ZONGE GA AIKI [A HYENA AND A SQUIRREL] Yaka (Amina Kakkaba)

ZONGE GA AIKI [A HYENA AND A SQUIRREL] Yaka (Amina Kakkaba) (recorded in early 1990 s in Potiskum by Abubakar Garba, transcribed by Alhaji Maina Gimba ca. 1999, translated by Russell G. Schuh; this story has not previously appeared in print) Y_ZGA 000 ZONGE GA AIKI A HYENA AND A SQUIRREL 001 D nd i g k z ng g ik. May the story mount on a hyena and a squirrel. 002 Z ng n nn b k l n s r n, The hyena said he was going to greet his in-laws, 003 y ww, ik k l n, ìm l y l w?î right, and the squirrel said, What will we take (as a gift)? 004 Z ng n, ìm l y l?î The hyena said, What will we take? 005 ik n, ìm l s n.î The squirrel said, Let s take honey. 006 ik z ww tt g r s n n r l, The squirrel sought out his honey gourd filled to the top, 007 z ng k l ng mt r g g r l mt b n. but the hyena filled (his) gourd with diarrhea and sealed its opening. 008 Ng mt r l mt b n, m t j m cc Ö When he had filled it with diarrhea and sealed its opening, they were walking 009 sh ng mt r g g g r y, l mt b n y, when he had filled the gourd with diarrhea and had sealed the opening, 010 k ng mt r g g g r. well he filled the gourd with diarrhea. 011 Ng mt r ik k l s n r l, He filled it with diarrhea but the squirrel, (he had) honey to the top, 012 b l m t m cc m cc m cc. they they were walking and walking and walking. 013 B b l s r n, ìw rm t!î When they came across some grass, (the squirrel) said, Collect it for us! 014 n, ìb m nd ng k nd tt k w r y, he said, When we have gone, you should come and gather it up, 015 b n mm n d r m b kk d.î if they give us peanuts we can roast them with it. Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 1

016 B b l l k d d n n, When they came across a silk-cotton tree ladle, he said, 017 ìb n mm n t sh, m n tt, k nd tt k k n i.î If they give use some food, like kunu, you should come and take it. 018 ik c í í w r ti b nk t g g r b n. The squirrel was collecting all of it and hiding it in his pocket. 019 M t nd n y ww ng, m t k n d r ns, ns tt When they went and took lodging, they took peanuts and gave them, they gave them kunu 020 n, ì ss tt, s kk y!î and said, Here s some kunu, drink up! 021 ik nd p t m t r, sh, ìnd kk w r tt i m y,î The squirrel arose to go out into the entrance hut, and he (the hyena said), Go and bring back that one (the ladle), 022 ik p t. before the squirrel went out. 023 P t j n y, z ng s m s n t tt y n k nn. When he had gone out, the hyena started drinking up the kunu on him. 024 ik m nj n, ìy k k nd t b i y n w nk nd ëy y?!î The squirrel came back, You already went to the place where I showed you the thing?! 025 N, ì n nd t w.î He said, I DID go. 026 M t w s i tt. They sat and drank the kunu. 027 Òns d r, ìnd kk w r tt i s r!î They gave them peanuts, (the hyena said) Go collect up the grass! 028 ik j nn b w r s r, The squirrel was going to go to collect up the grass. 029 z ng w s m ng t d r y g r n, d r b b n. and the hyena stayed and began to eat up the peanuts raw, the Bambara groundnuts. 030 D sh ik nd m t r l m m tt íy y g r b n, Well the squirrel went to the entrance hut a short while then brought back the thing (that was) in his pocket, 031 sh n, ì ss s r y.î and he said, Here s the grass. 032 ìyak k nd t b i m y?!î You have already gone to that place?! 033 ì n nd t w.î I DID go. 034 sh b kk d r y n, ìnd kk z ww k g sh d lt.î He roasted the peanuts and said, Go look for a stone for crushing (the Bambara goundnut shells). Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 2

035 sh nd i b z ww k g sh d lt. He went to look for a crushing stone. 036 D sh sh k n n, í, p t w, d sh g sh g r b n. Well then, aha, when he went out, well a stone was in his pocket. 037 Z ng j ng t d r y g m n s n n, g m n y ll y. The hyena was eating the groundnuts with things like charcoal and whatever. 038 D sh ik m ng, sh n d sh n, ì y, sh k nan.î Well when the squirrel came back, he then said, OK, that t that. 039 B l sh y n sh l íy t sh n y, p r n ik n, Well then gluttony overcame him, and he said to the squirrel, 040 ìÿí, n nn j n, Yes, I m going, 041 b m t l mm n tt k l d M i b r y, if they bring us tuwo, well the King s dog is at the opening in the wall, 042 k y t n tt k w b y n g l g l y k y t n.î toss him some tuwo [but] look for places where there is some meat and toss it to him. 043 Z ng p r n ik m mm. The hyena spoke thus to the squirrel. 044 D sh ik n, ìt.î Well the squirrel said, OK. 045 ik y kk tt g cc n c -c -c, p. The squirrel picked up his stones ce-ce-ce, hard pebbles. 046 ik m y g Ö ik Ö (false start) The squirrel looked into the squirrel 047 M t k r n y k m nk l l y, b y r k, They (the hosts) had slaughtered a cow and cooked the meat, miya very rich, 048 ik t n tt ng l. the squirrel was eating tuwo and consuming meat. 049 B b mb l g sh w t g j b z ng k r y, When he rolled a stone around, wit (throwing) at the hyena s mouth from the opening (in the wall), 050 sh, ìm, m, m, m, m m t j n! and he (hyena) said, M, m, m, m, I ll die! 051 S b n ll h! j g w n y k g l w?!î Holy smoke! What in the world are they hitting me with?! 052 Ö n ss j ik b mb l, b i ng tt l y, time passed,the squirrel rolled one around, after he had eaten up the meat, 053 k n s k s r m y j b z ng r i! he took a big bone, sited on the hyena s mouth (and threw it) rui! 054 K i tt m in íy n m ss w ik z yy. So the tuwo those bits that remained, the squirrel set them aside. 055 ik z w yi, z ng nd ng, n ss, sh n, When the squirrel set them aside and the hyena came, after awhile, he said, Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 3

056 ìb n, w k l b k m k w n r i y?!î My big brother, what happened to you that this mouth of yours is swollen rui?! 057 N, ì í, b dd M i, n j g m t, He said, A a, the servants of the king, I was passing them, (they said) 058 ë m z ng d, m z ng!í That s a hyena you know, that s a hyena! 059 m t d n d lt b n y.î and they beat me, they pounded on my mouth. 060 ik n, ì yy! ss m ss tt k. The squirrel said, Oh no! There s the rest of your tuwo. 061 n j m yy k k r n s. ss y!î I wasn t noticing that you had come in. There it is! 062 Z ng z s b n t n y, z s b n t n y. The hyena was twisting his mouth and eating, (repeat). 063 M ím, m m y k n g r s n y n ik y, Mhm, (then) someone pcked up the gourd of honey of the squirrel 064 l g b n M i b k l. and carried it to the King s house for a greeting. 065 m k l n z ng y, But that of the hyena, 066 m t w ng y n b s pp g ng r, they had taken it saying it was for distributing out in the neighborhood. 067 i g k r sh msh msh m, They found [mounted on] diarrhea smelling terrible, 068 m t nd i p yy tt g g r n g b i g n w. so they went and broke it up with his gourd outside the town wall. 069 P yy nt ng, d sh m t n m t p rt n M i g r y, When they had broken it, well they said they should report it to the town king, 070 M i g r y n, ì m m nt s n.î and the town king said, I know how to deal with him [I know his medicine]. 071 S t g ll y, m t j s ll m s, When the dawn came, they were taking leave of them, 072 k n z r s r ng r g j d tt k m, he (the king) took a big rope and tied it to the neck of a tiny cow, 073 z r l, ng r g j k m n s r n, a small rope, he tied onto a big cow and said (to the hyena and squirrel), 074 ìy ww, ss z r y l l z t s l m n.î Right,there are some ropes, everyone pick his departure gift. 075 ik z s r n g j z r n s r y, z ng g pp n m r, When the squirrel put his hand on the big rope, the hyena gave him a slap, 076 ìk i g r k l k l k k n z r n s ri?!î You your gourd was small but you are taking the big rope?! 077 M t b y ng r y n, They the people of the neighborhood said, Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 4

078 ìk i ik! K i k l w l, k n z r n l.î Hey squirrel! You you re a little child, take the small rope. 079 Z ng íy ll ng y l w k m mb r r, When the hyena tugged (there was) a skinny calf, 080 ik íy ll ng k m sh t nk r. when the squirrel tugged (there was) a cow huge like that. 081 M t, ì í, k i g r k l They said, Ah, you, your gourd was small 082 mm m íy n y ll nk w, k i m d ll! M d ll! M d ll!î 083 S ll m nt n m t. They took leave of them. but this is the thing that Allah has given you, hey, great! Good for you! Good for you! 084 B l m t m cc, b n ss y z ng l ik n, Then they were walking, and after awhile the hyena asked the squirrel, 085 ìsh k k n m m cc d?î Do three legs walk? 086 N, ì m cc m n!î He said, Sure they walk! 087 Z ng ng tt sh k k mn m. The hyena ate one of his cow s legs. 088 N ss w n, ìsh k b ll -b ll p?î After awhile he said, How about two legs at a time? 089 N, ì m cc.î Z ng ng tt. He said, They walk. The hyena ate it. 090 M ím, z ng t k t k mn, m t l m n l u s. Hm, the hyena finished off his cow, yet they hadn t gotten anywhere. 091 N ss y n, ì ik, ng m t m kk y.î After awhile he said, Squirrel, let s eat yours. 092 ik n, ì n k l k p g b b n n nn g b n z n k r k m y.î 093 ì yy?!î N, ìÿí.î Is that right?! He said, Yes. 094 D sh t b l m t m cc So then they were walking, The squirrel said, Well me, (we have to go) until the entrance way of my mother and father before we slaughter the cow. 095 sh ng ng r r ng tt k mn l m nd n l u s. and he was grumbling that he had eaten his cow, (but) they hadn t gotten anywhere with it. 096 ik nd n g b b r mn, When the squirrel got to the entrance to his burrow, 097 s r w, p t n n m g n, ik n, late afternoon had come, the sun was close to setting, and the squirrel said, 098 ìy ww, ny nd kk, ss w s m y k k n mm.î Right, so go, there s that fire, bring it to us. Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 5

099 K n p t n n m g n. Well, of course it was the sun near setting [i.e. the sunset]. 100 ìb k s l ng k k m y k r w When you have built it (the fire) up the cow too will have been slaughtered. 101 D sh k nd k y b l m b kk l y m ng i.î Then when you will come, we will roast the meat and eat it. 102 ë z ng m cc, z ng m cc, Ah, the hyena was traveling, the hyena was traveling, 103 ìw s! W s! M yy n y! W s! W s! M yy n y!î Fire! Fire! Wait for me! Fire! Fire! Wait for me! 104 ik nd k r t k mn, lt t l nn g g w y. The squirrel arose and slaughtered his cow, and he carried its meat into a hole. 105 B y ik k l g s s w. At the opening of the squirrel s hole there was a myrrh plant. 106 S s w y g s r nn g y y. The myrrh had its roots in the hole. 107 g nd k z ng, At the arrival of the hyena (he said), 108 ìsh g! K r t k mn y, w rt l y, g t n s.î Bastard! He slaughtered his cow, he removed the meat, none was left for me. 109 ik n, ìp ll n s, z ut p t k n ng rk d.î The squirrel said, Don t disparage me, put in your tail, and I will attach some to it for you. 110 Z ng z w p t n, ik íy w z r g j sh r n r w. The hyena put his tail in, and the squirrel grabbed it and tied it tightly to the root of the tree. 111 sh íy ll, íy ll, He (the hyena) was pullling and pulling, 112 ì í, s k t i, b m m p t n sh tt j n.î A a, reduce (the amount of meat), if it s like this my tail will be pulled loose! 113 J m sh s k t, z r y. Again he loosened it, the rope. 114 í, b n ss w n, Ah, after awhile he (the hyena) said, 115 ìÿí, m k nn y l k, m n l?î Yes, this one, what have you given me, what is it good for? 116 J mj ik íy w z r p t y g j nn. Again the squirrel grabbed (it) and tied the tail tight onto that thing. 117 K b i m z ng, p t n sh tt j n, z ng r i b mb g r n. After this the hyena, his tail pulled loose, and the hyena ran into the bush with his diarrhea. 118 R i b mb g r n, s t g ll, z ng nd i k nt nn Ö When he had gone into the bush with his diarrhea and the dawn had come, the hyena came and brought this thing Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 6

119 k nt t pp, he brought a thing for digging, 120 ìg íyíy g p k y, Hacking with??, 121 G íyíy g j nt, Hacking with an axe, 122 ss k y d r i t n, There is that evil one he entered here, 123 ss k y d r i t n, Here is that evil one he entered here, 124 ss k y d r i t n.î Here is that evil one he entered here. 125 m yy Ö this one (was his song) when 126 T r m nd ng g d nd n, ì í, z ng, k j pp l?î A lion came with his children, Ah! Hyena, what are you digging at? 127 N, ìhm m, k nn p t n sh tt j n s?î He said, Hm, don t you see that my tail has pulled loose? 128 ìl w?î Who (is at fault)? 129 N, ì n b nz m ik sh tt t p t n, He said, That useless jerk the squirrel has pulled my tail loose, 130 n pp k nn ng, n ng t sh.î I m digging him up, and I m going to eat him. 131 D sh sh n, ìt.î Then he said, Oh. 132 T r m b kk b g d b g d b g d, The lion took over bagad bagad bagad, 133 z ng b rt t r m, w rt íy l n k p j ij n. but the hyena snuck up on the lion, he snatched his testicles kup and ran away. 134 J j n, d sh, tt k n y ik n y When he ran off, well, the evil deeds that the squirrel had done to him, 135 sh d gg w g j t r m, t r m i ny nc aa. he retaliated at the expense of the lion, the lion was left feeling helpless. 136 N ss d sh ik p t tt n, After awhile well the squirrel came out and said, 137 ìk i m m g n z ng s d! Gosh, a person doesn t (shouldn t) do a good turn the hyena I tell you! 138 Sh nsh n ng?! W rt íy l k, y n k g l?î Now how is it?! He snatched away your testicles, and what do you have? 139 sh n, ì n k l m j l g s n m n u, He said, Me indeed no matter how many years it is, 140 b n w n t z ng Öî if I catch the hyena Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 7

141 N, ì n l k nk nt sh h r b i n k.î He (the squirrel) said, I ll bring him to you all the way to where you are sitting. 142 D sh t r m k lw. Then the lion felt better. 143 T r m k lw y, d sh t ik p r i n t r m n, When the lion felt better, well the squirrel said to the lion, 144 ìg nd j k g b y nd. Lie down next to that hill of black ants. 145 m p r n n, ss k mn b ss.î I will tell him that me, there is my cow for skinning. 146 T r m g nd j n g b y nd, sh nd tt. The lion lay down by the anthill and he (the squirrel) came (to the hyena). 147 sh nd ng, ìs l m l k m!î He (the squirrel) came (and said), Salamu alaikum! 148 sh, ìy tt m m n d y tt m, sh tt p t n y kai d?!î He said, Beady eyes, like beady eyes, isn t it you who pulled out my tail?! 149 sh n, ì n s. He said, I wasn t me. 150 n m l nn n y, k m d sh n m t w n w n ss s, Me indeed (what) has brought me, my grandfather s cow has died, and I haven t gotten anyone to skin it, 151 nd i k ss y, k w yy, n k n w yy.î might you go and skin it, you ll get something, me too I ll get something. 152 D sh t sh nd k k r k k r k k r. Then he arose trembling. 153 G nd k nn n y, d nd n j pp n, On his arrival, his children were following him, 154 sh r kk t m t b sh l. but he chased them off from gluttony. 155 M t nd ng, sh b l n t r m, d sh n, When they came and he found the lion, then he said, 156 ìk nc n k b r n d s, (not Bole may be Karekare, in which disa means evil) 157 K nc n k b r n Öî (not Bole) 158 sh s r g b i w t r m n and he fell onto the (back of the) belly of the lion saying 159 b ss t r m, t r m b ng r n. it was to skin the lion, but the lion flipped him over. 160 ìz ng m íy n k n w, This hyena, the thing that you see, 161 n n nd i y b íy rr k, k w rt íy l n!î me I came to save you, you grabbed off my testicles! 162 T r m m mm s n shi m t. The lion spun him over and over and he died. Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 8

163 M t j n y, d sh t b l sh k n n sh m t j n, When he died, well then he had died, 164 sh b l ik k w k nn, t r m k w k nn. and he the squirrel had gotten his freedom, the lion too had gotten his freedom. 165 T r m b l d gg t w, sh m t j n. The lion had gotten his revenge, he (the hyena) had died. 166 Sh k n n ik nd ij n k b n, ik nd j n b n. Well the squirrel came home, the squirrel went home. 167 D sh d nd l l t k w. That s it the story is finished. Yaka, Zonge ga Aiki 9