Four Examples Of "Senzeni Na?"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases examples and lyrics of the anti-apartheid song "Senzeni Na?".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SENZENI NA
From 3Fhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senzeni_Na%3F
"“Senzeni Na?” (also spelled Senzenina, English: What Have We Done?)[1] is a South African anti‐apartheid folk song. The Xhosa/Zulu language song is commonly sung at funerals, demonstrations and in churches.[1][2] Activist Duma Ndlovu compared the influence of “Senzeni Na?” to that of the American protest song, “We Shall Overcome.”[3]

The song has been around at least since the 1950s, and it reached the height of its popularity during the 1980s.[1] The origins of the song are unclear. Zimbabwean poet Albert Nyathi claims to have written “Senzeni Na?” on the day that activist Chris Hani died.[4] However, Nyathi’s “Senzeni Na?” uses a different melody and altered lyrics. Either way, Hani was assassinated on April 10, 1993, by which time the song had already been sung for decades."

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LYRICS: SENZENI NA?
"There doesn’t seem to be one universally agreed on set of lyrics"...

Xhosa/Zulu original
Senzeni na?
Sono sethu, ubumnyama?
Sono sethu yinyaniso?
Sibulawayo Mayibuye i Africa

English translation
What have we done?
Our sin is that we are black?
Our sin is the truth
They are killing us
Let Africa return
-snip-
Here's another set of lyrics/translations for this song from http://www.omniglot.com/songs/african/zulu.php

"This is a protest song from the days of Apartheid in South Africa."

Senzeni na?
What have we done?

Sono sethu, ubumyama?
Our sin is that we are black?

Sono sethu yinyaniso?
Our sin is the truth

Sibulawayo
They are killing us

Mayibuye i Africa
Let Africa return
-snip-
This page contains a link to a recording of this song which is "combined with the traditional Welsh hymn, Trig gyda mi, which has almost the same tune (Bangor Community Choir)"

Other lyrics for this song are given in comments to the videos found below.

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

Example #1: Albert Nyathi - Senzeni Na?



ShayaFM, Uploaded on Nov 11, 2007
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread. The comment was written in response to the question "What is the complete English translation of the song? I want to know what she is crying about."

"Ndebele: Senzeni na? (What did we do?)

Ndebele: Soneni na? (What sin have we commited?)

Shona: Tatadzeyi ko? (What have we done wrong?)

Girl (Ndebele): Bang'thathel' ubaba wam' (They took my father from me)

Girl (Ndebele): Ngilahlekelwe mina (*this literally means* I've lost someone *meaning they died*

Watching this video as a child always made me cry cause it upset me to see other people cry --> now i kno the meaning behind it...I still want to cry :'(
-"Zee Zamar Mabuza, 2010

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Example #2: Senzenina -South Africa



Brian Chimhepo, Uploaded on Aug 16, 2009

Apartheid is still live and well in Suid Afrika
-snip-
This video is made up of scenes from the movie "The Power Of One".
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_One_(film)
"The Power of One is a 1992 dramatic [American] film based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Bryce Courtenay. Set in South Africa during the '30s and '40s, the film centers on the life of Peter Philip 'Peekay or PK' Kenneth-Keith (Guy Witcher), a young English boy raised during the apartheid era, and his relationship with a German pianist, a black prisoner who is a boxing coach, and a romantic interest, who is of Afrikaner descent."

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Example #3: "Senzenina" by Cape Town Youth Choir (formerly Pro Cantu Youth Choir) / soloist : Monde Mdingi



Guillaume Muller, Uploaded on Aug 14, 2010

Festival du Cap 2010

"Senzenina" by Cape Town Youth Choir (formerly Pro Cantu Youth Choir) / Cape Town / soloist : Monde Mdingi
Lyrics: " Senzenina /Sohlangana ezulwini"
Translation: "What have we done / we shall meet in heaven"
-snip-
Comment from this video's viewer comment thread:
[regarding the first two verses that are found above]

"This is not the lyrics sung in this video. Those lyrics are "Senzenina /Sohlangana ezulwini"

Translation: "What have we done / we shall meet in heaven " .
-Guillaume Muller, 2012

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Example #4: The Power of One - Funeral Scene (Senzenina)



elyusai1,·Published on Mar 10, 2012

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Thanks to the composer of this song and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Various African Funeral Customs Including South African After Tears Parties

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents information about funeral customs in various African nations. An addendum to this post includes information & commentary about the South African [nation] custom of after tears parties after the funeral.

My thanks to all persons who are quoted in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT VARIOUS AFRICAN FUNERAL CUSTOMS
From http://www.tvsa.co.za/default.asp?blogname=bbmotherland2&ArticleID=15117

Biggie Motherland
BBAS: Uti's Case And Nigerian Funerals
Wednesday, September 01, 2010 by Segololo

Editor's Note: That blog post was written by Segololo, a contestant in Big Brother Africa. The post provides information about funeral customs in Nigeria, in large measure in response to discussion among the contestants about the decision by contestant Uti not to leave the competition to return home to Nigeria for his [or her]* father's funeral. Information about funeral customs in other African nations besides Nigeria is provided in the comments to that blog.

*My apologies. I don't know the gender of Segololo, Uti, or any of the other contestants who commented about this column. Nor did I know anything about Big Brother Africa until I happened upon this column in my online search for information about African funeral customs. Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Brother_(South_Africa) for information about Big Brother Africa.

Excerpts from Segololo's post on Nigerian funeral customs
"With the Islam faith – when someone dies; they are “buried within 24 hours (all things being equal) -irrespective of the age, status or wealth of the deceased. It does not matter where the children of the deceased resides (USA, Russian, China, Jericho, end of the earth, etc); the corpse will not be kept for their arrival; it must be buried with the Islamic prescribed time in the Koran of within 24 hours.

"All things being equal" means that the circumstances 0f the death are not a murder case or any other foul play that may require the corpse to be kept for further investigation. But the celebration is the same especially if the person is older than 70 years”

“In Christianity, there is no time frame for burying the dead, thus this can take up to a year or more (in some cases) to bury the deceased; and people can truly go to town on this.

Here tribe, tradition and culture does play critical roles. The length of the burial time depends on the following:

[Lists different determinants for Christain funerals including tribe, status, gender, number of wives, number of children, "and And "a multitude of other determinations that are too numerous to list.”]

When the deceased is older than 70; has grown children, prominent and wealthy. The children will not wear black; they will wear bright colors (preferable the deceased favorite colors) and wear white to the church service. The party is to celebrate the life and achievements of the deceased.

This is where the children will show off all their achievements which would all be attributed to the good upbringing of the deceased. Congratulatory obituaries (full pages) will be taken out in the newspapers - obituaries are very big business."...

The actual funeral activity in each of the cases described above (except Muslim) is four days as follows:

Thursday for the coming together of all family members and finalizing on who does what;
Friday for the wake-keeping which is an all night affair of singing dancing, crying, drinking and all out merriment (if deceased is old);
Saturday for the actual funeral; then an all night party afterwards; and
Sunday for church service to close the funeral/burial celebration; then another partying after church..

Several streets are usually closed for these celebrations (off course with written permission from the municipality).

If it a king dies, the whole community will be involved in the preparations and if Uti was from a Royal family (a Prince), there would have no discussion of leaving; he would have had to leave the show and go home.”...
-snip-
Selected Comments To This Post:
Reply from: Fluffy Head Wednesday, September 01, 2010 12:24 PM
“Thanl you Sego... Really interesting stuff... Especially the clothing part. You know in my culture (Xhosa-Gcaleka) you wear something bright at a funeral they consider that a sign of disrespect!!! While elsewhere its expected of you. So reall this whole thing boils down cultural differences.”

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Reply from: Segololo Wednesday, September 01, 2010 12:33 PM
"@Fluff …I also think my culture* would look down on people wearing white to a funeral... because it is considered disrespectful and like the person in bright colours is set to gain something from the death"...
-snip-
From a subsequent comment I learned that Segololo's culture is Batswana/Basotho

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Reply from: Segololo Thursday, September 02, 2010 08:21 AM
"@Makgotso - I also still can't get used to after tears - simply because people say it is "bojalwa ba digarawe" but in contrast "bojalwa ba digarawe" is such a quite event. there is no noise and excessive celebration like the "after tears".
-snip-
“quite” typo for “quiet”
"After tears party" is a [nation of] South Africa custom in which a party is held the same day after the internment. More information about "after tears parties" is provided in the Addendum section below.

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Segololo Thursday, September 02, 2010 08:21 AM
"...A small sample of my "family" tradition with regards to funerals as I have no idea if this is a general way the Batswana or Basotho do it...

My family traditions are explicit about being respectful to the deceased that life stops for the 3 days or so required for the burial. In my family/tradition, as soon as someone passes, regardless of age - your life ceases to exist until the funeral. So within a week or less the funeral takes place; those who can make it come, those who cannot due to being in other countries and the like are excused BUT EXPECTED to come pay their respects as soon as they can. That's it!

The 4 day breakdown is very similar to the Nigerian breakdown on the article except that after the funeral there is no after party, There is what is called "bojalwa ba digarawe" loosely translated "shovel alcohol". LOL!

The traditional beer is quitely served to the men who dug and closed up the grave. BUT some people that come to mourn with the family will have an after-tears celebration not in the family compound - very far because noise is considered disrespectful to the dead.

On the day after the funeral, the deceased clothes are taken out, washed in water with aloe leaves and distributed to the family. The immediate family (parents, wife, husband, children, brothers and sisters) will have to cut their hair or a piece of it and get washed in water with aloe leaves as cleansing of the death.

A black cloth is bought as soon as the death is announced and each member of the immediate family is given a piece to wear on them (after the funeral) as a sign that they are in a period of mourning. The family elders will determine how long the period is however it ranges from a month to a year and a half.

During this period, those that have the cloth on them are not allowed to attend functions - weddings, parties, funerals except family, baptism, etc. They are not allowed to be out of their homes after sunset or before sunrise.

The wife or husband has to wear an all black outfit that they have to wash each evening and they are not allowed to have any romantic relations during this period.

On the set date, a cleansing ceremony is held and the family come together to celebrate the life of the deceased and burn all those pieces of black cloth and clothes worn by the widow/er. BUT the celebration is still not a party - silence is very important when it comes to death and traditions related to it. so the family gets together a church service is held and the family talks a lot and kind of gets close together - like a bonding session.

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Reply from: Ruby Red Saturday, September 04, 2010 10:34 AM
"now to comment on your article @segs
this was well researched, and thank you for that. because tradition are one topic which are difficult to write about, esp in Africa given the diversity and complexity our our tribes and the assiciated ethnicty.

within one tribe, you will find several ethnic tribes, which are further subdivided by languages, location and influence of geography and demographics.

you will find tswana people in SA and those in Zim or Bots follow different traditions in burying their dead.

so for anyone to bash anyone based on their tradition and cultures really is both baseless and tasteless. we are supposed to be accomodating and understanding like you so ritely said."

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ADDENDUM: AFTER TEARS PARTIES (South Africa)
From http://tirisulayoga.com/blog/miscellaneous-after-tears-party/ http://tirisulayoga.com/blog/miscellaneous-after-tears-party/
MISCELLANEOUS- AFTER TEARS PARTY
“You are wondering what is the ”after tears party”! well let me enlighten you. In South Africa whenever there’s a funeral we have the whole community helping, so we have what we call society gathering and its done by men and women. Men have their own and so is women, they don”t mix unless its a family society . the procedure is, there will be meetings held and they collect money from each member and there ‘s a joining fee so they will meet once in a month, and it will be a sunday.

In case of a funeral among one of the members then the society is there to help the family with whatever they need, so for instance, during the week the women will help with the baking, organize big pots, the men will take care of making big fire place and a cooking spot. There society then hold a meeting to talk about how much they give to the bereaved family or they will buy grocery, a cow, organize tables and hire buses for the community.

The night before the funeral, there will be a night vigil, so there will church service, they slaughter the cow, women prepare the food for the funeral next day. Everything will be done by 5am , the society then leaves to go home and wash so they can attend the funeral and also the family to also prepare for the burial. The burial is normally done at 8 or 9 in the morning and after that everybody goes back home to the bereaved family for lunch, while that is happening the society then prepares for the after tears party. It will be done at the back opposite or next door neighbor’s house, music is prepared and change of clothes,from the formal to casual. We bring the cooler bags, call friends even if they didn’t attend the funeral or even know the person. The event will start small and by the evening its a party.

There’s nothing special about it really if we knew the person we will talk about him, have fun, others will say thank God he/she ‘s gone , its just an after tears party. Its not done by the youth only, the elders do it too but in a more subtle manner. I don’t know of any other country that does it but its a MZANSI’S culture meaning South African culture.”
-snip-
I changed the formatting of this article to enhance its readibility.

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From
http://phathumusitha.blogspot.com/2011/01/after-tears-parties-to-have-or-not-to.html Wednesday, January 26, 2011
As I Reflect: After Tears parties: to have or not to have" by Phathu Musitha
"The party after the funeral provides attendants with an opportunity to catch up with old friends and family members who we see only at funerals and weddings. It’s also an excuse to drink…. Basically, it’s a social gathering with plenty of hugs accompanied with the cliché ‘long time, no chat’.
Mourning takes the backseat....

Generally speaking, people no longer observe customs as far as funerals are concerned. Not that I am advocating customs, not that I am not. The older generations mostly wore black to funerals, had a no-pants policy for women who were also prohibited from entering the burial site, should their heads not be covered. And you best believe they took these strict laws seriously. They were not funeral dressing guidelines, they were the ‘funeral dressing laws’. Men have more room to breathe, though to this day, in some cultures they are required to wear jerseys (or something akin to that). Though, as those who frequent funerals may have observed, nothing is set in stone. Nowadays there are exceptions with just about anything. It’s this thing they call freedom, neh?


After Tears parties are normally characterized by the presence of cases of alcohol and a beat to get down to...

Just like any other place which involves alcohol, it can get rather rowdy, causing attendants to forget the reason they gathered in the first instance.

A letter of the Kwazulu-Natal Christian Council dated October 2008 rightfully states that holding after tears parties is becoming customary after the burial. The Council goes on to say that not only is an after tears party an unnecessary expense but that it also disregards the family’s need to mourn."...
-snip-
Click https://www.facebook.com/ShiftonSABC1/posts/10150888111062782for differing opinions about the efficacy of “after tears” custom [in South Africa]

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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/colors-associated-with-funerals-in.html Colors Associated With Funerals In Ghana, West Africa

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Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Colors Associated With Funerals In Ghana, West Africa

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features videos of funeral services in Ghana, West Africa.

The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes. No disrepest is intended by featuring these videos.

This post serves as a companion piece to the following pancocojams post:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/wearing-red-dresses-for-mourning-song.htmlhttp://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/wearing-red-dresses-for-mourning-song.htmlWearing Red Dresses For Mourning (Song Examples & Comments)

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/various-african-funeral-customs.html for a pancocojams post on other African funeral traditions including the nation of South African custom of "after tears parties".

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My condolences to all family members and friends of those persons whose funerals are shown in these videos.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube examples.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.


All copyrights eshowcasingeeeAll respect is given to those who

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Wearing Red Dresses For Mourning (Song Examples & Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents seven examples of Black American Old Time Music or early Blues songs in which red dresses symbolize mourning. This compilation isn't meant to represent all such songs.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
(These examples are presented in alphabetical order.)

Example #1: "Ella Speed"
Lyric Excerpt:
"When the women all heard that Ella Speed was dead
All goes back home and they re-ragged in red"
-snip-
[re-ragged = re-dressed; changed their clothes]

http://www.mikeballantyne.ca/transcriptions_other/ellaspeed.php [This link includes the song lyrics and the history behind the song.]

Sound file:
Lead Belly ~ Ella Speed



Jimsters, Published on Nov 20, 2012
The song Ella Speed by Lead Belly off of the CD You Don't Know My Mind.
-snip-
The publisher's summary also includes the song lyrics.

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Example #2: "Casey Jones"
Lyric Excerpt:
"Womens in Kansas all dressed in red,
Got de news dat Casey was dead.
Womens in Kansas all dressed in black,
Said,in fact, he was a crackerjack."

Dorothy Scarborough's 1925 book On The Trail Of Negro Folk Songs, p. 250

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Example #3: "Duncan And Brady"
Lyric Excerpt:
“Women all heard that Brady was dead,
Goes back home and they dresses in red
Come a sniffin' and a sighin' down the street,
In their big mother hubbards and their stockin' feet

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/leadbelly/duncan+and+brady_20184073.html

Sound file:
Duncan and Brady Leadbelly



songs1994, Uploaded on Feb 25, 2009

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Example #4: "John Henry"
Lyric Excerpt:
"John Henry had dat pretty liddle wife,
An' she went all dress up in red.
She walk ev'y day down de railroad track
To de place whar her steel-drivin' man fell dead."

Thomas W. Tally, Negro Folk Rhymes ,p. 105
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27195/27195-h/27195-h.htm

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Example #5: "John Henry" [Furry Lewis' version]
Lyric Excerpt
"When the womens in the West heard of John Henry's death
They couldn't stay at home in their beds
Some were dressed in white, some where dressed in red
Sayin Take me where John Henry fell dead...

Sound file:
'John Henry (The Steel Driving Man)' FURRY LEWIS (1928) Blues Guitar Legend



RagtimeDorianHenry, Uploaded on Apr 19, 2009

"John Henry (The Steel Driving Man) " (1928)
FURRY LEWIS

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Example #6: "Louis Collins"
Lyric Excerpt:
"Oh, when they heard that Louis was dead
all the people they dressed in red"

http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/mississippi-john-hurt-lyrics/louis-collins-lyrics.html

Sound file:
Mississippi John Hurt - Louis Collins (1928)



fulanodetal4, Published on Jun 21, 2012

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Example #6: "Poor Howard"
Lyric Excerpt:
Ol' Howard, po' boy
(plays the tune he just sung)
Ol' Howard he is dead an' gone
left me here to sing this song
left me here to sob and mourn (or moan)

Pretty little girl with a red dress on
(above line repeated two times)
God knows, pretty little girl with a red dress on"

http://www.lyricsmania.com/poor_howard_lyrics_leadbelly.html

Sound File:
Leadbelly - Poor Howard



3006khz, Published on Dec 30, 2012

Poor Howard (Green Corn). The audio is hard to hear, but, i think this is one of Lead Belly's coolest tunes.

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EDITOR COMMENTS - IN SEARCH OF AFRICAN EXPLANATIONS FOR THIS LYRICAL FEATURE
Black Americans -along with other people in the United States- have long considered wearing the color red to be higly inappropriate at funerals or at public or private gatherings before the funeral service such as "viewings" or "wakes" (both of these may mean the same thing in the United States).

However, it seems to me that lyrics in those old songs about Black women wearing red were more than a rhyming device, but were a reflection of an expectation in [at least] some communities for Black women to wear red as an expression of their mourning. That conclusion led me to assume that this tradition was a remnant of African culture which was passed on as a normative custom, but was later disgarded in order to conform with mainstream American culture.

This speculation led me on an online search for information about and examples of traditional West African or Central African cultures in which the color red was associated with death or with mourning someone's death. I focused on those geographical regions because the African ancestors of most Black Americans came from those parts of Africa.*

Prior to a new search I re-read a Mudcat Folk & Blues forum discussion thread "The death of Louis Collins" http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=3132. That thread includes lyrics of & comments about the song "Louis Collins" and some other Old Time Music/Early Blues songs which include references to women wearing red for mourning. I particularly focused on this comment that Guest,Bruce, Date: 04 Oct 02 cited and McGrath of Harlow 04 Oct 02 - 08:39 PM quoted from a Grateful Dead lyric blog:

Catherine Yronwode helpfully explains a bit more about the reference to "dressed in red":
"White folks, accustomed to black being the colour worn both for funerals and for post-funereal mourning, sometimes think that references in blues songs to dressing in red signify a party atmosphere or happiness over a person's death. Not so. In Africa, and among African-Americans in earlier times, drssing in red has been a funerary custom. As such, it is reminiscent of burial with red ochre pigment, which was used among neolithic people (the "red paint people") the world around. The religious idea behind this custom is that as a baby is born from the mother's womb through blood, so will rebirth occur (after interrment in Mother Earth) through blood."

*http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/LOUISCOL.HTM
-snip-
While that comment interested me, the references to red being a funeral custom in Africa and among African Americans in earlier times was much too general for me. And as my online search for information about early Black American funeral customs was yielded no information about standard colors worn by mourners, I changed gears and started looking for more details about traditional African funeral customs.

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red#Red_in_different_cultures_and_traditions:
"In Central Africa, Ndembu warriors rub themselves with red paint during celebrations. Since their culture sees the color as a symbol of life and health, sick people are also painted with it. Like most Central African cultures, the Ndembu see red as ambivalent, better than black but not as good as white.[123] In other parts of Africa, however, red is a color of mourning, representing death.[124] Because red bears are associated with death in many parts of Africa, the Red Cross has changed its colors to green and white in parts of the continent.[125]"
-snip-
Note: It seems to me that "bears are associated" in that sentence is a typographical error for "bears [carries] an association with". In any event, I'm not satisfied with the much too general comment of red having that meaning in "many parts of Africa".
-snip-
A number of websites indicate that the color red is used in South Africa to symbolize mourning or death. However, most of those websites don't indicate whether "South Africa" refers to the nation or the geographical region. Furthermore, hardily any of those websites indicate the specific ethnic group/s in South Africa where it was or it is traditional to wear red for mourning.

Here's one exception to those much too general websites about the meaning of colors in African cultures:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/across-zimbabwe-red-rags-signify-a-nation-in-mourning-855428.html
"Across Zimbabwe, red rags signify a nation in mourning"
By Daniel Howden in Mpopoma township , Matabeleland
Friday 27 June 2008

"Red rags have been tied around lamp posts that don't light and hung from bus shelters. Giant V-signs have been painted over the pot-holed thoroughfares. Bulawayo, the opposition stronghold, awakes today to find it has been painted red. As Zimbabweans turn out to vote in a one-man election, a final message of defiance was being daubed overnight on the only public space available to the opposition: the roads.

One of the key organisers of the Movement for Democratic Change's "red campaign" who identified himself only as Thomas, said the symbolism was clear. "Red is the colour of the MDC. In African culture, it is also the colour of mourning. We are mourning the death of democracy, or the little we had of democracy."
-snip-
Notwithstanding that quoted comment, red is NOT the standard color of mourning in all African cultures.

Another website http://www.cimh.org/Handouts/June%2027-28,%202011%20Cultural%20Competence%20Summit/Tues.Jun28_300-430_WS-8A_Blanch_Handout1.pdf provides these meanings for red:
"Red: mourning = Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa"
Red: Nigeria –wealth, vitality, aggression

Red: Some areas [of Africa]- good luck
-snip-
But, for instance, that same website indicates that the color "orange" means mourning in Egypt.

It wasn't until I found online articles & videos of Ghanaian funeral customs did I find information about red being used for mourning. In that West African nation, the standard colors for funerals are black or red and black. Could this traditional Ghanaian custom be the source of the Black American Old Time Music & early Blues lyric feature of referring to women wearing red for mourning? I think so.

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RELATED PANCOCOJAMS POSTS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/colors-associated-with-funerals-in.html for a pancocojams post about colors worn at Ghanaian funerals.

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/various-african-funeral-customs.html for a pancocojams post on various other African funeral traditions including the nation of South African custom of "after tears parties".

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Thanks to all the known and unknown composers of these featured songs. Thanks also to all the performers who are featured in this post. And thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube examples.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Christy Essien Igbokwe - Seun Rere (videos, comments, & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases examples and lyrics of the 1981 hit Nigerian song "Seun Rere" ("Omo Mi Seun Rere") by Christy Essien Igbokwe.

Information about Christy Essien Igbkwe is also provided in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Note: I have been unable to find a full English translation of the Yoruba words for this song. Please add that translation to the comment section of this post. Thanks!

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INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTY ESSIEN IGBOKWE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christy_Essien-Igbokwe
"Christy Uduak Essien-Igbokwe (11 November 1960 – 30 June 2011), also known as Nigeria's Lady of Songs, put Nigeria's name on the world music map with her evergreen "Seun Rere" track. She was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN). Born on 11 November 1960, this singer and actress is the chairman and managing director of Soul Train entertainment limited.

Although she is not Yoruba, most of her hits were sung in the western Nigerian language, and drew heavily on the culture and tradition. Essien's fluency in Yoruba, English, Igbo and her native Ibibio earned her an appeal which cut across tribal lines."

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From http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/07/05/reminiscing-about-christy-essien-igbokwe-the-cultural-ambassador%E2%80%A6/
"Reminiscing About Christy-Essien Igbokwe, The Cultural Ambassador" by Busayo Sotunde, 5 July, 2011
..."Christy came to us as a gift and she was taken that we may value her more...

Her most successful album till date is her 1981 album “Ever liked my person?” produced by Lemmy Jackson. The album featured her most popular song “Seun rere.”

Most of her songs are in English, Yoruba, Ibibo, Igbo, and Hausa language. Indeed, as Anambra State Governor stated, “We have lost a cultural Ambassador.”

Christy Uduak Essien Igbowkwe will be fondly remembered for some of her contribution to the music industry and the society at large. She is credited to have:
Put Nigeria’s name on the world music map with her evergreed track- “Seun rere”

Initiated the first meeting that brought about the formation of Performing Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in 1981. A year later, PMAN was officially launched with her serving as the first National Treasurer.

Became the first PMAN female President between 1996- 1999
...
Some of her awards include:
As the grand dame of Nigeria Pop music, she was popularly called “First Lady of Songs”

Received Africa Music Mother Award- 1984

International Special Achievement Award- 1983 (World Song Festival award, Los Angeles)

Outstanding achievement in female uplifting- Lagos 1996 Association of Theatre arts practitioners.
...

Enjoy this remix of the lyrics of her popular song “Seun rere” written from my reminiscence:
Omo mi seun rere
Nigeria e seun rere
Africa e seun rere
Ti yin a dara o

Meaning:
My child do good
Nigeria do good
Africa do good
And yours will be better (or well).

****
LYRICS: OMO MI SEUN RERE (My Child Do Good Deeds)
Omo mi seun rere, ti e a dara o
Omo mi gbo te mi, ti e a dara o
Omo mi seun rere, ti e a dara o
Omo mi gbo te mi, ti e a dara o
Iya mi ma seun rere, gbadura fun mi
Baba mi ma seun rere, gbadura fun mi
T’omode ba wu wa buruku, wa ni iya re lo ko
T’omode ba wu wa buruku, wa ni baba re lo ko
Iya mi fi ona toh da han mi laiye
Baba mi fi iwa toh da han mi laiye
Aiye ti mo wa yi ko ma ye mi o
Laiye mi, lorun keji mi, Olorun ni ma ye

Iya wa e seun rere, ti wa a dara o
Baba wa e seun rere, ti wa a dara o

Ah…

Iya mi ma seun rere, gbadura fun mi
Baba mi ma seun rere, gbadura fun mi
T’omode ba wu wa buruku, wa ni iya re lo ko
T’omode ba wu wa buruku, wa ni baba re lo ko
Iya mi fi ona toh da han mi laiye
Baba mi fi iwa toh da han mi laiye
Aiye ti mo wa yi ko ma ye mi o
Laiye mi, lorun keji mi, Olorun ni ma ye

Iya wa e seun rere
Baba wa e seun rere
Iya wa e seun rere, ti wa a dara o

Baba wa e seun rere
Iya wa e seun rere
Baba wa e seun rere, ti wa a dara o

Iya wa e seun rere
Baba mi e seun rere

Copied from FreeNaijaLyrics.com: http://www.freenaijalyrics.com/lyrics-christy-essien-igbokwe-seun-rere/#ixzz2eOOwBsBp

****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Christy Essien Igbokwe - Seun Rere (Audio)



planetolusola, Uploaded on Jan 8, 2009

Artist: Christy Essien Igbokwe ( 11/11/1960 - 06/30/2011)
Rest in peace Christy. You will be forever in our hearts. Thanks for the memories. God's speed and travel safe to the great beyond.

Album: Ever Liked My Person?
Year: 1981
format: mp3
-snip-
Here's a comment from that sound file's comment thread:
"this goes as my best song ever from Nigeria, yes many great songs have come and gone, but this will always stand out fresh. RIP Christy Essien. Ama seun rere Iya, tiwa ma dara."
-Henry Ohize, 2013

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Example #2: Christy Essien Igbokwe - omo mi seun rere 


Christy Essien Igbokwe - omo mi seun rere by timmynaija

By www.timmynaija.com
****
RELATED VIDEO
This video of Christy Essien Igbokwe's funeral also contains visual clips of several performances by that Lady of Song. It is provided with all due respect. Rest in Peace [RIP]

Nigerians bid farewell to Christy Essien Igbokwe.flv



Channels Television, Uploaded on Sep 21, 2011
-snip-
A brief clip of Christy Essieen Igbokwe singing "Seun Rere" can be found at 4:40-5:11 of this video.

Here are two comments from that video's viewer comment thread:
"A CALABAR woman that grew up in IGBO land, and could pass for a "typical" YORUBA woman...,what a TALENT!!!.

Sis, pls pray 4 the country u left behind!!."
-emecca123, 2012
**
"Christy is one of the singer in Nigeria whose song reminds us why we should remain together as one in Nigeria...may her soul RIP...my heart goes out to the Igbokwe's family"
-lucky ogbonda, 2012

****
RELATED LINKS
I learned the English translation for the song title "Seun Rere" from this excerpt of the article that is found at http://www.gloworld.com/nigeria/news/glo-x-factor-contestants-rekindle-memories-of-african-legends/ Glo X Factor contestants rekindle memories of African legends
September 2, 2013 [seventh gala show]

"Princess Pat opened the night’s performances by singing “Omo mi seun rere,” by late Christy Essien Igbokwe. Clearing the way for her, some children came on stage to add colour to her performance and lend credence to the song title. Decked in the Yoruba ‘owanbe’ style attire, she sat in the midst of the children as she crooned on. Just like a school teacher, she dispensed timeless messages, including the names of her children and the judges in the song as she admonished them to “seun rere” (do good deeds)."

****
Click http://www.360nobs.com/2010/10/nigerias-top-50-songs1960-2010-the-complete-music-countdown/ for a listing of 50 top Nigerian songs (1960-2010). The song "Seun Rere" is posted as #4 on that list.

****
Thanks to Christy Essien Igbokwe for her musical legacy and her social activism. Thanks also to all who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Examples Of The Line "We Don't Die We Multiply"

Edited by Azizi Powell

"We don't die, we multiply" or a similar version of that line is a floating verse that is found throughout African American culture.

This post showcases an early example of that line. This post also features a sample compilation of how "we don't die/we multiply" has subsequently been used in African American culture, in a Reggae song, and in a Filipino Rap song.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Disclaimer: The lyrics for the examples included in this post may contain profanity and otherwise may not be considered appropriate by me or by some other persons. Consequently, I'm including no links to most of the full lyrics of most of these songs, and I'm not including links to most of their videos.

Note: In this post all forms of what is now referred to as "the n word" are partly written with the certain letters represented by the "and" character, although that word is fully spelled out in the featured lyrics in which it is found. I'm using that substitution because I detest that word.

In these examples the featured line is written in italics to highlight it.

****
AMERICAN CULTURAL EXAMPLES OF THE LINE "WE DON'T DIE WE MULTIPLE"

In Old Time Music
The earliest form of the line "We don't die/We multiply" that I have found is from a song that is included in Negro Folk Rhymes, a 1922 collection by Fisk University professor & folklorist Thomas W. Talley.

NEGROES NEVER DIE
Ni&&er! Ni&&er never die!
He gits choked on Chicken pie.
Black face, white shiny eye. Ni&&er! Ni&&er!

Ni&&er! Ni&&er never knows!
Mashed nose, an' crooked toes;
Dat's de way de Ni&&er goes. Ni&&er! Ni&&er!

Ni&&er! Ni&&er always sing;
Jump up, cut de Pidgeon's wing;
Whirl, an' give his feet a fling. Ni&&er! Ni&&er!
-snip-
"Negroes Never Die" is the song title that Thomas W. Talley gave to this example.

This is an example of an insult song in which some lighter skinned Black people "rip on" (diss) other Black people who they have grouped together largely because of their darker skin color.

In this song the featured line implies that dark skinned Black people don't die honorably, but instead die in a demeaning way by chocking on chicken pie.

Because the word "n&&ers" in this song is a referent for darker skinned Black people, this song is an early example of "colorism".
"Colorism is a practice of discrimination by which those with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin." http://racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/g/definitionofcolorism.htm

"Cut de [the] Pigeon's wing" is a type of social dance.

****
In contrast to its early use as a put down, in all the other examples of "We Don't Die/We Multiple" that I have found, that line is given as a proud, assertive statement.

Some examples of this use are:

In A Comedy Routine, An Animated Movie, and Documentary Movie About Comedian Robin Harris

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9b%C3%A9's_Kids
Bébé's Kids (released on home media as Robin Harris' Bébé's Kids) is a 1992 American animated comedy film produced by Reginald Hudlin and Hyperion Pictures, directed by Bruce W. Smith, and released on July 31, 1992 by Paramount Pictures.
The first animated feature to feature an entirely African-American main cast, the film is based upon comedian Robin Harris' "Bébé's Kids" stand-up comedy act."
-snip-
In this movie Robin meets Jamika at a funeral and arranges to take her and her mild mannered son Leon to an amusement park. Unbenownst to Robin, Jamika brings along on that date three extremely unruly children Kahlil, LaShawn, and Pee-Wee, who are the children of her girlfriend Bébé. “Upon entering the park, the kids are set loose and promptly wreak havoc.”

As a result of this comedy routine and animated film, the phrase "Bebe's kids" has become a referent among African Americans for very unruly children-particularly Black children.

Bebe's Kids Trailer



Osdatabase Uploaded on Feb 24, 2008

http://www.rarchivist.com
-snip-
In the movie "Bebe's Kids" the character Pee Wee says the quote "We don't die. We multiple" that Robin Harris previously has made famous in his stand up comedy act. A core meaning for this saying is "inspite of your attempts to get rid of us [or do us harm], we just get stronger".

****
From http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/we_dont_die_we_multiply_the_robin_harris_story/
"We Don't Die, We Multiply: The Robin Harris Story (2004) [actual release date to theaters 2006]

Movie Info
Robin Harris was one of the best-respected African-American comedians of his day; after making his way up the ladder the hard way by playing club gigs around the country while working day jobs, he gained his first major break when he became the master of ceremonies at the Comedy Act venue in Los Angeles. Harris' sharp wit and old-school approach earned gained the attention of a number of filmmakers, and in the late '80s he scored showy roles in Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, and House Party. However, just as Harris seemed poised to make a major career breakthrough, he died of a respiratory ailment in 1990 at the age of 37. The Robin Harris Story: We Don't Die, We Multiply is a documentary which examines Harris' short but memorable career, and includes interviews with such friends and fans as Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Lawrence, and Robert Townsend."

****
In Rap Songs
"We Don't Die/We Multiple" is a floating verse in a number of Rap [Hip Hop] songs. One example of the use of a form of the line "We Don't Die We Multiply" is Snoop Dogg's "10-lil-crips"

[Hook: Snoop Dogg]
Ten little Crip ni&&as runnin outside
All from the turf and they bangin out lives
Far from a scrub cuzz from the Eastside
Where they don't die they just multiply
So.. don't give them ni&&as a reason
To turn it into spray season
Don't give them ni&&as a reason
Because they'll turn it into Crip season

Track 11 on Tha Blue Carpet Treatment [Release date: November 21, 2006]
Source: http://rapgenius.com/Snoop-dogg-10-lil-crips-lyrics#note-120479
-snip-
A published comment about that song indicates that it is "A shout out to [rapper] Ice-T and his famous quote: “We don’t die, we just multiply”.
Ice-T was also a [member of the] crip [gang]."
http://rapgenius.com/120479/Snoop-dogg-10-lil-crips/Where-they-dont-die-they-just-multiply

Two other Rap songs that include the line "we don't die/we multiply line" or a version of that line are:

2Pac in The Notorious B.I.G. – Hot 95 Freestyle Lyrics -
"No matter how you try, ni&&as never die
We just retaliate with hate, then we multiply"
[release date 1995] and "Ride" by Master P - ""Real ni&&as don't die we multiply" [release date?]

****
In A Fraternity Steppin Chant
Ques don't die
They multiple
They go yah ha ha ha ha

[Repeat the entire chant several times while doing a steppin routine.]
-snip-
I recall this step chant from step shows [in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] in at least the mid 1990s.

I haven't been able to find a video of this chant as peformed by Ques [men associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.] or as performed by other Black Greek lettered fraternities or sororities. If you know of any such YouTube videeos, please share those links in the comment section of this post. Thanks!

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NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN USE OF THE LINE "WE DON'T DIE/WE MULTIPLE"

In a Reggae Song [Jamaica]

Ini Kamoze -HERE COMES THE HOTSTEPPER
Hit It!
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Pick up the crew in-a de area, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

No no we don't die, yes we mul-ti-ply
Anyone test will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know Rico, I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh! Ch-ch-Chang Chang

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Excuse me mister officer, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Extraordinary, juice like a strawberry
Money to burn baby, all of the time
Cut to fade is me, fade to cut is she
Come juggle with me, I say every time

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Dial emergency number, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na
It's how we do it man
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na

Start like a jackrabbit, finish in front of it
On the night is jack , that's it, understand?
I'm the daddy of the mack daddy, his are left in gold, maybe
Ain't no homie gonna play me, top celebrity man

Murderer, I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Excuse me mister officer, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer
No no we don't die, yes we mul-ti-ply
Anyone test will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know, G go, I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh! Ch-ch-Chang Chang

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Dial emergency number, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na

Yeah man
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na, right
Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Big up all crew bow ya, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical danger, murderer
Pick up the crew in-a the area, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Here comes the hot stepper
I'm the lyrical gangster
I'm a live in-a me danger
Still love you like that

Hey
Da da da da
Da da da da
Da da da da
-snip-
Songwriters
Remi, Salaam / Kenner, Christopher / Kamoze, Ini / Nix, Kenton
Release date- April 18, 1995

Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/here-comes-the-hotstepper-lyrics-ini-kamoze.html
-snip-
Here Comes The Hotstepper--- Ini Kamoze.(HQ)

.

AftaPancU, Published on Apr 20, 2013

Respect To Classic Track !!
Lyrics [included in this video summary]

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As the title of a Pinoy [Filipino] Rap Song
The Filipino Rap group 187 Mobstaz released a song whose title is "We Don't Die We Multiply"
[release date: Jan 2013]
Note: "Section 187" is the California Penal Code section for murder.

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Thanks to all those who are quoted and/or featured in this post.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Peckin - Dance Movement & Jazz Compositions

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information about and examples of the dance movement and Jazz song "Peckin".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT "PECKIN"
From http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3peckn1.htm
"Peckin is not a dance but a vernacular movement within another dance.

Frank Sebastion's Cotton Club (not related to the New York Club) in Los Angeles is said to have done the first public routine with the "Peckin' Motion" (Chicken) done by a group called the Three Chocolateers (Eddie West, Paul Black and Albert "Gib" Gibson) in 1934 and became a Swing and Ballroom sensation. The Three Chocolateers can be seen doing it in the feature length film entitled "New Faces of 1937" * by RKO Radio films and "Murder at the Vanities."

Later the “Cotton Club Express” (a dance group) at the Cotton Club in New York would introduce “the peckin dance” in 1937 to the dancing public. Basically, it was done with the head bobbing forward and back to each beat as the couple face each other, with a “Pecking motion” (like a chicken) toward each other’s head.”...

*This video is found below as Example #4.

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From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ezk4TWNy8M [This sound file is found below as Example #1.]
"Pecking", the name of this song, was a dance move in which each partner would move their heads towards each other and then back, alternating between the right and left. Their faces never touched, but would be to one side or the other. It was supposed to resemble a bird pecking at something - sort of.
-hebneh, 2012
**
Peckin, while seeming smiliar to a peck or kiss, actually stems from 20s animal dances such as camel walks, turkey trot, the snake, and the fox trot. Peckin is meant to resemble Bird like behavior."
-NaptownStomp, 2011
-snip-
In Standard American English, a “peck on the cheek” is a little kiss on the cheek and not the lips.

I would probably categorize "Peckin" as a bird dance instead of an animal dance. But that's nit picking.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
(These examples are presented in chronological order with the oldest dated examples presented first.)

Example #1: 1937 Jitterbug: Benny Goodman & His Orch. - "Peckin'"



240252,Uploaded on Jun 16, 2008

Benny Goodman & His Orch. - Peckin' (H.James /B.Pollack), Victor 1937

The term "jitterbug" comes from an early 20th century slang used to describe alcoholics who suffered from the "jitters" (delirium tremens). During the early 1900s, the term became associated with dancers who danced without any control or knowledge of the dance. In the Swing era, the term was adopted by band leader Cab Calloway to describe the swing dancers who, as he put it „look like a bunch of jitterbugs out there on the floor", due to their fast often bouncy movements. Calloway's 1935 recording of "Call of the Jitter Bug" and the film "Cab Calloway's Jitterbug Party" popularized use of the word "jitterbug". Lyrics to "Call of the Jitter Jug" clearly demonstrate the association between the word jitterbug, and the consumption of alcohol. "If you'd like to be a jitter bug, First thing you must do is get a jug, Put whiskey, wine and gin within, And shake it all up and then begin. Grab a cup and start to toss, You are drinking jitter sauce! Don't you worry, you just mug, And then you'll be a jitter bug!"

World War II facilitated the spread of jitterbug to Europe. For instance, by May 1944 in preparation for D-Day, there were nearly 2 million American troops stationed throughout Britain. Time Magazine reported that American troops stationed in France in 1945 „jitterbugged", and by 1946 jitterbug had become a craze in England.

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Example #2: Lindy Hop funny instructional video : Groovie Movie (1944)

.

SandetLudo, Uploaded on Mar 17, 2011
-snip-
The clip about peckin begins at 1:57 & ends at 2.16.

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Example #3: Peckin' (Cab Calloway & Orch 1937) 120 bpm



Swing Dance Montreal, Published on Apr 10, 2012

Pièce musicale swing idéal pour danser le Lindy Hop, Balboa, Blues et Ballrooming
www.swingdancemontreal.com
www.swingdancemontreal.blogspot.com
-snip-
In the beginning of this song the dance "truckin" is mentioned.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-jazz-dance-truckin-information.html for a post about "truckin".

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Example #4: 1937 Peckin' Dance by the 3chocolateers



Sonny Watson, Uploaded on Feb 3, 2013

1937 Peckin' Dance by the 3chocolateers.

Frank Sebastion's Cotton Club (not related to the New York Club) in Los Angeles is said to have done the first public routine with the "Peckin' Motion" (Chicken) done by a group called the Three Chocolateers (Eddie West, Paul Black and Albert "Gib" Gibson) in 1934 and became a Swing and Ballroom sensation. The Three Chocolateers can be seen doing it in the feature length film entitled "New Faces of 1937" (see clip) by RKO Radio films and "Murder at the Vanities."

...for more inf on Peckin' and more see:
http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z...

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ADDENDUM
Here's a video of a Cinco de Mayo "pecking dance". I'm not sure if thackPe

Pecking Dance

Jose Aguirre• Uploaded on May 8, 2008
SPVHS Cinco de Mayo Celebration
-snip-
This dance clearly is very similar if not the same as the Jitterbug "peckin" dance movement. I'm not sure if this was appropriated from that Jazz dance, or developed independently of that dance.

Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo for information about Cinco de Mayo.

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RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-pigeon-wing-buck-wing-and-buck.html for a post about African American bird dances.

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-tisket-tasket-information-lyrics-and.html for a post about the song "A Tisket A Tasket". A verse of that 1938 song mentions "peckin".

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Thanks to the creators of the peckin dance. Thanks also to all those who are featured on in this post, including Cab Calloway and Bennie Goodman for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and the publishers of these YouTube examples.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More