ekottomagazine
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mmë Bisila
Mastho Ribocho
BATOBIERA, a musical project to revitalize the Bubi language
A standardization that is more than necessary
Apostol Cefas, Kenny Jhumpue, Dj. Carrlesh, Dj. La Jota y Javier Baita Banch
Images of the video BATOBIERA and the rappers DJ LA JOTA and DJ CARRLESH in action.
Single poster, BATOBIERA video and social media contacts
Learning, pronunciation and meaning of 100 words in the Bubi mother tongue.
New single by Mastho Ribocho, literary work the rite of BOSÏO in the bubi village by Kopesese Sepa Bonaba, the treasure of BOKONO by Mari Paz Lola, the works of Audrey McLaren, Sharon Jones and images of BÖTÓI 2025.
This summer promises
LOSAKÍA LÚA BÖTÓI by Bönaí Capote
Ë KOTTÒ, is a magazine of the cultural field in all its disciplines.
We are committed to bringing culture closer to our readers. Our goal is to give visibility to sectors that lack this opportunity of presence in large media platforms.
Our publications will be monthly and we will focus on four basic sections and four complementary ones.
INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS, ACTIVITY AND PROMOTION, and SOKKÒ, ËTYÖ LAÖTYA, OPINION y EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
A general story on a specific theme of each edition.
INFORMATION: Its content will be based on knowing the path of our guests. That is, what you could call their biography.
2. INTERVIEW. Focused on the professional field.
3. ACTIVITY: Focused on our guest's current affairs.
4. PROMOTION: Publicize everything related to the works of our guest or in its case what it believes necessary to promote related to his or her professional work.
OPINION
It is a section for sociocultural opinion articles.
ËTYÖ LAÖTYA
It is a section of learning and knowledge about the Bóbë-Bubi identity in its different manifestations.
SOKKÒ
It is a section with a variety of socio-cultural news.
POET'S BLOG
A section for poetry and poems.
With the magazine Ë KOTTÓ, we will bring culture a little closer to our homes.
Editorial
A STANDARDIZATION THAT IS MORE THAN NECESSARY
Many children and young people no longer understand or speak Bubi. This linguistic gap is more than a communication issue: it is a symptom of cultural loss. Therefore, the standardization of Bubi becomes not only a technical necessity, but an urgent investment for the future.
Language is the vehicle of thought, stories, dreams and the worldview of a people. Not to standardize Bubi, not to include it in early education, is to condemn new generations to grow up disconnected from their roots. Instead, by standardizing its grammar, spelling and vocabulary, we are creating the necessary tools so that it can be taught, learned and transmitted with clarity and coherence.
Particularly in the preschool stage, the child is at his or her most receptive time for natural language acquisition. It is at this age that the mother tongue is internalized as part of the child's identity.
Story
BATÓBIERA
A Musical Project to Revitalize the Bubi Language
Apóstol Cefas
Kenny Jhumpue
DJ Carrlesh
DJ La Jota
Javier Baita Banch
In mid-November 2024 Batóbiera was born, an artistic and cultural project whose central axis is the revitalization of the Bubi language through music. This initiative arises from the collaboration between young artists committed to their identity and cultural heritage: rapper Apostol Cefas, vocalist Kenny Jhumpue, and producers DJ Carrlesh and DJ La Jota. It all starts with the idea of creating a song.
The creative process began with the production of the instrumental, carefully crafted by DJ Carless and DJ La Jota, who paid special attention to achieve a base that fused modern elements with traditional nuances. The song was performed by Apostol Cefas and Kenny Jhumpue, and co-written by Cefas, whose lyrical approach combines social commitment with a strong sense of cultural belonging. By mid-February, the song was already recorded, although still in post-production. Throughout the process, the team went through several ups and downs, from composition adjustments to mixing and mastering tests. However, thanks to their joint effort and willingness to work as a team, they achieved a solid and coherent result.
Batóbiera, which means “listen” in the Bubi language, is not just a song: it is a musical manifesto that seeks to encourage people, especially the new generations, to speak Bubi in their homes and everyday environments. Faced with the risk of extinction facing this indigenous language, projects like this one become fundamental for its preservation and intergenerational transmission.
After finalizing the song, several creative sessions were held to plan the video clip, which was filmed in Bátöipökkó. The recording was supported by Mamá Ityökó, head of the Bátöipökkó Culture House, who provided the space and resources for the production to faithfully reflect the spirit of the project. In Bátöipökkó the artists were part of a cultural event in which the children of Bátöipökkó had the opportunity to use the microphone and rap in Bubi the numbers they had learned at the cultural center.
The video clip is a vibrant reflection of youth, identity and cultural pride. All the participants are young, which sends a clear message: youth is with the Bubi language. In the audiovisual piece, Kenny Jhumpue's melodic voice alternates with Apóstol Cefas' rhymes, while integrating elements of traditional Katya dance, creating an experience that connects the ancestral with the contemporary.
Under the direction of the talented Javier Baita, a native of Rebola and a leading figure in the promotion of traditional dance and Bubi culture, this Katya group has managed to conquer not only the stage, but also the eyes of those who still believe in the transformative power of art. Baita, with a trajectory that positions him as one of the emerging references of traditional dance, has been able to form and lead a group of young dancers whose energy overflows the screen in every second of the Batóbiera video.
The visual and emotional impact of their interpretation leaves no room for doubt: they are the beating soul of the video. With movements charged with strength, precision and cultural symbolism, these young artists demonstrate that the Bubi legacy not only remains alive, but evolves with renewed power in the new generations.
The excellence with which these dancers deliver each step not only honors their roots, but also invites us to look with hope and pride to the future of Bubi culture. If this display of talent is just a preview, it is clear that we still have much to discover and admire.
Beyond the immediate impact the song may have, Batóbiera marks the beginning of a broader cultural project, which aims to promote and spread the Bubi language through music and other artistic expressions. It is a call to action, a reminder that culture lives and grows stronger when it is shared, sung and celebrated.
Interview
Apóstol Cefas (rapper):
1. What inspired you to write the lyrics of Batobiera and what message did you want to convey?
What inspired me was the lack of Bubi speech in our society today, and the message to convey is to grab the habit of speaking our language which is the one that identifies us to other ethnic groups.
2. As a young artist, how do you perceive your responsibility in the preservation of the Bubi language?
Well, my responsibility as a young artist is to fulfill my obligations which are to speak and shout Bubi on instruments and in any place for my environment to feel my existence.
3. What was the creative process between you and Kenny Jumpue when structuring the song?
Well, the process was very general and that was given thanks to the mutual understanding that dwells between the two.
4. What difficulties did you encounter during production and how did you overcome them?
The only difficulty I had with him was the time factor and the only way to overcome it was to understand him and submit to his time.
5. What does it mean to you that this project becomes the beginning of a cultural platform?
This project for me means what I am myself because to speak of the Bubi language is to speak of my own existence because I would not dare to call the creator a fool by calling me Bubi by name and as for speaking it to God I blame him for not being able to speak it. And for me it is not the beginning of a cultural platform, but a cultural platform that has existed since long ago that needs resistant agents in order to prevail.
Kenny Jhumpue (singer and performer):
1. How was your vocal experience combining contemporary melodies with a deep cultural message?
It was incredible, the truth is something I've always wanted to combine the usual with something that I know could impact all ages, especially the older ones.
2. How did it feel to perform a song framed around the revitalization of the Bubi language?
I felt powerful because with that song and those lyrics I know I will get the audience's attention, and the message is key. It's important to always be proud of who you are no matter where you are.
3. What did your personal vocal style contribute to Batobiera's message?
My style brings rhythm and strength in the sense of wanting to preserve our language and culture.
4. What was your favorite part of shooting the video clip in Batoipokko?
In the field scene, where I'm in the center and the dancers surrounding me dancing, that was incredible.
5. What message do you want to leave to other young artists about defending their mother tongue?
That they are not ashamed of who they are at any time, that through their words and deeds they can identify themselves because it is the only way that our future generations can be guided.
DJ Carrlesh (music producer):
1. What did you seek to convey with the Batobiera instrumental?
I try to transmit the best of me, trying to make the difference between other instrumentals that I already listened to at the level of traditional music.
2. How did you balance modern elements with respect for the traditional essence of the message?
I balanced them keeping them at a normal volume, in order to avoid a lot of noise between them so that at least the instrumental makes some sense.
3. What was the most complex technical challenge in the production of the song?
At the moment of analyzing and exporting the music...since it is usually tried to leave the voices at a normal level on the same instrumental so that they do not get so low that they get lost between them
4. What was it like to work as a team with DJ La Jota to define the sound atmosphere of the project?
From my side it was very great, since he respected all my points of view and listened to me from the beginning of the project to the end, in order to achieve a good team work.
5. Do you think urban music is a powerful tool for cultural projects like this one?
Yes, because music is really therapy and depending on the message you can get something useful that will serve you for life.
DJ La Jota (productor musical):
1. What motivated you to get involved in a project with such a strong cultural dimension as Batobiera?
It was the message conveyed by the music, to motivate young people to speak bubi.
2. What production elements do you consider fundamental to achieving a song that is both attractive and meaningful?
For a song like Batobiera, essential elements such as the bell known as the "Elebö", traditional percussions and more...!!!!!
3. How was your collaboration with DJ Carless and what did you learn from the process?
Then it was very easy!!!! We have been collaborating on projects for a long time...but in this batobiera project I learned that in production, more is less and less is more (+ is - and - is +). In short, it's good to be simple in productions like that....
4. How important is it to you that the whole video clip team is composed of young people?
The importance of attracting, motivating, attracting the attention of other young people, that the message of the "batobiera" music reaches them... which is the speech of our mother tongue Bubi.
5. What do you think is the next step needed to continue spreading Bubi through music?
I think we should continue to make more music, because it is something that almost all of us like; especially the young people, to increase activities, based on the Bubi mother tongue.
Javier Baita Banch (cultural manager):
1. What motivated you to select young dancers for the video?
When I shared with the group members the idea of participating in a video clip, they were happy and liked the idea, in fact I didn't have to select because everyone who was available participated in the video. In fact, I even invited a group to participate, and they enjoyed the plan.
2. How was the preparation and rehearsal process with the dancers before filming?
Nothing complicated. The dancers enjoyed every day of the rehearsals; dancing is part of their daily life. And they always enjoy themselves when they dance.
3. What challenges did they face during the filming?
Since it was the first time that the group participated in a video of this caliber, the repetition of the dance without rest, the traditional dance desharás the body and needs a lot of rest, had only one day to shoot and that the dancers had no time to rest had the body worn out by the effort.
4. With so much energy and youthful talent, are you hopeful that the message of Batóbiera will reach young people?
The message of this music is already being practiced in many villages of the island, with the music I think it will reach the young public and will not seem a novelty but will increase the desire to make Bubi culture and enjoy the Bubi culture.
5. Could you give us a brief profile of the dancers?
The dancers were teenage girls and young people, from HIJAS DE BISILE we fight to keep the Bubi dance and in fact we are working more with the youngest of the house what we bet that if they manage to dance traditionally Bubi dance we will have dance for a while.
Activity
Promotion
OPINION
BÖSUBÓBBÈ MAY MATA
This summer promises
Music in the Bubi language could be living in a promising moment, one of those that only come every so often and deserves to be celebrated, protected and, above all, supported. This summer is shaping up to be a real sound party for those of us who love this cultural expression that is so much our own. The signs are everywhere: known names, expected returns and new collaborations that make us dream of the rebirth of Bubi music.
One of the great attractions of this season is "Batobiera", a song by Apostol Cefas with Kenny Jhumpue. They promise not only a powerful song, but also a video clip that, according to them, is spectacular. There is no doubt that they are taking care of all the details to offer a professional level product, worthy of any international stage.
But that is not all. Mastho Ribocho, one of the most solid pillars of contemporary Bubi music, has already released his new song “E Sihulam”, which is already circulating in the networks. And as if that wasn't enough, the most awaited comeback is coming: Chuku Nene returns to the stage with the backing of the veterans of K-tue. What more can you ask for?
Well, you can ask for something very specific: support. I say it, I repeat it and I will repeat it until it is no longer necessary. Without our backing, all this effort can be nothing more than that: high quality songs and videos, circulating for free on our phones, without those who create them receiving any of the recognition and support they deserve.
Why is it so hard for us to support our artists? Why do we believe that music should be for everyone without anyone paying the price? Such passive and pervasive thinking is slowly killing Bubi-language music. And if we don't correct the course, sooner rather than later, we will stop listening to it.
We want our artists back, yes, but wanting is not enough. We have to act. We have to buy, share responsibly, attend their events, talk about them, follow them on networks, pay for their work. Only this way can we turn this summer into something more than a passing flash; we can transform it into the beginning of a new chapter for Bubi music, a chapter written by all of us.
Are you willing to be part of that change?
BÖSUBÓBBÈ MAY MATA
SOKKÒ
TIMELY NEWS
BÖTÓI 2025
Baney
Basakato SF
New single!
Interesting works. They are worth having in your home library.
Mental health and spirituality don't have to exist in separate worlds. Sharon Jones, licensed marriage and family therapist, joins us to unveil her transformative approach to healing through her book "Uploading the Fire, Downloading the Grace: Contemplative Prayers."
All Platforms
Poet's Blog
LÖTÓ’ÓLLÓ
Ö lötó’ólló ló oberi lue ribellè
Ëbóbë Kó lötó’ólló luaò
Kó vöótè wè eria’.ö.
Ö lötó’ólló ká rihóle, ka eteba,ká rimmamabió
wë pálá o párá lötó’ólló á tyílèrò itè atá,
hèrahò ö winnòò, ë tébáò,
ö wétáò,
Ö lötó’ólló kò bösori wè
tyekkú bö lè ökana bö, lö lókka,
lë kárityöbbò, lö bötatté,
lé bíriia biaó.
Kò böhai bö lè alla ‘ bö ë tyé tö purí ë.
Ë bëkeu bia betyö bi la rekèssa
ë bó wella ò lötó’ólló,
I nokkò í útubbam ka’ó :
ë bëtyètye bié biöllo bi kákabia
ë biëtta wëlla biá bikëbíkë.
Ö lötó’ólló Kó vöótè wè eria’ö le ribobo re biëká biao.
Ö lötó’ólló Kó böe, ló bö’ó bottó wà ribötyö rito.
“É ribötyö welá rima o le’á tölló, wae a ló lötó’ólló luá abobé, ötyommá.”
Soésiöbo. ©️2024
Ë ILÁM (MY VOICE)
by Carlos Bolete Lobete
Ë ilám.
Ballá ná bá la ipölla
öámmo ö böém wëla.
Biebba la ëhëá ná ë nkòm wëla
ë la tuturó.
Ë ilám.
Ballá ná bá la etya.
Ë röppa wëla bí la seballa la ëháe,
bësari ná bí la sölla ë bi íkkiò bí hatte
lë sihúruru.
My voice.
Words that emerge
from the depths of my soul.
Sound waves that slide in the tunnels of my neck
slither.
My voice.
Words that grow.
In pain they dream of calm,
symphonic notes that let their breath fly
with the breeze.
DYNASTY
by Sharon Jones
I am the descendant
from a dynasty.
Circumstances and situations
cannot destroy my legacy.
I believed in my spirit,
knowing I am free.
Guided by the marvelous
light of truth and unity.
Not allowing the oppressor
to detain the true me.
Owning my power,
over my mind, spirit, and body.
Seeing the chains
as only minor distraction
to bind me.
I hear the powerful
voices of my ancestors,
hiding from view, saying
They cannot find me.
You are not lost.
We are walking with thee.
You are safe and protected
Keep walking with dignity.
Do not allow them
to transfer hate
within your energy.
Do not let them
tell you who to be.
Do not allow them
to enter your dynasty.
LOSAKÍA LÚA BÖTÓI
by Bönaí Capote
May the tradition of our ancestors continue
May the tradition that is not taught,
but sung,
danced,
celebrated with the body and memory, continue.
May
follow the voices that name,
the feet that remember the path,
the gestures that invoke life.
May it continue,
as the moon follows the river,
wisdom to the silence
and the soul to its ancient steps.
For he who forgets the voice of his heart
loses the pulse of the universe.
And he who honors his ancestors,
knows where to walk without getting lost.
Happy Bötói Day
Ë KOTTÒ
Publisher
Diversity Ëtyö Project
Magazine Director
Barbara May
Editor in Chief
Tomás May Pelico
Designer
Böhulá
Colaboration
Eduardo May Mata
ISSN 2833-4124
© 2025
All rights reserved.
May not be reproduced without the written permission of Ë KOTTÒ.
Contact