Tiffany wrote:
Hi Lisa,
I found your website on Google. What a treasure! I was trying to search for a song I’d heard of (I’m guessing in Spanish) called “Bella Mama”. My Google search led me to your website, but I can’t figure out how to search for a specific song. Might you be able to direct me?
Thanks
Tiffany in Austin, TX
Bele Mama is originally from Cameroon. Nyango wrote, “Bele Mama does mean ‘call Mother’ in my Oroko language and some other languages from the Kumba area in the Southwest region of Cameroon. The rhythm too is definitely from this region. Sounds like songs I sang as a kid.”
-Mama Lisa
UPDATE: We found some more info in the comments below and this video…
(Some people spell it “Bela Mama”.)
This article was posted on Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Countries & Cultures, Italian, Italy, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, Spain, Spanish, Traditional Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
22 Responses to “Can Anyone Help with a Spanish or Italian Song Called “Bella Mama”?”
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March 3rd, 2009 at 6:13 am
me too……..love some spanish songs yet found hard to get it from internet…any one might have some to sare contact me http://azarre-zarre.blogspot.com -thanx before…
April 18th, 2009 at 5:04 am
me too! is it a round in two or three parts??
June 30th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
same i sang that song with my school i cannot find it. there was also another song i think it was called AYO but im not sure. it was really good. if anyone knows any childrens songs that are spanish italian or any other language and knows a website please leave a comment on here!
June 30th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Have you seen Mama Lisa’s World of Children’s Songs from Around the World? You can find kids songs in over 95 languages there, just click the link!
Cheer!
Mama Lisa
July 27th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Have you found the answer yet? I know the song – the melody could maybe be African?
liz
October 10th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
was also looking for it- found this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoNiG6bnRMY
January 6th, 2010 at 10:58 am
I know the song, the words are:
Bella Mama, Bella Mama, Oye,
Bella Mama, Bella Mama, Oye,
Bella Mama, Bella Mama, Bella Mama, Bella Mama,
Bella Mama, Bella Mama, Oye
This can be sung in a round.
I looked online and couldn’t find a recording of it. I learned in Brazil. I’m happy to sing the melody for you, if you can figure how to connect or when I have a moment, I could transcribe the notes onto notation paper. I’m wondering where the the song orginated.
January 6th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Thanks Randy! I have an answering machine set up – where you can call a New York number and sing the song by phone onto the machine and then I can turn it into an mp3. Please let me know if this works for you.
Best regards,
Lisa
February 26th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Hi Lisa,
I think the song comes from the Torres Strait Islands…but not sure. I have written up the song after a friend sang it to me.
I can send it to you as a PDF if you want it…
cheers
Mary-Anne (Australia)
February 26th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
That would be great. Thanks!
May 28th, 2010 at 8:16 am
I’ve also been trying to find this song after it was taught to us on our teacher training course. Do you have the melody as well as the lyrics you can send me?
July 4th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Did this song get transcribed? Anyone know more about the origins?
July 8th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
bellymama bellymama hey
bellymama bellymama hey
bellymama belly ma bellymama belly ma
bellymama bellymama hey
July 14th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Does anyone have the sheet music for the song bella mama?
I know it as –
Bella mama, bella mama – hey
Bella mama, bella mama – hey
Bella mama, bella mama, bella mama, bella mama
Bella mama, bella mama – hey
July 14th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Can Mary Anne send me a PDF too?
July 15th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Mary Anne sent me a score. I’ll post it soon.
We love to learn about what language it’s in and if it means anything other than “pretty mama”. If anyone knows, please share any info you might have.
We found an mp3 recording here. They say it’s from Torre Straights too.
If anyone would like to sing this song for us, we’d love to post a recording!
Mama Lisa
April 6th, 2011 at 12:52 am
We have sang this song in power of hope. I am very sure its from brazil, but not quite sure.
April 6th, 2011 at 12:57 am
Its a fertility song some people say but im not quite sure. sang to those who are planning on having a baby or are soon to give birth.
November 8th, 2011 at 7:52 am
I just found out this song is definitely West African. There is a recording of it on the Smithsonian label by Mouangue African Ensemble from Cameroon.
November 8th, 2011 at 7:52 am
It’s actually spelt Bele Mama and means Call Mama
November 8th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Hi Linda – Do you know what the language is? Thanks! -Lisa
November 10th, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Actually it is called Mbele Mama and the language is Swahili.