ሰሚራ ሰሚራ
(Semira, Semira)
This rhyme is well-known in Eritrea.
"It's actually sung by a man whose love disappears. He finds her later, but cannot be with her due to having to go to war (the war of independence). Hence the last line." -Reddit
Pronunciation is in the notes.
ሰሚራ ሰሚራ
(Semira, Semira)
Semira, Semira
Hand Clapping Rhyme
Hand Clapping Rhyme
(Tigrigna)
(English)
ሰሚራ ሰሚራ ጓለ’ስመራ ገዛና
ዓጽያቶ ናበይ ዘይራ?
ተበልኩ ተበልኩ ስኢነያ ኣብ
ገምገም ባሕሪ ረኺበያ
ቻው ቻው ቻው ሓዲገኪ
ቻው ቻው ቻው ሓዲገኪ
ቻው ቻው ቻው ሓዲገኪ
ቻው ቻው ቻው ሓዲገኪ
በዓል ዕድል ኢዩ ዝወስደኪ
Semira, Semira from Asmara
She closed the gate to our house, where did she go?
When I went to look for her, I couldn't find her
Later, I met her at a forest near a lake.
Bye, bye, bye, I'm leaving you
Bye, bye, bye, I'm leaving you
Bye, bye, bye, I'm leaving you
Someone luckier than me will have you.
Notes
*"Semira is a girl's name mostly for Muslims in Eritrea." -Eritrea-chat.com
People often put in the name of a kid they're singing this to in the place of "Semira".
**Asmara is a city and the capital of Eritrea.
Pronunciation:
Semira Semira gual Asmara
Gezana a'tseyato nabey keyda
Tekhedku-tekhedku si'inaya,
Ab ghem-ghem bahri rekibeya!
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Chaw chaw chaw hadigeki
Be'al edl iyu zwesdeki!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Lisa. Based on a translation on Reddit. Thanks to Beth from Beth's Notes for sharing the original language text!
የቐንየለይ! Yekeniyeley!