano vast and grand,
One Queen Mother rules the land.   

Dan nan har bisa ƙofar Ingila
Mai babban ɗaki gudata

Translation:

England far, Kano vast and grand,
One Queen Mother rules the land.   

Har bakin ruwa na Yamma,
Mai babban ɗaki gudata

Translation:

Across the waves, to the ocean's roar
One Queen Mother rules the land.   

Kanawan dabo kuna da kyauta,
Kanawan dabo kuna da yaƙi,

Translation:

Kano's heart, with open hand,
Brave and strong, their warriors stand.         

Uwar Turaki uwar ɗan Isa,
Uwar sarkin waƙa, Sa’idu

Translation:

Turaki, Ɗan Isa, sons so grand,
Sa'idu, King of songs, by her hand.    

Ta ɗara gwamnati kowace iri,
Ke taimaki talakawa,
Talakawa sun taimake ki.

Translation:

Ruling hand, all others surpassed,
For the poor, her kindness unsurpassed.
From them too, respect returned in full,      

Ba ni da mota, ni Sa’idu,
Mai babban ɗaki ta ba mu

Translation:

Sa'idu walks, with heart not glum,
Queen Mother's gift, a chariot to come.       

Shafe muna hawaye,
Asabe jawo min mota ki ba ni

Translation:

Tears we weep, our need is sore,
Hajiya Asabe, a car we implore.        

Nijeriya da birni da ƙauye
Mai babban ɗaki gudata

Translation:

Across Nigeria land, from shore to shore,
One Queen Mother, evermore!        

In rancen galmar shano
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta baka
In kana son galmar shano
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka.

Translation:

Cattle plow you seek to till the ground,
Queen Mother hears, her bounty's found.
Cattle plow you seek, your fields to bless,
Queen Mother's hand brings happiness.       

In kana son shanun noma
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka
In kana son shanun noma bashi
Zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka
In kana son bashi ka yi noma,
Zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka

Translation:

Oxen strong for plowing's might,
Queen Mother's heart, a guiding light.
Loan you seek, your fields to till,
Queen Mother grants, with generous will.
Farming's needs, her bounty flows,
Queen Mother's grace, where kindness grows.        

In kana son babbar riga
Zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka
In kana son bashin kuɗɗi
Zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka
In kana son kyautar mota
Zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka

Translation:

Grand attire, a heart's desire,
Queen Mother's hand sets you afire
Coins you seek, your troubles mend,
Queen Mother's grace knows no end.
Carriage grand, a royal whim,
Queen Mother's gifts, a boundless hymn.     

Kowaz zo nan birnin Kano
In dai ya zo babban ɗaki
Ya iske aikin gabata

Translation:

Kano's soul, a beacon bright,
Queen Mother's wisdom guides aright.
Seek her halls, and leadership you'll find.     

Dan nan har bisa bakin Maliya,
Mai babban ɗakin gudata
Dan nan har bisa ƙofar Ingila
Mai babban ɗaki gudata

Translation:

Red Sea's shore to distant lands,
One Queen Mother, wisdom commands.
England's fields or Kano's sand,
Her reign extends, a guiding hand.    

Na shekata talatin daidai
Maza su niy yi ma waƙa
Yau mata ni ka wa waƙa
Na zo ‘yar malam Muhamman

Translation:

Thirty years my voice held strong,
Songs for men, where I belong.
Now for women, a joyful turn,
Hajiya's praise, my heart will burn               

Matan nan duka ta fi maza duka
Don na san iko gare ta
Matan nan duka ta fi maza duka
Don san khairi gare ta

Translation:

Stronger than steel, her spirit bold,
Kindness flows, a heart of gold.
Men surpassed, her wisdom true,
Queen of compassion, shines for you           

Ba a gwada miki iko,
Asabe, tun farko iko gare ta
Ba a gwada mata yaƙi
Asabe tun farko yaki gare ta
Ba a gwada mata ilimi
Asabe tun farko ilmi gare ki

Translation:

None can match her mighty hand,
Asabe, a force throughout the land.
No foe can teach her war's fierce art,
A warrior's spirit beats her heart.
No path of knowledge lies unknown,
Her wisdom on a boundless throne.  

In Allah ya ce ka samu,
Kowa ba shi hana maka samu
In Allah bai ce ka samu ba,
Kowa ba ya shirin ka samu

Translation:

When Allah grants with open hand,
No earthly power can withstand.
But if His favor turns away,
No mortal hand can make it stay       
In Allah bai ba ka samu ba

Kowa ba ya shirin ka samu
In Allah yab ba ka samu
Ka lura ka zam gode ma Allah
In Allah bai ba ka samu ba,
Lura ka san Allahu gudana

Translation:

With Allah's grace, blessings abound,
No hand on earth can turn it around.
But if His favor seems to cease,
Know only He brings true release.
Be grateful when His light shines bright,
And in His wisdom, trust with might.           

Na gode Hajiya Dudu,
‘Yar Sarki ta taimake mu,

Translation:

For Hajiya Dudu, thanks I raise,
A daughter born, of Malam's days.   

Na gode Hajiya Hajara,
Yar Sarki ta taimake mu.

Translation:

For Hajiya Hajara, my thanks resound,
The daughter of Kings, on whom your aid is found   

Na gode Hajiya Inno,
Yar Sarki ta taimake mu

Translation:

For Hajiya Inno, gratitude I show,
A king's own daughter, helping us to grow   

Na gode Hajiya Hauwa,
Yar Sarki ta taimake mu.

Translation:

For Hajiya Hauwa, thanks I bring,
A royal daughter, blessings she did spring    

In babban riga muke so,
Mu zo babban ɗaki ta ba mu
In babban dokin nir rasa
Mu zo babban ɗaki ta ba mu.
In kuɗɗi na kashi nake so,
Mu zo babban ɗaki ta ba mu.
In moto na ƙware nir rasa
Mu zo babban ɗaki ta ba mu

Translation:

Need grand attire,
the Queen holds the key,
For steeds of pride,
to her halls you must flee.
Coin purse runs low,
a wish won't be crossed,
The Queen Mother grants,
what fortune has lost.

Shi babban ɗaki ta ba mu
ɗiyan babban ɗaki su ba mu
Ko a cikin ɗaki ko birni,
Ke ka hwaɗi a jiya a ɗauka

Translation:

Queen Mother's hand, a gift so grand,
Her sons and daughters, at your command.
In city streets or villages deep,
Your every word, a law to keep.        

Kowa naz zo birnin Kano
In dai ya zo babban ɗaki,
Ya iske aikin sarauta.

Translation:

In Kano's heart, where walls arise,
The Queen Mother's court, a sight that wows the eyes.
Royal presence fills the air, A king's own power, majestically there.

Wurin aikin mota daban na,
Wurin aikin doki daban na.
Wurin sabgar noma daban
Kuma wurin sabgar iko daban
Kuma wurin sabar ilmi daban ta

Translation:

For chariots stalled and fields laid bare,
For wisdom withheld, a Queen's watchful care.
From courtly decree to a farmer's plea,
Her hand guides all, a mighty decree
Schools stand tall, where knowledge takes flight,    

Ba a gwada maki ilimi
Asabe tun farko ilmi gare ki
Ba a gwada miki yaƙi
Asabe tun farko ke gadi yaƙi
Ba gwada miki aiki
Asabe, tun farko kin gadi aiki
Ba a gwada miki kyauta,
Asabe tun farko hairi gare ki

Translation:

In wisdom's realm, you reign supreme,
Asabe, with knowledge, a flowing stream.
War's ways you grasp, a legacy bold,
Tactics of old, in your spirit unfold.
Power resides in your very name,
Asabe, a force, untamed by flame.
Generosity flows from your heart, so kind,
Asabe, a treasure, for all to find.       

Na gaji da kiɗi na maza
Mata nika zuba ma waƙa
Na ƙoshi da kiɗi na maza
Mata muka zuba ma waƙa

Translation:

No more for men my voice shall rise,
To women's strength, my songs shall turn their eyes.
Weary of praise that goes astray,
For women's power, we'll sing a brand new day.     

Ke ɗara gwanati kowace iri,
Ke taimaki talakawa,
Talakawa sun taimake ki.

Translation:

Ruling hand, all others surpassed,
For the poor, her kindness unsurpassed.
From them too, respect returned in full,      

In rancen kuɗɗin noma,
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka,
In rancen kuɗdi za ka yi,
Ka zo mai babban ɗaki ta ba ka.

Translation:

For farming's toil, if funds run low,
The Queen Mother's hand, her bounty will flow.
Cash tightens its grip, a worry untold,
The Queen Mother's grace, dispels worries of old.   

In bashin mota kaf fi so,
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka,
In kyautar mota kaf fi so
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka.
In kuma gini ne za ka yi,
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka,
In kuma wani aiki ne za ka yi,
Ka zo babban ɗaki ta ba ka

Translation:

In need of a carriage, a gift, or a loan,
The Queen Mother's halls, a haven well known.
For a house to be built, or a venture to start,
Her gracious hand guides, with wisdom of heart.