Almost
every culture has a similar custom
when it comes to loving and caring
for a
new baby. One such custom is to sing
to a baby to calm him or to lull him
to sleep. Some cultures have particular
songs designated as "lullabies,"
while parents and caregivers in other
cultures sing any song that is pleasing
to the baby. The musical styles of
lullabies in Africa, the United States
and Brazil, for example, are very
different. However, Russell Charno
of Ellipsis Arts notes that lullabies
in each culture tend to be "sweet,
sleepy and loving," making them
universally appealing. In recognition
of this cross-cultural commonality,
Ellipsis Arts, known for successfully
producing many unique compilations
of world music, released several CDs
featuring international lullabies,
including African
Lullaby,
Brazilian
Lullaby
and Latin
Lullaby.
Each of these CDs won Parents' Choice
Awards.
In African
Lullaby, Ellipsis Arts
shares several lullabies originating
in different African countries and
performed by world-renowned African
vocalists and musicians. In researching
this project, producer Shana Dressler
spent hundreds of hours listening
to African music and reading about
related traditions. Shana, quoting
from African Music: A People's
Art by Francis Bebey, learned
that part of the tradition of African
music is that "the African child
learns about life through music...Through
singing and
clapping he learns about the members
of his family and the important people
and events of his community, tribe,
and country…By singing songs
which contain a moral, his mother
teaches him what his people consider
to be right or wrong." This tradition
is clear in "Mayo Mpapa,"
a Zambian lullaby sung by Muriel Mwamba.
Like many African lullabies, Mayo
Mpapa is actually a folktale that
teaches children about the protection
a parent provides a child.
.
.
"Mayo
mpapa
Mayo mpapa naine nka ku papa
Ukwenda babili kwali wama pa chalo Ndeya
ndeya ndeya no mwana ndeya
Ndeya no mwana wandi munshila ba mpapula
Munshila ba mpapaula
Iye, iye, iye yangu umwnaa wandi
Yangu umwana wandi mushila ba mpapula"
"Mother
carry me
I will care for you one day
It's not good to be alone in this world
Mother carry me
I will carry you one day
The way a crocodile carries its young on her back."
Almost
every culture has a similar custom
when it comes to loving and caring
for a
new baby. One such custom is to sing
to a baby to calm him or to lull him
to sleep. Some cultures have particular
songs designated as "lullabies,"
while parents and caregivers in other
cultures sing any song that is pleasing
to the baby. The musical styles of
lullabies in Africa, the United States
and Brazil, for example, are very
different. However, Russell Charno
of Ellipsis Arts notes that lullabies
in each culture tend to be "sweet,
sleepy and loving," making them
universally appealing. In recognition
of this cross-cultural commonality,
Ellipsis Arts, known for successfully
producing many unique compilations
of world music, released several CDs
featuring international lullabies,
including