Inkangara
Traditionally, when a woman gets married in Burundi, her family meets at her house and they all walk together to the groom's house while singing.
Inkangara (A Basket) is sung while the bride's family gives baskets of food and banana wine to the groom's family. The bride's family sings about what they're bringing in the hope that the groom's family will feed the bride as well as her parents did.
Inkangara
A Basket
Wedding Song
Wedding Song
(Kirundi)
(English)
Icitabirizo:
Eee inkangara
Ibitero:
Inkangara
Inkangara
Inkangara
Inkangara irihe?
Inkangara ivuye he?
Iwabo w'umukobwa
Iherekejwe nande?
Inasenge w'umukobwa
Inkagara irimwo iki?
Inkoko y'umukwe
Inkangara irimwo iki?
Igisahira c'umukwe
Inkangara ije mwo iki?
Akuki k'umukwe
Chorus:
Eee that basket
Verses:
A basket
A basket,
A basket
Where is the basket?
Where does the basket come from?
It comes from the bridegroom's in-laws.
Who brings it?
The bride's paternal aunt brings it.
What's in the basket?
There's a chicken for the groom.
What's in the basket?
There are bananas for the groom.
What's in the basket?
There's banana wine mixed with the honey, for the groom.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
This song can be found in Burundi Nuptial Songs And Females' Valuation And Promotion along with many other nuptial songs.
Urakoze cane!