Na Bu---(The sweet juice of the young coconut). I was taught this song by my first Fijian Language teacher Saimoni Naivalu in 2003, Its still one of my favorites! Learning the lyrics and meanings to Fijian songs is another great way to learn Vocab and proverbial speech. If your together singing with the uncles and aunties around the Kava bowl and theres a pause in between songs suggests Na Bu. Well maybe learn the words first!! Listen to this video and read along with the words. NA BU KO DRAU A SOLIA,
SA RUI GUNU VINAKA DINA NA KENA WAI NA SILIVA, NA LEWENA E KOUKOULA DINA The sweet young coconut the two of you have given is a very truly good beverage The liquid is like silver (because its rich and sparkly) and its meat is like the purest gold SA DUA NA KA LAGILAGI, NIDA MAI SOTA TU VAKAVULAGI NAI TAUKEI E RA YALO VAKATANI, NI LOMADRA TU NA VIA VEIBUTURAKI Its a glorious thing That we have meet as friends and visitors The locals have a real different way of doing things its their intentions to start a brawl NA NEIRAU VAKAVINAVINAKA E SEGA NI TUKUNI RAWA LEVU NI LASA KE MALUMALUMU NAI SOGO NI TAVAYA ME KEIRAU TILOTILOMA VATA Our gratitude It isnt possible to express how much fun we had if the cap of the of the bottle (coconut) is weak/soft the two of us can drink it together KO SUVA KOSA NA BIU KOTO, BIU VATA KEI NA KENA I TOVO AI LOLOMA VEI KEMUDOU TAUCOKO MAI NAKORO, YACO SARA KINA NOMUDOU I LOKOLOKO Suva is the place you will be leaving soon (replace suva with what ever place/village you are) leaving with the behavior of that place give our love to everyone in your village arriving safely back to the comfort of your own pillows Translation by Stu Johnson 3rd verse by Isikeli Volavola Vavinavinaka va levu vei Isi na veivukei na veivadedewa.
3 Comments
Another great way to emerse yourself in your study is learning a few Fijian Songs and their meanings. Click here to see a huge list of songs to chose from!
|