The Corn and the Tchonran Sauce

The Corn and the Tchonran Sauce

Sweetheart, where are you going?

I am going to the field.

Aow! We are going to the rice paddies.

What are you going to bring for us to eat?

Boiled maize and salt.

De-cobbed maize with tchonran.

Cabatoh with tchonran.


Mama, everyone is eating but us.

Mama, look how the Senoufo suffer and struggle for so little.

Papa, look how the Senoufo suffer and struggle for so little.

But I’m told shush and don’t cry.

Because that’s just how it is with a Senoufo.

If he works his fields well then he will have enough to sell

to go find many wives and have child after child.

He goes to the field with his torn-up clothes, with his torn pants, without shoes.

And he will eat boiled maize with salt.

Powdered maize and tchonran.


Boiled maize and salt.

De-cobbed maize with tchonran.

Cabatoh with tchonran.

Madégué ni tchonran

Sé tcha, sa yélé chié?

Ség man wolo chié.

Aow! Fagouma si wolo chié.

Gnanh si yélé sôhô gbala?


Madé bogo ni solo manh.

Madé bra ni tchonran.

Madégue a ni tchonran.


Nan péh sourou mien li ni wole ya.

Nan man ouh wobê kam nan Sénanh wôh.

Baba wolé kam nan Sénanh wôh tonnon founh ni.

A bé mi pié ni piéri

a bé Sénanh ou gnin ou ga ou ség fala kwôh.

Ya lir dé ga gnon,

dé bé lé ou kôh tougô bé la sa para si sara tché léhr pore.

Sa chié ség man tah la fou ni,

broh bêhré ni, sa djôrô digi bèrè ni.

Sa chié fagama, fali tchocho bèrè ni.

Si sara made bôgô ni solomanh.


Madé bogo ni solo manh.

Madé bra ni tchonran.

Madégue a ni tchonran.

Click to hear a recording of Mamadou Sorho Peter performing this poem 

Translated from Senofou to French by Mamadou Sorho Peter and Todd Fredson © 2016. Translated to English by Todd Fredson © 2016.