Maach Tu Yu Oan Jrom

Tudeh day, di werl feel soh krayzi. Soh, fos ting, memba fi gi tanks tu Gaad evri day dat yu mek it chroo tu wahn neks day! Neks ting da dis: If yu di feel aal mash op ahn kanfyooz op, sata lee bit ahn chrai tink wai yu di feel soh. Yu maita eevn waahn mek wahn lee lis. Now, chek yu lis: If yu mi rait dong dat yu di feel bad sayka yu noh di liv op tu weh adarels pipl ekspek a yu, dis da fi mee advais:


Maach tu di beet a yu oan jrom!

Now, da weh dis meen? Ih noh meen du eniting yu waahn du widowtn tink a weh maita hapm! No taal! Dat noh wahn gud, sayka yu mait mek sohnbadi kech feelinz er kaaz chrobl if yu jos du eniting yu waahn widowtn pay main tu how tingz mait en op. Tudeh, wi shyaa bowt sohn jrom fahn di Kriol dikshineri:


jrom n.
1) drum; percussion instrument.
Noh beet di jrom soh haad, man.
Don't beat the drum so loud, man.
See: tumtum, gumbeh, kota jrom.

2) drum, barrel.
Mis Haatens set ih jrom fi kech rayn waata enitaim ih rayn.
Miss Hortense set her drum to catch rainwater whenever it rains.


gumbeh n.
large drum used for dances; made from mahogany about 18" high and 18" long, with the head on both ends.
Bara gumbeh neva play til daylait.
The borrowed drum does not play until the end of the dance.
(Belizean proverb)


kota jrom n.
drum used to cut into the steady rhythm of the bass drum during the sambai dance.


tum-tum n.
tom-tom; small double drum beaten with the hands.
Dehn man fahn Gaylz Paint aalwayz laik nak tumtum fi mek pipl daans.
The men from Gales Point always like to play the drums so people can dance.





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Kriol is the language spoken by many Belizeans, especially the Creole people of Belize. Although it is often perceived as a dialect of English, it is indeed it's own language with grammar and spelling rules. The National Kriol Council of Belize was created to promote the culture and language of the Kriol people of Belize, as well as harmony among all the ethnic groups of Belize. Please visit the website of the National Kriol Council of Belize for lots of good information about the Kriol language and the Creole people.


The Kriol Council has been kind enough to send us the weekly "Weh Wi Ga Fi Seh" column that is usually published in the Reporter.


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