It is difficult to say what this song is "about." Rather than having a unifying theme, this song is a collection of stories, some of which are likely known to whoever might have been listening at the time.
Nyagweno starts with a story of an impotent guy, whose wife runs to her mother to complain, who then advises her to give up on him. Nyagweno then praises Aming' who has apparently called on Nyagweno to perform at his wife's wake. Presumably, Aming' is a notable person and is compensating Nyagweno for his performance, and even offers to slaughter a goat for him.
Nyagweno then goes on to praise Obong'o, who has rid the village of a variety of pests who prey on the villagers crops. From there, a story about trying to dig an ant bear out of a hole begins. The villagers are determined to get rid of an ant bear, but after digging it's hole for a while, they find that hyenas have taken up residence, and everyone proceeds to run for safety. This is likely some well known parable.
Nywagweno continues to praise various people, leading to the moral of the story, which is that goats are greater than women, ostensibly because they don't become jealous and are easily controlled.
To modern listeners, these types of stories might not make a whole lot of sense, but historically, all other main characters would be known, along with the back story behind the parables. Unfortunately, this knowledge is becoming lost.
lyrics
Mano adwa wero Aming’ Kamondo wuon Ong’or- I want to praise Aming’, son of Mondo father of Ong’or.
Mano osiepna bwana majadwar- That’s my friend, the great hunter.
Awerogi ga kod Dana Adhiambo nyar Jokisumo Karateng- I normally praise them along with my grandmother Adhiambo, the daughter of Kisumo from Karateng’.
Mosna uru Obiwa buoch Tom onindo kod nyako, nyako odhi thurgi wachoni min mare ni mama woko ni nono wuod nyar gabuoga- My regards to Obiwa. Tom, the impotent guy, had sex with a lady, she went back to visit her people and tells her Mother about Tom, and the mother tells here to give up, there’s nothing there.
Olang’ ajawer- I am the singer, Olang’.
Onyango ayichra nang’? – Onyango, why let it all out?
Ka akao kom thum Ochwicho abetgo piny- I took my stool, Ochwicho, and sat down.
Abuk matwak nyithiwa wad dakuon- I began to chant to my people like stirring a porridge pot.
Kata rabuond gwachi- Even a little like sweet potatoes.
Awero Aming’ Kamondo- I praise Aming’, son of Mondo.
Awero Aming’ Kamondo- I praise Aming’, son of Mondo.
Wuod Omondo wuon Ong’or Wuod Okalo wuon Okango- Son of Omondo, father of Ong’or, Son of Okalo, father of Okango.
Awendo wuon Okango- Awendo, father of Okango.
Go Onam wuon Okango- And Onam, father of Okango.
Ee Osiepa wuod Mauna Dam- My friend, son of Mauna Dam.
Wuod bar Mwengo kama chiengni gi Mauna Dam- Son of Mwengo Inland, close to Mauna Dam.
Aming’ wendi to ber Ayie gi Amin Seje, Obong’o oma an – Aming’ your song is great, I agree with Aming’ Seje, Obong’o you invited me.
Aming’ chieng’ mano oma, to oro jaote- When Aming’ called me, he sent out his messenger.
Ogesa Otiela wuod Agoro nyar Omollo ringi iomnae Olang’ – Ogesa Otiela, son of Agoro, daughter of Omollo, run and bring me Olang’.
Ah bwana majathum mondo odiem nuaye thum- Mr. Musician, please entertain us.
Ogesa obiro okona ni Olang’ Ochwicho- Ogesa came and said to me, Olang’ Ochwicho.
Aming’ dwari dhi ywago jaode- Aming’ wants you to mourn his wife.
Manyar Obuto wuon Ochanji yamo Olalo- The daughter of Obuto, son of Ochanji, is dead.
Owacho yawa bu ni igwelne thum- He has requested you should play the nyatiti for him.
Ayaye Aming’ Kamondo- Yes, Aming’, son of Mondo.
Anyiso langa- I said to my colleagues….
Anyiso bwana Ooko mangla kochilo Nyongore- I said to Mr. Ooko Mangla, son of Ochilo Nyongore.
Oyie tera budho yawa ka Aming’ Kamondo- He offered to accompany me to entertain at Aming’s home, the son of Mondo.
Onyango mawuod Yenga, ne pok yamo olalo yawuoyi owuk bokwe- Onyango son of Yenga, was still alive, the young men were out and calm.
Odhiambo Kokello owuk bokwe- Odhiambo, son of Okello, was out and calm.
Gitera dala ka Aming’ Kamondo- They took me to Aming’s home, son of Mondo.
Otundo osira wende wuod Mondo oyang’ona diel- When it became very early in the morning, the son of Mondo slaughtered a goat for me.
Openjo Nyagweno Oduor okeu godero nyaka nyoro ichak thumni ng’ato oseko yang’onie diel? - He asked Nyagweno Oduor, nephew of Odero, since you started playing the nyatiti yesterday has anybody slaughtered you a goat?
Nene akwero Aming’ Kamondo- I said no, Aming’, son of Mondo.
Kamondo wuon Ong’or nyaka nyoro achak thumani pok ng’ato oyang’onae diel- Son of Mondo, father of Ong’or, since I started played my nyatiti yesterday no one has slaughtered a goat for me.
Aming’ wachona ni Nyagweno ni gonyo ayang’oni diel- Aming’ said to me, Nyagweno, today, I will slaughter a goat for you.
Agok diedni ichuto go ojur- You’ll eat the ribs of this goat.
Chino mare ichuto go ojur- You’ll eat the stomach of this goat.
Agoko mare ichuto go ojur- You’ll eat the ribs of this goat.
Ayaye Aming’ Kamondo kuon otieko dhiang’ ba lake dhiang’ ema odong’- Oh Aming’, son of Mondo, Ugali has finished the cow, the teeth are all that is left.
Tung dhiang’ ema odong’- The horns are the leftovers.
Ayaye Aming’ kamondo- Oh Aming’, son of Mondo.
Rapundo wuod Ong’oro osiepna meru nyar Ger- Rapudo son of Ong’oro, my friend, your Mother is a daughter from Kager.
Wuod Fibi nyar Jasor yaye Aming’ meru nyar Ger- Son of Fibi, daughter from Sor, Oh Aming’, your Mother is daughter from Ger.
Wuod Athieno ya manyako yaye Aming’ wendi yaye Aming’ meru nyar Ger- Son of Athieno, the lady Oh Aming’, your song oh Aming’, your Mother is a daughter from Ger.
Kamondo Kong’or bwana maja dwar we Obong’o ochuonue le- Son of Mondo, son of Ong’or Mr. the hunter let Obong’o spear you an animal.
Onego mwanda, Mwanda yad chamo oganda- He killed all the Antelopes, they used to eat beans.
Onego mokwe gonyogo ok anegie kwer- He killed them, they stopped and I don’t see them again.
Ba ng’ani onego rudno yand chamo oganda- This fellow killed all the bugs, they used to eat beans.
Bende onego bokwe gonyogo ok anegie kwer- He also killed them all and they stopped, I don’t see them anymore.
Ng’ani onego Chiepe, Chiepe yand chamo omuogo- This fellow has killed Porcupines that used to eat the cassava.
Onego mokwe gonyogo ok anegie kwer- He has killed them all they stopped, I don’t see them anymore.
Ng’ani onego mbithi, Mbithi yand chamo omuogo- This fellow as killed wild pig, they used to eat the cassava.
Onego bokwe gonyogo ok anegie kwer- He has killed them all, I don’t see them anymore.
Ah bwana maja dwar we Obong’o ochwonue le- Ah Mr. Hunter, let Obong’o spear you an animal.
Ero kamano Aming’ Kamondo wuon Ong’or, wuod Okech wuon Okango- Thank you Aming’, son of Mondo, father of Ong’or, son of Okech, father of Okango.
Ai yamo tek, yamo tek- Death is strong, death is strong.
Nyagweno awuoro buch joduar- Nyagweno, I am amazed at the hunter’s power.
Aming’ Komond wuon Ong’orni- Aming’ son of Mondo, this father of Ong’or.
Ne kinde moro, ne gi lao le, le midendo bu muok- Once upon time, they chased an animal, the ant bear.
Bu muok nodonjo ibur- And the ant bear went into a hole.
Oting’o Magenge Kowuor, gokello kowuor- Magenge, son of Owuor, and Okello, son of Owuor were there.
Jogo odhiyo kunyo muok, gi dhi kunyo muok- They went to dig out the ant bear from the hole.
Kagichopo kama kara muok nende odonjo ibur- The arrived at the ant bear’s hole.
Bu muok ero owuok, otoche bu odonjo ibur- Thought the ant bear apparently escaped and hyenas had gotten in.
Jogi nokunyo nyaka okinyi – They dug until morning.
Gi wuoro yawa gichunygi kaka gichopo kuom muok- They thought, if they dug deep enough, they would find the ant bear.
Otoyo ema nowuok ibur dhano oringo bu okwe- But a hyena came out and they all ran away.
Guok oringo kang’wonyo iwe piny koro rach- The dog ran with its tail between its legs, it’s not safe here anymore.
To Aming’ Kamondo mawuod Ong’or osiepna be otoye ng’wech- Aming’ son of Mondo, son of Ong’or, my friend also escaped.
Okello kowuor be otoye ng’wech- Okello son of Owuor. also escaped.
Magenge kowuor be otoye ng’wech- Magenge, son of Owuor also escaped.
Ayaye Aming’ Kamondo- Oh Aming’, son of Mondo.
Sama awere gi Dana- I praise him along with my grandmother.
Adhiambo Dana nyar Jokisumo Karateng’- Adiambo, my grandmother, daughter of Kisumo from Karateng’.
Adhiambo Dana nyar Jokisumo Karateng’ ineno kadiek lona mon- Adhiambo, my grandmother, daughter of Kisumo from Karateng’, you see goats are greater than women.
Kama olonaye mon- Goats are greater than women.
Nitie mon moko makawore chuogi omeu, ok giwuoth gi mon modhier- There are some women who boast that their husbands are rich so they can’t be with poor women.
Giwutho gi mon momeu- They just hang out with rich women.
A.. Jaber Adhiambo nyar Owino Kogolla- A…beautiful Adhiambo, daughter of Owino, son of Ogolla.
Abok kogolla- Abok, son of Ogolla
Asiri Kogolla- Asiri, son of Ogolla.
Ga Akudho kogolla nyar Jokisumo karateng’ aa Diek lo mon- And Aguto, son of Ogolla, daughter of Kisumo from Rateng’, goats are better than women.
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