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. (More.)

ARSOMO BABA

COUNTRY: Morocco

“Arsomo Baba” is a song from Morocco inspired by a kid drawing a multicolored picture of his dad. (More.)

ATAS ATAS

COUNTRY: Algeria

“Atas Atas” is a bittersweet Berber language lullaby from Algeria. (More.)

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. (More.)

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. (More.)

CIBULA

COUNTRY: Cibula

“Cibula” is an energizing – and exhausting -- Wagogo chant from Tanzania about a hopping frog. (More.)

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.” (More.)

DO DO KI DO

COUNTRY: Do Do Ki Do

"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. (More.)

HA HA HA

COUNTRY: Zimbabwe

“HaHaHa” is a happy-sounding song, originally in Ndebele, by the not-too-happy Zimbabwean songwriter George Sibanda. (More.)

HE MOTSOALA

COUNTRY: He Motsoala

"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. (More.)

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. (More.)

KEENENE

COUNTRY: Uganda

“Keenene” is a chant from Uganda that inspires us – REQUIRES us! -- to demand our favorite foods. (More.)

KIKALAMA

COUNTRY: Guinea

“Kikalama” is a playful and empowering love song from Guinea. (More.)

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....” (More.)

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. (More.)

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. (More.)

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?” (More.)

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. (More.)

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....” (More.)

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. (More.)

WAI BAMBA

COUNTRY: Zimbabwe

“Wai Bamba” is a Zimbabwean song that inspires the entire community to sing. (More.)