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Poems shared in the Ledo dialect with thanks to Jakarta UNESCO City of Literature for their contributions to the No Tongues Left To Chant exhibition.
Tjatjo Tuan Saichu was born as Syarif Magriby on December 27, 1949, in Tanjung Padang. He used the pen name TS. Atjat along with several other pseudonyms.
He was active as a journalist from 1969 to 1979 and has served in various private schools since 1970 up to the present. He is also a lecturer at Alkhairaat University. As a cultural observer, he has actively participated in language and literature seminars both as a speaker and a participant.
On the national and international stage, he served as an interpreter at the 1992 Non-Aligned Movement Summit. He participated in the 1997 Southeast Asian Literary Meeting and has been involved in numerous literary events across the Indonesian archipelago.
His literary works include anthologies of poetry, drama manuscripts, short stories, novels, books on literature, history, and culture. Currently, he is preparing a Kaili dictionary for the Rai dialect (Kaili–Indonesian–English), an anthology of poems in three dialects to be translated into English, and a collection of short stories in the Kaili Rai and Ledo dialects, you can read a sample of these poems below.
SOYO LEI
Soyo lei ane nolumako kana nosipanuntu noembai tadulakona notinggaulu
Soyo lei ae nosirata kana nosisuju nantui kana nosikajulu
Soyo lei natinulu nosampesuvu nakatutu nesayo kutuvu
Soyo lei soyo mposampesuvu
Tando Pada, 22 Februari 2002 Antologi Puisi Bahasa Kaili Dialek Rai dan Ledo
Indonesian Translation by Irzan Hamidin:
SEMUT MERAH
Semut merah Kalau berjalan harus beriringan Memikul Tadulako yang duluan pergi
Semut merah Kalau bertemu tetap saling menjulurkan tangan Harus tetap memegang gotong royong
Semut merah Terus menerus menjalin persaudaraan Untuk menyambung kehidupan
Semut merah Semut yang kuat persaudaraannya
Tando Pada, 22 Februari 2002
English translation by the Jakarta UNESCO City of Literature team:
RED ANTS
Red ants They march in lines Carrying Tadulako*, who’s gone ahead
Red ants Each time they meet, they reach out and extend Keeping it alive, the legacy of working hand in hand
Red ants weaving bonds of fellowship, to survive and strive
Red ants known for their strong bonds
Tando Pada, 22 February 2002
—-
*) Tadulako, a title from Kaili people of Central Sulawesi, means ‘leader who shows the way’—a figure who guided rituals, protected the community, and today stands as a symbol of leadership and resilience.
KARAMPE
Karampe…. Kana rarampe Kana rarampe satutumpara
Karampe itu…. Nikarampei ntopo sakaya ompa nompaka isilamu to Kaili njumangu
Karampe itu…. Nikabotu nulibu I Dato Karama nte I Pue Njidi I Pue Bongo bo I Pue Nggari Nanjungge lino ka to Kaili
Karampe itu…. nikasiromu ntonggaulu nikasintuvu ntomaogeta nantesa sintuvu mposarara mpobatutu
Karampe itu…. Nikatuvu nu avo Palu bo nosangaka Kota Palu
Palu, 11 Desember 2001
Indonesian translation by Irzan Hamidin:
Karampe…harus tetap disebut Karampe…harus disebut
Karampe itu…disinggahi Orang berperahu tikar Mengislamkan banyak orang Kaili
Karampe itu…tempat musyawarah Dato Karama dengan Pue Njidi Pue Bongo dan Pue Nggari Menghidupkan ketenangan untuk orang Kaili
Karampe itu…tempat kumpul orang tua dulu Dihidupi orang berilmu menceritakan kehidupan Bersaudara bersatu
Karampe itu dihidupi Bambu Palu dan namanya Kota Palu
Palu, 11 Desember 2001 Antologi Puisi Bahasa Kaili Dialek Rai dan Ledo
English Translation by the Jakarta UNESCO City of Literature team:
Karampe… it has to be said Karampe… it has to be voiced
Karampe… a place once visited by those who came ashore with sajadah** Spreading Islam to many Kaili
Karampe… a place for discussion Dato Karama along with Pue Njidi Pue Bongo and Pue Nggari Bringing peace to Kaili people
Karampe… a gathering of elders Inhibited by the wise, telling stories of life of fellows, united
Karampe… a growing grove of Palu bamboo and gave its name—Palu
Palu, 11 December 2001
*) Karampe is the name of a region east of Palu, remembered as the historical origin of the city—now the capital of Central Sulawesi.
**) sajadah is a praying rug.
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