The Songs

We've currently got about 50 songs in the repertoire, about 30 of which we can sing at the drop of the proverbial piece of millinery. Current favourites include:

  • Akana Mandla: South African freedom hymn:  He has no power!
  • Ama Ibu: Song from the Congo rain forest
  • Arico: Hymn from Zimbabwe: John 14 verse 1
  • Ay ya zane: From Syria: my love is like a rose
  • Baba Itai:   A song of welcome from Zimbabwe
  • Babethandaza: South African freedom hymn: hail the power and wisdom of our grandmothers
  • Bara Su Waiyo: Nigerian/Ghanaian song of appeal to the god Eshu: We have a Cuban recording of this taken over by slaves
  • Dibule: From South Africa: Our church is open to all
  • E Malama: From Hawaii, we need to look after this sacred Earth
  • E Marabini: South African: Hypnotic dance which lures parents away  : those left have to look after the kids that are left behind
  • Ebi: A song from West Africa, Ghana, Don’t abuse your language
  • Elenke: Balkan song describing a typical young woman
  • Fiela: A South African Wedding Song: This Bride will  work hard and be an asset to us
  • Hamba Lulu: same as above except Bride’s name is Lulu
  • Hellele: African dance song
  • Hush: Spiritual from the south USA: Death( Freedom?) is creeping all around
  • I Dumai Zlato: From Bulgaria, Zlato I want to marry you, when are you going to talk to Ma and Pa about this?
  • Icala: African song warning about sex before marriage
  • Iko Biay: No idea what this is about? It's from West Africa
  • Jowe: I don’t care what you think about my girl, she’s my one and only (or words to that effect) Zulu
  • Kwaheri: Kenyan song of farewell
  • Kwan Yin Bosai: Buddhist peace chant
  • Ladum/Lena: South African anthems: hymns with allusions to freedom from oppression.
  • Lesang Magwala: South African : cowards get behind us, we must fight on for freedom
  • Lo Yissa: Hebrew: biblical: Let not nation rise against nation!
  • Malaika: Very popular Kenyan love song
  • Ma Viyo Viyo South African song about catching and releasing spirits
  • Nesefacay: Macedonian love song
  • O Seo Seo: Korean song calling for reunification of all our people
  • Oj Dobriçu: From Croatia: the water ripples like the sound of our instruments playing
  • Ozdolu Idu: Bulgarian children's play song
  • Plovi Barko: Balkan love song
  • Polegala: Balkan harvesting song, again about typical young women
  • Pokare Kare:   Maori song: my love is across the water
  • Prende La Vela: From Columbia, discovered in Cuba, taught to us in deepest Cumbria
  • Ry Lanitra: Song from Madagascar about co-operation and harmony
  • Sakura; Japanese traditional song celebrating  cherry blossom
  • Sensenina: South Africa, very well known song of freedom, often sung at funerals, similar theme to tate modima below
  • Shona Malanga: ANC anthem: literally a song from the maidservants asking where shall we go on our day off? Mozambique?
  • Sifuni Mungu: South African
  • Singabahambayo Thina: Yet another South African freedom hymn
  • Siya Hamba: A South African freedom hymn: we are marching  in the light of god
  • Sto Mi E Milo: Balkan folk song: Wouldn’t it be nice to have a shop in the town of Struga and watch the young people going by
  • Stormy Weather: modern spiritual from an arrangement by the Golden Gate Quartet
  • Tate Modima:  South African: Our troubles are not your fault; we were born with the colour of our skin
  • Thina Sayfun: no not seen a typhoon  this is serious : we shall have freedom
  • Thuma Mina: South African, lead us direct us save us in our struggle
  • Tourdion: Medieval French drinking song
  • Tri Jetrve: Balkan harvesting song - another about lazy women
  • Tshotsholoza: The most famous work song in the world?
  • Ukwayamane: Traditional Zulu song  in praise of the stubbornest meanest most temperamental cow you ever saw
  • Vamudara: Song about drunken partying from Zimbabwe
  • Yarem Gorani: Armenian song: Migrant workers wishing they were back home

and others we sing occasionally (often down the pub after a concert): Andeleli, Aya Kebay, Baba Numsana, Banuwa, Bombela, Chiman Mo, Cho Kurima, Cyan Fine No Money, Dingaka Lullaby (Tula Tu), Dream,  Erile, Got My Letter, Ingonyama, Kpanlogo, Maliswe, Namadia, Miri It Is, Oj Savice, Ningirigiri, Pete Pete, Sloop John B, Shut The Door, So Abambo, Sofani, Soja, Somagwaza, Unzima, Vadila, Wai Bamba, We Mbiba, Wimaway.

If you know any songs that you think we might like to sing, or are interested in the arrangements of songs we sing, or if you want to swap some arrangements with songs your choir sings, contact Phil, Ruth, Nick or Carol. at                 coleaders@chechelele.co.uk