Adúmáadán Black and Beautiful

Adúmáadán

Bí a bá mú egbin kúrò láwùjọ ẹranko
Ẹranko tó dára ti tán
Bí a bá mú òdú kúrò láwùjọ ẹ̀fọ́
Ẹ̀fọ́ tó dára tó jọjú ti dínkù
Ẹni tó fọ́jú mẹwà egbin bí ó bá fọwọ́ pa á lára
Àńbọ̀sìbọ́sí ẹni tó lẹ́yinjú méjèèjì
Adúmáadán obìnrin ló múmi rántí
Ẹranko tó wuyì láwùjọ ẹranko
Dúdúparíọlá olólùfẹ́ ló múmi dárúkọ òdú láwùjọ ẹ̀fọ́
Ó dúdú ó rì rébété
Eyín funfun nígínnígín
Ètè ìwọ̀ntúnwọ̀nsì ló sì bo gbogbo wọn
Bójú bá ti pàdé lojú ń rinjú
Bí n bá ti wò ẹ́ ni mò ń yin Yáárábì nísàlú-ọ̀run
Ìfẹ́ mú mi títí
Ojú ń ro mí
Mo ń dá rẹ́rìn-ín nígbà gbogbo
Báráyé bá bi mi pé kí ló dé
Gorodóòmù ìfẹ́ adúmáadán ló démi mọ́lẹ̀ pirigidi.
 

Black and Beautiful

Take antelope from the animal realm
And animals are robbed of beauty
Take black nightshade from the vegetable realm
And vegetables are sapped of beauty
If even the blind can sense the antelope’s beauty with their hands
How much more a person with clear sight 
A black and beautiful woman calls to mind
That most beautiful animal of all animals
My black-and-beautiful lover calls to mind black nightshade
Black and short
With shining teeth
Covered with modest lips
When my eyes meet yours 
I praise your creator in heaven
Your love envelopes me
I am love sick
Your love envelopes me
I can’t stop laughing 
If people ask why
I could say
It is the love of my black-and-beautiful that covers me
 

Black and Beautiful

If you take antelope away from the animal kingdom
There won't be any beautiful animal left
If you take black nightshade away from vegetables (solanum nigrum)
There won't be any more delicious vegetable
Even the blind can feel the beauty of the antelope with bare hands
How much more a person with good sight
A black and beautiful woman reminds me
Of beautiful animal in the animal kingdom
It is my black-and-beautiful lover that reminds me of black nightshade among vegetables
Black and short
With shining set of teeth
Covered with moderate lips
Setting eyes on each other is affectionate
Looking at you makes me appreciate the creator
Your love envelopes me
I am love struck
Your love envelopes me
I burst into laughter all the time
If the people ask why?
I will respond thus:
It is the love of my black-and-beautiful that covers me
 

Original Poem by

Taiwo Olunlade

Translated by

Tọ́lá Ọ̀ṣunnúgà with The Poetry Translation Workshop Language

Yoruba

Country

Nigeria