Iua Kul Kaugu Loko
and its master sharing peanuts in Kokopo, East New
Britain.
Iau Kul Kaugu Loko ( I bought my rooster) is a popular song about a rooster that a person bought and kept as a pet. It would wake up its master crowing early in the morning. Roosters crow in the mornings and this song, in a way, is a tribute to their "duty" as time keepers. The second verse of the song is in admiration for the pet rooster's fighting ability using its spurs (tikuluna). It describes its crest (kere) as befitting the look of a chief ( Ia ra luluai ta).The song is written here following the Kuanua dialects of Kabakada and Rakunai. There is a slight variation between these two dialects and Raluana dialect.The variation: Vidir ra lala (Kabakada and Rakunai); Vidir ra lolo (Raluana). Iau Kul Kaugu Loko has been sung for generations in East New Britain. Before you sing this song note that I am not the composer but sharing for Kuanua speakers who may wish to pass on the song to their children of today to keep in touch with Tolai folklore.
1.
Iau kul kaugu loko.
Kaugu tena mono oo.
Kaugu tena mono oo.
Ra mutumut.
Ra kavunvun.
Ra malamalana.
I wangun pa awet.
Mara kakarikuku.
Vidir ra lala.
Vidir ra lala.
Vidir ra lala.
Vidir ra lala.
Ma irukatuka,
Ma irukatuka,
Ma ikakarikuku.
2.
I toke ra kere.
Ia ra luluai ta aa.
Ia ra luluai ta aa.
Ra mutumut.
Ra kavunvun.
Ra malamalana.
I wangun pa awet.
Mara kakarikuku.
Vidir ra lala.
Vidir ra lala.
Vidir ra lala.
Vidir ra lala.
Ma irukatuka,
Ma irukatuka,
Ma ikakarikuku.
Hi Ismael,
ReplyDeleteI was asked about our Tolai folk song "Iau Kul Kaugu Loko" about the words and translation for publication in the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia (PNGAA) magazine "PNG Kundu". I am in the Management Committee and want to promote as part of PNG news, language, culture, songs in particular our Tolai, Gunantuna, Kuanua speakers and people.I thought of reproducing your blog article and giving you credit in particular reference to this song;
Iau Kul kagu loko
https://ismaelkisikel.blogspot.com/search?q=iau+kul
I therefore request permission to use and give acknowledgement and credit to you on this. I feel the way it is presented to reproduced will be great reading for our audience and members to learn about the Tolai.
I await your reply.
Cheers,
Steven
Permission granted. Thank you for promoting our Kuanua Language.
ReplyDelete