Multiple award-winning Ghanaian musician Kofi Kinaata took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, May 24, 2024, to transcribe the Ahanta language lyrics from his song “Auntie Ama” on his debut EP, KofiOOKofi. The Takoradi-based artist, known for posting sections of his song lyrics on social media, made this post once again on his account.
Ever since the release of “Auntie Ama,” there has been growing controversy, especially in the Western Region of Ghana, where Kofi Kinaata comes from, about whether that section of his song is Ahanta or Nzema. Both dialects of Akan are mutually intelligible, and Kofi has used the latter in his songs before.
Kofi Kinaata himself cleared this doubt during his private EP listening session prior to the release of his debut EP, stating that his mother is an Ahanta and he is an Ahanta as well. He explained that he understands and speaks the language with his mother, Auntie Ama. He explicitly stated that the section is indeed Ahanta, his mother tongue.
He took to X and wrote the Ahanta lyrics. The following is the Ahanta lyrics on his song “Auntie Ama” off his KofiOOKofi EP:
Bɛtɩ bɛ ninyia yɩ dɩya bɛtɩ yɩ kalakala
Bɛtɩ egyanka mɔ mɔ dɩyɛ yɩ a bɛyɛ yɩ wodwolowodwolo.
Mɩkɛva ozukua pulo mɩkɛva mɩkɛma enii mɔɔ ilili m’agyialɛ kɛ
ɩva ɔdɔ debe ɩma wʋ.
ɩva ɔdɔ debe ɩma wʋ.
Mɩkɛva ozukua pulo mɩkɛva mɩkɛma enii mɔɔ ilili m’agyialɛ kɛ
ɩva ɔdɔ debe ɩma wʋ.
ɩva ɔdɔ debe ɩma wʋ.
Ɩkɛva ozukua yɩ ikeli ooo
Ɩkɛva ozukua yɩ ikeli aaa
Hmmm mmmmm
Hmmm mmmmm
Mɩzamɩ Ama gyɩkɩɩ mɩkɛla m’alaka yɩ nu a dinyii!
Hmmm mmmmm
Mɩzamɩ Ama gyɩkɩɩ mɩkɛla m’alaka yɩ nu a dinyii
The following is the meaning of what he said on his song as per the above stanzas:
“Is that the kenkey?
Is that the portion of the poor prepared this poorly?
I will give a treasury pot to my successor to buy something for you but he/she will squander the money.
Myself, Ama, very soon I will lie quietly in my coffin”.
The song is a tribute by Kofi’s mother on why her son, Kofi Kinaata, must live a good life and succeed while she, Auntie Ama, is alive, else he will regret it after her passing. What is your take on this masterpiece from Kofi Kinaata? Share your comments on all our socials.
