Mama Lisa's Books

Everybody Loves Saturday Night

Written by Deanna deCampos, Director of Curriculum Development and Educational Services, Music Together Worldwide I'd like to provide some feedback on your post about Everybody Loves Saturday Night. Our Song Advisory Board has done research on this song as it's in one of our Music [...]

Babies are Named after the Days of the Week in Parts of Western Africa & Jamaica

People in parts of Western Africa and Jamaica name their children after the day on which they were born... these include the Akan people in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, the Fon people in Benin, the Ewe people of Togo and the Maroons and other descendants of slaves in Jamaica, as well as elsewhere [...]

How are Children Cared for and Disciplined in Various Countries?

Emanuela works in a school with young kids from different countries.  She asked if anyone could help with some questions about how children are cared for and disciplined in various cultures.  Here's her letter: I have a special request to you and I think you can help me because you [...]

Songs from Ghana – Lyrics, Books, Videos and CD's

Lisette wrote to me looking for children's songs from Ghana: Dear Lisa, We are very interested in the childrens songs and rhymes from Ghana. How can we order the book and how much does is cost? We would like to hear from you soon. With kind regards, Lisette Achten We have the lyrics to some [...]

Can Anyone Help with the Song “Tue Tue” from Ghana?

Lynn Egerton wrote: I want some info about the song “Tue Tue” from Ghana. All we can find online is that it is about being thankful for the harvest. Does anyone know the exact translation for the text “tue tue barima”, and “abofra ba ama dawa dawa”? Here are [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Ghanaian Song “Be Be Be Lay Bo”?

Susan Gerber Berning wrote: Hi Lisa. I'm looking for the Ghanaian words to the song that sounds like this “Be Be Be lay bo, Eiyhah yay ah yay,” I remember it as a song they used to pull boats into the shore. Help!? Tough one, I know. It's a Ghana traditional song– everyone [...]

Obwisana Song with a Translation and YouTube Video

LisaMarie wrote to me asking about the Ghanaian song Obwisana. I posted her email below, followed by the lyrics, an English translation, two YouTube videos of the song and finally a link to the score. Here's LisaMarie's email... Hi I was hoping you could help. I'm training to be a teacher and [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Translation of the Song “Aweneh Makole”?

Susan Arnold wrote to me with a question about a song: I am looking for an accurate translation of the song “Aweneh Makole”. The only thing I know about the song is that it is call and response. I've known it for ages and it's used quite a lot in schools here in the UK.

The [...]