Sounds of Music

Sounds of music are here, there, everywhere! in this, in that, in that! They give rhythm to everything around us; be it the crack of dawn, fiery sunny days, or mellow twilights. I hear the sounds of music when the cock crows faithfully signaling dawn; Cocko-ree-oo-cooo mmmm! and when the Muslim devotees are called to prayer by the mwazin; Allaaaah….Akubar! Sounds of music confer zeal to my hands as I kneel at the grinding stone, grinding millet seeds and dried cassava pieces. As the stones kiss each other they sing out to me; Kigwak-kigwak-kigwak Itendo kwon ga’ngo? Atendo kwon girigo ma nyoro baba onyewo! Sounds of music that silence my rumbling belly as I cook magira at noontime; while the flames lick the blackened ayiga bottom, she sings out in giddiness; Alu-lu-lu chal ayidha mugoy pyere umaido! Alu-lu-lu chal ayidha mugoy pyere umaido! Sounds of music swing me to action when I hear the milk cow mooing in tune to the herdsman’s calming whistles; and before adhadha orders me I rush gaily for the milk stool turning and twirling in tune to the whistles of the milkman and the mooos. Ah, the enticing sounds of music that thrill us around the night fire as adhadha regales us with folktales; awili nyoro ‘wili nyoro fodi ‘kitwi dhudho? a mama, mama, dhudho nyaka woc. Mama dikini ‘kidwok nwangan Mama ogwang nyoro ‘luwo kodan Mama dikini ‘kidwok nwangan Mama ogwang nyoro ‘luwo kodan.