Lyrics to Amba Mutalya, a Bukusu circumcision song

Amba mutalya is a Bukusu circumcision song that is sung often one night before the day preceding circumcision. It is belongs to the category of Bukusu circumcision songs known as kimyenyakye khulanga or songs for calling. These songs are performed during khulanga when basinde visit their clan members and friends inviting them to grace their occasion.

Meaning

Amba mutalya instills courage to basinde encourages the initiate to embrace mutalya, while parsing the initiates relations and clan. It is a feel good song full of positivity whose simulating rhythm is set by the tune of chinyimba which the initiates strikes as they dance through the village.

Lyrics to amba mutalya

This song follows the soloist (call) – audience (response) pattern. The lyrics in normal text are the soloist words, while those in bold are the response from the audience.

Bali nikhwembilisia bulai mutalya kuno khusuna mungaki nekhwlao
amba mutalya
Enje chelechenje kumumu kufwa mulamwa kasenda engubo 
amba mutalya
Enje chelechenje kumumu kufwa mulamwa kandabula engubo
amba mutalya
Bali ututu munyanga echo, khusuna mungaki nekhwilao 
amba mutalya
Bali nacha khusikulu sia bolingo nacha khukhesia nende Wele 
amba mutalya
Bali nekhwembilisia busa mutalya kuno bulusya bosi nebengila 
amba mutalya
Bali khwimbilisia lundi 
Ah webale oyee
amba mutalya
Khwimba mutalya kwe baluyia 
Ah webale oyee
amba mutalya
Embalu ye buluyia musibala muno bali Mango papa wakirera 
amba mutalya
Bali ututu bali ututu munyanga echo bali Mango papa wakirera 
amba mutalya
Nalangilisha lundi nalanga bona khane nalanga nende omubofu 
amba mutalya
Nakhesia kwana kukhana kwanja khukhona kuli kumbafu,stiupidi khane Mango akubolele 
amba mutalya
Kuli kumbafu, stiupidi khane ukimwi eli munda 
amba mutalya
Bali ututu bali ututu munyanga echo khane ututu eli ne liloko 
amba mutalya
Bali kwimbilisia lundi 
Ah webale oyee
amba mutalya
Khwimba mutalya kwe baluyia 
Ah webale oyee
amba mutalya
Kuno mutalya nawe oloba 
Ah webale oyee
amba mutalya

References

  • Kariithi, F., 2020. Politeness a Critical Aspect in Bukusu Traditional Circumcision Songs. The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 8(5).

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