African Children's Songs | Mama Lisa's World Blog

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We’ve just added The Gambia, Africa to Mama Lisa’s World!

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Delyth Dallimore recently sent me the wonderful video below from The Gambia…

The lyrics to the video can be found on our new Gambian song pages. The video is on the Mandinka language.

Del is collecting videos of Gambian children’s songs on her YouTube channel. Here’s what she wrote about The Gambia and collecting the songs…

The Gambia, West Africa, is one of Africa’s smallest countries. It has a tropical climate. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, but is fairly stable. Because of colonialism, the language taught in schools is English, but I try and encourage the children to use their local languages as much as possible. Although small, it is home to diverse ethnic groups, the largest being Mandinka, then Wolof, Jola, Fula and Manjargo, as well as others.

I started the YouTube channel because I am very interested in Gambian traditions, and wanted to preserve as much as I could. It took me ages to find the ‘Ostrich’ song, even adults had forgotten about it, and ostriches used to live in Gambia! Most of the stuff is in Mandinka, but I have some Jola songs which I videoed when local boys were tilling the ground near me, they’re lovely, but I haven’t got them translated yet.

I am gradually going to build up more children’s songs, and also their games, I have three videoed already. There is always a problem in writing the songs down, because most Gambians cannot write in their own language, as these languages have only fairly recently become a written language. But I have online dictionaries, and try my best. The translations I get by asking as many people as I can what it means, and picking the ones which most can agree on.

If anyone can help with any of these languages, and/or the translations of any of the songs on Del’s YouTube channel, please let us know!

Meanwhile, there’s a simple Mandinka English Dictionary online, if anyone is looking for one.

Here are a couple of important Mandinka phrases:

Thanks – Abaraka
Thank you very much – Abaraka baake
You’re welcome – Amiin
Yes – Haa
No – Hani
Please – Dukare
Goodbye – N ka taa le

N ka taa le!

Mama Lisa

PS Many thanks to Del for sharing these wonderful songs with us and for taking the time to preserve them! Abaraka!

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Gambia, Languages, Mandinka | 1 Comment »

Senzenina – A Zulu Protest Song and Funeral Song

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

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 and a wonderful mp3 recording that we just received by Élodie Chebat.

MP3 Recording of Senzenina

Senzenina
(Zulu/Xhosa)

Senzenina
Sono sethu ubumnyama
Sono sethu yinyaniso
Sibulawayo
Mayibuye i Africa.

What Have We Done?
(English Translation)

What have we done?
Our sin is that we are black
Our sin is the truth
They are killing us
Let Africa return.

We found that this song is considered to be in both the Zulu and Xhosa languages. Trying to figure out which language it was in, I looked up the words to this song, and found some of them in a Zulu dictionary and some in a Xhosa dictionary. On further research I found in the Encyclopedia Britannica: “The Zulu and Xhosa languages are similar enough to be considered dialects of one language, but speakers of Zulu and Xhosa consider them to be separate languages.” (FYI They are both Southeastern Bantu languages.)

Many thanks to Élodie Chebat for contributing and singing this beautiful song!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Folk Songs, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Recordings of Songs, Senzenina, South Africa, Traditional Songs, Xhosa, Zimbabwe, Zulu | 3 Comments »

RIP Miriam Makeba – She Was a Wonderful South African Singer

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

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 appeared in the anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa. That launched her career as an international singer.

Makeba sang many different types of songs. Some of her most interesting music focused on Xhosa and Zulu songs.

Here you can hear her singing one of her most popular songs called The Click Song. It’s traditionally sung in parts of South Africa when people get married.

(I don’t know how long the YouTube video will remain embedded, please let me know if you see the video as a broken link. If it is, go out and find a recording – it’s well worth it!)

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Jazz, Languages, Mama Lisa, Miriam Makeba, South Africa, South African Children's Songs, Xhosa, YouTube | 2 Comments »

Can Someone Help with a Setswana Childrens Song from South Africa?

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

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 the next line! I have never seen it written down so my spelling would be atrocious even then. It told of a steam train built or made by the white man, traveling through the mountains and twisting like a snake. On occasions in the lyrics one has to make the sound of the trains whistle (Hoi-Hoi).

I wonder if you know the correct words and spelling of it? I would love to teach it properly to my children. As far as I can remember, and I know this must be very rough, it went:

Chu-chu Makala (Train?)
untwia ma-hoa
lefooka loody
da messaquitee
Hoi-hoi (Train whistle)
ee ya da kayalaa
hoi-hoi
ee ya da kayalaa

I really would like to hear if you find anything and remain Yours sincerely

Ronnie Hallett
Ilfracombe
Devon
England

If anyone can help with these lyrics, and/or a translation, please let us know in the comments below. If you’d like to sing it for us, please email me.

Thanks in advance!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, Setswana, South Africa, South African Children's Songs | No Comments »

Can Anyone Help with a Translation of the Song “Aweneh Makole”?

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Susan Arnold wrote to me with a question about a song:

I am looking for an accurate translation of the song “Aweneh Makole”. The only thing I know about the song is that it is call and response. I’ve known it for ages and it’s used quite a lot in schools here in the UK. I suspect it is West African, possibly even Ghanaian, but others may know differently. I’m looking for a translation of:

“Aweneh Makole, Mbako Menoshway” and the correct pronunciation for it. I think it is sometimes sung:

Akeeley Makole…

Good wishes and thanks for the website.

Susan

If anyone can help with this song, and/or provide information about its language and country of origin, please comment below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Ghana, Questions, Readers Questions | 2 Comments »

Question about the African Song “”Cha Cha Coola”"

Saturday, May 12th, 2007

Karen wrote:

Do you know the words to the African song – cha, cha coola (the a’s are long vowel sounds)?

Karen

If anyone can help out, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Folk Songs, Music, Questions, Readers Questions | 7 Comments »

Do You Know a Song from the Canary Islands about a House and Roof?

Thursday, April 12th, 2007

A while back Cathie wrote me:

2 years ago I went on vacation to the Canaries. At night the children danced to a song which spoke about a house and roof. They made gestures to mime this song. It was in Spanish. Could you inform me about the lyrics and title of this song? It’s a little vague, but that’s all I know.

Thank you,

Cathie (France)

If anyone can help out with this song, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Canary Islands, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Questions, Readers Questions, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs | 3 Comments »

Looking for Song from Zimbabwe called “Guru Ndiani”

Monday, July 24th, 2006

Michelle wrote me…

Hello! do you by any chance know of the song named Guru Ndiani from Zimbabwe? It is a children’s game song similar to a ring around the rosie type of song.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Michelle

If anyone is familiar with this song, please post it in the comments below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Questions, Zimbabwe | 5 Comments »

Cameroon has Been Added to Mama Lisa’s World

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

I’m happy to announce that I’ve added Cameroon to Mama Lisa’s World!

Here are links to the new pages, where you’ll find six new songs…

Children’s Songs from Cameroon &
Children’s Songs from Cameroon with French Translations

I particularly like Bring Back, which you can sing with children when they’ve lost something, like a teddy bear. I think my 4 year old daughter will enjoy it.

-Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Bali Tribes, Cameroon, Children's Songs, Children's Songs from Cameroon, Countries & Cultures, English, Languages, Mungaka, Pidgin English | No Comments »

A Song Called “Mr. cocoji” from Cameroon

Tuesday, May 30th, 2006

Here are two versions of a song called Mr. cocoji I received from Cameroon. They’re in Pidgin English. I can understand parts of the lyrics, but not all.

This is the version of Mr. cocoji from the north west province…

Mr. cocoji
(Pidgin English)

Mr. cocoji
ih begin di follow goat
ih nack ih oneside jiga
ih one side belle high

Here’s another version from the south west province…

Mr. cocoji
(Pidgin English)

Mr. cocoji
ih begin di follow goat
ih nack i foot for jiga
ih one side belle high

Many thanks to Ango Fomuso Ekellem for contributing this song.

If anyone could provide a translation into standard English, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

Come visit the new Mama Lisa’s World Cameroon Page for more songs from Cameroon.

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Cameroon, Children's Songs, Children's Songs from Cameroon, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Pidgin English, Questions | 1 Comment »

Play time song from the Bali tribes in Cameroon, Africa

Saturday, May 27th, 2006

I received this song from Cameroon a while back. It was identified as coming from the Bali tribe. Unfortunately, the language wasn’t identified, and an English translation wasn’t provided.

The Bali tribe speaks Mungaka. But I’m not sure if they speak any other languages also.

Here are the lyrics in the original language…

Moni mbebela
(Mungaka?)

Moni mbebela mbebela mbeb
kwatu njenge njongo chaka
muni kwep
fofo mbeh mbeh
mohlu nyhani nyhani
tikhu mbeh
moli koli koli
tuh mgah mbeh
one muh buh

If anyone can help confirm the language of this song and/or provide an English or French translation, please comment below.

Thanks!

-Lisa

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Posted in African Children's Songs, Bali Tribes, Cameroon, Children's Songs, Children's Songs from Cameroon, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Mungaka, Questions | 5 Comments »

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Archive for the 'African Children's Songs' Category

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Posts

We’ve just added The Gambia, Africa to Mama Lisa’s World!

Senzenina – A Zulu Protest Song and Funeral Song

RIP Miriam Makeba – She Was a Wonderful South African Singer

Can Someone Help with a Setswana Childrens Song from South Africa?

Can Anyone Help with a Translation of the Song “Aweneh Makole”?

Question about the African Song “”Cha Cha Coola”"

Do You Know a Song from the Canary Islands about a House and Roof?

Looking for Song from Zimbabwe called “Guru Ndiani”

Cameroon has Been Added to Mama Lisa’s World

A Song Called “Mr. cocoji” from Cameroon

Play time song from the Bali tribes in Cameroon, Africa