He 'Rose (Spiritual Examples & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents three examples of and lyrics to the African American Spiritual "He 'Rose" (also known as "He Arose").

The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Editor's note:
The African American Spiritual "He 'Rose" is a standard Easter church song that is sung by many young African American children because of its simple, repeating lyrics. This is the first song that I remember singing as part of a young children's "choir" when I was about five or six years old. My sisters & I and other members of that group sang "He 'Rose in front of the church congregation on Easter Sunday in a very similar manner as that shown in Video #. However, in contrast to the rendition performed in that video, I distinctly remember singing "He 'Rose" and not "He Arose". It was some time until I realized that the word "'rose" was a shortened form of the word "arose" (as in Christ has arisen from the dead). Furthermore, I don't recall singing verse #2 of that song as given in the Lyrics section below.

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LYRICS TO HE 'ROSE

Chorus:
He ‘rose. (He ‘rose.) He ‘rose. (He ‘rose.)
He ‘rose from the dead.
He ‘rose. (He ‘rose.) He ‘rose. (He ‘rose.)
He ‘rose from the dead.
He ‘rose. (He ‘rose.) He ‘rose. (He ‘rose.)
He ‘rose from the dead,
And the Lord shall bear my spirit home.

Verse 1
They crucified my Savior and nailed Him to the cross.
They crucified my Savior and nailed Him to the cross.
They crucified my Savior and nailed Him to the cross,
And the Lord will bear my spirit home.

Verse 2
And Joseph begged His body and laid it in the tomb.
And Joseph begged His body and laid it in the tomb.
And Joseph begged His body and laid it in the tomb,
And the Lord will bear my spirit home.

Chorus

Verse 3
Sister Mary, she came running, a-looking for my Lord.
Sister Mary, she came running, a-looking for my Lord.
Sister Mary, she came running, a-looking for my Lord,
And the Lord will bear my spirit home.

Verse 4
An angel came from heaven and rolled the stone away.
An angel came from heaven and rolled the stone away.
An angel came from heaven and rolled the stone away,
And the Lord will bear my spirit home.

Chorus (END)
-snip-
http://home.comcast.net/~cabernethy/Lyrics/HeArose1.htm
-snip-
Other lyrics for "He 'Rose" are found after the Blind Lemon Jefferson sound file which is given as Example #1 of this song.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES OF "HE 'ROSE"VIDEOS
(These videos are presented in chronological order based on the date of their YouTube posting, with the oldest dated videos posted first.)

Example #1: blind lemon jefferson he arose from the dead



commarx, Uploaded on Apr 12, 2007
from black snake blues [sound file recorded in 1927]
-snip-
Here is the lyrics as sung by the highly regarded Bluesman, Blind Lemon Jefferson:

He rose, He rose from the dead [3x]
And the Lord shall bear my spirit home.

One angel came from heaven
and rolled away his tomb
[repeat both these lines 3x]
And de Lord shall bear my spirit home.

Chorus

Oh tella my disciples,
Meet me in Galilee
[repeat both these lines 3x]
And the Lord shall bear my spirit home.

Chorus

Oh tella my disciples,
Go feed me tender lambs
[repeat both these lines 3x]
And the Lord shall bear my spirit home.

Chorus

One angel came from heaven etc

Chorus

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Example #2: He Arose

.

trityl11, Uploaded on Mar 26, 2008

He Arose from the Dead

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Example #3: He Arose-New Hope Mass Choir/Bishop Scott



REALBMcCoyShow, Uploaded on May 20, 2008


My church choir, New Hope Baptist Church Mass Choir (BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA)... From BISHOP L. SCOTT Hymns & Church Songs; Live from Alabama album. Belinda George-Peoples, lead. Produced by Prince Yelder. Arrangement by Lawerence Sneed.

-snip-
This is a gospelized arrangement of the African American Spiritual.
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RELATED LINK
Here's a sound file to the Gospel song "He Rose" by
Youthful Praise feat. Kerry Brown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vTFrS2b77M

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song, and thanks to the vocalists and musicians who are featured in this sound file and these videos. My thanks also to the producers of and publishers of this sound file and these videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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A Hymn Rendition & A Black Gospel Rendition of "Revive Us Again"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases one hymn rendition & one Gospel rendition of the song "Revive Us Again". The standard lyrics and the lyrics to a Gospel arrangement of this hymn are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

STANDARD LYRICS TO "REVIVE US AGAIN"
composer - William Paton Mackay (1839-1885)

We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

Refrain:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.

Refrain

All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.

Refrain

All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us,
And guided our ways.

Refrain

Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.

Refrain
-snip-
From http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/revive-us-again-the-song-and-the-story.html
That website also includes this Biblical verse which may have been the inspiration for this song:
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?” (Psalm 85:6)

VIDEO OF A HYMN RENDITION OF "REVIVE US AGAIN"

Revive Us Again - Prestonwood Choir & Orchestra



Josephpianoplayer, Uploaded on May 3, 2011

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VIDEO OF A GOSPEL RENDITION OF "REVIVE US AGAIN"

Revive Us Again (Perry's Temple Choir-Wilson,NC)



Joseph Baker, Uploaded on Nov 28, 2009
-snip-
I echo several commenters on this video's viewer comment thread that this rendition is very much like the one that I recall hearing and singing at my church in the 1950s and early sixties. (an African American Babtist church in Atlantic City, New Jersey). The only difference is that we also sang the last verse of the standard lyrics, and I can't recall us singing the section that I labeled the 2nd refrain.)

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LYRICS TO THIS FEATURED GOSPEL RENDITION

REVIVE US AGAIN

Verse:
Altos -We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
Sopranos- For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

1st Refrain:
Sopranos- Hallelujah!
Other Voices- Hallelujah, Thine the glory.
Sopranos- Hallelujah!
Other Voices- Hallelujah Amen.
Sopranos - Hallelujah!
Other Voices- Hallelujah, Thine the glory.
All- Revive us again.

Sing same verse as above [add claps after the first line, continue that clapping pattern throughout]

Sing 1st refrain.

Sing 2nd refrain:
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Revive us again.

Sing verse.

Sing 1st refrain.

Sing 2nd refrain.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah !
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah
Revive us again.

[repeat this entire section 3x and then end with]
Revive us again.
Revive us again.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the video given above. Additions and corrections are welcome.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to William Paton Mackay for his composition of this song. Thanks also to the arrangers of these renditions, and to the vocalists and musicians who are featured in these videos. My thanks also to the producers of and publishers of these videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Betty & Dupree (Examples & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents information about and five examples of the Blues and Rhythm & Blues song "Betty And Dupree".

The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG BETTY & DUPREE
The Blues song "Betty & Dupree" was first documented in the 1930s.

Click http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=27925#344464 for lyrics to "Dupree Blues" as recorded by Willie Walker and Sam Brooks, Atlanta, Georgia, 6 December 1930. Columbia 14578-D. Transcription from Jeff Todd Titon 'Early Downhome Blues' University of North Carolina Press Second Edition pp 70-71. [from November 21, 2000 post by Stewie]

On that same day in that same Mudcat discussion thread, Stewie also provided information about & lyrics to another 1930s version of "Dupree Blues": "Kingfish Bill Tomlin 'Dupree Blues' Paramount 13057. Recorded Grafton, Wisconsin, c November 1930. Transcription from Paul Oliver 'Songsters and Saints' Cambridge University Press pp 253-254."

Also, this comment posted on November 21, 2000 on that same Mudcat discussion thread by Art Thieme indicated that the Betty and Dupree song was based on an actual occurrence:
"The version I recorded is pretty much the way I heard Josh White do it in the late 1950s in Chicago. The information I've picked up over the last 40 years is that Frank Dupree of Abbeville, S. Carolina killed a Georgia patrolman for which he was hanged on September 1, 1922--(Georgia Department of Public Health). Dupree had been trying to rob an Atlanta jewelry store on December 15, 1921. After killing one and wounding others, Dupree escaped and was finally captured in Detroit, Michigan after a chase through several states."

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FEATURED VIDEOS
(These videos are presented in chronological order based on the date of their YouTube posting, with the oldest dated videos posted first.)

Example #1: Betty & Dupree by Cookie & the Cupcakes



groovetown1503, Uploaded on Sep 16, 2009

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Example #2: Josh White: Betty and Dupree (1956)



davidhertzberg,Uploaded on Aug 29, 2010

Josh White (1914 - 1969) sings "Betty and Dupree." I created this video from the LP, "The Josh White Stories, Volume 1," issued on the ABC-Paramount label in 1958, serial number ABC-124.

You can read about this remarkable artist -- billed as "The Father of American Folk Music" -- here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_White

and here:
http://www.joshwhitejr.com/biojwsr.html

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Example #3: Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Betty and Dupree



Kevin Joseph, Uploaded on Oct 13, 2011

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee's haunting version of the Chuck Willis classic.

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Example #4: The Stroll w/ The King of The Stroll: Chuck Willis - Betty and Dupree ("Seventeen")



Rgjraccoon, Published on Oct 25, 2012

Click http://artists.letssingit.com/chuck-willis-lyrics-betty-and-dupree-r4jqdmq#axzz2P2I6mqEF for lyrics to this song.

This video is also featured in this post on my zumalayah cultural blog: http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-stroll-model-for-soul-train-line.html "The Stroll-The Model For The Soul Train Line".

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Example #5: TAJ MAHAL TRIO - Betty and Dupree - LRBC-19. S.E. Caribbean 10/27~11/3 - 2012



rd350c, Published on Dec 2, 2012

Taj was supposed to come on at 10:15 and it rained and rained. But Taj hung in there for us and went on sometime after midnight. What devotion to fans, and what a great performer. The show was magical. Everyone knew the cruise was ending - people were crying.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composers of these songs, and thanks to the vocalists and musicians who are featured in these videos. My thanks also to bloggers whose comments I quoted or linked to. Thanks also to the producers of and publishers of these videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Lil Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus) (Video & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video of and lyrics to the 2007 hip hop song "G-Slide (Tour Bus)" by Lil Mama.

This isn't the same record as the 2006 Gospel line song "Gospel Slide" which is also sometimes called "g slide". Click http://zumalala.blogspot.com/2013/03/dana-divine-gospel-slide-video-lyrics.html for a post on that song.

The content of this post is presented for entertainment and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

INFORMATION ABOUT LIL MAMA
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Mama
"Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), professionally known as Lil Mama, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. She was the judge on America's Best Dance Crew…
In 2006, Kirkland signed a recording contract with Jive Records. Her first studio album VYP (Voice of the Young People) was released in late April 2008. The album spawned four singles: "Lip Gloss", "G-Slide (Tour Bus)", "Shawty Get Loose" and "What It Is (Strike a Pose)". The album sold 19,000 copies in the first week, debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200."...

Lil Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus)


LilMamaVEVO, Uploaded on Nov 15, 2009

Music video by Lil Mama performing G-Slide (Tour Bus). (C) 2007 Zomba Recording, LLC
-snip-
Like many other Hip-Hop songs, the lyrics to this song are self-bragging, and some what confontational. However, there is less insulting others in this song than in many other Hip Hop songs. And there is no profanity or violence.

G-Slide (Tour Bus) has the same tune as the children's songs "The Wheels On The Bus (Go Round And Round) and "This Is The Way We Wash Our Clothes."

LYRICS

G-Slide (Tour Bus)"

If my sister tour bus, ride through your town
You're gonna have a problem, tell um Lil' Mama.

Uh uh, no way, you can show me how [x2]
Uh uh, no way, you can show me how
You can show me how
To G-slide

Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!

Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work
G-slide for me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work
G-slide for me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)

When I bump up on the track it's like
(Whoop, there's it is)
From the block parties to house parties
I gets it in
I'm a bump Bee's a knees
And that's exactly what I meant
Young beast from the East
So you know I put it in
I'm that ghetto gorgeous gangster girl
With the fly G slide international (is wretch you know)
By the way that I'm bounce on the track (you Know)
You ain't never see a girl like this before (Oh no)
My heart seems fly high
We run until we die
Run into dudes who
Yapping and always trying to get by
But I don't hear
It goes in one ear and out the other
Told him how to G-slide and he told his mother
Get get down big Mama'
I can dig it, you got it
But when my block starts the G
A stampede slidin'

Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take our time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!

Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work (I put it work) [x3]
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work (Hey!)
New shirt (New shirt)
New kicks (New kicks)
New Pants
G-slide the new dance
No auto maw
We live in the new times
Lil' ma must've artist for me
Is the new grime
More money, more money
More shine
She the princess of the city
I'm her son boy shine
Top the dime
Shorty got cake like uh
Duncan Hines, come on G-slide

they be callin' me T in the hood
'cause I bring the Pain daddy
And when the time is going down
Make you ring daddy
That mean you got to feel me
'cause I'm might make you fly
And if your G-slide slow
You better pick it up
G-slide with me
Be shy do it
See shorty lookin' over from the side viewin'
I'm 'bout to hook him up
And show him how to do it
Slide right, slide left
Hit time

Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!

Lil' mama get it popping
Stand on the streets so the people yell
Just lookin' at me like
No fair, I'm here, no fair
And my heart gonna nip you girls
I bet you gonna live no losses
I switch verses like sauces
That prego sauce be poppin
She so hot
When I go bring them down to popping
Now you tip and try to touch
May end up with red spots
When it's hot, then it's hot
If it's ain't, then it's not
Wait, you walk over
There's no room up on the spot
'cause I spot little creatures trying to turn beast (turn beast)
Go feast
They better turn because I'm red meat (meat)
And it's wait wait to see me
while I do it for TV
In the hood
In the hood
Is probably where I must be

Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide

-snip-
From http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/lilmama/gslidetourbus.html
"Thanks to Nadia for adding these lyrics.
Thanks to jaleadancer, muzic2miiears, shautythikthyz correcting these lyrics."

TRANSLATION OF BLACK SLANG IN THE LYRICS TO THIS SONG
Lill Mama - Little Mama, a referent for a young girl or young woman (and not necessarily a female who has a child)

**
g = ganster

**
slide - a dance

**
tour bus - a bus used by recording artists and other celebrities that is used when they are on tour to different cities. The tour bus usually includes a painting of the artist & her or his name on the's name on the sides of the bus

**
get it poppin - starts things happening (this term is probably from kernal corn popping as it cooks)

**
Get get down big Mama' - Exclamation of approval directed to an older female ("Big Mama" does not necessarily refer to a person's weight)

**
When I bump up on the track it's like - when I come unto the scene (when I arrive at a location), here's what they say

**
Whoop, there's it is - a line from a popular 1990s Bass music which, in the context of this G Slide song, means that someone enthusiastically recognizes that Lil Mama is here.
I gets in it - I really put my all into what I do (in this case, dancing)

**
I'm a bump Bee's a knees - I'm the best there is (probably from the archaic saying "she (or he) is the bee's knees", though I don't know how that saying came to mean that a person is the best there is

**
New kicks - new shoes

**
Shorty got cake like uh Duncan Hines - Duncan Hines is a brand name for cake mix. However, in the context of this song "cake" means "butt" (from butt cakes).

**
I'm her son boy shine - I'm a young man who she accepts in her crew who also gets some of the spotlight (the shine)

Top the dime - I'm the best

**
they be callin' me T in the hood/ 'cause I bring the Pain daddy -
a reference to the rapper T-Pain & also used as a bragging statement that the person rapping in this song can also cause T pain [testicular pain) if someone messes with him.

**
shorty - a young person (used without any reference to height except that young people are generally shorter than older people (adults)

**
hook him up - in this context, means help him

**
Hit time - time to really show off how well you can dance

**
"switch verses like sauces
That prego sauce be poppin
She so hot
When I go bring them down to popping
Now you tip and try to touch
May end up with red spots
When it's hot, then it's hot"

In this portion of the song the singer brags on herself and says she is as hot as Prego sauce (a brand of Spagetti sauce). The first use of the word poppin in this portion refers to how sauce pops & bubbles up when it's hot. The second use of "poppin" refers to the Hip Hop dance movements called "poppin". The red spots means that she will "burn" (out dance; dance better than) other people who try to challenge her dancing

**
"creatures trying to turn beast" - people trying to get inhumanly negative

**
I'm red meat - I'm in my prime (I'm at the top of my game)

=snip-
Additions and corrections to this slang "translation" are welcome.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composers of this song, and thanks to the Lil Mama and the other vocalists, musicians, and dancers who are featured in this videos My thanks also to the producer of this video and the publisher of this video.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Five Examples Of "Sing To The Power Of The Lord Comes Down"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents five examples of the Gospel song "Sing To The Power Of The Lord Comes Down" (also known as "Oh Let Us Sing").

The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
(These examples are presented in chronological order based on the date of their YouTube posting, with the oldest dated videos posted first.)

Example #1: *Audio* Now Let Us Sing Til' The Power: First Church of Deliverance



damonemontez, Uploaded on Jan 14, 2009


"Founded by Rev. Clarence H. Cobbs in 1929", The First Church of Deliverance Choir of Chicago, presents "Surely The Lord Is In This Place" featuring Edward Clark on lead.


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Example #2: Sing 'Til The Power of the Lord Comes Down - State Choir, Church Of God In Christ, Southwestern Florida



Tip99, Uploaded on Mar 24, 2010

From the LP "Hallelujah Praise" 1978

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Example #3: Sing Til The Power-- JSU GOSPEL CHOIR



TheAulegend, Uploaded on May 13, 2010

JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY FEAT: Hasan Green
produced by prince yelder

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Example #4: "Sing Till The Power Comes Down" Zion Tabernacle Cathedral Mass Choir



typrsn1, Sep 22, 2011

This is track 4 from the 1984 album entitled "It's In The Bible".

Lead by W. T. Martin

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Example #5: F.U.T.C. Worship - Sing Until The Power Of The Lord Come Down



First United Tabernacle Church, Published on May 12, 2012

27th Church Anniversary Celebration

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RELATED LINK
Click http://lwscchoir.blogspot.com/2009/06/god-is.html for the standard lyrics to "Sing To The Power" (also known as "Oh Let Us Sing"). If I'm not mistaken, the composer of Gospel this song is unknown.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composers of these songs, and thanks to the vocalists and musicians who are featured in these sound files and this video. My thanks also to the publishers of these examples.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Wura Samba's Nigeria Music Is Spiritual AND It Rocks!

Edited by Azizi Powell

While surfing YouTube the other day for videos of Samba music, I happened upon a video by Wura Samba and I LOVED it. Of course, that meant that I had to watch all of Wura Samba's YouTube videos -there are about five of them online, not counting replications. And of course, I knew that I had to showcase at least some of those videos on this blog. So Wura Samba, this post is for you.

Unfortunately, I can find nothing online about Wura Samba and his group. Most of his videos were posted between August 2012 and December 2012. To date, each of the videos have only a small number of viewers, and no comments.

In searching further, I found a short video of Wura Samba (with that name written as "wurasamba" which was posted by ExxSt in July 2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYdTa6ZoKkc
(I'm not sure if "Wura Samba" or "wurasamba" is the lead musician's name or the name of the group). And again that YouTube video very few views, and no comments.

Okay, come on folks - These songs are too good to be overlooked.

In a summary to one of his videos- IBA ELEDUA BY WURASAMBA@ FREEDOM PARK FELABRATION 12- Wura Samba describes his compositions as "Afrofolklore Percussion Music". In a summary of a video of his composition "Otito", Wura Samba describes it as "Traditional Folk Afro Music". And in a summary of another video of his composition "Alute", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO4beggAqRc, Wura Samba describes it as "a folk song".

In my opinion, those labels don't adequately describe Wurasamba's music. And, even more to the point, I think that they do damage to people's consideration of that music. I'm not a music critic. BUT, when I think of African folk music, I don't think of the music that is featured on those YouTube videos of Wura Samba & his group. the label "AfroFolk Music" is a turn off. Rightly or wrongly, to most people in the United States, the label "folk music" is toxic. "Folk music" calls to mind images of old White people strumming on an acoustic guitar and singing really old songs or new ones that they wrote, since they believe they will be the next Bob Dylan.

Maybe that's one of the reasons why Wura Samba's videos aren't getting that much play on YouTube. Maybe Wura Samba should label his music some more modern sounding name, or maybe he should coin his own label for his music.

When I heard Wura Samba's music, I thought it was Nigerian Jazz that was based on traditional Yoruba rhythms and maybe also traditional Yoruba songs. I concluded that this music was from Yoruba traditions because one of my hobbies is researching the origins & meanings of African names. Most of the song titles for the Wura Samba songs that are on YouTube are from the Yoruba language of Nigeria. "Otito" is the exception as it's from the Igbo Nigerian language. The name "Wura" means "gold" in the Yoruba language. I'm not sure if "Samba" is a Yoruba name element or word or if that musician made up that name [for himself or his group?] to mean something like "golden Samba" (music). In my opinion, "Nigerian Samba" would be a much better label for Wura Samba's music than "AfroFolk Music". But then again, I know too little about Samba music to say whether his music actually sounds like Samba music.

Maybe Wura Samba should call his (or their) music "Nigerian Jazz" - which is what I thought it was. Then, of course, he could say (because it certainly appears to be true) that his compositions are based on or are strongly influenced by traditional Yoruba rhythms and songs. Notice that I suggested the use of the word "traditional" instead of "folk". The word "traditional" has good connotations. The word "folk" has bad connotations.

Or maybe Wura Samba ("Wurasamba"?) needs to make up a whole new music genre for his [their] music and then market the heck out of that music using that new label.

Wura Samba's music is spiritual and it rocks, It deserves far more attention on YouTube and elsewhere online* then that music has gotten thus far.
*and also off-line but for all I know, Wurasamba may be doing very well outside of the Internet.

I offer these suggestions out of love for this music and hope that my words won't be taken the wrong way.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
(These videos are posted in chronological order by the date of their posting on YouTube, with the oldest post presented first.)

Example #1: wurasamba



ExxSt,Uploaded on Jul 3, 2008

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Example #2: ELEBOTO BY WURASAMBA



wura samba Published on Aug 30, 2012

MEANS GOOD THINGS
-snip-
This summary statement means that in English the [Yoruba] word "Eleboto" means "good things".

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Example #3: OTITO



wura samba, Published on Aug 30, 2012
-snip-
This is one of the two videos of "Otito" by Wura Samba that can be found on YouTube.

With or without another word, "Otito" is used very often as a Nigerian song title. It appears to me that many of these songs are religious, since "Olotito" is an Igbo (Nigerian) praise name for God which means "The Truthful" http://www.nigerianchurchonline.com/blog/names-god-yoruba-language-oruko-ati-oriki-olorun.

"Otito" is also an Igbo male and female name that is a shortened form of various names such as "Otitodilinna or Otitodilichukwu or Otutodilichukwu or Otutodilinna" http://culture.chiamaka.com/IgboNames/igbonamesosoz.htm. According to that website, "Otito" means "Glory be to God."

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Example #4: IBA ELEDUA BY WURASAMBA@ FREEDOM PARK FELABRATION 12.



wura samba,Published on Dec 3, 2012

ITS AN AFROFOLKLORE PERCAUSION MUSIC
-snip-
This is the first Wura Samba video that I happened upon.

I used Google to try to suss out the meaning of the title "Iba Eledu", and started with the name "Eledu". Google search gave me hits for the orisa (god) name Elegba (Eleggua, Elegu, Legba). Here's some information on Eleggua from http://santeriachurch.org/the-orishas/eleggua/:
" Eleggua (also spelled Elegua, Elewa, Elegba or Legba) is the most important of the orishas in Santeria. Elegua was the first orisha created by Olodumare and he existed prior to and witnessed creation unfold. He is the key to any of our religious practices, for without Elegua’s blessings nothing can proceed, transpire nor succeed in the world. Eleggua is the owner of all roads, crossroads, and doors. He is the power that allows all of the ache in the universe to move from point A to point B. Elegba allows our prayers to reach the orishas. Elegba allows ache to flow in ebó so that our fate may be changed. He facilitates divination (diloggun, obi, okuele or any other form of divination) by communicating to and for the other orishas, and to Olodumare herself"...
-snip-
When I did a Google search for the word "Iba", I got hits for the word "Ifa". Here's some information on the Yoruba word "Ifa" from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If%C3%A1:
"Ifá originated in West Africa in the form of a stringent Yoruba philosophy, and is celebrated in traditional African medicine, Santería (referred to as Lukumi), Candomblé, West African & Diaspora Vodou, and similarly in Orisa'Ifa lineages all over the globe."...
-snip-
The word "Ifa" is also used online (at least) as a generalized term for traditional Yoruba religion.

Now you can see why I said that Wura Samba's music is spiritual.
And when you hear that music, you'll see why I said that it rocks, although I hasten to say that by "rocks" I mean it has a great percussive sound, and NOT that it is a part of the American Rock music genre.

I'm glad I cleared that up.

Enjoy!

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
My thanks to Wura Samba for composing and performing these featured songs. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aessthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

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Zoom On This - How I Came To Name My New Blog "Zumalala"

Edited by Azizi Powell

UPDATE: I changed my new blog's name to zumalayah http://zumalayah.blogspot.com for a couple of reasons (mostly because there was a wordpress blog with that other name. But zumalayah rhymes with the "jambalayah", the name of one of my cultural blogs. So it's all good. I've updated the blog link given in this post to reflect that new name.

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Around about 10:00 last night [March 25, 2013] I got this great idea to start a new blog. Yes, I'm still going to publish posts on Pancocojams. But it occurred to me that what the world needed, or -at least what I needed- was a blog that was more focused on certain types of African and African Diaspora cultural music.

Although these words didn't come quite this clearly to me all at once, by about 11:30 PM, I had conceptualized that what I wanted to do was start a blog that "showcases videos of dances & singing games done in circles or in lines, and other movement performance arts from African American culture, from African cultures, and from other cultures of the African Diaspora."

Thank goodness starting a blog on Google is actually quite easy. The main difficulty that I had with this start-another-blog idea was what to call that blog.

I played around with another "coco-something" or "something-coco name" - in honor of my first cultural website Cocojams (with "coco" of course meaning "Black", well actually "Brown" people and "jams" meaning "music" or "songs".) But I couldn't get a handle on any coco names. Ditto for a form of the name that I gave to my other (and I admit very neglected) website "Jambalayah". Nothing SOUNDED right. I was stuck in lala land-and then it came to me - "La la". "La la'? "La la"!! Well, yeah...maybe that name would work but it definitely needed something else.

So since it was late, I decided to give my brain a rest and went to bed. And it's only because I "laid my burden down" (to quote an old church song, or a church old song), that the name I was seeking came to me - ZUMALALA (pronounced zoom-ah-LAH-lah).

I made up the word "zumalala" for the purpose of that blog. I consider it a noun which means "the spirit that people express when they joyfully move to the beat of percussive music". That said, I haven't used it in any sentence but the following:

Zumalala showcases videos of circle dances, line dances, and other movement performance arts from African American culture, from African cultures, and from other cultures of the African Diaspora.

However, if you want to use that word as a verb, for instance in a sentence like "Stop that zumalala-ing and do you homework!", that's fine by me :o)

Not only did I have a name for my new blog, I also had some songs whose titles included parts of that zumalala name or nearly so. And those songs decided to have a "Singalong-with-Azizi" time in my head.

Here are those songs:

Example #1: zum zum zum - capoeira song (legenda-caption in Brazilian portuguese)



Alessandro Braga, Uploaded on Mar 1, 2009

zum zum zum - capoeira song
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/zum-zum-zum-mata-um-videos-lyrics.html "Zum Zum Zum Mata Um - Videos, Lyrics, & Meaning" for the words to this Brazilian capoeira song, and other videos of this song.

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Example #2: DST Delta Zeta Chapter 2009



Uploaded by iseeFLICKS on Sep 30, 2009

The Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Delta Zeta Chapter *& all that they do...
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-fraternity-sorority-song-zoom.html "Black Fraternity & Sorority Song - Zoom Zoom Zoom" for the lyrics to this example, and for other examples of this historically African American Greek lettered fraternity & sorority song.

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Example #3: Oliver Morgan - Who Shot The LaLa



jvralston, Uploaded on Mar 16, 2010
-snip-
Click http://lyrics.wikia.com/Willy_DeVille:Who_Shot_The_La-La for the lyrics to this New Orleans song whose musical genre I don't know.

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And, although the words to this song are "la de da de dum" and not "la la" I still thought of this song when that blog name came to me...So, here's

Example #4: What's the name of that song



Loreal Harris, Uploaded on Dec 30, 2009

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything sesame street related. This is Bert and Ernie's version of What's the name of that song
-snip-
Click http://www.metrolyrics.com/whats-the-name-of-that-song-lyrics-sesame-street.htmlfor the words to that song.

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The more I said that zumalala name, the more I liked it. That name had the light but still could be kinda heavy name that I was looking for even if I didn't know it when I woke up that morning.

When you name something you can claim it. So I claimed that name by filling out the Google start a new blog form. And then I was on a roll. Long before that same time tonight, I had published my first five blog posts. Here are the subject titles and the inks to those posts (in chronological order with the "oldest" blog post listed first)

http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/african-american-church-processionals.html "African American Church Processionals - Nurses & Usher Boards"

http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/brazilian-jongo-dance-origin-of-samba.html "Brazilian Jongo Dance, Origin Of The Samba, Part I"

http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/brazilian-jongo-dance-origin-of-samba_26.html "Brazilian Jongo Dance, Origin Of The Samba, Part II

http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/jamaican-childrens-ring-game-24-boxes.html "Jamaican Children's Ring Game "24 Boxes" (Video, Play Instructions, & Lyrics)

and

http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/similarities-between-zulu-dance.html "Similarities Between A Zulu Dance & American Stomp & Shake Routines"

-snip-
Thus far, http://zumalayah.blogspot.com is meeting my three main criteria for my blogs and websites:
1. I believe that I'm documenting and sharing examples and subjects that are worthy of that documentation and sharing and which often haven't received attention elsewhere.

2. I'm learning something in the process.

3. I'm enjoying the ride.

So, what are you waiting for?

Check out Zumalala.

Thanks in advance.

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The musical content of this post is presented for entertainmenta and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the composers-known and unknown, and thanks to all those responsible for that music. Thanks also to the publishers of those videos and sound files.

And thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Vieitor comments are welcome.

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The Bottle Dance & Four Other Songs By John Minang (Cameroon)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases five videos of Cameroonian vocalist John Minang.

In the video that is given as Example #2 in this post, John Minang describes that music as "mbaghalum" and indicates that "mbaghalum is traditional folkloric music ofo the northwest province of Cameroons". I'm not sure if the other featured songs are also a part of that music category. However, John Minang's name is listed in a Wikipedia article about the Cameroonian music genre called "Makossa". For that reason, information about Makossa music is included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

INFORMATION ABOUT MAKOSSA MUSIC
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makossa
"Makossa is a noted Cameroonian popular urban musical style. Like much other late 20th century music of Sub-Saharan Africa it was influenced by Congolese soukous, as well as by jazz, ambasse bey, Latin music and highlife. It uses strong electric bass rhythms and prominent brass. In the 1980s makossa had a wave of mainstream success across Africa and to a lesser extent abroad.

Makossa, which means "(I) dance" in the Duala language,[1] originated from a Duala dance called the kossa. Emmanuel Nelle Eyoum started using the refrain kossa kossa in his songs with his group Los Calvinos. The style began to take shape in the 1950s though the first recordings were not seen until a decade later. Artists such as Eboa Lotin, Misse Ngoh and especially Manu Dibango, who popularised makossa throughout the world with his song "Soul Makossa" in the early 1970s. The chant from the song, mamako, mamasa, maka makossa, was later used by Michael Jackson in "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"...
-snip-
As mentioned earlier in this post, John Minang's name is listed in that article under "See Also". However, to date, there's no Wikipedia page for him, and I can't find any information online about this vocalist. Please add biographical information about John Minang to this post or elsewhere online. Thanks in advance.

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FEATURED VIDEOS

Example #1: John Minang - Bottle Dance - Cameroon



Seka Moke, Uploaded on Jul 6, 2008

AFRICA FROM A-Z : CAMEROON

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Example #2: Mbaghalum - John Minang



atehndin, Uploaded on Mar 22, 2008

African music

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Example #3: John Minang - Fine Fine Woman -- Cameroon



Seka Moke, Uploaded on Jul 6, 2008

AFRICA FROM A-Z : CAMEROON

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Example #4: John Minang - Life is a Battle -- Cameroon



Seka Moke, Uploaded on Jul 6, 2008

AFRICA FROM A-Z : CAMEROON

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Example #5: BAMENDA FOLKLORE : JOHN MINANG



willymix007, Published on May 12, 2012

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to John Minang for his musical legacy. Thanks also to the musicians and dancers who are featured in these videos. My thanks also to the publishers of these videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Spraying Money On Asamba Dancers In The Cameroons

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is part of a continuing series on this blog about the custom of spraying money.

This post showcases a video of an Asamba dance group in the Cameroons, West Africa and a video of an Asamba dance group from the Cameroons but in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA). While there are other interesting aspects of these performance, the focus of this post is on the custom of persons attending the event spraying money on the dancers.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic reasons.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Note: "Spraying money" is a Nigerian term for the cultural practice of showering (placing, throwing) money on or toward the head of a bride and a groom and/or other persons at an event.

I think that the custom of spraying money in the Cameroons originated in Nigeria, but I'm not sure about that. I also don't know whether that custom is called "spraying money" in the Cameroons. Nor do I know how common this cultural practice is among people from the Cameroons. Any information about spraying money in the Cameroons would be appreciated. For instance, is this spraying money done at weddings and birthdays in the Cameroons as it is in many regions of Nigeria?

Also, I would appreciate any information about the Asamba dance.
I've attempted but haven't been successful in finding any information online about the Asamba dance.

For instance, is the term "Asamba" a source word for the Brazilian "samba" music & dance? I'm aware that words that are spelled the same or similarly don't necessarily have the same origin or meaning. However, it's interesting that there is no mention of the word "asamba" in this Wikipedia article that identifies a few words from African languages that might be the source of the Brazilian word "samba" (for the Samba music/dance): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba#Etymology. Of course, there need not have been any similarities between how the Brazilian Samba music/dance and the Asamba music/dance were performed or are now performed for the word "asamba" to have been one of the root words or "the" root word for the word "samba". However, I wonder if there has been any comparison of the Cameroonian Asamba music with the historical and present day Brazilian Samba music and dance.

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FEATURED VIDEO - Asamba Dance, Mile 7- Alamatu, Mankon, Cameroon



Lorolose, Uploaded on Jul 29, 2010


The top performance during the golden jubilee celebrations of the 20th Fo of Mankon, HRH Fo S.A.N. Angwafo III. This is the asamba dance, led by Tse Louis Angwafo with the younger sister, Aliah,on the big drum. The governor of the north west region of Cameroon makes a speech at the ceremony.
-snip-
The custom of money spraying are found at various parts of video (for example starting at 3:28 in this video)
-snip-
Unfortunately, there are only a few comments on this video's viewer comment thread. Here's one of those comments:

musicaddicted001, 2012
"Words do not describe the myriad of emotions, after watching this, I am not Mankon, but of Bassa and  bayangi parents, and PROUD of Cameroon, the name mini Africa is well deserved, the richness of culture is stupendous. Tse Louis Angwafo I take my hat of to you. IMPRESSIVE, every action in perfectly in time with music. I wish there was more with an explanation of the significance of the Asamba. More please ..."
-snip-
Here's some information about Mankon, Cameroon from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mankon
"Mankon is a geo-historic community constituting a large part of Bamenda in Cameroon, formed as an amalgamation of about five different ethnic groups. The Mankon fondom (kingdom) represents one of the oldest monarchies of the grassfield people of the Northwest Province. The fondom is ruled by a 'fon' (king) with rights to kinghood acquired by birth. The crowned fon is usually a designated son of the deceased king, a child who was born only during his reign...

The most convenient time to visit the Mankon fondom is during the December and New Year periods when the kingdom has its annual dance, during which the people celebrate and also have the rare occasion of mixing with the fon. Festivities may last a week and it is a great time for cultural display. Such festivities give the Mankon people the opportunity to savor the varied rhythms of African music and to meet expert drummers and musicians of the kingdom."

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Example #2 - Mankon Asamba Dance Group of Minnesota USA



nebaambe,Published on Jul 26, 2012

The Asamba Dance Group is not just another tribal dance group. It is ASAMBA DANCE GROUP. What this means is that you enjoy them the most by letting them play their own music to your ears and dazzle your eyes with their dance. That is what they are all about, that is what they work hard to do.
-snip-
An example of someone "spraying money" on the head of members of this dance company begins at 5:51 in this video.

To date, there are no comments to this post except for my comment alerting the publisher that I've embedded this video & asking for more information about Asamba dance.
-snip-
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUUVzkVP7GQ for a YouTube video from the Cameroons that is entitled "Shisong 2002 - Samba". The word "Samba" here may be the same as the word "Asamba" in this post's featured video.

Also, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqn_coxEE7g for a video of the Mankon (Cameroon) Bottle Dance. At 1:17 is a man who has a $10 bill on his forehead.

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OTHER RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-african-custom-of-spraying-money.html for a pancocojams blog post about spraying money.

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click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynd5PooKLhI for a YouTube video entitled "The Fon's Dance from Tabenken, Cameroon".

**
Also, for another non-Nigerian example of spraying money, click
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LOTTcub8yo for a video of a dancer being money sprayed at a Liberian wedding.

**
Also click the "spraying money" tag for other pancocojams posts on this subject.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & THANKS
Congratulations to this dance group for taking the top spot in this event. Thanks also to publisher of this video on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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"That's The Way Un Hun Un Hun I Like It " In Children's Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases examples of playground rhymes that include the lines "That's the way, un hun un hun/I like it, un hun, un hun".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION OF PLAYGROUND RHYMES THAT INCLUDE THE LINES THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT"
"That's the way I like it/un hun un hun" are the beginning lines of K.C. & The Sunshine Band's hit 1975 Disco record of that title and the lyrics's second line. The "un hun un hun" phrases mean "yes yes".

Those lines are often found in certain [but not every] version of the playground rhyme "Brickwall Waterfall". In every example in which those lines are found, they are repeated twice just as they are repeated in that K.C. & The Sunshine Band record. The tune used for those playground rhymes is also the same as the record's tune for those lines.

In many of those playground rhymes, the lines "that's the way I like it/un hun un hun" are found in the beginning of those rhymes after an introductory phrase such as "ABC Hit It" or "123 Hit It". ("Hit it" is a phrase that is lifted from musical jargon. In music as well as in playground rhymes the phrase "Hit it" has come to mean "Begin".)

Seven examples of playground rhymes that include the words "That's the way I like it/un hun un hun" are found below.

These rhymes are usually chanted while performing specific motions that mimic the words that are said rather than while doing handclap routines or jumping rope.

Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That's_the_Way_(I_Like_It) for information about the song "That's The Way (I Like It)".

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VIDEO OF THE SONG "THAT'S THE WAY (I LIKE IT)"
That's the way I like it K C & the Sunshine Band. on soul train MPG



daidai dai, Uploaded on Nov 18, 2011

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VIDEOS OF A HANDCLAP RHYME THAT INCLUDE THE LINE "THAT'S THE WAY (I LIKE IT)"

Example #1: ABC Hit it:



uploaded by stariewitch, April 26, 2008

"These are my niece's playing one of their hand games. Arn't they cute. Ignore my son in the background. He was just being silly. I have more funny videos to check out too!"
-snip-
My transcription of this rhyme is given as #3 below.
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Example #2 - Shame Shame Shame (hand game)

.

Elizabeth Brooks, Uploaded on Aug 27, 2011

Alexis and Laysia performing hand game
-snip-
My transcription of and comments about this rhyme are given as Example #7 below.

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EXAMPLES OF "THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT UN HUN UN HUN" IN PLAYGROUND RHYMES

Example #1:
1, 2, 3,
HIT IT!
that's the way
uh huh uh huh
i like it
uh huh uh huh
that's the way
uh huh uh huh
i like it
uh huh uh huh
peace. punch
captain crunch.
brick wall. waterfall.
girl you think you know it all?
you don't! i do!
so poof with the attitude.
loser loser with a twist
elbow elbow wrist wrist.
wipe a tear. blow a kiss.
kiss this.
hunnie u aint got none of this.
-k to the c, http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php/ [This website is no longer active]; 6/20/2006
-snip-
The word "poof" approximates the sound that is supposedly made when something suddenly disappears (as in "Poof! It disappeared in a puff of smoke".)

Here's an explanation for the phrase: "elbow elbow wrist wrist" from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=parade%20wave
"Parade Wave
A slight hand gesture used to wave for prolonged periods of time (like during a parade)or as a casual non-verbal greeting to friends. With the arm bent at the elbow, the waver turns their wrist back and forth exposing the front and then the back of the hand in a single motion."
by Hackermom Nov 2, 2005
-snip-
In the context of these playground rhymes, "elbow elbow wrist wrist" emphasizes the insincere nature of the person's hand wave.

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Example #2:
In the early eighties in Pensacola, FL, we sang a second part to the "Thats the Way" song. After the first part, we continued with:

My first name is (insert name);
My last is (insert last name);
My sign is (insert sign);
I got (insert boy's name) on my mind...
(and then start the first part over)
-Adriana ; 1/13/2007
-snip-
Adriana may be referring to "That's the way/un hun un hun/That's the way/un hun un hun" as the first part of the "That's The Way" rhyme.

The "second part" of "That's The Way" that Adriana gave is very similar to the words for the foot stomping cheer "L.O.V.E." which I collected in the mid 1980s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Click http://cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0 for two text examples of that foot stomping cheer.

If my guess is correct about what Adriana meant was the first part of this rhyme, then this would be the only playground example that I've found to date which doesn't include lines from the taunting rhyme "Brickwall Waterfall". That said, it's more likely that her "first part" included some lines from the "Brickwall Waterfall" rhyme.

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Example #3
A.B.C.
Hit it!
Thats the way uh huh uh huh
i like it uh huh uh huh
Thats the way uh huh uh huh
i like it uh huh uh huh
peace puch captain crunch
break a wall waterfalls,girl you think you know it all
you dont i do so, poof with the attitude
wait, come back, you need a tic tac
not a tic not a tac but the whole six pack
yo mamma, yo daddy, your bald headed granny
she 99 she thinks shes fine,
she going out with frankenstein
go granny go go, go granny wooooo
-stariewitch; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkgtAELLndA&feature=related ; April 26, 2008.
-snip-
This is my transcription of the rhyme that is recited in the video which is given as Example #1 on this page.

Notice the line "break a wall" instead of the standard phrase "brickwall". The word "yo" in "yo mama" etc. means "your".
This is a different meaning for African American vernacular English word than when it's found in the beginning of the greeting sentence such as "Yo, what's up, man?" ["Hey, what's going on, man?]"

Note: Additional examples of this rhyme are posted on that video's viewer comment thread.

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Example #4:
There are hand motions that go with this ryhme, although I'm not sure I can explain them well, but I'll try, they're at the end}

That's the way uh huh uh huh
I like it uh huh uh huh
That's the way uh huh uh huh
I like it uh huh uh huh
Peace punch, Captain crunch
Brick wall, waterfall,
girl you think you got it all,
you dont. I do.
So poof with the attitude,
As if- Whatever- Good bye- Forever...
-Erin Sarah; 3/22/2008
-snip-
Visit http://cocojams.com/content/schoolyard-taunts for Erin Sarah's performance instructions for this rhyme (given as example #50 out of 62 examples of rhymes on that page which are presented under the name "Brickwall Waterfall". There are actually other examples from that huge family of rhymes on that page and on other Cocojams rhyme pages such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br9fAi7HdDk August 27, 2011 [video embedded above as Example #2],
-snip-
The rhyme that Alexis and Laysia recited is composed of five different parts:
1. Introductory lines: "shame shame shame"* and "Hit It"
2. "That's the way I like it [2x]
3Brickwall Waterfall (given here as "rainfall waterfal") lines
4. Welcome to McDonalds lines
5. See My Pinkie rhyme

Most English language playground rhymes combine multiple rhymes like this.

*"Shame Shame Shame" is usually the introductory phrase for the contemporary playground rhyme "I Don't Want to Go To Mexico". (Examples of those rhymes can be found on this page of my Cocojams.com cultural website: http://cocojams.com/content/handclap-jump-rope-and-elastics-rhymes. In the context of those I Don't Want To Go To Mexico" rhymes, I think that "shame shame shame" is a shortened form of the sentence "Aren't you ashamed, ashamed, ashamed".

However, in the playground rhyme featured in this video, the phrase "Shame shame shame" merely serves as part of the rhyme's introduction, along with the phrase "Hit it". While "Hit it" means "Begin", "shame shame shame probably doesn't mean anything. In contrast to most of the other examples of rhymes that begin with the phrase "shame shame shame", the rhyme that the two girls in the video recite is part of the huge family of "Brickwall Waterfall" playground rhymes.

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RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/childrens-cheers-or-rhymes-inspired-by.html for examples of five other playground rhymes or cheers that were inspired by popular records.

**
Links to other categories of playground rhymes and cheers are also found on my Cocojams website. http://cocojams.com/

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composers of the song "That's The Way (I Like It)". Thanks also to the unknown composers of the playground rhymes that include words to that song. Thanks also to K.C. & The Sunshine Band for their musical legacy, and thanks to all those whose playground rhymes are featured in this post. My thanks also to the publishers of these videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Andrae Crouch - Jesus Is The Answer (Videos & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two examples of and lyrics for Andrae Croach's Gospel song "Jesus Is The Answer".

In portions of both of those renditions of "Jesus Is The Answer, Andrae Croach utilizes a form of the musical technique called "lining out". For that reason, I've included some information about lining out in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT LINING OUT
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out "Lining out, also called hymn lining, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune. It can be considered a form of call and response...

Lining out persisted much longer in some churches in the American South, either through theological conservatism or through the recurrence of the conditions of lack of books and literacy, and in some places is still practiced today. In African American churches this practice became known as "Dr. Watts Hymn Singing," a historical irony given Watts' disapproval of the practice."
-snip-
In Gospel songs, such as Andrae Croach & Sandra Croach's composition "Jesus Is The Answer", "lining out" is used to enhance the song and not because the choir couldn't read. Furthermore, the lining out portion in this Gospel song has a faster tempo than the tempo used by African Americans for Dr. Watt's hymns.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-churches-sings-old-dr-watts-hymns.html for examples of African American congregations singing a form of lining out Dr. Watts' hymns.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: andre crouch--Jesus is the answer



inveca,Uploaded on Feb 29, 2008

andre crouch, in concert, singing 'Jesus is the answer'.
-Song begins at .033.

****
Example #2: Andrae Crouch & The Disciples "Jesus Is The Answer" 1975



Johnny Tarberg, Uploaded on Feb 2, 2012

Good old classic by Andrae Crouch & The Disciples
-snip-
The tempo of this rendition is slightly slower than that of the example given above.

****
LYRICS: JESUS IS THE ANSWER
(Andrae Croach and Sandra Croach)

Chorus (Lead and Group) -
Jesus is the answer
For the world today,
‘Cause above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way.(3x)

Lead #1 says -
Sing along with us.
Jesus is the answer
Group sings - Jesus is the answer
Lead #1 says – for the world today
Group sings – for the world today
Lead #1 says – Above Him there’s no other
Group sings – above Him there’s no other.
Lead #1 says – ‘Cause Jesus is the way.
Group sings – ‘ Cause Jesus is the way

Chorus (Lead and Group) -
Jesus is the answer
For the world today,
‘Cause above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way.(1x)

Verse One:
Lead #2 -If you have some questions
In the corners of your mind,
And traces of discouragement,
And peace you cannot find,
Reflections of your past,
Seem to face you every day,
But this one thing I do know,
Lead & Chorus -That Jesus is the way.

Lead & Group
Jesus is the answer, for the world today,
For above Him there's no other,
‘Cause Jesus is the way.2x

Verse Two:
Lead #1 -I know you've got mountains,
That you think you cannot climb,
I know your skies are dark,
You think the sun won't shine,
But in case you don't know,
That the word of God is true,
Everything He's promised,
He will do it for you.
That’s the reason I say

Lead & Group -
Jesus is the answer for the world today,
For above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way. (2x)

Instrumental Bridge

Lead #1- Let’s tell the world that
Lead and Group -Jesus Is the answer for the world today
Above Him there’s no other
Jesus is the way
Lead #1-I want to tell the world that
Group -Jesus is the answer for the world today
Above Him there’s no other
Jesus is the way.
Lead #1- He’s the truth and the light
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1-He’s the truth and the light
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way, yeah
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1 – Hmm. the only way
Lead #1 and Group-Jesus is the way
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell from the song file given above. Additions and corrections are welcome.

*****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Andrae Crouch & Sandra Croach for composing this song & thanks to the all of the vocalists for singing this song. Thanks also to the uploaders of this featured sound file and video.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

Read More

Spraying Money At An Eritrean Wedding Reception In Sweden

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is part of a continuing series on this blog about the custom of spraying money. This post showcases a video of an Eritrean wedding reception that was held in Sweden. Selected comments from that video's viewer comment thread are also included in this post. While there are other interesting aspects of this wedding reception, the focus of this post is on the custom of wedding guests spraying money on the bride & groom.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic reasons.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Note: "Spraying money" is a Nigerian term for the cultural practice of showering (placing, throwing) money on or toward the head of a bride and a groom and/or other persons at an event.

I don't know how common this cultural practice is among Eritreans. Nor do I know whether this custom was borrowed from the Nigerians and if it's called "spraying money" in Eritrea.

****
FEATURED VIDEO
Eritrea: Isaias & Roma´s Wedding, tolo biri, Stockholm, Sweden



anbesa23, Uploaded on Dec 1, 2008
-snip-
People place paper money on bride’s forehead & groom as they dances [beginning at 2.07 and throughout the remainder of the video]
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's viewer comment thread
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDQLbFLPuA8

WARNING: Some comments on this video’s viewer comment thread are NSFWOCV [not safe for work or children's viewing] because of profanity, and argumentative nationalistic statements.

[2008]
"wow shikorinatate couple... I have never seen this kind of wedding before, des yebleka, bahlina sasinu lomi... Kindi shihen meatin sasinu...May god bless this marriage. Rehus gama niakum...."
-Eribabe
-snip-
Editor: "Eri" is a colloquial referent for "Eritrea" and "Eritrean". That referent is found at the beginning of a number of user names for Eritreans.

**
"Does anyone know who sings the song?"
-eristars

Reply:
Mesfin Teklegergish (Maebel) -Tolo Biry

I swear i can't hv enough of dis video.. u guys r gr8 God bless"
-ruta2201

**
"best wedding ever we don't usually see this kinds of wedding in here nice i like it really and wat a great song for the couple i wish you guys the best.."
-erishkorina

**
You guys are perfect.Its different style .i like it ..Good luck,...wishing all the best for the futur..
-asmaraboy27
-snip-
"Asmara" is the capital of Eritrea.

**
I am sure the guy is Mesfin MaEbel, the girl sounds like Tzighe Teklesenbet..
-ertragray

[2009]
"whats the meaning of the song???"
-ethioangel
-snip-
The prefix "ethio" identifies this commenter as a person from Ethiopia.

Reply:
"They make fun and tease each other for most of the song and then they finally admit they love one another and can't live without each other. It's a romantic hate-love song and raises one's spirits. After all, you wouldn't know how lovely joy is with out pain! The song is a masterpiece and the couple are a match made in heaven! MashaAllah! Congratulations to Isaias and Roma!"
-Massawachick

Reply [2012]
"It is a traditional song in which the bride and groom glorifies and mocks their spouse’s imperfection. It is just for the show as they kiss and make up at the end saying that with all their imperfection they are perfect to each other.
As for the stick, though he is making a move as if to hit her, he is not carrying it to threaten her as most people hold a stick with their traditional attire as you can see some men in the audience."
-ERIMusic1

**
"slow english dance or other romantic song are played in every wedding but this couple changed the trend wow beautifull roohoos gama"
-Anseba12

**
"pure habesha wedding and its the best!!!!!!"
-habeshakings
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habesha_people
“In the broadest sense, the word Habesha may refer to anyone from Ethiopia or Eritrea, although some would exclude themselves from this association."

[2012]
"Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooo cute enjoying their marriage ceremony unlike the usual Habesha marriage ceremonies where others enjoy the wedding ceremony and the bride and groom sit like puppets. These are so cute. Wow! I like it so much."
-Samuel Arkebe

**
"THis song. SEEMS KIDA DIFFERENT ..FRM THE NORMAL ceromonial weddings cos

1.it shows words conserned tigrigna deep cultural..expression .[hymns and lyrics]

2.Actions..of. humour but ..consealed deep love inside them of each other..

3.tigrigna..cultural appreciation offer. for the couples {putting money }from the audience..makes ..popular .piece on YOU TUBE"
-hadgu ambesa

**
"Until this time 10/2012 we keep watching it, We just enjoying it.In really wedding party to perform WAZA MES QUMNEGER with tigrigna traditional song (maebel & tseghe) less than 10 minute.Around the world the people who watching it beyond your imaging.Dear ISSAYAS & ROMA You are a champion of cultural revolution,we feel proud NATNA BE'MUKU'ANKUM deqi hallal mer'yete." Selam Ne'akum Ye'kun"
-sssfbk

**
"THis song. SEEMS KIDA DIFFERENT ..FRM THE NORMAL ceromonial weddings cos"
-hadgu ambesa

[2013]
"Why does the groom carry a stick and raise it above his head as a threat?"
-Fozzy Bear

Reply:
"That "stick" is used by shepherds and is a big part of Eritrean culture. When it's time to celebrate (like weddings for example) men dance with them and raise them above people's heads to show happiness and celebration."
-Sergo91

****
Here are two comments from people who disliked the money spraying custom:
"i dont like when men put the money on the bride ..... i dont like it"
-jeera ila, [2010] 

**
"This is a memorable wedding but the people who were tiping the bride the groom ruined the show."
-Zuriash, [2010]

****
EDITORIAL COMMENT THE CUSTOM OF SPRAYING MONEY AT ERITREAN WEDDING RECEPTIONS
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I'm not sure whether what Nigerians & other West Africans refer to as "spraying money" is common at Eritrean weddings.

To dare, I've only found one other example of this custom in a YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kv24ZXT_gk for a video of an Eritrean wedding in Israel [for example, see 9:34 in that video.]

It appears that instead of placing the "sprayed money" on the bride' or the groom's forehead or the top of their heads as is done in Nigeria, in Eritrean wedding ceremonies, the money is placed between the cleavage of the bride's gown.

I'd love to add information from any Eritreans as to how widespread and/or how traditional the custom of "spraying money" is in that nation. Thanks in advance for your comments.

****
OTHER RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-african-custom-of-spraying-money.html for a pancocojams blog post about spraying money.

Also click the "spraying money" tag for other pancocojams posts on this subject.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & THANKS
Congratulations to this couple! Thanks to producer of this featured video and to the commenters that are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

The African Custom Of Spraying Money

Edited by Azizi Powell

Nigerian's Spraying Money



Chima0bi, Uploaded on Aug 29, 2006

Watch how these people shower my mom with Dollars

****
This post is part of a continuing series on this blog about the custom of spraying money.

DISCLAIMER:
I am an African American who has no direct experience with the custom of spraying money. The information contained in this post is gleamed from online articles.

Additions & corrections are welcome.

****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SPRAYING MONEY
Definition of "spraying money"
"Spraying money" is the act of placing paper money on the forehead or over the head of a woman or a man or a couple on special occassions such as their wedding or birthday. This cultural practice symbolizes showering the person or the couple with good fortune.

Spraying money is also the act of placing paper money on the forehead or over the head of a singer, musician, dancer, master/ mistress of ceremony, or minister at an event to show appreciation for that person's talent or skill.

Spraying money is a public act. The person spraying money intends to be noticed doing this. Prior to attending an event, persons go to banks to exchange larger denominations of currency for smaller denominations so that the person spraying money may do so for a longer amount of time.

Read this exchange from the viewer comment thread of the video that is given above
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FULVSi6PUvM [hereafter known as "Nigerians Spraying Dollars"].

auntjuicy, 2008
"so is it common to spray with one dollar bills?"
Reply
"divagurl985. 2008
"yes even 5's 10's 20's and so on. but the celebrant of the party always gets sprayed the most. i made $30 dancing*"
-snip-
* Note how people other than the celebrant of the party may also be sprayed with money.
**
Chima0bi, 2008
"Yes.. why would you spray with 100 dollar bills? Sure there are a few people that can and will do it.. but why would you show off? If you change $100 into $1 bills you can spray longer than others.."

SPRAYING MONEY IN AFRICAN NATIONS OTHER THAN NIGERIA
From my online reading it appears that spraying money originated among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, then spread to some other ethnic groups in that nation, and later spread to certain other nations in West Africa. Note these comments from the Nigerians Spraying Dollars video viewer comment thread:

iroc31407, 2009
"do any other countries in west africa practice this, or is it just a Nigerian custom?"
Reply
ConsciousKarma. 2009
"I went to a Gambian wedding and they did it there...not just naija"
-snip-
Editor: "Naija" is a colloquial referent for "Nigeria". "Naija" is often written "9ja".
-snip-
Reply
Aphrocentrik, 2012
"Yea, well other African countries are starting to pick it up now...but it is originally a Nigerian thing."
**
Glam Gal, 2010
"Cameroonians spray money" ·
-snip-
Furthermore, from at least one video* that I found of an Eritrean wedding, it appears that the custom of spraying money might also occur among African people who are not from West Africa.

*Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDQLbFLPuA8 Eritrea: Isaias & Roma´s Wedding, tolo biri, Stockholm, Sweden for a 2008 video of an Eritrean wedding in Sweden. That video and selected comments from its YouTube viewer comment thread will be showcased in a subsequent post in thie blog's ongoing series on spraying money.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPRAYING MONEY AND THE EUROPEAN CUSTOM OF THE MONEY DANCE
It should be mentioned that spraying money isn't the same thing as the European custom of money dancing. Here's some information about that custom from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_dance
"The money dance, dollar dance, or apron dance is an event at some wedding receptions in various cultures. During a money dance, male guests pay to dance briefly with the bride, and sometimes female guests pay to dance with the groom. The custom originated in Poland in the early 1900s in immigrant neighborhoods.

Sometimes guests are told that the money will be used for the bride and groom's honeymoon or to give them a little extra cash with which to set up housekeeping."
-snip-
In contrast to that European custom, the African custom of showering a person with money has nothing whatsoever to do with dancing with the person who receives that money.

ATTITUDES TOWARD SPRAYING MONEY
It should also be mentioned that in Nigeria and probable in other African nations, everyone doesn't approve of the custom of spraying money. For example, some engaged couples request that there be no money spraying at their engagement ceremony. http://omowunmi.blogspot.com/2011/03/nigerian-celebrations-money-spraying.html

Also, note in this news article that Nigerian vocalist King Wasiu Ayinde (K1) initially banned spraying at his concert in the United States because that custom made it difficult for fans to view his performance. However, because Nigerian fans were outraged at this stance, the vocalist changed his mind and allowed spraying at his other American concerts. http://nigeriafilms.com/news/19086/40/fuji-lord-k1-bans-money-spraying-on-him-in-us.html

SPRAYING MONEY AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CUSTOM OF PINNING BIRTHDAY DOLLARS
It's my position that the African American custom of pinning dollars on the top of the clothing of a person celebrating her or his birthday derives from the African custom of spraying money. However, beside comments from other persons, I've found no online documentation to substantiate this position.

****
UPDATE: 4/29/2013 - THE ZULU UMEMULO CEREMONY
Umemulo, the South African (Zulu) coming of age ceremony for females at age 21 [traditionally at puberty] involves the custom of pinning cash money to the female's hat.*

Click http://www.uiowa.edu/~c07w215h/Cattleculturesite/UmemuloCeremony.htm for information about this ceremony. Here's an excerpt from that article:
"The father or elder brother then leads [the young woman from whom the umemulo is held] to the center of the gathering where she dances with the other girls, carrying a spear.

She blows a whistle in order to ask for monetary contributions, and whenever she blows a whistle she approaches a prospective donor who then puts money in her hat. The hat has many pins with which to clip the money so that it does not get blown away by the wind. The girl blows the whistle and points at each person in turn until everybody has made a contribution. Each of the spectators is therefore expected to carry some bank notes, just in case they get selected to make a contribution. When the hat is completely covered with the bank notes and the girl has received contributions from everybody, she is then led back into the house".
-snip-
This custom may have developed independently from the (probably) Nigerian originated custom of spraying money which is the likely source of the African American custom of pinning birthday dollars.

*Several videos of umemulo are on Youtube. However, because some of the females in those videos are topless, I decided not to post those videos or their links. I made this decision because of the possibility of these post being used as supplemental educational resources and the fact (in the USA anyway) that those types of videos would make those post unacceptable for students' use.

RELATED LINKS
Click http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1188536,00.html"Africa's New Kind of Money Laundering" for one online article on the widespread custom spraying money in Nigeria, West Africa.

http://omowunmi.blogspot.com/2011/03/nigerian-celebrations-money-spraying.html Nigerian Celebrations - The Money Spraying

Here are links to some other pancocojams posts that feature videos of money spraying:

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/spraying-money-at-yoruba-nigerian.html Money Spraying At A Yoruba Engagement Ceremony (Wedding)

**
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/seven-videos-of-traditional-igbo.html Money spraying at a Nigerian Igbo Engagement Ceremony (Wedding).

**
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/pinning-birthday-dollars.html an article about the African American custom of pinning birthday dollars, and a video of spraying money at a Yoruba birthday party

**
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-i-started-wearing-african-dresses.html for a video of a Yoruba Engagement Ceremony.

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & THANKS
Thanks to producer of this featured video and to the authors & commenters that are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More