The words for this song are in Tswana, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa...
Ntate Jake
Father Jacob
Children's Song
(Tswana)
Children's Song
(English)
Ntate Jake, Ntate Jake*
A o sa robala,
A o sa robala
Tshipe e a lela,
Tshipe e a lela
Ding Dong Del,
Ding Dong Del.
Father Jacob, Father Jacob
Are you still sleeping?
Are you still sleeping?
The bell is ringing
The bell is ringing
Ding Dong Dell
Ding Dong Dell.
Notes
*Pronounced Ya-ke
Comments
Karina Muller wrote, "There is also Sotho version of this song, which is same as Tswana, except the 4th line is "Otlwa tshipi yala" – literally 'Hear the bell ring'."
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Karina Muller from Tanzania for contributing this song.
Baie dankie!
