Ethiopian textile design. Image courtesy of Chris Beckett
I am the red Maandita
I am the red Maandita!
I am a true Maandita from across Dobi
the man who said he would never run away from me
I killed him on his sleeping mat
the one with stylish hair, I killed in Namosa
I killed a lover under the eyes of his mistress at Boole
the leader of the camels, I killed at Gegalo
also, to avenge our camels, I killed at Arso
the companions of my youth
you were better than anybody except the Assaba
the Sultan for whom I work
is better than all others except the Prophet
we are not two only
like the teats of the donkey
not four like the teats of the cow
not even six like the teats of a dog!
I am the son of Ebli Detto
I am the son of Ebli Detto, I was born to fight!
people say that Ebli Detto’s son is cruel, why? I do not know
maybe it is because I brand wandering cattle
or camels, as if they were mine? I do not know
people say that Ebli Detto’s son is cruel, but I do not know why!
maybe it goes back to the time when they were returning from war with their booty
then, after telling them not to offer anything to the Sheikh nor to the Miray, I grabbed
all they had for myself…still, I do not know
people say that Ebli Detto’s son is cruel but I do not know why!
maybe it is because, one day, somebody bought two cows and a horse
so I took the horse away saying it was mine
they still say that Ebli Detto’s son is cruel. I do not know why!
a man gave twelve cows for a beautiful woman and seventeen days after the wedding
I came to the bridegroom, armed with my spear, and I said: “She is mine!â€
maybe that is why they say I am cruel
people repeat that Ebli Detto’s son is cruel, I do not know why!
Someone dug a well and I watered my cattle in it while I kept his own from drinking
I have done nothing else. Why is Ebli Detto’s son cruel? I do not know!
Editor’s note: ‘I am the red Maandita’ and ‘I am the son of Ebli Detto’ were first recorded in 1963 by Georges C Savard, ‘War Chants of Ancient Afar Heroes’.
