Sowa Sowa Bambara Chorus Sowa ayii Sowa aha sowa wa x2 Lahila hila Mamadara surulayi ko ne bèna kuma sa Ne bè n‟sarala musow la, dunia musow la ko lamò gèlèman I bè kònòta sègèn na k‟i den wolo sègèn na, k‟i kan‟o lamò abada Ka taga lamò la i b‟o di lamò la k‟i kan‟o tònò dun abada saha aha ahayiiiiiiiiii Chorus Jònni ye lamò den ye? Ne ni n‟dògòniw lamò den ye Jònni ye lamò den ye? Fatan batan ye lamò den ye N‟aw ma nya ne ma ka lamò nyèfò ne dun ma lamò kòrò dòn Ko Jònni yé lamò den ye? Ne ni n‟dògòniw lamò den ye Ni wolodeni b‟i bolo i kan‟a di ka taa lamòla O bèna ni dusu kasi ye, o bèna ni sòn ja ye Chorus A y‟a denw nyè lajè x4 Sani olu ka taa nyani na A y‟a denw nyè lajè yéééé Ne ko ko sani olu ka taa sègèn na. A y‟a denw nyè lajèèèèè x3 Sowa aha sowa wa
Sowa (English) Chorus Sowa ayii Sowa aha sowa wa Please excuse me, in the name of God, as I want to express myself I‟m addressing all mothers worldwide; raising a child is not easy Imagine the suffering of pregnancy and of birth, And then not being able to raise that child! To then give the child to other people And give up the right to benefit from the fruit of these labours Chorus Who has been raised by other people? My brothers, my sisters, and myself Who has been raised by others? Orphans with no father or mother Please explain to me, as I have trouble understanding Who was raised by others? My brothers, my sisters, and me Don‟t give away your children to be raised by others This can only bring suffering and sadness Chorus Look them in the eyes! X4 Before condemning them to misery, look them in the eyes! X3