Nemalís Birth Song
A Nemalís birth song is a song parents give their children at birth and teach it to their communities. When a new baby is born, the parents will create a brand new melody along with the first verse or chorus. As the child grows older, they'll add more verses, possibly a second verse, and one or two bridges. By the time a child reaches the age of fifteen, the song is complete. At all major events in the child's life, this song is performed by the parents, family, and community members. It's a song that reminds each child where they come from and of the support they have behind them. It builds and continually strengthens the bond each child needs to develop with a strong foundation and support group. As the saying goes, "it takes a village," in Nemal, they take this ideology very seriously. While the majority of a child's upbringing is for the parents to shape, the family and neighboring community all come together to play a pivotal role.
We introduce one of these songs in Book One of The Paradise Planets. It's called, "Ashkana Tuv." Here are the lyrics to the song:
ASHKANA TUV (REMEMBER WHEN)
Remember when you’d dance to my vinyl records from my past
You would spin with both arms wide open, bouncing as you laughed
If I sat down, you’d grab my hand and make me dance with you
That was you, and ashkana tuv
Remember when you’d run through the palace playing hide and seek
You would hide behind the same old curtains thinking you’d fool me
You would squeal
When you were revealed
Giggling like you do
That was you, and ashkana tuv
All the days I spent far away were hard to be without you
The memories I didn’t get to see - missing out on things you’d do
When I’d come back
You’d run to dad
And be the girl I knew
‘Cause you loved me, too - you
Remember when you grew up so fast right before my eyes
If only we could go back in time to moments of our lives
I wouldn’t change
A single thing
Even the hard times, too
That was all still you, and ashkana tuv
*IN EVÉIK*
Rikordûtu máti olis pareludu shi nayalí biníl luþitóbé dari nayalí sahul tuvat
Olis kwídu kin amos rukûtó brít kík tuvat, kertsésách áz ritudu tuvat
Lô bekala fichi nayat, olis viposudu nayalí shoho tuvat, i hulitu parelutu kin tuvé mwat.
Budu tuvé sîmat, i ashkana tu
Rikordûna máti olis koorudu méso li sarébé neltudu bisabé i kimé tuvat
Olis bisadu gésh li mara taman atanóbé tuvat, pensách olis jilizu mwabé tuvat
Olis sikadu tuvat
Máti budu keshefudu tuvat
Basamách áz daidu tuvat
Budu tuvé sîmat, i ashkana tuv
Dur poþ kehevala amni li tagóbé/ôeróbé nayat, budala sabun shi kehevala kimun tuvat
Daila néz prapala shi tazala li dakiratóbé nayat – téa néz fizanala kwam shi nayat
Da olis vaksala nayat
I tum olis péudala nayat
Van amni li miharitóbé olis daizu tuvat
Budu méshû tuvé sîmat, tuvat
Rikordûna máti wasînudu nak hûn kásh vikolak dávor nayalí potóbé tuvat
Lô hanya téa píbi lersûbi lev agité shi shukanó van bizí vitó bizat
Olis néz sorjana nayat
În tani shéané
Pun li sabu agitó, gam
Budu amni orla tuvé sîmat, i ashkana tuv
by: Shaun Barrowes
