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Can Anyone Help with The Afrikaans Song “Ek borsel my tande”?

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

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 the entire song?

Many thanks.

Emanuela

If anyone can help with the lyrics to this song, and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks in advance!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Afrikaans, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, Songs about Brushing Teeth, Songs by Theme, South Africa, South African Children's Songs | No 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 »

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Can Anyone Help with The Afrikaans Song “Ek borsel my tande”?

RIP Miriam Makeba – She Was a Wonderful South African Singer

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