Notes

According to Christine from Switzerland:

"The language of this song is Swahili. The meaning is..."

Make tume tume papa -You are my father

tutu é tutu é papa -Are you my father?

i ene -I am.

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Sofia wrote, "My name is Sofia Lopez-Ibor and I am a professor of music education specializing in Orff Schulwerk. I teach in Conservatorio Superior de Musica in Spain, at the Orff Institut in Salzburg- Austria and Orff levels in the USA. I have researched children's games around the world since the 80's and one of my students from Korea just advised me to contact you about a game that you think is from Mozambique.

Paquetumbeme is not from Mozambique, that I know. It is a 'nonsense' clapping game, a camp game. There are many versions of variations of the same melody and game. I have played it as a kid and I am in my 60's. I always have known it as Spanish."

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If anyone can confirm this translation and the language, please email me. Thanks! Mama Lisa

Game Instructions

1. Pretend to hold a towel and dry your back with both hands.
2. Ditto but swapping arms -right arm down left arm up.
3. Dry your hands holding them up on the right.
4. Dry your hands holding them down on the right
5. Pretend to remove whatever water would still be on your hands.
6. Take four steps right and four steps left.

Comments

We've seen mention of this song as coming from Mozambique and also Cameroon.

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Thanks and Acknowledgements

According to one site, "Make Tume" is a traditional song from Mozambique. Thanks to Christine and Sofia Lopez-Ibor for writing to us about the meaning and possible background of this song!