Voices

I am the voice of Yaa Asantewaa

Ɔbaabasia a metwamu kɔ me baabi

Ma abrane, ne akwabrane, ne akwabrafoɔ

Ho woso sɛ ayowa mu nsuo!

Enti motete hɔ reyɛ dɛn ni?

The winds have long swept my footsteps away

Those steps I took, leaving my own blood

As a trail for frail men to follow

Mmm! Mahome rete na adɛn?

You have allowed the very dust of your nature

To take over

As I told Anansesɛm by the fireside,

I never taught you Greed.

As I showed you the dance steps of warriors,

I never sang songs of lies

Ei! Enti mabrɛ ɛgu anaa? 

It was for love that I sliced off my breasts

And exchanged my hand-carved laddle

For a gun heavy with our metallic tears

It was not for me that I tore off

My waistbeads of gold

And in their place tied tight a talisman

That hardened my heart.

Adɛn nti na momu bi agyaagyae moho

 Ama hyɛhyɛnpɛ arere moakoma ama no asa?

I will say no more.

I will go back, sit on my stool and watch

For what I see while seated

None of you here can catch even a glimpse

Of its shadow

From atop the tallest tree

...

I will say no more