Here Come Our Mothers Bring Us Presents is a traditional Zulu children’s song that’s sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  Here are the lyrics with the Zulu part phonetically written… Here come our mothers, bringing us presents Ngci bo, Ngci bo, Nampayano mame * We can see apples, we can see bananas...

Caryl wrote: Lisa, What a wonderfully rich site you have! I came across it while searching for the lyrics to a song that I heard at a children’s school in South Africa. I was wondering if you knew about this song. It’s a counting song about calabashes. The lyrics that I remember talked about having...

Frances Turnbull from Musicaliti saw my post about British traditions and wrote to me about an interesting African one. Here’s what she said: Thanks for this – so easy to take it all for granted! It also reminded me of an African tradition that my dad adopted when we lived in South Africa. In Africa...

Rose wrote me asking about the Afrikaans version of Brahms’ Lullaby that’s sung in South Africa… Dear Lisa, When I was a baby in Joburg, my mom used to sing a Brahms lullaby… Slaap my kindkie slaap sag, onder rose fannaag, iers die armpies on my neck, en dan warmpies toe gedek, more frieg as God vill, word my kindkie ge vek Sorry...

Emanuela wrote to me asking about an Afrikaans song: Hello Lisa, I’m looking for the full lyrics to the little tune “Ek borsel my tande…” I’ve been singing it to my niece to encourage her to brush her little teeth, but I only know I tiny part of it. I’m wondering whether you might know...

This is a protest song and it is traditionally sung at funerals. It was important during the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Senzenina means “What have we done” with the implication “what did we do to deserve this?” (Also spelled “senzeni na”.) Here you can see the original lyrics, with an English translation...

Miriam Makeba sadly passed away this month. She was 76 years old. Makeba was a wonderful singer from South Africa. She was born in Johannesburg in 1932. She started singing in a choir as a child and by the age of 22 she was a professional singer. In 1959, she...

Shirley emailed me looking for different versions of The Itsy Bitsy Spider. Here’s what she wrote: I am desperately seeking 3-4-5 versions (songs) of Itsy Bitsy Spider for an around the world float. Shame on me I left that chore until last and now I am having trouble. I’ve gotten English and Spanish. Please...

Heather was nice enough to send me a few recordings of some American children’s songs that she did. She sent me mp3’s of the following songs: I’m Popeye the Sailor Man (Spoof) Don’t Put Your Trash in My Backyard/Fish and Chips and Vinegar Animal Fair Home on the Range/Oh Give Me a Home (the regular song and a...

Ronnie wrote: Dear Lisa, Over thirty years ago I worked in South Africa and learned a children’s song verbally. Whilst I still remember the tune, the lyrics have probably eroded in accuracy over the years. It was so popular at the time that you could sing the first line out in the street and “someone” would return...

Frank wrote: I’m looking for some help finding the lyrics to a South African children’s nursery rhyme in Afrikaans that starts: Opa ry en sy ou Ford… Does anyone know the whole piece and others from South Africa? Frank We have Akrikaans Nursery Rhymes and Songs on our South African pages. (Click the link to see them.) If anyone can...

A 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...