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Archive for the 'Morocco' Category
Contents
Posts
Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009We’d love it if you’d join the Mama Lisa Facebook Group. You can post anything you’d like about your culture. You can post your own musical recordings or YouTube videos… Links to culture and musical sites… Photos of your country… Questions about songs or cultural issues… Anything related to World Culture and Music…
Click on the icon below to access the group. If you have a Facebook account already, you just need to click on “Join the Group” to join. If you’re not a member, you simply have to sign up for free to become a member and then you can join the Mama Lisa Group…
Looking forward to seeing you in Facebook!
Mama Lisa
Modern Arabic Transliteration
Friday, February 13th, 2009Mourad Bendjennet sent us information about a new way of transliterating Arabic that has come about since the advent of computers. Here we’re talking specifically about transliterating Arabic by writing the language in the Roman alphabet to show how to pronounce it in English…
“With the introduction of computers and text messages among Arabs, they write a lot of transliterations. They noticed that many Arabic letters were written with Latin letter compounds that made reading difficult. So they decided to create a new way of writing.
Example #1 : Instead of writing ‘Kh’ like Spanish ‘j’ or German ‘ch’ in ‘Bach’, we write the number 5. Graphically speaking, it looks like the letter خ. On top of that, Arabic number 5 is pronounced Khamsa. There’s the letter خ in this number.
Example #2 : Instead of writing ‘Ha’ (strong ‘h’) like Mohamed or Halal, we write number 7. Graphically speaking, it looks like the letter ح.
Example #3 : Formerly, the letter ‘K’ would transliterate both ك and ق, while it should transliterate only the letter ك. As to the letter ق, it’s presently replaced by the number 9. Graphically speaking, 9 looks like the letter ق. To pronounce it, the “k” sound must go out from the bottom of the throat, not from the top of it.
Example #4 : Formerly, the letter ‘A’ would transliterate the letter أ while it’s pronounced rather “eh” than “ah”. So number ‘2′ was adopted because graphically speaking, it looks like the symbol on the top of the letter أ, that is to say ء.
Example #5 : Formerly, the letter ‘T’ would transliterate both ت and ط, while it should only transliterate the letter ت. As for the letter ط it’s presently replaced by number 6 because graphically speaking, it looks like the letter ط. The letter ت is pronounced ‘t’ like in ‘tea’ (without the ‘explosion’ of English ‘t’ pronunciation) and the letter ط is pronounced ‘Ta’ (i.e. curving the soft palate upwards).
Example #6 : Instead of writing ‘Aa’ to transliterate the letter ع an ‘ah’ sound going out from the bottom of the throat, we write number 3 because it graphically looks like it.
Example #7 : The letter هـ (pronounced ‘h’) is replaced by number 8 because graphically speaking, it looks like the letter هـ.
Following those principles, we can show the transliteration of a specific children’s song from Tunisia. First you’ll see it in the Arabic text, then the transliteration, followed by an English translation…
Transliteration
3andi dbeyyib ya ma7le8 ya ma7le8
Gannooshoo 5ashmoo wate8 (x2)
Shoofoo shoofoo 3yoonoo (x2)
Barra9a min koth’r thke8.All the R’s are rolled.”
English Translation
I have a nice soft Teddy Bear
His nose looks very fine
Look, look, his eyes,
Shining with intelligence.Many thanks to Ilyes Bekri for contributing this song and to Monique Palomares for the English translation. Thanks also to Mourad Bendjennet for help with the song and such an interesting commentary about the new way to transliterate the Arabic language.
Come visit our Arabic Children’s Song Page for links to all of our Arabic kids songs.
You can also read this post about Arabic transliteration in French or Spanish.
Mama Lisa
Moroccan Lullabies and Kids Songs
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008Jennie sent me some Moroccan lullabies and songs today with this note…
Dear Mama Lisa!
I came across your website today after doing a Google search looking for children’s songs and lullabies from Morocco… Recently I just moved to Morocco, with my baby, and was interested in learning some songs.
I have picked up a few songs while I was here, and thought that I would share them with you. Unfortunately, I am not able to type in Arabic, so I will do my best transliteration. I hope you are able to use them! They are all sung in Morocco, although they may not all be from true Moroccan origin because of all the different cultural influences present in the country, as I know lots of Egyptian and French songs are popular here. Thank you and enjoy!
This one is a children’s song, the added (a) sound at the very end is if a girl sings since it is a language that uses different forms of words for different genders, without the (a) at the end is for boys.
Arso mo baba
Arso mo mama
bil alwan, bil alwan
Arso mo alami
Foq alqemami
Ana fanan(a)I draw my father
I draw my mother
With all the colors, with all the colors
I draw a flag
Up on the cliff
I am an artist.This song is a lullaby, and as far as I know is repeated over and over until the little one sleeps…
Endi baba wa endi mama
doma miyo
h’tah fil nomI have my father, and I have my mother
Always with me
Even in sleep.This one is a children’s song that makes use of animal sounds, so the mool is like a cow, the ma and ba’s are like sheep and goats, and the mia is like a cat, it is cute and one of my favorites!
Mool dar
Ma-lo
ba-ha
ba-shahal
mia-miaThe owner of the house
What’s with him
The house is for sale
How much is it
Hundreds and hundreds.Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Jennie
If anyone can help with the original Arabic text of any of these songs, please email me. We’d also love to learn more about their origins. If you know anything about any of these songs, please let us know in the comments below.
Thanks to Jennie for sharing these lovely lullabies!
-Mama Lisa
Can Someone Help with the Lyrics or Melody to the Arabic Lullaby called “Doha Ya Doha”?
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008Rondi wrote to me…
Hello Lisa!
This is Rondi Charleston – I am a singer/songwriter in the NY area.
I have an important recording project coming up in which I need an Arabic Lullaby to incorporate into an original song. I’m searching for the MELODY! Sheet music? or an MP3?
I heard about “Doha Ya Doha” from an article in Mothering Magazine by Cynthia Mosher. However, I can not find the lyrics and melody anywhere! I contacted Cynthia, but she no longer has the book, and can’t remember the song.
Also, by any chance, do you know any songs in Arabic that talk about PEACE?
I would GREATLY APPRECIATE any assistance you can give. I’ve tried the Arabic publishing house but they no longer have it. It is a traditional lullaby, apparently.
PLEASE contact me with any information.
Best Always,
RondiIf anyone can help Rondi, please comment below or email me.
Thanks in advance!
Lisa
The Muslim Festival Eid al-Adha – Festival of Sacrifice – is Celebrated Today
Thursday, December 20th, 2007This year Eid al-Adha (a holiday that’s also known as Eid Kbir) is held on the 18th to the 20th around the Muslim world. It’s a festival celebrating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.
Everyone dresses up and goes to the mosque to perform the Eid prayer. Families that can afford it will also sacrifice an animal such as a sheep. Most of the meat of the sacrificed animal should go to the poor. The rest can be used for a feast for family and friends.
Mama Lisa’s World News and Multimedia Features
Thursday, November 30th, 2006A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures.
When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures – that’s a lot of information! In order to make it easier to access all of the songs, we are in the process of converting the sites to a database. The database allow our visitors to search for songs on the site by language, by songs with sheet music, recordings, etc.
While we’re putting the songs into the database, we’re trying to obtain as much information as possible about each song. So if we can find the tune, we’ll include a midi tune and sheet music. If we find a recording of the song on the internet, we’ll provide a link to the recording. Sometimes we’ll make a recording ourselves. Anything we can do to help you know everything possible about that song.
If you happen to see any songs on the site that are missing a tune or recording and you know it, we’d be very pleased if you could help us get the tune. We’re able to make midis from sheet music, if that’s what you can send. We’re also happy to post recordings if you’d like to sing the song, play it on an instrument, or even hum it. Really, anything to help others get an idea how to sing or play the song.
Once the database is complete Mama Lisa’s World will have 98 countries and cultures and over 850 songs. How great is that!
-Lisa
UPDATE: The Database is now complete! We have 100 countries and cultures. We’re now working on a Spanish version of Mama Lisa’s World which will feature children’s songs, folks songs and nursery rhymes from around the world with Spanish translations.
Timbuktu and “The Sailor Went to Sea”
Wednesday, July 26th, 2006The other day I posted a question about a children’s song that mentioned Timbuktu. We found it! It’s the Australian version of The Sailor Went to Sea.
Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français saw the post. She sent me this interesting photo. The sign says “Timbuktu 52 Days” in French. Here’s what she had to say about it…
About Timbuktu, we French spell it Tombouctou. In the South of Morocco, there’s the village of Zagora, which is also known as “The Desert Gate” or “The Sahara Gate”. In Zagora there’s a signpost saying “Tombouctou 52 Jours”, meaning 52 days of camel travel from Zagora to Timbuktu. Everybody going there takes a photo of it. Here’s a photo…
Zagora is called “The Desert Gate” because it’s one of the last towns in Morocco before the start of the Sahara Desert. Camel caravans used to stop at Zagora before going to Timbuktu. It would take 52 days to get there!
It seems that many people in France are familiar with that sign and French tourists who visit that part of Morocco are sure to take pictures beside it. But, as far as I know, most people in the US have never even heard of the sign. I find it interesting that a landmark can be famous in one country and yet almost totally unknown in another!
Looking for the Lyrics to a Song in French called “Le petit lapin” from Morocco
Friday, June 30th, 2006Kerstin wrote to me, looking for a song in French about a rabbit…
Hi Lisa,
My daughter learned a song in her kindergarden in Morocco, but since we have left I could not ask the people there directly.
It goes “Le petit lapin … (missing words I am looking for), allez chanter, allez danser”.
Thank you!
Kerstin
In English, the words above are “The little rabbit …(missing part), go sing, go dance.”
If anyone is familiar with this song, please comment below.
Thanks!
Lisa
Ouzoud Falls, Morocco
Thursday, March 2nd, 2006Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français just returned from a trip to Morocco. While there, she visited Ouzoud Falls, which are about a hundred miles northeast of Marrakech.
Here’s what she said about it..
We went to Ouzoud Falls to see the waterfalls as they’re very famous. In the Summer, people bathe in the pond at the foot of the falls. There are little open air restaurants along the way down to the bottom of the valley. When we went, in February, it had rained a lot and the water was red with mud.
That’s when Monique took these magnificent photos…
Monique took this one at the foot of the falls…
Monique continued…
A young man caught us at the upper end of the pathway so we’d have lunch at his restaurant. The floor of the restaurant is beaten earth, there are only 3 walls and the roof is not a hard roof, it’s covered with large plastic sheets over a cane structure.
So we went to have lunch there, we ate the most delicious simple tajine I ever had, the veggies were somewhat like caramelized vegetables. There were nine of us and we each had a Moroccan salad. We shared 6 tajines and 3 couscous, had some fruit and a mint tea plus a couple of bottles of water.
A tagine is like a stew and there are endless varieties. Tagines are cooked in a special earthenware pot called a tagine. It has a conical lid, with just a little hole in it so it captures most of the steam from the food. A typical tagine will usually include meat, vegetables, olives, lemon, garlic, fresh coriander and an array of spices like saffron, cumin, ginger and turmeric. Tagines are usually cooked slowly over a long time without removing the cover of the pot.
Here’s a photo of the falls when there hasn’t been a lot of rain.
If you’re familiar with any children’s songs, folk songs or lullabies from Morocco that you’d like to share with us, we’d be very pleased! Please email me or comment below.
Thanks to Monique for sharing these great photos!
-Lisa
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