Gorée Demba (A Short Film)

‘Gorée Demba’ is the debut single by DK Phone, who are the latest signings to our imprint Real World X. The track is available now on all digital platforms.

A former slave island off the coast of Dakar, Gorée continues to bear its history, which no one should forget. But today we are faced with the question of modern slavery, of this continual desire for freedom and hope. Are we not all slaves of the modern world?

DK Phone is a funk and soul project inspired by the sound of 1970s Ghana and Nigeria music, featuring Senegalese singer Mara Seck and producer Liam Farrell a.k.a. Doctor L. Both based in Dakar, the duo’s time spent exploring the vibrant city and discovering its mysteries and magic has greatly informed their music, telling an intriguing and complex story of urban life in Africa’s most westerly city.

Filmed by Orstudio (Ulrich Andy Dougandaga)
Edited by Liam Farrell a.k.a. Doctor L
Starring Mara Seck

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Gorée Demba (Original Wolof lyrics)
English translation below

Yéew leen baniou née ngod
Daniou leen done diape niom.
Bunü faté demba

Demba tax niou nane tay
Bunü faté demba
Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Ndiayüm diam gni mome méti wone na
Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Ndiayüm diam gni mome méti wone na
Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Khamo yow gane dü yéwi Bëy.
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na

Bunü faté demba
Bunü faté demba
Sunü mame ya wone thia Gorée
Bunü faté demba
Yéew leen baniou née ngod
Sunü mame ya wone thia Gorée

Bunü faté démbe
Démba tax niou nane tay
Démba tax niou nane tay

Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na
Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na
Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Khamo yow gane dü yéwi bëy
Khamo yow gane dü yéwi bëy
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na

Khamo yow gane dü yéwi bëy
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na
Bunü faté demba

Démba tax niou nane tay
Yéwu niou khagne la ndeye ak baye

Yéew leen baniou née ngod
Daniou leen done diape niom.
Bunü faté demba
Démba tax niou nane tay
Bunü faté demba

Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na
Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na
Kéne dü tabax kéne dü dek
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na

Khamo yow gane dü yéwi bëy
Khamo yow gane dü yéwi bëy
Ndiayüm diam gni méti wone na

Bunü faté démbe
Démba tax Niou nane tay
Sunü mame ya Wone Thia Gorée

* * * * * *

Gorée Demba (English translation)

They tied them up until they couldn’t move
They came to catch them
We don’t forget the past

That story from the past that we still talk about today
We don’t forget the past
We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
We welcomed you into our home and you crossed the line
Those slave sales were so violent

We don’t forget the past
We don’t forget the past
We can’t forget our ancestors from Gorée
We don’t forget the past
They tied them up until they couldn’t move
Our ancestors of Gorée

We don’t forget the past
This history of the past that we still talk about today
This history of the past that we still talk about today

We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there

Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
We welcomed you into our home and you crossed the line
We welcomed you into our home and you crossed the line
Those slave sales were so violent

We took you in and you crossed the line
Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t forget the past
That story from the past that we still talk about today
You wake up one day and they separate you from your parents

They tied them up until they couldn’t move
They came and grabbed them
We don’t forget the past
That story from the past that we still talk about today
We don’t forget the past

We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t have the right to build, we don’t have the right to live there
Those slave sales were so violent

We welcomed you into our home and you crossed the line
We welcomed you into our home and you crossed the line
Those slave sales were so violent
We don’t forget the past
This history of the past that we still talk about today
Our ancestors from Gorée