Kanou Dan Yen par Fatoumata Diawara

***ENGLISH LYRICS***
Kanou Dan Ye (Stop loving/Our love has no future)

Young lovers or newlyweds who decide to break up rather than continue in a relationship they deem without a future because of an ancient tradition, which forbids marriages between certain ethnic groups. Fatou appeals to those who hang on to these archaic customs, which constitute an obstacle to the advancement of our society, and takes away from young people the freedom to love the person of their choice.

Let us stop, stop, yes, stop this love without future

We have to break up and say goodbye to each other
My darling husband, it’s over, goodbye!

Because you are Soninke and I am Fula
You are Fula but I am Soninke
I am a Jokorome and you are of the griot caste
Your mother will never let us be together
We cannot be together; your father will never let us
Your brothers and sisters will always oppose our union

Let us stop, stop, yes, stop this love without future

We have to break up and say goodbye to each other
My darling husband, it’s over, goodbye!

Because you are Soninke and I am Fula
You are Songhoy but I am Sarakole
You are a Bwa and I am Bozo
You are a Jokorome and I am Soninke
Your mother will never let us be together
We cannot be together; your father will never let us
Your brothers and sisters will always oppose our union

My husband, my love
I am resigned to this fate
Truth, please don’t stop two young hearts from loving each other
Don’t stop them from being together if they love each other

Let us stop, stop, yes, stop this love without future