Bisi Kura

Intro

In this segment from Na baro kè (Episode 12), I hit the streets of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, to ask locals about the arrival of SOTRACO, a new bus system with designated stops, seating, and signage—something quite different from the usual modes of transport.

Are people excited about it? Have they taken a ride yet? If not, why? Watch as they share their thoughts on this new way of getting around.

Watch

Watch the video without the subtitles. If they are on, click on the little "CC" symbol and turn them off.

Watch and Read

Now turn on the subtitles in Bambara/Jula (click on the little "CC" button) and read along.

If you are lost, you can also switch it into English and then re-watch in Bambara/Jula.

And remember, you can also slow down the video to make it easier to follow along. I recommend 75%. Click on the little gear symbol.

List of Selected Grammar Points

• The preposition fo "until"
  (NOTE: Moved from Warimisɛn; requires expansion)
• The verbal prefixes la-, ma-, sɔ-

Grammar Points Explained

Let's dive into the core grammar points.

Expressing "to the point that" with fo to express "until; to the point that"

In the video, we hear the following sentence:

Parce que warimisɛn tun bɛ sɔrɔ Musa tile la fo an b'an tulon kɛ à la

Because change was found back in Musa's day to the point that we would play in it

"Musa" in this case refers to Moussa Traoré, a military dictator who ruled Mali from 1968 to 1991.

Within this sentence, there is a special usage of the preposition fo which is typically glossed as 'until'. (In French, it is almost more easily translated with jusqu'à as you might see in the following examples.)

In basic sentences, this meaning is clear. For instance:

N ye sanni kɛ fo n ka warimisɛn banna

"I made purchases until my change was out"

In the case of the sentence from the video, it is the same word and usage, but the English translation is trickier. The expression "to the point that" fits better.

Parce que warimisɛn tun bɛ sɔrɔ Musa tile la fo an b'an tulon kɛ à la

Because change was found back in Musa's day to the point that we would play in it

You can use fo in a variety of other ways.

For example, in a sequential verb construction where it is followed by ka VERB:

N ye warimisɛn ɲini fo ka sɛgɛn

"I sought change to the point of tiring)"

Or with places:

Jitigi taara warimisɛn ɲini fo dugu kɔnɔ

"The water vendor went and sought change all the way in town"