Baye [or Baay]

By Oumar Dieng ● 2025

Original Wolof: Baye [or Baay]

Sama baay demna
Demna ag pussiéru Sahra-bi
Ci kaw géej bu réy bi

Baayoo Baay
Fan ga dem?
Samay bes dagnu lëndëm
Samay guddi gentu lëndëm
N’dakh nekkofii

Khana sa biddewu gànnaar dafa réer?
Khana topp alal mo la genal
Sama tank yi njëk yi
Sama po yi njëk yi
Sama bëñ bu njëk daanu
Sama nop bu njëk bi

Yaay jàmbaar la
Waay baay amul morom

Baayoo Baay
Namm na La
Maa gni lay nian, dellusil

English Translation: Dad

My dad is gone
Gone with the Sahara dust
Over the Atlantic Ocean.

Dad O dad
Where have you gone?
My days are dimmer
My nights are even darker
Because you aren’t here.

Have you lost your north star?
Is the pursuit of wealth worth more
Than my first steps
My first game
My first lost tooth
My first love.

Mothers are warriors
But a father has no equal.

Dad O Dad
I miss you
Please come back.

Oumar Dieng lived in a Red Cross refugee camp after a deadly mob attacked my home and caused me to be separated from my family.  I fled to another country where I reunited with my family and later moved to the U.S. where I had a successful corporate career in the public and private sector.  After overcoming life changing hardships and loss, I learned to harness the power of resilience and positive thinking to shed my limiting beliefs, change my mindset and transform my life. I now share the lessons of resilience and overcoming adversity that I leaned from my journey so far.  I started speaking and coaching to help people who are facing struggles and just need a little guidance or motivation to get the push they need to take control of their lives and achieve their personal or professional goals.

In 2015, I launched a show called The Motovational Podcast to share tips on motivation and positivity, one word at a time, to motivate thousands of listeners across dozens of countries live the best life they can. For the past two decades, I have shared my message of resilience and overcoming adversity by speaking on various stages including the TEDx stage and other public and private venues.

I live in Minnesota with my wife and 3 kids and somehow I have gotten used to the cold weather and love the warm summers and the 10,000+ lakes the state offers.

Posted in: Poetry