Habbaniya
Habbaniya (A British camp in Iraq)
Albert Oscar Baba
The military base of the British served as a refuge camp served as and barraks for the Assyrian Levies (conscripted soldiers),
"The Smallest Ally" as we were called by the English.
Almost 20,000 Assyrians lived and worked there since the construction in 1936 and then returned to Iraq in 1959.
In 1941 a force of Arabs tried to annihilate all the inhabitants but were thwarted by the brave English and Assyrian soldiers, especially the RAF.
Here is a sample of the life lived there by the Assyrians. Only living with Assyrians like our own country
YAA KHLEE-TAA[1] HA-BAA-NEE-YAA
Oh sweet[1] Habbaniya
A-NAA BA-RAAKH DOOR-DEE-YAA
How I suffered after you.
KOO-LEH TE-VEL[2] KHDEE-RAA-LEE
I traveled the universe/world[2]
AAKH KHAY-AAKH LE-WEN KHEE-YAA
But haven't lived a life such as your life.
A-LOOL-YAA-TAAKH EE-QEH[3] WAA
Your alleys/roads were narrow[3].
BET-WAA-TAAKH MIN TdEE-NAA[4] WAA
Your houses of mud[4].
OH MIN-DEE BOOSH SO-DAA-NAA
The thing most enjoyable
KOO-LEH[5] NAA-SHEH[6] KHID-YEH WAA
was that every/all[5] people[6] was happy.
KHLOO-LAA-NAAKH SO-DAA-NEH WAA
Your weddings were enjoyable
EE-MAAN KA-LOO[7] PAAL-TEE WAA
When they brought out the bride[7]
HAAY MOO-YAA-LAAN[8], MOO-YAA-LAAN.
"Haay -we brought her-[8], we brought her"
GOO OOR-KHO KEY ZEM-RREE WAA
In her way they used to sing.
KHIT-NAA[9] L GA-REH[10] KA-LEE WAA
The groom[9] stood on the roof[10]
TdLAA[11] KHA-BOO-SHEH[12] RRA-PEE WAA
And threw three[11] apples[12].
KOT QAA-PEE WAA KHAA DAA-NAA
Everyone grabbed someone at the same time.
NEE-SHAAN-QAA D GWAA-REH EE-WAA
it was a symbol for marriage.
SHAA-RAA-NAAKH MAAKH-MIL-AA-NEH
Your festivals were pleasurable
KOOL KHAA WAA-DAA DOOKH-RAA-NEH
Everyone doing sacrafice/rememberance
BNAA-TEH[13] MAJ-MAA-TEH[14] REE-SHEH
Girls[13] with trays[14] on their heads
PAA-LOO-YEH[15] WAA SAA-MAA-NEH
Dividing[15] their portions.
EE-MAAN YOO-MAA[16] GAA-NEE WAA
When the day[16] used to set
NOO-RAA[17] GOO-RAA[18] KEY ME-LEE WAA
A large[18] fire[17] was lit
KOO-LEH AAL-O SHO-REE WAA
All jumped across it (a good luck tradition before they cooked the lamb for sacrafice)
TOOKH-ROON-YEH[19] EE-DAA SLEE-WAA[21]
The memories[19] of the Festival[20] of the Cross[21].
EE-MAN GOO-TAA[22] TdAA-LEE WAA
When they played ball[22] (soccer)
KHAA YOO-MAA GOO-RAA EE-WAA
It was a big day.
KOO-LEH LE-VEE, EM-PLOY-EES
All the Levies (Assyrians) and Employees (British)
TdAAL-TAA D SHEE-TAA[23] EE-WAA
It was the game of the year[23] (The Levies vs. The British Employees)
EE-KAA D MA-TdEE JA-MEE WAA
Wherever they reached, they gathered.
JWEN-QEH[24] D ATOR[25] PAAR-JEE WAA
The gentlemen[24] of Assyria[25] used to watch.
EN QREE-ME-LEH YEN MOOQ-RIM-LEH
If they won or if they lost
KHID-YAA L BE-TAA DE-REE WAA
They returned home happy.
ET-KHAA WI-RROON YOO-MAA-NEH
This is how the days passed.
RAA-BAA KHIL-YEH OO SO-DAA-NEH
Very sweet and enjoyable.
PISH-LOON TKHAA-REH TdEE-MAA-NEH[26]
Valuable[26] memories stayed
AKH-TEN EE-WAA KHOOL-MAA-NEH[27].
As though they were all dreams[27].
SHOOP-RAA AA-WIR MIN KHA-YAAN
The beauty passed from our lives
LE A-TEH SHO-PROH KHEE-NAA
No other beauty will come.
JAAR-BAAKH HA-WAAKH KHOO-BAA-NEH
Lets try to be loving
MAA-KHIB-AA-NEH KHA L DO KHEE-NAA
Beloved ones to one another.
DERR-DEH = sufferings
TE-VIL = universe/world (DOON-YAAH is hindi)
KHDAAR-TAA = travel (verb)
SAA-PAAR = travel (noun)
SAA-PAARR-CHEE = traveler
KHLOO-LAA = wedding
GWER-TAA = mariage
SHAA-RAA =
EE-DAA = festival / feast (usually religious)
EE-DAA GOO-RAA = Easter (the big festival)
EE-DAA ZOO-RAA = Christmas (the small festival)
DOO-KHAA = sacrafice
DOOKH-RAA-NAA = the sacrafice (when we cook lamb for religious holidays)
SAA-MAA = portion
GNE-TAA D SHIM-SHAA = sunset
ZRAAQ-TAA D SHIM-SHAA = sunrise
(you can use GNE-TAA and ZRAAQ-TAA with moon (SAA-RAA) OR day (YOOM/YOO-MAA)
QYEP-TAA = to grab
QAA-PEE = grab (verb)
KHAA-YOO-TAA = life
N-DE-TAA = jumping
SHWARR-TAA = crossing
BE-TAA = house
NEE-SHAA = goal
QRRAAM-TAA = win
MAA-QRRAAM-TAA = lose
KHOO-BAA = love
MAA-KHI-BAA-NAA (m) / MAA-KHI-BEN-TAA (f) = one who loves
TdAAL-TAA = game
JWEN-QAA = gentleman
KHAA-MAA-TAA = lady
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