Warm-up
- I bɛ min sisan?
- I ka so bɛ min?
- I faso bɛ min?
None for now!
Text
CONTEXT: Adama is in Bamako. He stops by to greet Abi after not having seen her for a while. She’s curious about his older brother and mother since they are often in Abidjan.
Adama: Abi, I ni da fila!
Abi: Nse! I ni fama.
Adama: Nba! Kow bɛ di (1)?
Abi: Kow ka ɲi! Hɛɛrɛ bɛ wa (1)?
Adama: Hɛɛrɛ dɔrɔn!
Abi: I kɔrɔkɛ dun? À bɛ min?
Adama: À bɛ Bamakɔ.
Abi: Denmisɛnw? (2)
Adama: Hɛɛrɛ b’u la!
Abi: O ka ɲi! Ani i ba, à ka kɛnɛ?
Adama: Tɔɔrɔ t’à la!
Abi: À bɛ min sisan? À tɛ Abijan?
Adama: Ayi. À bɛ yan. À bɛ an ka du kɔnɔ (3), Bamakɔ yan!
Abi: Ko n b’à fo!
Adama: À n'à mɛn.
Abi: Nse! It's been a while.
Adama: Nba! How are affairs (1)?
Abi: Affairs are good! Is there peace (1)?
Adama: Peace only!
Abi: And your older brother? Where is he?
Adama: He's in Bamako.
Abi: And the children? (2)
Adama: Peace is upon them!
Abi: That's good! And your mother, she's healthy?
Adama: There isn't suffering upon her!
Abi: Where is she now? Is she not in Abidjan?
Adama: No. She's here. She's in our courtyard (3), here in Bamako!
Abi: Tell her I say hi!
Adama: She will hear it.
Vocab
- da
- archaic word for 'day'
- I ni da fila!
- Lit. 'You and two days!'; an expression used to say "It's been a while!"
- du
- courtyard (as in, "one's family home")
None for now!
Comprehension
Activity
Imagine that Abi is a friend of yours and you hear from her for the first time in a while via text message. Send her a video message given an update about where you and your family members are these days. Don’t forget to ask about her own family!