OUR SONGS FROM
AFRICA
A HIYENI
COUNTRY: Mozambique
"A Hiyeni" is a song sung in a "women's village" in Mozambique in the 1970s, encouraging the women, who had built "Communal Village O.M.M." together, to keep striving to become independent from Portugal.
ARSOMO BABA
COUNTRY: Morocco
“Arsomo Baba” is a song from Morocco inspired by a kid drawing a multicolored picture of his dad.
ATAS ATAS
COUNTRY: Algeria
“Atas Atas” is a bittersweet Berber language lullaby from Algeria.
AWA YOMBEI
COUNTRY: The Gambia
“Awa Yombei” is a song from The Gambia that gives us the chance to join a little girl, Awa Yombei, as she spends the day having fun.
BALE ILE
COUNTRY: Nigeria
“Bale Ile” is a multi-rhythmic “Fuji” song from Nigeria. The Yoruba lyrics recall the traditional words of a groom-to-be asking his soon-to-be father-in-law for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
CIBULA
COUNTRY: Tanzania
“Cibula” is an energizing – and exhausting -- Wagogo chant from Tanzania about a hopping frog.
DIARRA LORO LORA
COUNTRY: Burkina Faso
“Diarra Loro Lora” is a song from Burkina Faso in West Africa that warns kids not to go out at night or they may run into a lion who is “food shopping.”
DO DO KI DO
COUNTRY: Cameroon
"Do Do Ki Do" is a song from Cameroon that kids sing about the beloved food, fried ripe plantains, as they dance and play during the Masquerade.
HA HA HA
COUNTRY: Zimbabwe
“HaHaHa” is a happy-sounding song, originally in Ndebele, by the not-too-happy Zimbabwean songwriter George Sibanda.
HE MOTSOALA
COUNTRY: South Africa
"He Motsoala" is a South African song that follows our dear mother from city to city as she tries to acquire us a marriage license.
KAVULI TUTU
COUNTRY: Kenya
"Kavuli Tutu" takes us to Kenya where we enjoy the maize and pea harvest with much gratitude to the kids who helped.
KEENENE
COUNTRY: Uganda
“Keenene” is a chant from Uganda that inspires us – REQUIRES us! -- to demand our favorite foods.
KIKALAMA
COUNTRY: Guinea
“Kikalama” is a playful and empowering love song from Guinea.
KIPENZI CHANGU
COUNTRY: Kenya
“Kipenzi Changu” is a song from Kenya that a groom might sing to his soon-to-be bride. “Though the days may be long, my darling, I'll never let you go....”
NANU NANu NEY
COUNTRY: Ethiopia
“Nanu Nanu Ney” is a phenomenally funky Ethiopian dance song from the 1980s. In class we use it as inspiration to enjoy the shoulder shaking dance, the Eskista.
NSA WE
COUNTRY: Uganda
“Nsa We” is a Ugandan song about the trials and tribulations of farming. In our version we all agree to work together to raise the crops.
SENZENINA
COUNTRY: South Africa
“Senzenina” is a South African anti-Apartheid era lament that poses the unanswerable question, “what have we done to deserve such struggle?”
THINANTSHA
COUNTRY: South Africa
“Thinantsha” is a powerful South African anti-Apartheid song that confirms the commitment of the youth to one day bring about justice.
TSY AKEO
COUNTRY: Madagascar
“Tsy Akeo” is a song from Madagascar by the phenomenal "selegy" performer, Jaojoby. “We need love and to be loved and to love each other every day....”
TULO TULO
COUNTRY: Uganda
"Tulo Tulo" is a lovely lullaby from Uganda. Extra kudos to you if you sing it along with me in the original Luganda language.
WAI BAMBA
COUNTRY: Zimbabwe
“Wai Bamba” is a Zimbabwean song that inspires the entire community to sing.