Out of Africa

Ah wune kune

Che che koolay

Fatou yo

Funga alafia

Jambo

Obiswana

Tue tue

Last updated: 08/02/2016 12:53

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ Round and about

compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

To listen to music from these songs click on title at O

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

· you must give the original author credit

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Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

Ah wune kune O

Play this hand pat song from Zaire in its most simple form for the young and add more complexity once the simple moves have been mastered.

Listen at: http://www.sierrasongs.com/songquery.php?id=45

Children sit in a circle and first time through slap knees to a steady beat.

Ah, wune kune kah yah wune, Ah, wune kune kah yah wune, Ah, yi yi yiki ay ki ayna, Ah, yi yi yiki ay ki ayna, Ah, oo ah dee mee kee chee.

Pat own knees once, pat with hands crossed, pat own knees, slap neighbour’s knees, pat own knees, pat with hands crossed, pat own knees Repeat sequence,. Do the same as above with shoulders twice. Clap own hands, lap, own hands, neighbour’s hands, own hands, lap, own hands.

Che che koolay O

This traditional African action and response clapping game has been translated as; “If you are out on a boat in the ocean, come back soon! Rain is coming.”

Watch at: http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=131470

Directions:

Children stand in two circles, one inside the other, so each child faces a partner. The first time the song is sung the outer circle sings a line and the inner circle copy the phrase as the circles walk round in opposite directions. Stop opposite a partner on the last phrase, ‘Kum a den day’, both clap the rhythm, then jump in the air clapping hands above their head to the word ‘Hey!’.

The second time clap as below on each phrase as the outer circle demonstrates and the inner circle copies. Then move round in a circle as before to stop at a new partner ready to copy the singing and actions.

Che che koolay, Che che koolay, Che che kofisa, Che che kofisa, Kofisa langa, Kofisa langa, Kaka shi langa, Kaka shi langa, Kum a den day, Kum a den day, Kum a den day, Kum a den day, Hey! (together)

Pat head four times. Pat shoulders four times twisting top half of body from side to side. Twist body and tap hips four times. Tap knees four times. Touch ankles on, ‘Kum’, then shoulders on ‘a den day’. Leap up and throw hands in the air, ’Hey’.

Fatou yo O

‘I am Fatou’ is a song from Senegal sung in the Mandingo language. Fatou, a young girl, loves to dance with the village children; she dreams about singing with baby elephants and giraffes.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD42KHwWFew&feature=related .

Directions:

Form a line, one behind the other, holding on to the shoulder of the one in front. The leader takes the line around the room moving to the rhythm of the music.

Fatou yo si diadialano, Fatou yo si diadialano. Fatou yo si diadialano, Fatou yo si diadialano. Fatou fay fay fatou, Fatou klemaoundio, Fatou yo si diadialano. Fatou fay fay fatou, Fatou klemaoundio, Fatou yo si diadialano.

Boutoumbélé, boutoumbélé, Boutoumbélé, Boutoumbélé, boutoumbélé, Boutoumbélé, Boutoumbélé, boutoumbélé, Boutoumbélé. O mamy sera, O mamy casse, boutoumbélé. O mamy sera, O mamy casse, boutoumbélé

Funga alafia O

This West African song of welcome in the Yoruba language could also be sung as a call and response song. A steady drum beat would enhance this dance.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxrkwEgAq00

Begin in a circle, elbows bent and palms touching those of the children on either side.

} x2 Funga alafia, ashay, ashay. Funga alafia, ashay, ashay. Ashay, ashay, ashay, ashay. x2 Funga alafia, ashay, ashay. } x2 Welcome and peace to you, amen, amen. Welcome and peace to you, amen, amen. Amen, amen, amen, amen. x2 Welcome and peace to you, amen, amen. } x2 Welcome, good health to you, amen, amen. Welcome, good health to you, amen, amen. Amen, amen, amen, amen. x2 Welcome, good health to you, amen, amen.

Side step bending knees clockwise round the circle. Repeat in the opposite direction. Drop hands. Sidestep twice to the right swaying arms with elbow bent and clap to right. Repeat to the left. Repeat sequence again. Continue for following verses as above

Jambo O

This song to welcome tourists to Kenya is sung in Swahili.

The word for ‘hello’ ‘Jambo’ is only used to greet visitors.

Teach children other Swahili words; asante / thank you, kwahari / goodbye, baadaye / see you later.

Directions:

Children walk around the room waving at each other. They find a partner and give high fives with both hands. On ‘come together’ partners join with a second pair and walk left then right. They then drop hands ready to begin again.

Obwisana O

Sung by children in Ghana it translates as; ‘The rock has crushed my hand Grandma, The rock has crushed my hand.’ and reassures youngsters that whatever happens someone will always be there to care for them. As in most countries singing games help children learn about their culture and pass on cultural values.

This traditional passing game also encourages co-operation. Seated in a circle children place one or two sticks / rocks in front of them. On the first beat of the song they pick up the stick and on the second place it in front of the child on the right. When children are confident the stick can be passed in the opposite direction.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRcLchcP30c

With an excellent beat this song is great for walking / skipping in time to the music while clapping or tapping body parts in time to the music. Wear jingle bells or play other percussion instruments while moving round to enjoy the feeling of strong beats.

Encourage the children to listen to each other and stress the beat together.

Tue tue O

‘We are grateful for the harvest’, this gathering song from Ghana also works well as a round. The rhythmic beat of many African songs make them suitable to be accompanied by clapping. Invent new clapping sequences once children are familiar with this game.

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4VPJ_kd5cA .

Directions:

Children stand in a circle and slap knees for each ‘tue’; first with hands crossed and then open. Wave both hands in the air each time ‘barima’ is sung. On ‘amazadow ama dowa dowa’ move into the circle and then out with knees bent, waving hands from side to side.

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