"Puɔth ɛ duŋ dan" ("The Blessing Is Ours") - by Mha Chang and Gatwech Hoth
"Puɔth ɛ duŋ dan" ("The Blessing Is Ours") is a production of Goa Ni Mal, a music and entertainment studio based in the Newland neighborhood of Gambella town in Ethiopia’s western Gambella Peoples’ region. Chang Kot Nyak (stage name “Mha Chang”) founded Goa Ni Mal (which means “Peace is better” in Nuer) in 2014, and the studio has a prolific output. According to Mha Chang, Goa Ni Mal’s main aim is to empower the youth. He records many young artists for free, and many of the songs released through the studio feature socially-conscious messages that advise people to commit themselves to their education, work hard, and love one another. Notably, Goa Ni Mal is 100% a grassroots movement. The studio has no sponsor, and there is no formal platform on which they can air their music videos or play their songs. Rather, Mha Chang gives the tracks out for free, and the songs circulate on mobile phones, memory cards, and his personal YouTube channel.
"Puɔth ɛ duŋ dan" is an example of some of the more socially-conscious music produced at Goa Ni Mal, the lyrics encouraging the surrounding community towards love and unity to better their neighborhoods.
Lyrics
Intro
Mɛmɛ mi gɔaa kɛ kɔn diaal,
This song is very good for all of us
ɛn com ɛ mi gɔaa kä ti diaal,
This message is very good for all of us
Mi latkɛ raan duɔɔr, a kääpɛ ɛ la duŋ dɛ,
When someone is talking to you, take it as your own
Ci guic ni ram ɛn daan ɛn lat duɔɔr, kɛ ɣöö liäŋ ruac noŋɛ kan, kä rialɛ raani kä,
Don’t just look at the person who is talking to you, because listening is salvation, and it can shape you
Mɛmɛ ɛ Mha Chang
This is Mha Chang
Verse 1
Kɔn görnɛ mat, görnɛ mal, rɛy ciëëni kɔn i yiëë, yië yië yiëë, yiëë, yië yië yiëë,
Let's look for unity, look for peace, among our neighborhood,
Mi wanɛ mat lath nhiam bi kɔn cuu te kɛ puɔth—nhöök nhök nhök, i görnɛ jɛ.
When we make unity a prioriy, we will have a blessing, love love love, let's look for love
Kɔn görnɛ mat kɔn gör nɛ mal, kɔn görnɛ unity kamni kɔn, yiëë
Let’s look for unity, let’s look for peace, let’s look for unity amongst ourselves
Thiɛlɛ kak mi dee rɔ pur, mi caa pur kɛ tet,
There is no farm that can plant itself without us cultivating it
Lathnɛ nhök nhiam, lathnɛ mat nhiam, kamni kɔn,
Let’s put love as a priority, let’s put unity as a priority, among ourselves
Puɔth caa jek baaŋ, puɔth jëk jɛ kɛ lät ti gɔw, ɛɛy
We cannot get blessing without working for it, we can get a blessing when we do something good
Chorus
Puɔth ɛ duŋ dan, nhök ɛ duŋ dan,
The blessing is ours, love is ours
Mi lätdi duɔɔr mi gɔaa, lätdi jɛ kä rɔɔdu,
When you do something good, you are doing it to yourself
Mi lätdi mi jiääk, lätdi jɛ kä rɔɔdu,
When you do something bad, you are doing it to yourself
Nhɔaknɛ ro dan, kapnɛ ro dan,
Let's love one another, let's unite with one another
Mi nhɔaknɛ roo dan bi ciëë dan tee mal,
When we love one another, there will be peace among our neighbors
Nhɔaknɛ ro dan, nhɔaknɛ ro dan.
Let's love one another, let's love one another
Verse 2
Kɔn nyuɔrnɛ kɛl, latnɛ lät ti gɔw kɛɛl,
Let's sit together, let's do something good together
Kɔn palnɛ kɛɛl, Kuɔth ɛ Kuɔth kɛl,
Let's pray together, because God is one God
Cäk ɛ cääk kɛl, mäni cäŋ kɛl,
We are all created by the same person, forever
Biate kɛ gɔy, yië yië yië yië
You will have blessings, yes
Kɔn nyuɔrnɛ kɛl, latnɛ lät ti gɔw kɛɛl,
Let's sit together, let's do something good together
Kɔn palnɛ kɛɛl, Kuɔth ɛ Kuɔth kɛl,
Let's pray together, because God is one God
Cäk ɛ cääk kɛl, mäni cäŋ kɛl,
We are all created by the same person, forever
Bia te kɛ mal, bia te kɛ gɔy, yië yië yië yië yiëë You will have peace, you will have blessings, yes
Cuanɛ Kuɔth päl ruëëc, nhök ɛn nhɔk Kuɔth kɔn kɛ jɛ, yië yië yië, yië yiëë
Let's not forget God, how he loves us
Puɔth bëë kɛ dup ti gööl, puɔth bëë kɛ dup ti gööl
Blessings come in different ways, blessings come in different ways
Caa jɛ lar, ɛ raan luth diëth kɛ, ɛ raan luth man kɛnɛ guan, i yië yië yië yië
It was said, love your parents, respect your mother and your father, yes
Caa jɛ lar, diëëth luɔthɛ gaat kun, ëë, mama, luthni gaatku, baba, luthni gaatku,
It was said, parents respect your children, Mama, respect your children, Papa, respect your children
Puɔth bëë kɛ dup ti gööl, ɛ puɔth ɛ puɔth,
Blessings come in different ways, blessings, blessings
Puɔth bë kɛ dup ti gööl,
Blessings come in different ways
Cuanɛ Kuɔth päl ruëëc, nhök ɛn nhɔk Kuɔth kɔn kɔn kɛ jɛ,
Let's not forget God, how he loves us
Puɔ̱th bëë kɛ dup ti gööl, puɔth bëë kɛ dup ti gööl
Blessings come in different ways, blessings come in different ways
Chorus
Credits and Bibliography
Mha Chang (translation)