Oh, Necessity
"As children we used to sing this song, which we actually learned from our parents. I don't know if children back in Cameroon still remember this one, but they probably do because I've discovered these songs keep growing along with the generations." -Nyango M. Nambangi
Oh, Necessity
Call-and-Response Song
Leader: Oh, necessity
Group: Oh necessity
Leader: Oh, necessity
Group: Oh necessity
Group: Necessity carries minds* far away,
Necessity carries minds far away.
Leader: Why should I suffer?
Group: Why should I suffer?
Leader: Why should I suffer?
Group: Why should I suffer?
Group: Necessity carries minds far away
Necessity carries minds far away.
Notes
*Or "man"
In the recording below Nyango sings the song through once and then repeats the first verse to show how you would sing it as a call and response.
Thanks to Nyango M. Nambangi for singing this song for us!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Nyango M. Nambangi of the Minnesota African Women's Association for sharing this song with us and for singing it!
