Compiled by Azizi Powell
Updated with Editor's comment - December 23, 2016
This pancocojams post provides information about the meaning of the blog name "pancocojams" and provides statistical information about this blog.
Publishing these links in one post makes it easier for me- and hopefully you - to enjoy these posts again, and also provides an opportunity for you to check out some posts that you might have missed.
Explanation of the name "pancocojams":
"Pancocojams" is an expansion of the title that I coined* for my previous (now inactive) cultural website- "cocojams". "pancocojams" means "Black cultures around the world"
"pan" = worldwide
"coco" = chocolate (= Black people)
"jams" = music (expanded meaning - "cultures")
*It was only much later that I found out that "cocojams" was a previously existing word.
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Pancocojams Overall Statistics
A total of 2201 posts have been published on pancocojams since I launched this voluntary blog on August 29, 2011.
Total number of viewer hits as of December 22, 2016 at 9:30 PM EST - 4,191,842
Total number of blog posts in 2016 - 408 (including this post).
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Top Ten Pancocojams Viewer Nations Worldwide (based on viewing statistics from August 29, 2011 to December 22, 2016 at 9:30 PM EST)
1. United States 2,676,510
2.United Kingdom 190,089
3.Canada 105,502
4. Russia 104,776
5. Germany 79,634
6. France 71,191
7. Australia 49,215
8. Kenya 43,896
9. Ukraine 35,839
10. Netherlands 22,841
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THE TEN MOST OFTEN VIEWED PANCOCOJAMS POSTS (August 29, 2011- December 22, 2016 at 9:30 PM EST)
Here’s a list (with hyperlinks) of the all time top ten pancocojams posts since this blog began in August 2011 (based on viewer hits). ["Viewer hits" statistics don't include my page views.]
The Ten Most Often Viewed Posts (August 29, 2011- December 22, 2016 at 9:30 PM EST)
1. What "Hit The Quan" REALLY Means, Aug 1, 2015 [276,301]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/what-hit-quan-really-means.html
2. The Origins And Meanings Of "Shante You Stay" & "Sashay Away”, Apr 8, 2014 [55,393]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-origins-and-meanings-of-shante-you.html
3. How "Bye Felicia" Became A Popular Catchphrase, May 16, 2014 [42,942]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-bye-felicia-became-popular.html
4. The Right Rhyming Pattern For Shabooya Roll Call, Jan 30, 2012 [23,595]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/right-rhyming-pattern-for-shabooya-roll.html
5. Muddy Waters - "Mannish Boy" (information, sound file, video, & lyrics], Jul 29, 2015 [18,266]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/07/muddy-waters-mannish-boys-information.html
6. Stand Battles & The Changing Meaning Of "Majorette", Apr 11, 2014 [15,952]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/stand-battles-changing-meaning-of.html
7. 50 Most Common African American Surnames (Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), May 24, 2015, [13,501]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/05/50-most-common-african-american.html
8. The History & Meaning Of The Red, Black, And Green Flag, Jan 21, 2014 [13,314]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-history-meaning-of-red-black-and.html
9. What Do "Juju On That Beat" And "TZ Anthem" Mean?, Oct 25, 2016, [13,068]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/10/what-does-juju-on-that-beat-and-tm.html
10. The Starrkeisha Cheer Squad (The "Petty" Cheer), Jun 22, 2016, [11,382]
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-starrkeisha-cheer-squad-petty-cheer.html
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TOP TEN PANCOCOJAMS POSTS IN 2016
Here’s a list (with hyperlinks) of the top ten pancocojams posts that were published in 2016 (based on viewer hits). One video from each of the top six posts* is also included with that post's title & hyperlink.
*post #5 has no video
1. The Starrkeisha Cheer Squad (The "Petty" Cheer), information, videos, lyrics, & comments; June 22, 2016
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-starrkeisha-cheer-squad-petty-cheer.html
PETTY SONG - The Starrkeisha Cheer Squad! - @TheKingOfWeird
Randome Guye Published on Apr 3, 2016
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2. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/10/what-does-juju-on-that-beat-and-tm.html, October 25, 2016; What Do "Juju On That Beat" And "TZ Anthem" Mean? (information, comments, videos)
Juju On That Beat Dance Challenge [TZ Athem] #jujuonthatbeat #tzathem
One Challenge, Published on Sep 24, 2016
Juju On That Beat Dance Challenge [TZ Athem] #jujuonthatbeat #tzathem #tzathemchallenge
Best musical.ly, dubsmash, instagram and flipagram Juju On That Beat Dance Challenge Compilation or TZ Athem, urban dance, hip hop dance and lit dance.
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3. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/06/child-support-rap-battle-starrkeisha-vs.html; June 21, 2016
Child Support Rap Battle - Starrkeisha VS Cameron J
RandomStructureTV, Uploaded on Nov 9, 2011
Child Support Rap Battle - Starrkeisha VS Cameron J (information, video, & comments)
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4. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/11/colombian-band-bomba-estereo-yo-soy.html
Colombian Band Bomba Estéreo - "Yo Soy" (information, videos, lyrics) November 6, 2016
Bomba Estereo - Soy yo (Fifa16 Soundtrack) - Sala Caracol (live) [HD]
Sala Caracol, Published on Jun 13, 2015
Concierto de Bomba Estereo en la Sala Caracol, Madrid, España, presentando su nuevo album, amanecer, en este vídeo interpretan la canción Soy yo.
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English: Bomba Estereo concert in Sala Caracol, Madrid, Spain, presenting his new album, Dawn, in this video interprets the song's [It's] me.
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5. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/07/list-of-most-common-black-jamaican-last.html; July 6, 2016 List Of Most Common Black Jamaican Last Names
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6. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/what-mic-drop-really-means-history.html ; What "Mic Drop" REALLY Means (history, video examples, & comments), April 1, 2016
Obama Drops the Mic
TheEllenShow, Published on Jan 15, 2016
President Obama's last State of the Union address had an unexpected ending. Watch what happened, here!
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7. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-right-rhyming-pattern-for-shabooya.html
The Right Rhyming Pattern For Shabooya Roll Call (2nd copy)*, Jun 5, 2016
*Note that this post was first published in 2012 and is listed as #4 of the most viewed pancoojams posts since this blog was started. However, for some reason, when I used Google Search to look up that title, I got an error page. Consequently, I re-published that post in 2016 without the original post's comments.
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8. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/06/pop-see-koo-childrens-song-and-dance.html Pop see koo 2.0 (Go noodle), June 1, 2016
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9. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/01/more-information-about-what-john-crow.html More Information About What John Crow (Jancro) Means In Jamaica, January 29, 2016
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10. http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-grace-thrillers-holy-ghost-power.html Jamaican Gospel Song "Holy Ghost Power" by Grace Thrillers (with lyrics), January 18, 2016
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BONUS BLOG POST HYPERLINK
Since #7 is a copy of a 2012 post, here's the top 11th pancocojams post for 2016:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/03/mercy-masika-nikupendeze-video-lyrics.html Mercy Masika - Nikupendeze (video & lyrics with English translation), March 13, 2016
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EDITOR'S NOTE (12/23/2016)
In all fairness, I should note that in only about one month this pancocojams post on another viral dance challenge/meme* "The Black Gospel Source Of U Name It Challenge"... http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-black-gospel-source-of-u-name-it.html has received 429 visitor view (hits)- not counting my visits to that post. That's a lot of pancocojams visitor views for that time period.
I recognize that these annual "popular pancocojams viewer hits" posts aren't fair to those posts that are published late in the year. If any of those posts have lots of hits, I'll include them as Bonus posts next year.
*Other viral dance challenge/memes that pancocojams has featured are "Watch Me ("Whip/Nae Nae"), "Hit The Quan" and "Juju On The Beat".
Here's the hyperlink for Part I of the pancocojams series on the Nae Nae: "How The Nae Nae Dance Got Its Name" http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-nae-nae-dance-got-its-name.html. The links for the other viral dance posts are given above.
-snip-
UPDATE: 12/24/2016
Here's a link to another pancocojams post that was published in late November 2016 that has 428 viewer hits as of this date: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-real-meaning-of-lyrics-i-am-not.html What "I Am Not Throwing Away My Shot" REALLY Means In The Hamilton Musical
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Happy Holidays And Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Lagos City Chorale - "Ibiki" (A Nigerian Composition by Dr. Oyibosiya Eberewariye)
Edited by Azizi Powell
Revision - February 16, 2019: Title changed from folk song/Christmas Carol. Thanks to commenter 2/16/2019.
Latest Revision -September 12, 2023 - Thanks to Unknown -September 12,2023
This pancocojams post showcases a chorale performance of the Kalabari (Ijaw)* [Nigerian] "Ibiki", a song composed by Dr Oyibosiya Eberewariye which is often sung as a Christmas carol.
*"The Kalabari are a tribe of the Ijaw people living in the western Niger Delta region of Nigeria." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalabari_tribe
*"Ijaw (also known by the subgroups "Ijo" or "Izon") are a collection of peoples indigenous mostly to the regions of the Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States within the Niger Delta in Nigeria. Some are also indigenous in Akwa-Ibom, Edo, and Ondo states also in Nigeria."... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijaw_people
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer/s of this song. Thanks also to the Lagos City Chorale. Special thanks to those who are quoted in commenter Younglord Ginah for sharing the meaning and lyrics for this song. And thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Christmas in Nigeria: Lagos City Chorale perform "Ibike" (Kalabari)
Africana Digital Ethnography Project, Published on Jun 26, 2013
"Ibike" is a Kalabari folk tune that has been arranged by a number of notable musicians, including David Aina and Peter Sylvanus. This is a popular arrangement by Derrick Esezobor, preferred by many choristers for it's diatonic harmony, which is truer to the folk style.
-snip-
Selected comments & lyrics from this video's discussion thread:
Younglord Ginah, 2014
"This is absolutely perfect, all glory to God Almighty for the life of this choir for putting together such a pretty song. kudos to the choir once again.
But I think the conductor should have tried to use the right pronunciations in their right tone and manner, this in likewise spells the magnitude of ethnocultural diversities in the Nigerian state. This song is a Kalabari song and as a native of the Kalabari tribe, and a classical musician i knew that the pronunciations of the words are wrong. Nevertheless, this song is awesome.
Thanks and God bless this choir.
**
Younglord Ginah, 2014
"The song means, worship and appreciate your God, owner of your soul, creator and protector, for he is the eternal God calling you to prepare your self unto his services and good works. Come into his temple and receive his blessing."
**
Younglord Ginah, 2014
"Ibike itemebo mie, iyanabo mie, ikokobo mie...e, means, do a good things to ur creator, ur father and protector.
Ori gbamasobo Isin' a ria bote nama, meaning:He (God) that is eternal and everlasting is calling u to come and build his house.
Ibike Omie...e (2×), meaning Do a good things unto God.
Sobote Boma me oki, ori gbamaso I sin'arie bote nama; meaning: come into his house(church) and receive his blessings, He (God) that is everlasting and immortal is calling u to come and build his temple(church).
That's the meaning of the song as written in Kalabari language(Ijaw), in Niger Delta, Rivers State, Nigeria."
-snip-
I added spaces to enhance this comment's readability.
****
Reply
Jide Ogunbo, 2015
"+Younglord Ginah Thank you for the lyrics. But it is like some parts are missing. For example the second and 3rd lines after "Ibike itemebo mie". Could you please help supply that? Thanks."
**
Reply
Nd Okoh, 2015
"Please do you have a native kalabari rendition of d song?"
**
Reply
Younglord Ginah, 2015
"+Jide Ogunbo pls here is the full lyrics:
Verse 1.
Ibike Itemebo mie, iyanabo mie, ikoko bo mie eee, ori gbama so bo, isin arie botenama.
Verse 2.
Owari botenama, botenama, bote koriye, ori gbamasobo isin arie botenama.
Chorus:
Ibike omie ye eeee..2*
Ibike imie ye eeee..2x
Sobo, sobo, sobo, sobo,sobote boma me oko,
Ori gbamasobo isin Arie botenama.
Sobo eee, sobo eeee,
Ori gbamasobo isin arie botenama"
****
LYRICS (Added September 12,2023)
I revisited this post because of a comment from Unknown, September 12, 2023 .requesting translation of that song's lyrics. Here is what I found.
From https://gmlyrics.com/ibike-lyrics-kalabari/
Revision - February 16, 2019: Title changed from folk song/Christmas Carol. Thanks to commenter 2/16/2019.
Latest Revision -September 12, 2023 - Thanks to Unknown -September 12,2023
This pancocojams post showcases a chorale performance of the Kalabari (Ijaw)* [Nigerian] "Ibiki", a song composed by Dr Oyibosiya Eberewariye which is often sung as a Christmas carol.
*"The Kalabari are a tribe of the Ijaw people living in the western Niger Delta region of Nigeria." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalabari_tribe
*"Ijaw (also known by the subgroups "Ijo" or "Izon") are a collection of peoples indigenous mostly to the regions of the Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States within the Niger Delta in Nigeria. Some are also indigenous in Akwa-Ibom, Edo, and Ondo states also in Nigeria."... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijaw_people
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer/s of this song. Thanks also to the Lagos City Chorale. Special thanks to those who are quoted in commenter Younglord Ginah for sharing the meaning and lyrics for this song. And thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Christmas in Nigeria: Lagos City Chorale perform "Ibike" (Kalabari)
Africana Digital Ethnography Project, Published on Jun 26, 2013
"Ibike" is a Kalabari folk tune that has been arranged by a number of notable musicians, including David Aina and Peter Sylvanus. This is a popular arrangement by Derrick Esezobor, preferred by many choristers for it's diatonic harmony, which is truer to the folk style.
-snip-
Selected comments & lyrics from this video's discussion thread:
Younglord Ginah, 2014
"This is absolutely perfect, all glory to God Almighty for the life of this choir for putting together such a pretty song. kudos to the choir once again.
But I think the conductor should have tried to use the right pronunciations in their right tone and manner, this in likewise spells the magnitude of ethnocultural diversities in the Nigerian state. This song is a Kalabari song and as a native of the Kalabari tribe, and a classical musician i knew that the pronunciations of the words are wrong. Nevertheless, this song is awesome.
Thanks and God bless this choir.
**
Younglord Ginah, 2014
"The song means, worship and appreciate your God, owner of your soul, creator and protector, for he is the eternal God calling you to prepare your self unto his services and good works. Come into his temple and receive his blessing."
**
Younglord Ginah, 2014
"Ibike itemebo mie, iyanabo mie, ikokobo mie...e, means, do a good things to ur creator, ur father and protector.
Ori gbamasobo Isin' a ria bote nama, meaning:He (God) that is eternal and everlasting is calling u to come and build his house.
Ibike Omie...e (2×), meaning Do a good things unto God.
Sobote Boma me oki, ori gbamaso I sin'arie bote nama; meaning: come into his house(church) and receive his blessings, He (God) that is everlasting and immortal is calling u to come and build his temple(church).
That's the meaning of the song as written in Kalabari language(Ijaw), in Niger Delta, Rivers State, Nigeria."
-snip-
I added spaces to enhance this comment's readability.
****
Reply
Jide Ogunbo, 2015
"+Younglord Ginah Thank you for the lyrics. But it is like some parts are missing. For example the second and 3rd lines after "Ibike itemebo mie". Could you please help supply that? Thanks."
**
Reply
Nd Okoh, 2015
"Please do you have a native kalabari rendition of d song?"
**
Reply
Younglord Ginah, 2015
"+Jide Ogunbo pls here is the full lyrics:
Verse 1.
Ibike Itemebo mie, iyanabo mie, ikoko bo mie eee, ori gbama so bo, isin arie botenama.
Verse 2.
Owari botenama, botenama, bote koriye, ori gbamasobo isin arie botenama.
Chorus:
Ibike omie ye eeee..2*
Ibike imie ye eeee..2x
Sobo, sobo, sobo, sobo,sobote boma me oko,
Ori gbamasobo isin Arie botenama.
Sobo eee, sobo eeee,
Ori gbamasobo isin arie botenama"
****
LYRICS (Added September 12,2023)
I revisited this post because of a comment from Unknown, September 12, 2023 .requesting translation of that song's lyrics. Here is what I found.
From https://gmlyrics.com/ibike-lyrics-kalabari/
Lyrics Credit : Constance Wokoma
Ibi ke Itemebo mie
Inyanabo mie
Ikokobo mie eee
Ori Gbamasobo I sinari ee bo te nama
(Repeat)
Chorus
Ibi ke omie ee (2ce)
Ibi ke omie ee (2ce)
Sobo sobo Ikokobo mie ee
Ori Gbamasobo I sinari ee bo te nama (2ce)
(Repeat)
Verse 2
Owari bote nama bote nama
Bote bo kori ee
Ori Gbamasobo I sinari ee bote nama
(Repeat)
Repeat Chorus (2ce)
Sobo Ibike omie ee (2ce)
Sobo sobo sobo sobo
OOOOmie ee
Sobo oooo Sobo oooo (2ce)
Gbamasobo I sinari ee bote nama (several times)
TRANSLATION
Verse 1
Be good to your creator
Your owner
Your keeper
The Everlasting One calls you to come and build
Chorus
Be good to Him (2ce)
Be good to him (2ce)
Come in, come in and do for your keeper
The Everlasting One calls you to come and build
Verse 2
His house, come and build, come and build
Come and do the work
The Everlasting One calls you to come and build
Chorus (as above)
Come in, do good to Him (2ce)
Come in, come in (4ce)
Do for Him
Come in, come in (2ce)
The Everlasting One calls you to come and build (several
times to the end)
-snip-
Lyric credit probably means acknowledging the person who shared the lyrics and the translation, and not the person who composed the song.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
How Black Americans Celebrated Christmas In The Antebellum South
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides extensive excerpts from two online articles about how Black Americans celebrated Christmas in the antebellum South (19th century Southern USA before the Civil War).
An excerpt from a previous pancocojams post about Jonkanoo in the Caribbean is given in the Addendum as a comparison to the information about the antebellum South's kunering traditions.
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the authors of these articles.
****
EXCERPT #1
From http://gwtwscrapbook.blogspot.com/2010/12/black-christmas-in-antebellum-south.html#more
..."Eliza Ripley recounts the ceremony of distributing gifts at her own plantation, along with the custom of giving everyone a dram or "drap" of whiskey, a custom also mentioned in Gone with the Wind:
"The following morning, Christmas Day, the field negroes were summoned to the back porch of the big house, where Marse Jim, after a few preliminary remarks, distributed the presents—a head handkerchief, a pocketknife, a pipe, a dress for the baby, shoes for the growing boy (his first pair, maybe), etc., etc., down the list. Each gift was received with a 'Thankee, sir,' and, perhaps, also a remark [about] its usefulness. Then after Charlotte brought forth the jug of whisky and the tin cups, and everyone had a comforting dram, they filed off to the quarters, with a week of holiday before them and a trip to town to do their little buying."
--excerpt from Social Life in Old New Orleans, Being Recollections of my Girlhood
Many planters went further than just a dram of whiskey and made alcohol available in larger quantities, especially during the Christmas dinner in the slave quarters. "Not to be drunk during the holidays was a disgrace," the famous Frederick Douglass remarked. But though alcohol was a big part of the holidays' attraction, it was by no means the only one. "Slaves lived jus' fo' Christmas to come round," recalls Fanny Berry, an ex-slave. Christmas was the time for re-uniting families and for creating new ones. Husbands that worked on neighboring plantations would come home to see the babies born in their absence for the first time. Men and women would take advantage of the holiday to get married.
In his Social Life in Old Virginia Before the War, Thomas Nelson Page recalls that no Christmas holiday would pass without at least one wedding in the slave quarters. The bride's trousseau was usually assembled with the help of the master's family, as Eliza Ripley recounts herself, and the wedding would be officiated by the master (or on occasions, a black preacher) in the mansion or down at the slave quarters.
Giving the plantation slaves some time off during the winter holiday was the sensible, let alone moral thing to do after a year of work. Not only that it allowed workers to rest and regain their strength, but it also attenuated a lot of the tension and resentment people in their situation would otherwise feel. It was Frederick Douglass who noted that "those holidays were among the most effective means in the hands of slave holders of keeping down the spirit of insurrection among the slaves."
But even so, not every planter was as moral as our saintly Colonel Openheart and not every planter was a sensible being. Many in fact were neither. Even in the last years of slavery, there were plantations on which the idea of giving slaves a day off on Christmas had never been posed. One particularly cruel master, by the name of Bennett Barrow, was in the custom of sharpening punishment for his slaves on Christmas day and taking the occasion to sanction misdemeanors from around the year. And even on the plantations where planters did allow their slaves to celebrate Christmas, it appears that four days was the maximum of time off that the workers could generally aspire to.
Nonetheless, the black inhabitants of the plantations began to recognize this free period as one of their rights and developed specific ways to celebrate it. One of the most famous, and peculiar, was the custom called Koonering (also appearing as John Koonering, John Canoeing or John Kunering) in which men dressed as animals or disguised with various masks would parade around the plantation, dancing and making noise.
Parallel to the Christmas parties of their masters, the slaves would hold their own parties in the slave quarters. A big supper was usually prepared in front of the cabins, as a counterpart to the meals served to the whites at the mansion. After the war, most of the ex-slaves remembered these meals as being the most lavish they had ever seen, with a wide variety of dishes including "roasted chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, and maybe a wild ox, varieties of vegetables, biscuits, preserves, tarts, and pies." Dancing would inevitably follow, in the sounds of fiddles and banjos and guitars, and the white masters would sometimes come down to watch as well."....
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EXCERPT #2
From http://thegrio.com/2013/12/25/how-slaves-celebrated-christmas/
How slaves celebrated Christmas in America by Theodore R. Johnson | December 25, 2013
..."Christmas as a respite from hardship
Christmastime on southern antebellum plantations was the occasion that slaves looked forward to the most. Even while subjected to the evils of slavery and its horrors, blacks managed to find small pockets of joy in this holiday celebration. As former slave Charley Hurt told federal officials tasked to document his experiences, “Dat was one day on Massa’s place when all am happy and forgets dey am slaves.”
Based on a collection of slave narratives the government collected as part of the Federal Writer’s Project in the late 1930s, we know that Christmas was observed on nearly all such plantations, with black slaves and white slave owners often celebrating together. Black household servants and field hands were usually given a break from their daily labor lasting anywhere from two to seven days.
While some have contended the holiday spirit caused slaveowners to temporarily treat their slaves with some measure of dignity, the reality is the celebration was used to reinforce paternalism, encourage slave allegiance, and provide what Frederick Douglass described as a, “safety valve to carry off the rebellious spirit of enslaved humanity.”
In other words, Christmas was used to keep slaves passive and in check.
Christmas: A time of controlled plenty
Despite this, blacks found a way to make this time significant by strengthening communal bonds, reuniting families, and rejuvenating their bodies and spirits from the extremely brutal conditions of slavery.
On a typical plantation Christmas, slaves would awake and actually seek out whites because it was customary for all slaves to receive gifts. To get their presents, they played a game called Christmas Gift. When slaves first encountered whites on that morning, the first to shout “Christmas Gift!” would be the winner, to which the loser must give a gift. Of course, the slaves were always allowed to win to, because whites often refused to accept gifts from them. That would signal some measure of equality and disrupt the social order.
Later in the morning, many slave-owning families would gather all of the domestic servants and field hands together and pass out presents in a more formal manner. The children would receive candy or hand-me-down toys, and sometimes coins were thrown at them. The adults usually received gifts of necessity, such as clothes and shoes to replace their tattered garments. These gifts were how slave owners protected their investment, as proper clothing was better for a slave’s health and morale.
In many places, slaves that picked the most cotton, or had a child, were given special gifts as a reward for their increased productivity. These gift-giving rituals served as a reminder to the slaves that their owners were in total control and even their most basic needs were provided at the whim of whites....
Breaking “normal” rules at Christmas
Christmas was also one of the few times of the year when slaves were allowed to eat a wealth of fresh meat, fruits, and baked goods. Their diet usually consisted of cornmeal and salted meat, so the holiday meal was a welcome change they eagerly anticipated.
Plus, slaves were usually permitted to congregate in the house only during holiday season. These large meals with blacks and whites eating in adjacent rooms were often followed by lots of music and dancing.
Additionally, slaves were provided with just about all the alcohol they could drink. It is widely thought this was done to keep them inebriated and, thus, incapable of organizing a revolt. Francis Fedric was an escaped slave who recounted how his master used to force his slaves to drink too much. And then he’d have them gather around, all of them extremely drunk, and tell them they obviously don’t know how to be responsible with their freedom, and that they were lucky to have him as a master to keep them from ruining themselves.
Slaves create their own traditions
Christmas was also used to ensure slaves accepted the version of Christianity their masters practiced. Religion was used as a tool to keep slaves complacent and to convey the notion that God approved of their condition. But in parts of the coastal South, many slaves broke away from the Christian tradition and engaged in festivities with roots from their West African heritage in a celebration called “John Kunering.”
The primary element of the John Kunering ceremony consisted of black men dressed in rags and animal skins, playing instruments, singing, dancing, and marching from home to home to perform for masters and overseers. Those who witnessed the show were to reward the men with money and alcohol.
This ritual has the same roots as New Orleans “second line” parades and is a precursor to the modern-day performances of black marching bands and the step routines of black fraternities and sororities."...
****
ADDENDUM: EXCERPT ABOUT JONKANOO IN THE CARIBBEAN
From http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-traditional-caribbean-jonkunnu-song.html
"Jonkannu is a Christmas festivity which dates back to the days of slavery [in the Caribbean.] Processions of merrymakers, masked dancers and drummers go through the streets singing and playing fifes. The masks the dancers wear are often made to resemble the heads of cows and horses, and other characters like the Bride and Devil are mimed. During slavery, the Jonkunnu processions collected money from the onlookers to pay for their own Christmas celebrations and this song was sung to draw attention to their lack of finery and money to pay for it."...
****
From http://www.yale.edu/glc/belisario/Bilby.pdf "Masking the Spirit in the South Atlantic World: Jankunu’s Partially‐ Hidden History", Kenneth Bilby, Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College, Chicago; 2007.
..."Kenneth Bilby wrote that "The historical evidence strongly suggests that the Jankunu festival originated in Jamaica during the 18th century – possibly earlier. From there it seems to have spread to other English speaking colonial territories where slavery was entrenched, including British Honduras (now known as Belize) and other parts of Central America, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and the Bahamas." Bilby indicates that contemporary researchers have focused "three “clusters” of West African festival traditions: 1) the yam festival of the Mmo secret society of the Igbo peoples; 2) the Egungun masquerades of the Yoruba; and, 3) the Homowo yam festival of the Ga people (Patterson 1969 [1967]: 244‐47)" as the sources for the Jonkanoo celebrations. But "the evidence suggests that the more obviously European‐derived components of the Christmas festivities – which included “actor” characters, mumming troupes, and fife and drum bands – eventually overshadowed the more obviously African‐derived components. Those aspects of the creolized Christmas celebrations generally perceived to be of African origin were heavily stigmatized, and their suppression gradually forced them underground, while those aspects understood to be of European derivation emerged as the dominant forms....) "
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides extensive excerpts from two online articles about how Black Americans celebrated Christmas in the antebellum South (19th century Southern USA before the Civil War).
An excerpt from a previous pancocojams post about Jonkanoo in the Caribbean is given in the Addendum as a comparison to the information about the antebellum South's kunering traditions.
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the authors of these articles.
****
EXCERPT #1
From http://gwtwscrapbook.blogspot.com/2010/12/black-christmas-in-antebellum-south.html#more
..."Eliza Ripley recounts the ceremony of distributing gifts at her own plantation, along with the custom of giving everyone a dram or "drap" of whiskey, a custom also mentioned in Gone with the Wind:
"The following morning, Christmas Day, the field negroes were summoned to the back porch of the big house, where Marse Jim, after a few preliminary remarks, distributed the presents—a head handkerchief, a pocketknife, a pipe, a dress for the baby, shoes for the growing boy (his first pair, maybe), etc., etc., down the list. Each gift was received with a 'Thankee, sir,' and, perhaps, also a remark [about] its usefulness. Then after Charlotte brought forth the jug of whisky and the tin cups, and everyone had a comforting dram, they filed off to the quarters, with a week of holiday before them and a trip to town to do their little buying."
--excerpt from Social Life in Old New Orleans, Being Recollections of my Girlhood
Many planters went further than just a dram of whiskey and made alcohol available in larger quantities, especially during the Christmas dinner in the slave quarters. "Not to be drunk during the holidays was a disgrace," the famous Frederick Douglass remarked. But though alcohol was a big part of the holidays' attraction, it was by no means the only one. "Slaves lived jus' fo' Christmas to come round," recalls Fanny Berry, an ex-slave. Christmas was the time for re-uniting families and for creating new ones. Husbands that worked on neighboring plantations would come home to see the babies born in their absence for the first time. Men and women would take advantage of the holiday to get married.
In his Social Life in Old Virginia Before the War, Thomas Nelson Page recalls that no Christmas holiday would pass without at least one wedding in the slave quarters. The bride's trousseau was usually assembled with the help of the master's family, as Eliza Ripley recounts herself, and the wedding would be officiated by the master (or on occasions, a black preacher) in the mansion or down at the slave quarters.
Giving the plantation slaves some time off during the winter holiday was the sensible, let alone moral thing to do after a year of work. Not only that it allowed workers to rest and regain their strength, but it also attenuated a lot of the tension and resentment people in their situation would otherwise feel. It was Frederick Douglass who noted that "those holidays were among the most effective means in the hands of slave holders of keeping down the spirit of insurrection among the slaves."
But even so, not every planter was as moral as our saintly Colonel Openheart and not every planter was a sensible being. Many in fact were neither. Even in the last years of slavery, there were plantations on which the idea of giving slaves a day off on Christmas had never been posed. One particularly cruel master, by the name of Bennett Barrow, was in the custom of sharpening punishment for his slaves on Christmas day and taking the occasion to sanction misdemeanors from around the year. And even on the plantations where planters did allow their slaves to celebrate Christmas, it appears that four days was the maximum of time off that the workers could generally aspire to.
Nonetheless, the black inhabitants of the plantations began to recognize this free period as one of their rights and developed specific ways to celebrate it. One of the most famous, and peculiar, was the custom called Koonering (also appearing as John Koonering, John Canoeing or John Kunering) in which men dressed as animals or disguised with various masks would parade around the plantation, dancing and making noise.
Parallel to the Christmas parties of their masters, the slaves would hold their own parties in the slave quarters. A big supper was usually prepared in front of the cabins, as a counterpart to the meals served to the whites at the mansion. After the war, most of the ex-slaves remembered these meals as being the most lavish they had ever seen, with a wide variety of dishes including "roasted chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, and maybe a wild ox, varieties of vegetables, biscuits, preserves, tarts, and pies." Dancing would inevitably follow, in the sounds of fiddles and banjos and guitars, and the white masters would sometimes come down to watch as well."....
****
EXCERPT #2
From http://thegrio.com/2013/12/25/how-slaves-celebrated-christmas/
How slaves celebrated Christmas in America by Theodore R. Johnson | December 25, 2013
..."Christmas as a respite from hardship
Christmastime on southern antebellum plantations was the occasion that slaves looked forward to the most. Even while subjected to the evils of slavery and its horrors, blacks managed to find small pockets of joy in this holiday celebration. As former slave Charley Hurt told federal officials tasked to document his experiences, “Dat was one day on Massa’s place when all am happy and forgets dey am slaves.”
Based on a collection of slave narratives the government collected as part of the Federal Writer’s Project in the late 1930s, we know that Christmas was observed on nearly all such plantations, with black slaves and white slave owners often celebrating together. Black household servants and field hands were usually given a break from their daily labor lasting anywhere from two to seven days.
While some have contended the holiday spirit caused slaveowners to temporarily treat their slaves with some measure of dignity, the reality is the celebration was used to reinforce paternalism, encourage slave allegiance, and provide what Frederick Douglass described as a, “safety valve to carry off the rebellious spirit of enslaved humanity.”
In other words, Christmas was used to keep slaves passive and in check.
Christmas: A time of controlled plenty
Despite this, blacks found a way to make this time significant by strengthening communal bonds, reuniting families, and rejuvenating their bodies and spirits from the extremely brutal conditions of slavery.
On a typical plantation Christmas, slaves would awake and actually seek out whites because it was customary for all slaves to receive gifts. To get their presents, they played a game called Christmas Gift. When slaves first encountered whites on that morning, the first to shout “Christmas Gift!” would be the winner, to which the loser must give a gift. Of course, the slaves were always allowed to win to, because whites often refused to accept gifts from them. That would signal some measure of equality and disrupt the social order.
Later in the morning, many slave-owning families would gather all of the domestic servants and field hands together and pass out presents in a more formal manner. The children would receive candy or hand-me-down toys, and sometimes coins were thrown at them. The adults usually received gifts of necessity, such as clothes and shoes to replace their tattered garments. These gifts were how slave owners protected their investment, as proper clothing was better for a slave’s health and morale.
In many places, slaves that picked the most cotton, or had a child, were given special gifts as a reward for their increased productivity. These gift-giving rituals served as a reminder to the slaves that their owners were in total control and even their most basic needs were provided at the whim of whites....
Breaking “normal” rules at Christmas
Christmas was also one of the few times of the year when slaves were allowed to eat a wealth of fresh meat, fruits, and baked goods. Their diet usually consisted of cornmeal and salted meat, so the holiday meal was a welcome change they eagerly anticipated.
Plus, slaves were usually permitted to congregate in the house only during holiday season. These large meals with blacks and whites eating in adjacent rooms were often followed by lots of music and dancing.
Additionally, slaves were provided with just about all the alcohol they could drink. It is widely thought this was done to keep them inebriated and, thus, incapable of organizing a revolt. Francis Fedric was an escaped slave who recounted how his master used to force his slaves to drink too much. And then he’d have them gather around, all of them extremely drunk, and tell them they obviously don’t know how to be responsible with their freedom, and that they were lucky to have him as a master to keep them from ruining themselves.
Slaves create their own traditions
Christmas was also used to ensure slaves accepted the version of Christianity their masters practiced. Religion was used as a tool to keep slaves complacent and to convey the notion that God approved of their condition. But in parts of the coastal South, many slaves broke away from the Christian tradition and engaged in festivities with roots from their West African heritage in a celebration called “John Kunering.”
The primary element of the John Kunering ceremony consisted of black men dressed in rags and animal skins, playing instruments, singing, dancing, and marching from home to home to perform for masters and overseers. Those who witnessed the show were to reward the men with money and alcohol.
This ritual has the same roots as New Orleans “second line” parades and is a precursor to the modern-day performances of black marching bands and the step routines of black fraternities and sororities."...
****
ADDENDUM: EXCERPT ABOUT JONKANOO IN THE CARIBBEAN
From http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-traditional-caribbean-jonkunnu-song.html
"Jonkannu is a Christmas festivity which dates back to the days of slavery [in the Caribbean.] Processions of merrymakers, masked dancers and drummers go through the streets singing and playing fifes. The masks the dancers wear are often made to resemble the heads of cows and horses, and other characters like the Bride and Devil are mimed. During slavery, the Jonkunnu processions collected money from the onlookers to pay for their own Christmas celebrations and this song was sung to draw attention to their lack of finery and money to pay for it."...
****
From http://www.yale.edu/glc/belisario/Bilby.pdf "Masking the Spirit in the South Atlantic World: Jankunu’s Partially‐ Hidden History", Kenneth Bilby, Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College, Chicago; 2007.
..."Kenneth Bilby wrote that "The historical evidence strongly suggests that the Jankunu festival originated in Jamaica during the 18th century – possibly earlier. From there it seems to have spread to other English speaking colonial territories where slavery was entrenched, including British Honduras (now known as Belize) and other parts of Central America, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and the Bahamas." Bilby indicates that contemporary researchers have focused "three “clusters” of West African festival traditions: 1) the yam festival of the Mmo secret society of the Igbo peoples; 2) the Egungun masquerades of the Yoruba; and, 3) the Homowo yam festival of the Ga people (Patterson 1969 [1967]: 244‐47)" as the sources for the Jonkanoo celebrations. But "the evidence suggests that the more obviously European‐derived components of the Christmas festivities – which included “actor” characters, mumming troupes, and fife and drum bands – eventually overshadowed the more obviously African‐derived components. Those aspects of the creolized Christmas celebrations generally perceived to be of African origin were heavily stigmatized, and their suppression gradually forced them underground, while those aspects understood to be of European derivation emerged as the dominant forms....) "
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Two Videos of the Belizean Christmas Song "Good Mawnin' Miss Lady"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about Christmas in Belize, Central America. This post also showcases two examples of the Belizean song "Good Mawnin'*, Miss Lady".
*"Mawnin' (morning) is also given as "maanin'".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer/s of this song. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and those who are quoted in this post. And thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/12/mr-peters-good-mawnin-belize.html for the Belizean song "Good Mawnin' Belize". That song may be related to the song "Good Mawnin', Miss Lady". From the comments that I've read, I know that "Good Mawnin' (morning) Belize" and not "Good Mawnin' Miss Lady" was the song that was played every morning on a Belizean radio station. However, I don't know which song came first.
-snip-
Updated 12/24/2016
If it's correct as I have read that "Good Morning, Lady" was a song that was traditionally sung by Belizean Christmas carolers, than that song is older than "Good Morning, Belize".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN BELIZE
From http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/258936/Christmas_in_Belize.html Christmas in Belize by Karla Heusner, posted by Marty 12/07/07
"More than any other holiday, Christmas is a truly multicultural celebration in Belize. It has to be, with over 10 ethnic groups in a population of around 250,000 people. Christmas traditions are freely shared and borrowed.
So while Belizeans share the European or North American rituals of decorating Christmas trees, hanging lights outside their homes, exchanging greeting cards and baking fruitcakes, they also look forward to homegrown festivities. For what is a Belizean Christmas without a sip or two of country wines, picking up a fork and grater and singing traditional "Brukdown" songs like "Good Morning Miss Lady," and other favorites from the Ole Time Creole Christmas "Bram"? Belizeans still wait to greet the Garifuna Jonkunu dancers on Christmas day, are enthralled by a performance of the Maya "Deer Dance" or a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph looking for an inn as part of "Las Posadas."
Whatever ethnic group, or combination thereof, a Belizean may consider himself or herself to be, one commonality is that Christmas is traditionally a time to visit family and friends. To prepare for all these people making the rounds, weeks go into making everything like "new." Everyone pitches in to clean the house from top to bottom, hang new curtains and lay fresh "marley" (linoleum).
There is a frenzy of baking, searching for fresh ingredients for holiday meals, stocking up of rum and flagging down the coca-cola trucks circling the neighborhoods to load up on cases of soft drinks.
The typical Creole "kriol" Sunday dinner of rice and beans and potato salad is spiced up at Christmas with the addition of turkey, stuffing AND ham in place of stewed chicken followed by rich black fruit cake laced with rum or brandy. The Mestizo specialty is white relleno, a delicious soup with pork stuffed chicken or mechado olives, raisins, saffron, or pebre roast pork with gravy all served with hot corn tortillas. Christmas dinner for the majority of Mayans might be tamales with chicken while families who raise pigs or turkey might use this as a substitute for chicken on this special occasion.
Spirits are an important part of the Christmas season, which in Belize lasts for two weeks, longer than in some countries, yet considerably shorter than the Belizean Christmases of the old mahogany cutting days. Back then, African slaves, free laborers and more recently, in our grandparents' time, the Waikas, an Amerindian group from Nicaragua, used to end their season in the forests with a month-long "spree" in Belize Town, now Belize City.
Although the settlement's men no longer find themselves separated from the womenfolk for months at a time, the festive atmosphere and the free flow of money and rum, remain.
So does the pilgrimage to Belize City, specifically to downtown Albert Street to buy their fancy curtain material, toys for the children or Christmas candies. The buses are packed, and the streets are elbow-to-elbow as shoppers squeeze their way past street vendors selling special imports of apples, grapes and pears.
Central American immigrants sell all manner of glassware, hammocks and Christmas ornaments on the street-side while the more permanent merchants, the descendants of colonial families, or recent arrivals from India or Taiwan do a brisk trade in everything imaginable, from clothing and shoes to porcelain figurines, television sets and cd players.
Of course it is not just about food, or shopping. With over 70% of Belizeans considering themselves Christians, the celebration of the nacimiento (birth of Christ) is well established throughout the country and across the various cultures. Most celebrations from the Las Posadas to the Deer Dance include prayers, vigils and a midnight Mass or "Misa de Gallo" on Christmas eve.
So as you can see, Belizeans still love their Christmas, and the various cultures all contribute something unique to the holiday mix. It is a great time of year to share in these traditions that have been handed down for generations. Join us in Belize this Christmas.
-snip-
That same website has a lengthy post about how Garifuna people in Belize celebrate Christmas.
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Good Maaning Miss Lady
Sarteneja Cruz Uploaded on Dec 31, 2010
Belizean Christmas Carol Dec 25th 2010
Familia Cruz
-snip-
Unfortunately, I haven't found any lyrics for this song online and I'm unable to transcribe this song except for the words "Good mawning, Miss lady... and how are you this mawning, ???? on a merry Christmas mawning."
Information about this song and lyrics for this song would be greatly appreciated.
****
Example #2: Good Mawning Miss Lady - Our Lady of Gudalupe Infant 1 Class Christmas Dance
openlearningtv Uploaded on Apr 22, 2009
Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School Christmas Concert. Infant 1 Class presentation
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information about Christmas in Belize, Central America. This post also showcases two examples of the Belizean song "Good Mawnin'*, Miss Lady".
*"Mawnin' (morning) is also given as "maanin'".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer/s of this song. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and those who are quoted in this post. And thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/12/mr-peters-good-mawnin-belize.html for the Belizean song "Good Mawnin' Belize". That song may be related to the song "Good Mawnin', Miss Lady". From the comments that I've read, I know that "Good Mawnin' (morning) Belize" and not "Good Mawnin' Miss Lady" was the song that was played every morning on a Belizean radio station. However, I don't know which song came first.
-snip-
Updated 12/24/2016
If it's correct as I have read that "Good Morning, Lady" was a song that was traditionally sung by Belizean Christmas carolers, than that song is older than "Good Morning, Belize".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN BELIZE
From http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/258936/Christmas_in_Belize.html Christmas in Belize by Karla Heusner, posted by Marty 12/07/07
"More than any other holiday, Christmas is a truly multicultural celebration in Belize. It has to be, with over 10 ethnic groups in a population of around 250,000 people. Christmas traditions are freely shared and borrowed.
So while Belizeans share the European or North American rituals of decorating Christmas trees, hanging lights outside their homes, exchanging greeting cards and baking fruitcakes, they also look forward to homegrown festivities. For what is a Belizean Christmas without a sip or two of country wines, picking up a fork and grater and singing traditional "Brukdown" songs like "Good Morning Miss Lady," and other favorites from the Ole Time Creole Christmas "Bram"? Belizeans still wait to greet the Garifuna Jonkunu dancers on Christmas day, are enthralled by a performance of the Maya "Deer Dance" or a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph looking for an inn as part of "Las Posadas."
Whatever ethnic group, or combination thereof, a Belizean may consider himself or herself to be, one commonality is that Christmas is traditionally a time to visit family and friends. To prepare for all these people making the rounds, weeks go into making everything like "new." Everyone pitches in to clean the house from top to bottom, hang new curtains and lay fresh "marley" (linoleum).
There is a frenzy of baking, searching for fresh ingredients for holiday meals, stocking up of rum and flagging down the coca-cola trucks circling the neighborhoods to load up on cases of soft drinks.
The typical Creole "kriol" Sunday dinner of rice and beans and potato salad is spiced up at Christmas with the addition of turkey, stuffing AND ham in place of stewed chicken followed by rich black fruit cake laced with rum or brandy. The Mestizo specialty is white relleno, a delicious soup with pork stuffed chicken or mechado olives, raisins, saffron, or pebre roast pork with gravy all served with hot corn tortillas. Christmas dinner for the majority of Mayans might be tamales with chicken while families who raise pigs or turkey might use this as a substitute for chicken on this special occasion.
Spirits are an important part of the Christmas season, which in Belize lasts for two weeks, longer than in some countries, yet considerably shorter than the Belizean Christmases of the old mahogany cutting days. Back then, African slaves, free laborers and more recently, in our grandparents' time, the Waikas, an Amerindian group from Nicaragua, used to end their season in the forests with a month-long "spree" in Belize Town, now Belize City.
Although the settlement's men no longer find themselves separated from the womenfolk for months at a time, the festive atmosphere and the free flow of money and rum, remain.
So does the pilgrimage to Belize City, specifically to downtown Albert Street to buy their fancy curtain material, toys for the children or Christmas candies. The buses are packed, and the streets are elbow-to-elbow as shoppers squeeze their way past street vendors selling special imports of apples, grapes and pears.
Central American immigrants sell all manner of glassware, hammocks and Christmas ornaments on the street-side while the more permanent merchants, the descendants of colonial families, or recent arrivals from India or Taiwan do a brisk trade in everything imaginable, from clothing and shoes to porcelain figurines, television sets and cd players.
Of course it is not just about food, or shopping. With over 70% of Belizeans considering themselves Christians, the celebration of the nacimiento (birth of Christ) is well established throughout the country and across the various cultures. Most celebrations from the Las Posadas to the Deer Dance include prayers, vigils and a midnight Mass or "Misa de Gallo" on Christmas eve.
So as you can see, Belizeans still love their Christmas, and the various cultures all contribute something unique to the holiday mix. It is a great time of year to share in these traditions that have been handed down for generations. Join us in Belize this Christmas.
-snip-
That same website has a lengthy post about how Garifuna people in Belize celebrate Christmas.
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Good Maaning Miss Lady
Sarteneja Cruz Uploaded on Dec 31, 2010
Belizean Christmas Carol Dec 25th 2010
Familia Cruz
-snip-
Unfortunately, I haven't found any lyrics for this song online and I'm unable to transcribe this song except for the words "Good mawning, Miss lady... and how are you this mawning, ???? on a merry Christmas mawning."
Information about this song and lyrics for this song would be greatly appreciated.
****
Example #2: Good Mawning Miss Lady - Our Lady of Gudalupe Infant 1 Class Christmas Dance
openlearningtv Uploaded on Apr 22, 2009
Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School Christmas Concert. Infant 1 Class presentation
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Mr. Peters - Good Mawnin, Belize (information, partial lyrics, YouTube examples, & comments)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about Belize, Central America and information about Mr. Peters, King of Belize's Brukdown music.
This post also showcases Mr. Peters performing the now iconic Belizean song "Good Mawnin'*, Belize". Partial lyrics for that song are included in this post along with selected comments from two YouTube videos' discussion threads.
Additions and corrections for these lyrics are welcome.
*"Mawnin' (morning) is also given as "maanin'".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Mr. Peters for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/12/two-videos-of-belizean-christmas-song.html for a pancocojams post that showcases the Belizean Christmas song "Good Morning, Miss Lady". This song may be related to "Good Mawnin' Belize", but I don't know which song came first. -
-snip-
Updated 12/24/2016
If it's correct as I have read that "Good Morning, Lady" was a song that was traditionally sung by Belizean Christmas carolers, than that song is older than "Good Morning, Belize".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BELIZE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize
"Belize... formerly British Honduras, is a country on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and west by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide."...
****
From http://www.chabilmarvillas.com/blog/the-music-of-belize.html
"Often described as a true melting pot, the modern-day nation of Belize is a rich blend of different cultures, including the Maya, Garifuna, Creole, and Mestizo people.
During its earliest history, Belize was briefly under the dominion of Spain but then became Britain’s only mainland colony in the area. Later emigration of Mennonites from Germany and Switzerland added to the many European influences in Belizean music, including polkas, quadrilles, schottisches, and polkas.
Primarily from the Garifuna culture, local styles feature musical instruments like drums, banjo, accordion, guitar, and a donkey’s jaw bone (played like a saw or zither). The Mestizos, immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico, brought the marimba, double bass, and drum sets.
These various influences have created a number of distinct styles of musical expression in Belize. Cumbia, related to salsa and merengue, is a popular type of music played by troupes in areas where Mestizos live. Probably the most famous musical Creole style is known as “brukdown” (breakdown), a melodic mix of calypso featuring percussion and rhythms from a donkey’s jawbone, drums and banjos. Newer forms of brukdown are called “boom and chime” and feature the use of electric guitars, congas, and bass guitars.
Two related genres of music created in Belize are known as punta and punta rock. Developed by Garifuna musicians, punta and punta rock mix traditional rhythms and dance steps from African melodies and add modern lyrics to create a style somewhat similar to reggae. Punta and punta rock were developed for parties and social events where dancing is just as important a component as the music and singing."....
****
INFORMATION ABOUT MR. PETERS
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Peters
"Wilfred Peters MBE (April 15, 1931 – June 9, 2010) was a Belizean accordionist and band leader, known as the "King of Brukdown". He toured Europe and North America with his band, the Boom & Chime Band, and was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth in 1997 for his cultural contributions.
A Belizean national icon, Peters was one of the country’s best loved musicians. After over 60 years of playing, he defined Belizean Creole culture through his distinctive Brukdown music style.[citation needed]
****
From http://www.belizemusicworld.com/mr-peters-biography.html
....
"Mr. Peters' Boom & Chime
The King of Brukdown, Mr. Wilfred Peters is a Belizean national icon and one of the country's best loved musicians. After over 60 years of playing, he continues to define and invigorate Belizean Creole culture through his distinctive brukdown music style.
Brukdown music reflects the journey of the African slave into the mahogany camps of Belize. It uses syncopated rhythms and call and response patterns firmly rooted in Africa, harmonies borrowed from Europe and lyrical themes colored with the Belizean Creole language and experience. Brukdown became the music of the people, whether urban or rural.
As one of the few remaining brukdown accordion masters, Mr. Peters learned to play the instrument from his father on the family farm near the Sibun River in Belize, where music was the main form of entertainment in his household and when farmers and loggers gathered.
"We had no radios or cassettes then, only what we could play. And with some white rum and wata, people would dance through the night," Mr. Peters said.
Performing with accordion and guitar since the age of seven, his reputation grew, and by his early teens he found himself in demand throughout Belize. His popularity never waned, and he and his band continue to be a steady fixture at dances, holiday celebrations and events around Belize."...
****
PARTIAL LYRICS: GOOD MAWNIN' BELIZE
(as performed by Mr. Peters)
Good Mawning Belize
and good mawnin'
I said Good Mawnin' Belize
and good mawnin'
And how are you this mawnin'?
I wake up every mawnin'
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: every morning and work until the night
I wake up every morning
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: wake up every morning and I go to work until the night
I got I got nine pickneys to feed,
yeah
And one on the way,
yeah
A wife always in need,
nice
What a beautiful day!
????
????
I wake up every mawnin'
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: every morning and work until the night
I wake up every morning
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: wake up every morning and I go to work until the night.
?????
-snip-
I found the "I got nine pickneys" verse on this blog: http://www.belizeforum.com/belize/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=25697&page=3 posted by Diane
That blog discussion is about the differences between the word "pickinniny" and the word "pickney". Diane's prefaced these partial lyrics (and the chorus) with the comment ..."How 'bout LoveFM's song they play every morning, sung by the venerable Mr. Peters". She also wrote [I] "(might be a bit off with the lyrics, haven't been able to pick up love in the mornings lately.)"
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Good Mawning Belize - Mr. Peters
Byron Gordon Published on Oct 12, 2012
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread
justin lawton, 2014
"thank you som much. u mek ay fe hyear dis lee choon ya . ay musa b wah fool doe ca e mek i cry an all tru?"
-snip-
translated from Belizean Kriol to English [Additions and corrections are welcome.]
Thank you so (very) much [for] making me hear this (here) little tune [again]. Am I foolish because I really cried when I hear this song?
Tesia Joslyn, 2015
"Awwww 😘😍😏😏 I remember listening to this song in the mawning before going to school when I was younger 😞😏😏😁"
**
Reply
Frassmáasa Flash, 2015
"So dah chune ya gi yu bagga energy fi skuul"
-snip-
Translated from Belizean Kriol to English [Additions and corrections are welcome.]
"So that there [particular ?] tune gives you lots of energy for school".
****
Example #2: Good Mawnin Belize
Richard Lawry, Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009
Slideshow of Belizeans starting out their day in San Pedro Belize
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
maestrolx, 2010
"I love this cultural song it is so beautiful. It makes me feel good to be a Belizean."
**
nmxterra, 2011
"Makes me miss Belize. I remember listening to this every morning.
**
Lanny Mendez, 2012
"tiad ah hya spanish mi need fi hya wa lee creole fi get mi maaning started. time fi listen to wa lee live stream of Love Fm! wish mi Belize had betta education so i neva mi wa have to stuck da wa nada country. See you in a month my beautiful home!"
**
Haiching Yin, 2012
"only those who were raised in Belize know this song, used to heard this every morning on bus to school :)"
**
Dulce Alvarez, 2014
"GOOD MAWNIN TO ALL MY BELIZEANS!"
**
Milton Amador, 2016
"I miss listening to this song on the radio 📻 miss my country"
**
Alex Tytb Martinez, 2016
"This song is my alarm for school! 😵😵😨😜😂😂"
daintyminnie
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information about Belize, Central America and information about Mr. Peters, King of Belize's Brukdown music.
This post also showcases Mr. Peters performing the now iconic Belizean song "Good Mawnin'*, Belize". Partial lyrics for that song are included in this post along with selected comments from two YouTube videos' discussion threads.
Additions and corrections for these lyrics are welcome.
*"Mawnin' (morning) is also given as "maanin'".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Mr. Peters for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/12/two-videos-of-belizean-christmas-song.html for a pancocojams post that showcases the Belizean Christmas song "Good Morning, Miss Lady". This song may be related to "Good Mawnin' Belize", but I don't know which song came first. -
-snip-
Updated 12/24/2016
If it's correct as I have read that "Good Morning, Lady" was a song that was traditionally sung by Belizean Christmas carolers, than that song is older than "Good Morning, Belize".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BELIZE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize
"Belize... formerly British Honduras, is a country on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and west by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide."...
****
From http://www.chabilmarvillas.com/blog/the-music-of-belize.html
"Often described as a true melting pot, the modern-day nation of Belize is a rich blend of different cultures, including the Maya, Garifuna, Creole, and Mestizo people.
During its earliest history, Belize was briefly under the dominion of Spain but then became Britain’s only mainland colony in the area. Later emigration of Mennonites from Germany and Switzerland added to the many European influences in Belizean music, including polkas, quadrilles, schottisches, and polkas.
Primarily from the Garifuna culture, local styles feature musical instruments like drums, banjo, accordion, guitar, and a donkey’s jaw bone (played like a saw or zither). The Mestizos, immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico, brought the marimba, double bass, and drum sets.
These various influences have created a number of distinct styles of musical expression in Belize. Cumbia, related to salsa and merengue, is a popular type of music played by troupes in areas where Mestizos live. Probably the most famous musical Creole style is known as “brukdown” (breakdown), a melodic mix of calypso featuring percussion and rhythms from a donkey’s jawbone, drums and banjos. Newer forms of brukdown are called “boom and chime” and feature the use of electric guitars, congas, and bass guitars.
Two related genres of music created in Belize are known as punta and punta rock. Developed by Garifuna musicians, punta and punta rock mix traditional rhythms and dance steps from African melodies and add modern lyrics to create a style somewhat similar to reggae. Punta and punta rock were developed for parties and social events where dancing is just as important a component as the music and singing."....
****
INFORMATION ABOUT MR. PETERS
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Peters
"Wilfred Peters MBE (April 15, 1931 – June 9, 2010) was a Belizean accordionist and band leader, known as the "King of Brukdown". He toured Europe and North America with his band, the Boom & Chime Band, and was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth in 1997 for his cultural contributions.
A Belizean national icon, Peters was one of the country’s best loved musicians. After over 60 years of playing, he defined Belizean Creole culture through his distinctive Brukdown music style.[citation needed]
****
From http://www.belizemusicworld.com/mr-peters-biography.html
....
"Mr. Peters' Boom & Chime
The King of Brukdown, Mr. Wilfred Peters is a Belizean national icon and one of the country's best loved musicians. After over 60 years of playing, he continues to define and invigorate Belizean Creole culture through his distinctive brukdown music style.
Brukdown music reflects the journey of the African slave into the mahogany camps of Belize. It uses syncopated rhythms and call and response patterns firmly rooted in Africa, harmonies borrowed from Europe and lyrical themes colored with the Belizean Creole language and experience. Brukdown became the music of the people, whether urban or rural.
As one of the few remaining brukdown accordion masters, Mr. Peters learned to play the instrument from his father on the family farm near the Sibun River in Belize, where music was the main form of entertainment in his household and when farmers and loggers gathered.
"We had no radios or cassettes then, only what we could play. And with some white rum and wata, people would dance through the night," Mr. Peters said.
Performing with accordion and guitar since the age of seven, his reputation grew, and by his early teens he found himself in demand throughout Belize. His popularity never waned, and he and his band continue to be a steady fixture at dances, holiday celebrations and events around Belize."...
****
PARTIAL LYRICS: GOOD MAWNIN' BELIZE
(as performed by Mr. Peters)
Good Mawning Belize
and good mawnin'
I said Good Mawnin' Belize
and good mawnin'
And how are you this mawnin'?
I wake up every mawnin'
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: every morning and work until the night
I wake up every morning
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: wake up every morning and I go to work until the night
I got I got nine pickneys to feed,
yeah
And one on the way,
yeah
A wife always in need,
nice
What a beautiful day!
????
????
I wake up every mawnin'
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: every morning and work until the night
I wake up every morning
and I go to work until the night.
background singers: wake up every morning and I go to work until the night.
?????
-snip-
I found the "I got nine pickneys" verse on this blog: http://www.belizeforum.com/belize/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=25697&page=3 posted by Diane
That blog discussion is about the differences between the word "pickinniny" and the word "pickney". Diane's prefaced these partial lyrics (and the chorus) with the comment ..."How 'bout LoveFM's song they play every morning, sung by the venerable Mr. Peters". She also wrote [I] "(might be a bit off with the lyrics, haven't been able to pick up love in the mornings lately.)"
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Good Mawning Belize - Mr. Peters
Byron Gordon Published on Oct 12, 2012
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread
justin lawton, 2014
"thank you som much. u mek ay fe hyear dis lee choon ya . ay musa b wah fool doe ca e mek i cry an all tru?"
-snip-
translated from Belizean Kriol to English [Additions and corrections are welcome.]
Thank you so (very) much [for] making me hear this (here) little tune [again]. Am I foolish because I really cried when I hear this song?
Tesia Joslyn, 2015
"Awwww 😘😍😏😏 I remember listening to this song in the mawning before going to school when I was younger 😞😏😏😁"
**
Reply
Frassmáasa Flash, 2015
"So dah chune ya gi yu bagga energy fi skuul"
-snip-
Translated from Belizean Kriol to English [Additions and corrections are welcome.]
"So that there [particular ?] tune gives you lots of energy for school".
****
Example #2: Good Mawnin Belize
Richard Lawry, Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009
Slideshow of Belizeans starting out their day in San Pedro Belize
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
maestrolx, 2010
"I love this cultural song it is so beautiful. It makes me feel good to be a Belizean."
**
nmxterra, 2011
"Makes me miss Belize. I remember listening to this every morning.
**
Lanny Mendez, 2012
"tiad ah hya spanish mi need fi hya wa lee creole fi get mi maaning started. time fi listen to wa lee live stream of Love Fm! wish mi Belize had betta education so i neva mi wa have to stuck da wa nada country. See you in a month my beautiful home!"
**
Haiching Yin, 2012
"only those who were raised in Belize know this song, used to heard this every morning on bus to school :)"
**
Dulce Alvarez, 2014
"GOOD MAWNIN TO ALL MY BELIZEANS!"
**
Milton Amador, 2016
"I miss listening to this song on the radio 📻 miss my country"
**
Alex Tytb Martinez, 2016
"This song is my alarm for school! 😵😵😨😜😂😂"
daintyminnie
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Sesame Street's Elmo Performing A Kwanzaa Dance Featuring A Musical Bow Instrument
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a clip from a Sesame Street "Elmo's World" episode.
In that episode Elmo performs an African dance in celebration of the African American originated "Kwanzaa" holiday. Special attention in this post is given to the African musical bow that is among the musical instruments that is played by the musical ensemble. The Brazilian (South America) berimbao that is based on African musical bows is probably the most widely known example worldwide of these types of musical instruments.
Addendum #1 to this post provides information about Kwanzaa.
Addendum #2 provides information about African musical bows and Brazilian (South American) berimbaos.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those associated with this "Elmo's World" episode. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Sesame Street: Kwanzaa Dancing With Elmo
Sesame Street, Uploaded on Dec 11, 2009
From the Sesame Street DVD "Elmo's World: Happy Holidays"
-snip-
While performing "African dances" is often part of Kwanzaa celebrations, in my experience, those dances that are usually performed are representative or imitative of traditional Nigerian or Senegalese dance styles. Based on the inclusion of the musical bow instrument and the dancer's clothing and maybe also his head gear, my guess is that the dance that is performed in this video is based on Angola (South Central Africa). In my experience, few African Americans are familiar with the costuming and musical bow instrument that are found in this video.
Here's one video example of an Angolan musical bow:
Roots of Capoeira 1, Balthazar Tchatoka plays M'bulumbumba and sings to Cobra Mansa
mirrordemocracy, Published on Dec 13, 2012
Balthazar Tchatoka plays M'bulumbumba and sings "Ove Katunga" to Cobra Mansa in southern Angola .....of interest to Berimbau players.
-snip-
Notice the criss-crossed beads that are traditionally worn by male musicians and dancers in Angola and other South African nations.
****
ADDENDUM #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa
"Kwanzaa (/ˈkwɑːn.zə/) is a week-long celebration held in the United States and in other nations of the Western African diaspora in the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.[1] Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67...
In 2004, BIG Research conducted a marketing survey in the United States for the National Retail Foundation, which found that 1.6% of those surveyed planned to celebrate Kwanzaa. If generalized to the US population as a whole, this would imply that around 4.7 million people planned to celebrate Kwanzaa in that year...
According to University of Minnesota Professor Keith Mayes, the author of Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition, the popularity within the US has "leveled off" as the black power movement there has declined, and now between half and two million people celebrate Kwanzaa in the US, or between one and five percent of African Americans. Mayes adds that white institutions now celebrate it.[11]
The holiday has also spread to Canada and is celebrated by Black Canadians in a similar fashion as in the United States.[20] According to the Language Portal of Canada, "this fairly new tradition has [also] gained in popularity in France, Great Britain, Jamaica and Brazil".[24]
In Brazil, in recent years the term Kwanzaa has been applied by a few institutions as a synonym for the festivities of the Black Awareness Day, commemorated on November 20 in honor of Zumbi dos Palmares,[25][26] having little to do with the celebration as it was originally conceived."...
****
ADDENDUM #2 AFRICAN MUSICAL BOWS
From http://music.africamuseum.be/determination/english/instruments/musical%20bow.html
A larger version of the mouth bow is the musical bow, which is also widely distributed around the Congo. The basis of this instrument is the hunting bow, which has here been converted into a musical instrument by adding two adaptations: a calabash attached to the bow serves as a sound box and the strings are pulled through a loop, tied and attached, dividing them into two unequal parts so that two underlying tones can be played. By moving the loop, the distance between the two tones can be changed at will. Both segments of the string are struck with a thin rod. More experienced players can control the back of the string with the index finger, enabling a third undertone to be played. The calabash is half open and in the convex upper side is a small hole through which the loop runs that is attached to the string. This direct contact with the string results in greater resonance. A piece of cloth is often inserted between the calabash and the bow to reduce unwanted vibrations. The musician can change the timbre of the instrument by pushing the half-open calabash against or away from his chest or stomach. An important difference with the mouth bow is that it is played vertically.
The musical bow too is played primarily to add music to everyday stories and events.
Type: musical bow open string
[Various African nations with their names for musical bows given in parenthesis]
Angola (Chihumba)
Congo DRC (Lunzenze, Nguem)
Gabon (Ngwomi (Tsambi), Nsambi)
Ghana (Jinjelin, Jinjeram)
Liberia (Gbon-kpala)
Madagascar (Dzeedzu, Jejolava)
Swaziland (Ligubu)
Folk republic of the Congo (Ngwomi, Nsambi, Nsâmbi, Nsambi kizonzolo)
Zambia (Kalumbo)
Zimbabwe (Kalumbo)
South Africa (Hadi, Isigankuri, Ugubu (ugubhu))
Type: braced musical bow
Angola (Mbulumbumba)
Bénin (Tiéporé)
Burundi (Idono, Igubu (igobore), Umuduri)
Central African Republic (E.ngbiti, Mbela)
Congo DRC (Ekibulenge, Lakwemi, Lokombi (Longombe), Longombe, Longombi, Lungungu, Nzenze, Rukung, Umuduri)
Rwanda (Umuduri (umunahi)
Swaziland (Makhweyane, Makweyana)
Uganda (Egobore, Umunahi)
South Africa (Makhweyana)
****
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berimbau
From The berimbau (/bərɪmˈbaʊ/; Brazilian Portuguese: /beɾĩˈbaw/) is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. Originally from Africa where it receives different names,[1] the berimbau was eventually incorporated into the practice of the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira, the berimbau (the soul of capoeira) leads the capoeiristas movement in the roda—the faster the berimbau is playing the faster the capoeirista moves in the game...
History
The berimbau's origins have not been fully researched, though it is most likely an adaptation of African gourde musical bows, as no Indigenous Brazilian or European people use musical bows.[1][2]
The way the berimbau and the m'bulumbumba of southwest Angola are made and played are very similar, as well as the tuning and basic patterns performed on these instruments. The assimilation of this African instrument into the Brazilian capoeira is evident also in other Bantu terms used for musical bows in Brazilian, including urucungo, and madimba lungungu.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/paranaue-videos-lyrics-meaning.html for a pancocojams post of the Capoeira song "Paranue" for examples of berimbao music.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases a clip from a Sesame Street "Elmo's World" episode.
In that episode Elmo performs an African dance in celebration of the African American originated "Kwanzaa" holiday. Special attention in this post is given to the African musical bow that is among the musical instruments that is played by the musical ensemble. The Brazilian (South America) berimbao that is based on African musical bows is probably the most widely known example worldwide of these types of musical instruments.
Addendum #1 to this post provides information about Kwanzaa.
Addendum #2 provides information about African musical bows and Brazilian (South American) berimbaos.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those associated with this "Elmo's World" episode. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Sesame Street: Kwanzaa Dancing With Elmo
Sesame Street, Uploaded on Dec 11, 2009
From the Sesame Street DVD "Elmo's World: Happy Holidays"
-snip-
While performing "African dances" is often part of Kwanzaa celebrations, in my experience, those dances that are usually performed are representative or imitative of traditional Nigerian or Senegalese dance styles. Based on the inclusion of the musical bow instrument and the dancer's clothing and maybe also his head gear, my guess is that the dance that is performed in this video is based on Angola (South Central Africa). In my experience, few African Americans are familiar with the costuming and musical bow instrument that are found in this video.
Here's one video example of an Angolan musical bow:
Roots of Capoeira 1, Balthazar Tchatoka plays M'bulumbumba and sings to Cobra Mansa
mirrordemocracy, Published on Dec 13, 2012
Balthazar Tchatoka plays M'bulumbumba and sings "Ove Katunga" to Cobra Mansa in southern Angola .....of interest to Berimbau players.
-snip-
Notice the criss-crossed beads that are traditionally worn by male musicians and dancers in Angola and other South African nations.
****
ADDENDUM #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa
"Kwanzaa (/ˈkwɑːn.zə/) is a week-long celebration held in the United States and in other nations of the Western African diaspora in the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.[1] Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67...
In 2004, BIG Research conducted a marketing survey in the United States for the National Retail Foundation, which found that 1.6% of those surveyed planned to celebrate Kwanzaa. If generalized to the US population as a whole, this would imply that around 4.7 million people planned to celebrate Kwanzaa in that year...
According to University of Minnesota Professor Keith Mayes, the author of Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition, the popularity within the US has "leveled off" as the black power movement there has declined, and now between half and two million people celebrate Kwanzaa in the US, or between one and five percent of African Americans. Mayes adds that white institutions now celebrate it.[11]
The holiday has also spread to Canada and is celebrated by Black Canadians in a similar fashion as in the United States.[20] According to the Language Portal of Canada, "this fairly new tradition has [also] gained in popularity in France, Great Britain, Jamaica and Brazil".[24]
In Brazil, in recent years the term Kwanzaa has been applied by a few institutions as a synonym for the festivities of the Black Awareness Day, commemorated on November 20 in honor of Zumbi dos Palmares,[25][26] having little to do with the celebration as it was originally conceived."...
****
ADDENDUM #2 AFRICAN MUSICAL BOWS
From http://music.africamuseum.be/determination/english/instruments/musical%20bow.html
A larger version of the mouth bow is the musical bow, which is also widely distributed around the Congo. The basis of this instrument is the hunting bow, which has here been converted into a musical instrument by adding two adaptations: a calabash attached to the bow serves as a sound box and the strings are pulled through a loop, tied and attached, dividing them into two unequal parts so that two underlying tones can be played. By moving the loop, the distance between the two tones can be changed at will. Both segments of the string are struck with a thin rod. More experienced players can control the back of the string with the index finger, enabling a third undertone to be played. The calabash is half open and in the convex upper side is a small hole through which the loop runs that is attached to the string. This direct contact with the string results in greater resonance. A piece of cloth is often inserted between the calabash and the bow to reduce unwanted vibrations. The musician can change the timbre of the instrument by pushing the half-open calabash against or away from his chest or stomach. An important difference with the mouth bow is that it is played vertically.
The musical bow too is played primarily to add music to everyday stories and events.
Type: musical bow open string
[Various African nations with their names for musical bows given in parenthesis]
Angola (Chihumba)
Congo DRC (Lunzenze, Nguem)
Gabon (Ngwomi (Tsambi), Nsambi)
Ghana (Jinjelin, Jinjeram)
Liberia (Gbon-kpala)
Madagascar (Dzeedzu, Jejolava)
Swaziland (Ligubu)
Folk republic of the Congo (Ngwomi, Nsambi, Nsâmbi, Nsambi kizonzolo)
Zambia (Kalumbo)
Zimbabwe (Kalumbo)
South Africa (Hadi, Isigankuri, Ugubu (ugubhu))
Type: braced musical bow
Angola (Mbulumbumba)
Bénin (Tiéporé)
Burundi (Idono, Igubu (igobore), Umuduri)
Central African Republic (E.ngbiti, Mbela)
Congo DRC (Ekibulenge, Lakwemi, Lokombi (Longombe), Longombe, Longombi, Lungungu, Nzenze, Rukung, Umuduri)
Rwanda (Umuduri (umunahi)
Swaziland (Makhweyane, Makweyana)
Uganda (Egobore, Umunahi)
South Africa (Makhweyana)
****
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berimbau
From The berimbau (/bərɪmˈbaʊ/; Brazilian Portuguese: /beɾĩˈbaw/) is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. Originally from Africa where it receives different names,[1] the berimbau was eventually incorporated into the practice of the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira, the berimbau (the soul of capoeira) leads the capoeiristas movement in the roda—the faster the berimbau is playing the faster the capoeirista moves in the game...
History
The berimbau's origins have not been fully researched, though it is most likely an adaptation of African gourde musical bows, as no Indigenous Brazilian or European people use musical bows.[1][2]
The way the berimbau and the m'bulumbumba of southwest Angola are made and played are very similar, as well as the tuning and basic patterns performed on these instruments. The assimilation of this African instrument into the Brazilian capoeira is evident also in other Bantu terms used for musical bows in Brazilian, including urucungo, and madimba lungungu.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/paranaue-videos-lyrics-meaning.html for a pancocojams post of the Capoeira song "Paranue" for examples of berimbao music.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Three "Sid The Science Kid" Songs (lyrics, videos, & comments)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides information about Sid The Science Kid and showcases three songs from that series along with lyrics and comments. I recently was introduced to the Sid the Science Kid songs as a result of watching that series with my three year old granddaughter.
My focus is on what I believe to be the Black cultural influences in those songs.
An Addendum to this post showcases a holiday video from that series.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those associated with Sid The Science Kid series and special thanks to the composers of these showcased songs. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this series and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE "SID THE SCIENCE KID" SERIES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_the_Science_Kid
"Sid the Science Kid is an American half-hour CGI animated series that aired on PBS Kids from September 1, 2008 to March 25, 2013, with a total of 68 half-hour episodes produced over two seasons. The computer generated show is produced by The Jim Henson Company and then-PBS member KCET in Los Angeles, California using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio. The show is produced by motion capture which allows puppeteers to voice digitally animated characters in real time.[2][3] Production began in the fall of 2008 with 42 half-hour episodes of Sid the Science Kid having been ordered. The series debuted on PBS Kids along with Martha Speaks on September 1, 2008,[4] with a two-year on-air commitment.[5] The original working title for the series was "What's the Big Idea?" and the central character, Sid, was originally named Josh.[6]
KOCE, the current primary PBS member for the Los Angeles area, began co-producing the show after KCET disaffiliated with PBS on December 31, 2010.
24-hour preschool channel Sprout began airing Sid the Science Kid on March 25, 2013.
Premise
The main character in the show is Sid, an "inquisitive youngster" who uses comedy to tackle questions kids have about basic scientific principles and why things work the way they do. He tries to answer questions and solve problems with the help of his classmates (May, Gerald, and Gabriela), Teacher Susie, and his family (his mother Alice, his father Mort, his Grandma and his baby brother Zeke)...
The conceptual content of Sid is based in national science learning standards, cognitive learning theory, and on the preschool science curriculum, Preschool Pathways to Science.[7]
Each week's episodes are built around a single scientific theme or concept...
Sid's mother is of African descent and his father grew up Jewish as noted in the Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanzaa episode"...
-snip-
A video of Sid The Science Kid that episode is embedded below.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS AND COMMENTS
Video #1. The Sid the Science Kid Theme Song! - The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company Published on Oct 23, 2014
-snip-
Lyrics: SID THE SCIENCE KID THEME SONG
Hey is this thing on?
Hey Sid, what do you say,
What’chawanna learn today?
I want to know why things happen and how,
And I wanna know everything now.
How does this thing work?
Why does that stuff change?
How does that do what it just did?
What's up with the sky?
Do you think i can fly?
The world is spinning and I wanna know why.
I got a lot of questions and big ideas, I'm Sid the Science Kid"
Source: http://kids.thirteen.org/files/2010/06/Sid_Song_Lyrics.pdf
-snip-
In the lyrics "Hey is this thing on?", this thing refers to a microphone.
People who are more musically inclined than me might be able to expand on this statement, but all that I can say is that that I think that this theme song sounds to me like Hip Hop music.
****
2. Sid the Science Kid - "I Love My Mom!"
-snip-
song lyrics:
"I love my mom!
(Un hun)
My mom is cool
(Un hun)
But now it's time
(Un hun)
To go to school!)
-snip-
I've come across several parodies of this song which have the ending changed to "now it's time to play in school", "it's time to get beaten up at school" and even "now it's time to shoot up the school".
With regard to what I consider to be the Black cultural influences on this song, notice the use of African American Vernacular English (i.e. My mom is cool." Also, notice the call & response structure of this brief song. Several commenters on this YouTube video's discussion thread noted that this song reminds them of a Hip Hop mixtape.
honey nut, 2015
"sid new mixtape be fire"
Lunatikkrazie azylum, 2016
"When's his mixtape gonna drop 🔥🔥🔥"
-snip-
In African American Vernacular English, something that is "fire" (or someone who is "on fire") is real hot (really good).
-snip-
Another commenter on that same discussion thread, unknowncreeper, wrote in 2016 "dude this kid spits straight barz". "Spits straight barz (bars) is Hip Hop lingo for "rapping really well".
WARNING: Although Sid The Science Kid is a children's animated series, a number of the comments on the YouTube discussion thread for this video and other related videos contain profanity and other content that is not suitable for children.
****
Video Example #3: I'm Looking for My Friends! - Sid the Science Kid - The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company Published on Oct 23, 2014
-snip-
LYRICS: I'M LOOKING FOR MY FRIENDS*
Sid: I'm looking for my friends.
I'm looking for you.
There's Gabriela.
Gabriela: Watch what I can do.
Lah lah whee!
lah lah woo!
Oh, yeah! [Gabriela dancing]
Sid: Wow!
I'm looking for my friends.
I'm looking for you.
Hey, there's Gerald.
Gerald: Check out my moves.
Heh Heh. Ha Ha.
I'm a rock star! [Gerald dancing]
Sid: Coo!
I'm looking for my friends.
I'm looking for you.
Hey, there's May.
May: May I show you how I groove?
Bing by da da da (May laughing and dancing)
Yeah!
Sid: Groovy!
Gabriela, Gerald, and May: We're looking for our friends.
I'm looking for you.
Hey, there's Sid!
Sid: Did you hear the one about the kid who wanted to know everything about everything?
Gabriela, Gerald, and May: That's you!
Sid: Ah. You got me.
[Everyone in the group laughing, dancing, and saying random exclamations like "Yah da da da" and "Yeah".]
All: We're looking for our friends.
All look what we found.
We found each other.
Friends!
[ends with sounds of laughter]
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell from this video. Other video clips of this song may have slightly different lyrics. Additions and corrections are welcome.
Sid The Science Kid's "I'm Looking For My Friends" song reminds me of an adapted foot stomping cheer*. Sid begins each iteration of the song with the words "I'm looking for my friend" and one at a time each member of the group takes a turn showing how they dance. Sid's turn is different from the others as he talks and doesn't dance. The song ends with the entire group laughing, dancing, and singing together.
In contrast, "standard" foot stomping cheers begin with a group voice, followed by a soloist. After the soloist has her (or his) turn, the cheer begins from the beginning and the next soloist takes her (or his) turn. Each soloist turn is the exact same length of time. Some foot stomping cheers end with the entire group doing the same foot stomping movement as the soloist. This pattern continues until everyone in the group has one equal time turn as the soloist.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-cheers.html and http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-cheers.html for information and examples of foot stomping cheers.)
****
ADDENDUM: Sid the sience kid- Holidays
Hacked By GothD0g84, Uploaded on Dec 28, 2009
Sid talks about holidays and about tradtions and SNOW!
-snip-
The holidays that Sid talks about in this video are Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post provides information about Sid The Science Kid and showcases three songs from that series along with lyrics and comments. I recently was introduced to the Sid the Science Kid songs as a result of watching that series with my three year old granddaughter.
My focus is on what I believe to be the Black cultural influences in those songs.
An Addendum to this post showcases a holiday video from that series.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those associated with Sid The Science Kid series and special thanks to the composers of these showcased songs. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this series and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE "SID THE SCIENCE KID" SERIES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_the_Science_Kid
"Sid the Science Kid is an American half-hour CGI animated series that aired on PBS Kids from September 1, 2008 to March 25, 2013, with a total of 68 half-hour episodes produced over two seasons. The computer generated show is produced by The Jim Henson Company and then-PBS member KCET in Los Angeles, California using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio. The show is produced by motion capture which allows puppeteers to voice digitally animated characters in real time.[2][3] Production began in the fall of 2008 with 42 half-hour episodes of Sid the Science Kid having been ordered. The series debuted on PBS Kids along with Martha Speaks on September 1, 2008,[4] with a two-year on-air commitment.[5] The original working title for the series was "What's the Big Idea?" and the central character, Sid, was originally named Josh.[6]
KOCE, the current primary PBS member for the Los Angeles area, began co-producing the show after KCET disaffiliated with PBS on December 31, 2010.
24-hour preschool channel Sprout began airing Sid the Science Kid on March 25, 2013.
Premise
The main character in the show is Sid, an "inquisitive youngster" who uses comedy to tackle questions kids have about basic scientific principles and why things work the way they do. He tries to answer questions and solve problems with the help of his classmates (May, Gerald, and Gabriela), Teacher Susie, and his family (his mother Alice, his father Mort, his Grandma and his baby brother Zeke)...
The conceptual content of Sid is based in national science learning standards, cognitive learning theory, and on the preschool science curriculum, Preschool Pathways to Science.[7]
Each week's episodes are built around a single scientific theme or concept...
Sid's mother is of African descent and his father grew up Jewish as noted in the Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanzaa episode"...
-snip-
A video of Sid The Science Kid that episode is embedded below.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS AND COMMENTS
Video #1. The Sid the Science Kid Theme Song! - The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company Published on Oct 23, 2014
-snip-
Lyrics: SID THE SCIENCE KID THEME SONG
Hey is this thing on?
Hey Sid, what do you say,
What’chawanna learn today?
I want to know why things happen and how,
And I wanna know everything now.
How does this thing work?
Why does that stuff change?
How does that do what it just did?
What's up with the sky?
Do you think i can fly?
The world is spinning and I wanna know why.
I got a lot of questions and big ideas, I'm Sid the Science Kid"
Source: http://kids.thirteen.org/files/2010/06/Sid_Song_Lyrics.pdf
-snip-
In the lyrics "Hey is this thing on?", this thing refers to a microphone.
People who are more musically inclined than me might be able to expand on this statement, but all that I can say is that that I think that this theme song sounds to me like Hip Hop music.
****
2. Sid the Science Kid - "I Love My Mom!"
-snip-
song lyrics:
"I love my mom!
(Un hun)
My mom is cool
(Un hun)
But now it's time
(Un hun)
To go to school!)
-snip-
I've come across several parodies of this song which have the ending changed to "now it's time to play in school", "it's time to get beaten up at school" and even "now it's time to shoot up the school".
With regard to what I consider to be the Black cultural influences on this song, notice the use of African American Vernacular English (i.e. My mom is cool." Also, notice the call & response structure of this brief song. Several commenters on this YouTube video's discussion thread noted that this song reminds them of a Hip Hop mixtape.
honey nut, 2015
"sid new mixtape be fire"
Lunatikkrazie azylum, 2016
"When's his mixtape gonna drop 🔥🔥🔥"
-snip-
In African American Vernacular English, something that is "fire" (or someone who is "on fire") is real hot (really good).
-snip-
Another commenter on that same discussion thread, unknowncreeper, wrote in 2016 "dude this kid spits straight barz". "Spits straight barz (bars) is Hip Hop lingo for "rapping really well".
WARNING: Although Sid The Science Kid is a children's animated series, a number of the comments on the YouTube discussion thread for this video and other related videos contain profanity and other content that is not suitable for children.
****
Video Example #3: I'm Looking for My Friends! - Sid the Science Kid - The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company Published on Oct 23, 2014
-snip-
LYRICS: I'M LOOKING FOR MY FRIENDS*
Sid: I'm looking for my friends.
I'm looking for you.
There's Gabriela.
Gabriela: Watch what I can do.
Lah lah whee!
lah lah woo!
Oh, yeah! [Gabriela dancing]
Sid: Wow!
I'm looking for my friends.
I'm looking for you.
Hey, there's Gerald.
Gerald: Check out my moves.
Heh Heh. Ha Ha.
I'm a rock star! [Gerald dancing]
Sid: Coo!
I'm looking for my friends.
I'm looking for you.
Hey, there's May.
May: May I show you how I groove?
Bing by da da da (May laughing and dancing)
Yeah!
Sid: Groovy!
Gabriela, Gerald, and May: We're looking for our friends.
I'm looking for you.
Hey, there's Sid!
Sid: Did you hear the one about the kid who wanted to know everything about everything?
Gabriela, Gerald, and May: That's you!
Sid: Ah. You got me.
[Everyone in the group laughing, dancing, and saying random exclamations like "Yah da da da" and "Yeah".]
All: We're looking for our friends.
All look what we found.
We found each other.
Friends!
[ends with sounds of laughter]
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell from this video. Other video clips of this song may have slightly different lyrics. Additions and corrections are welcome.
Sid The Science Kid's "I'm Looking For My Friends" song reminds me of an adapted foot stomping cheer*. Sid begins each iteration of the song with the words "I'm looking for my friend" and one at a time each member of the group takes a turn showing how they dance. Sid's turn is different from the others as he talks and doesn't dance. The song ends with the entire group laughing, dancing, and singing together.
In contrast, "standard" foot stomping cheers begin with a group voice, followed by a soloist. After the soloist has her (or his) turn, the cheer begins from the beginning and the next soloist takes her (or his) turn. Each soloist turn is the exact same length of time. Some foot stomping cheers end with the entire group doing the same foot stomping movement as the soloist. This pattern continues until everyone in the group has one equal time turn as the soloist.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-cheers.html and http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-cheers.html for information and examples of foot stomping cheers.)
****
ADDENDUM: Sid the sience kid- Holidays
Hacked By GothD0g84, Uploaded on Dec 28, 2009
Sid talks about holidays and about tradtions and SNOW!
-snip-
The holidays that Sid talks about in this video are Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Will Reagan & United Pursuit and Tasha Cobbs - "Break Every Chain" (Gospel Song)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a video of Will Reagan & United Pursuit performing Reagan's composition "Break Every Chain". This post also showcases a video of Tasha Cobbs singing that Contemporary Gospel song. Cobbs received a Grammy award for that song in 2013.
This post also provides information about "Break Every Chain".
An Addendum to this post showcases a video of Payten Foster, a preschool girl singing the hook of this same song.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Will Reagan, the composer of "Break Every Chain" and thanks to United Pursuits for their performance of "Break Every Chain". Thanks also to Tasha Cobbs for her performance of this song and thanks to Payten Foster, the preschool girl who is also featured in another video singing "Break Every Chain". Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "BREAK EVERY CHAIN"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Every_Chain
"Break Every Chain" is a song performed by American recording artist Tasha Cobbs from her major-label debut studio album Grace (2013). The song was composed by Will Reagan, produced by VaShawn Mitchell and released as the album's lead single. The songs features guest vocals performed by Timiney Figueroa from Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.
The song was originally written and performed by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit Band in 2009. The song was later covered by Jesus Culture in 2011. However, Tasha Cobb's interpretation of the song is the first commercially successful and accepted within the gospel community, of the trio.
The song topped the Billboard Gospel Songs chart in 2012, as well as the corresponding digital and airplay gospel charts. The song also managed to peak at number thirty-five on the Billboard Holiday Songs chart and twenty-nine on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. At the 56th Grammy Awards, the song won a Grammy for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance". Cobbs performed the song at the 44th GMA Dove Awards in October 2013.[1] The Digital Age recorded a version of this song in 2013 off their debut album Evening:Morning."...
****
LYRICS: BREAK EVERY CHANGE
(Will Reagan)
There is power in the name of Jesus [3x]
to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Chorus:]
There is power in the name of Jesus [3x]
to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Lead:]
Theres an army rising up. [3x]
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Chorus:]
Theres an army rising up. [3x]
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Vamp:]
I hear the chains falling.
[End:]
There is power in the name of Jesus
to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdlvTwp0z_k Tasha Cobbs - Break Every Chain (with Lyrics) [sound file], published by SoundsofHeaven
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Will Reagan & United Pursuit - Break Every Chain (Live)
United Pursuit, Uploaded on Mar 4, 2010
song written by Will Reagan
****
Example #2: Break Every Chain - Tasha Cobbs - Worship Night In America
isaacovitch yao, Published on Nov 7, 2016
This was during the Worship Night In America 2016
People gathered as one to pray for America
Glory be to Our Lord and Saviour
****
ADDENDUM: Little Girl Sings Break Every Chain
Giles Foster, Published on Apr 21, 2015
One week after being released from hospital, fighting for her health, Payten Foster has been singing this song non-stop!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases a video of Will Reagan & United Pursuit performing Reagan's composition "Break Every Chain". This post also showcases a video of Tasha Cobbs singing that Contemporary Gospel song. Cobbs received a Grammy award for that song in 2013.
This post also provides information about "Break Every Chain".
An Addendum to this post showcases a video of Payten Foster, a preschool girl singing the hook of this same song.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Will Reagan, the composer of "Break Every Chain" and thanks to United Pursuits for their performance of "Break Every Chain". Thanks also to Tasha Cobbs for her performance of this song and thanks to Payten Foster, the preschool girl who is also featured in another video singing "Break Every Chain". Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "BREAK EVERY CHAIN"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Every_Chain
"Break Every Chain" is a song performed by American recording artist Tasha Cobbs from her major-label debut studio album Grace (2013). The song was composed by Will Reagan, produced by VaShawn Mitchell and released as the album's lead single. The songs features guest vocals performed by Timiney Figueroa from Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.
The song was originally written and performed by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit Band in 2009. The song was later covered by Jesus Culture in 2011. However, Tasha Cobb's interpretation of the song is the first commercially successful and accepted within the gospel community, of the trio.
The song topped the Billboard Gospel Songs chart in 2012, as well as the corresponding digital and airplay gospel charts. The song also managed to peak at number thirty-five on the Billboard Holiday Songs chart and twenty-nine on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. At the 56th Grammy Awards, the song won a Grammy for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance". Cobbs performed the song at the 44th GMA Dove Awards in October 2013.[1] The Digital Age recorded a version of this song in 2013 off their debut album Evening:Morning."...
****
LYRICS: BREAK EVERY CHANGE
(Will Reagan)
There is power in the name of Jesus [3x]
to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Chorus:]
There is power in the name of Jesus [3x]
to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Lead:]
Theres an army rising up. [3x]
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Chorus:]
Theres an army rising up. [3x]
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. [2x]
[Vamp:]
I hear the chains falling.
[End:]
There is power in the name of Jesus
to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdlvTwp0z_k Tasha Cobbs - Break Every Chain (with Lyrics) [sound file], published by SoundsofHeaven
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Will Reagan & United Pursuit - Break Every Chain (Live)
United Pursuit, Uploaded on Mar 4, 2010
song written by Will Reagan
****
Example #2: Break Every Chain - Tasha Cobbs - Worship Night In America
isaacovitch yao, Published on Nov 7, 2016
This was during the Worship Night In America 2016
People gathered as one to pray for America
Glory be to Our Lord and Saviour
****
ADDENDUM: Little Girl Sings Break Every Chain
Giles Foster, Published on Apr 21, 2015
One week after being released from hospital, fighting for her health, Payten Foster has been singing this song non-stop!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
South Africa's Joyous Celebration 19 (Choir) - "Amen"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a video of soloist Xolile Mncwango leading the South African choir Joyous Celebration 19* in a performance of the African American Spiritual "Amen".
Information about Joyous Celebration choirs is also given in this post along with my explanation about selected comments from the featured video which includes the vernacular use of the words "sing" and "sang".
*the 19th Joyous Celebration choir
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to soloist Xolile Mncwango and Joyous Celebration 19 for their musical performances. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/amen-gospel-holiday-song-information.html for a 2015 pancocojams post about the song "Amen". That post includes standard lyrics for that song.
Also, click the Joyous Celebration tag below for more pancocojams posts about these South African Gospel choirs.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT JOYOUS CELEBRATION (CHOIRS)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyous_Celebration
"Joyous Celebration is a South African Gospel choir which was formed in 1994 following the success of South Africa's first democratic elections. What was merely meant to be a one-time studio project by South African musicians turned into a massive platform for upcoming South African artists. The choir has enjoyed success in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, having released 20 albums as of 2016. It is one of South Africa's most successful gospel choirs, following acts like The Soweto Gospel Choir.[1]"
Music career
The choir was formed by the well-known gospel producers in the country; Lindelani Mkhize, Jabu Hlongwane and Mthunzi Namba. The choir has been sponsored by Giant telecommunications Network MTN, hence the name 'MTN Joyous Celebration'. Previous sponsors include 'Old Mutual' and other South African media partners. The choir usually comprises 30 to 35 singers and a 6 to 8 piece band. There are usually 8 to 10 sopranosingers, 8 to 10 contralto singers and 10 to13 tenor singers. The founders try to change singers often in order to give others the same platform and exposure, this by holding auditions often. Most singers stay with the choir for a period of 1 to 5 years; however, others do go over that period, with previous singers such as Ntokozo Mbambo, the previous musical director Nqubeko Mbatha, and the current lead guitarist Msizi Mashiane having stayed with the choir for 11 years each. The founders often refer to Joyous Celebration as a gospel project as the singers are not only trained in music but how one carries themselves as a gospel musician and how to basically stand on their own in the tough music and ministry industry.
Discography
Joyous Celebration release albums annually and have broken boundaries in the South African recording industries in terms of live DVD and CD recordings with a total of 22 live Albums. Most of the latter albums contain music composed by the singers, the founders and the friends of the choir. They also keep to the signature of true South African praise and worship with traditional songs which have been sung in church for decades."...
***
SHOWCASE VIDEO - Joyous Celebration 19 (Xolile Mncwango) - Amen
Bandile M. Msimanga, Published on Mar 28, 2015
Be blessed..
-snip-
Xolile Mncwango is the name of the soloist.
A commenter wrote that the beginning song could have been recorded as a separate song. I don't know the name of that song which was accompanied by the soloist's (probably ad lib) testimony. Any information about that song would be greatly appreciated.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Editor's note: These comments highlight the African American Vernacular English meaning of "sing" and "sang" (present tense). In the context of these comments, the word "sing" and the word "sang" refer to how well and particularly how soulfully a person or a group sings. Adding multiple vowels to the word "sang" (i.e. "saaaang") or adding multiple "g"s at the end of the word "sing" ("singggggg") means that the commenter believes that the singer of group sings (sang-present tense) very very well.
Mnqobi Nxumalo, 2015
"SAAAAAAAAING GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
**
Kabedi Mpopote, 2015
"Oh wow!! this girl can SINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG"
**
True Worshipper, 2015
"OMG... I AM SPEECHLESS... OMG.. AMEN SISTA! SING THAT SONG!!!"
**
Rachel Coffie, 2016
"charley this girl can saaaaang...wat?"
**
Posh Nyathi, 2016
"Sing girl sing!!!"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases a video of soloist Xolile Mncwango leading the South African choir Joyous Celebration 19* in a performance of the African American Spiritual "Amen".
Information about Joyous Celebration choirs is also given in this post along with my explanation about selected comments from the featured video which includes the vernacular use of the words "sing" and "sang".
*the 19th Joyous Celebration choir
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to soloist Xolile Mncwango and Joyous Celebration 19 for their musical performances. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/amen-gospel-holiday-song-information.html for a 2015 pancocojams post about the song "Amen". That post includes standard lyrics for that song.
Also, click the Joyous Celebration tag below for more pancocojams posts about these South African Gospel choirs.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT JOYOUS CELEBRATION (CHOIRS)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyous_Celebration
"Joyous Celebration is a South African Gospel choir which was formed in 1994 following the success of South Africa's first democratic elections. What was merely meant to be a one-time studio project by South African musicians turned into a massive platform for upcoming South African artists. The choir has enjoyed success in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, having released 20 albums as of 2016. It is one of South Africa's most successful gospel choirs, following acts like The Soweto Gospel Choir.[1]"
Music career
The choir was formed by the well-known gospel producers in the country; Lindelani Mkhize, Jabu Hlongwane and Mthunzi Namba. The choir has been sponsored by Giant telecommunications Network MTN, hence the name 'MTN Joyous Celebration'. Previous sponsors include 'Old Mutual' and other South African media partners. The choir usually comprises 30 to 35 singers and a 6 to 8 piece band. There are usually 8 to 10 sopranosingers, 8 to 10 contralto singers and 10 to13 tenor singers. The founders try to change singers often in order to give others the same platform and exposure, this by holding auditions often. Most singers stay with the choir for a period of 1 to 5 years; however, others do go over that period, with previous singers such as Ntokozo Mbambo, the previous musical director Nqubeko Mbatha, and the current lead guitarist Msizi Mashiane having stayed with the choir for 11 years each. The founders often refer to Joyous Celebration as a gospel project as the singers are not only trained in music but how one carries themselves as a gospel musician and how to basically stand on their own in the tough music and ministry industry.
Discography
Joyous Celebration release albums annually and have broken boundaries in the South African recording industries in terms of live DVD and CD recordings with a total of 22 live Albums. Most of the latter albums contain music composed by the singers, the founders and the friends of the choir. They also keep to the signature of true South African praise and worship with traditional songs which have been sung in church for decades."...
***
SHOWCASE VIDEO - Joyous Celebration 19 (Xolile Mncwango) - Amen
Bandile M. Msimanga, Published on Mar 28, 2015
Be blessed..
-snip-
Xolile Mncwango is the name of the soloist.
A commenter wrote that the beginning song could have been recorded as a separate song. I don't know the name of that song which was accompanied by the soloist's (probably ad lib) testimony. Any information about that song would be greatly appreciated.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Editor's note: These comments highlight the African American Vernacular English meaning of "sing" and "sang" (present tense). In the context of these comments, the word "sing" and the word "sang" refer to how well and particularly how soulfully a person or a group sings. Adding multiple vowels to the word "sang" (i.e. "saaaang") or adding multiple "g"s at the end of the word "sing" ("singggggg") means that the commenter believes that the singer of group sings (sang-present tense) very very well.
Mnqobi Nxumalo, 2015
"SAAAAAAAAING GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
**
Kabedi Mpopote, 2015
"Oh wow!! this girl can SINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG"
**
True Worshipper, 2015
"OMG... I AM SPEECHLESS... OMG.. AMEN SISTA! SING THAT SONG!!!"
**
Rachel Coffie, 2016
"charley this girl can saaaaang...wat?"
**
Posh Nyathi, 2016
"Sing girl sing!!!"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
The Christmas Song "Mary's Boy Child" (information, lyrics, & videos)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information, lyrics, and musical examples of the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child" that was composed in 1956 by Jester Hairston.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Jester Hairston for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. In addition, thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPOSER OF THIS SONG
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester_Hairston
"Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on Negro spirituals and choral music.[1][2] His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".
Early life
Hairston was born in Belews Creek, a rural community on the border of Stokes, Forsyth, Rockingham and Guilford counties in North Carolina. His grandparents had been slaves. At an early age he and his family moved to Homestead, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh, where he graduated from high school in 1920. Hairston, who gave up studies at Massachusetts Agricultural College in the 1920s, went on to graduate from Tufts University in 1928 and studied music at the Juilliard School. Hairston pledged Kappa Alpha Psi (Chi Chapter) in 1925. He worked as a choir conductor in the early stages of his career. His work with choirs on Broadway eventually led to his singing and acting in plays, films, radio programs, and television shows.…
Hairston wrote the song "Mary's Boy Child" in 1956. He also arranged the song "Amen", which he dubbed for the Sidney Poitier film Lilies of the Field (1963), and arranged traditional Negro spirituals. Most of Hairston's film work was in the field of composing, arranging, and choral conducting. Hairston also acted in over 20 films, mostly in small roles, some of which were uncredited. Among the films he appeared in were bit parts in some of the early Tarzan movies, St. Louis Blues (1958), The Alamo (1960), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Lady Sings the Blues (1972), I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) and Being John Malkovich (1999).”...
-snip-
Jester Hairston's arrangement of "Amen" was popularized in the movie "Lilies Of The Field". Sidney Poitier is shown singing that song in the final scene of that movie, but the voice is actually Jester Hairston's. A video of that scene is included in this pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/amen-gospel-holiday-song-information.html.
****
LYRICS: MARY'S BOY CHILD
(Jester Hairston)
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said,
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
While shepherds watch their flocks by night,
they see a bright new shining star,
they hear a choir sing a song, the music seemed to come from afar.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
For a moment the world was aglow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
"let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace".
Now Joseph and his wife, Mary, came to Bethlehem that night,
they found no place to bear her child, not a single room was in sight.
And then they found a little nook in a stable all forlorn,
and in a manger cold and dark, Mary's little boy was born.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
Oh a moment still worth was a glow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
"let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace".
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/boneym/marysboychildohmylord.html
That page also includes the lyrics to "Oh My Lord" as sung by Boney M
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord - Boney M
Ben Wilder Uploaded on Mar 12, 2008
****
Example #2: 1956 HITS ARCHIVE: Mary's Boy Child - Harry Belafonte (full-length LP version)
MusicProf78, Published on May 30, 2014
Mary's Boy Child (Lorin-Jester Hairston) by Harry Belafonte, orchestra conducted by William Lorin (CD audio source)
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information, lyrics, and musical examples of the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child" that was composed in 1956 by Jester Hairston.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Jester Hairston for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. In addition, thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPOSER OF THIS SONG
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester_Hairston
"Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on Negro spirituals and choral music.[1][2] His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".
Early life
Hairston was born in Belews Creek, a rural community on the border of Stokes, Forsyth, Rockingham and Guilford counties in North Carolina. His grandparents had been slaves. At an early age he and his family moved to Homestead, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh, where he graduated from high school in 1920. Hairston, who gave up studies at Massachusetts Agricultural College in the 1920s, went on to graduate from Tufts University in 1928 and studied music at the Juilliard School. Hairston pledged Kappa Alpha Psi (Chi Chapter) in 1925. He worked as a choir conductor in the early stages of his career. His work with choirs on Broadway eventually led to his singing and acting in plays, films, radio programs, and television shows.…
Hairston wrote the song "Mary's Boy Child" in 1956. He also arranged the song "Amen", which he dubbed for the Sidney Poitier film Lilies of the Field (1963), and arranged traditional Negro spirituals. Most of Hairston's film work was in the field of composing, arranging, and choral conducting. Hairston also acted in over 20 films, mostly in small roles, some of which were uncredited. Among the films he appeared in were bit parts in some of the early Tarzan movies, St. Louis Blues (1958), The Alamo (1960), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Lady Sings the Blues (1972), I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) and Being John Malkovich (1999).”...
-snip-
Jester Hairston's arrangement of "Amen" was popularized in the movie "Lilies Of The Field". Sidney Poitier is shown singing that song in the final scene of that movie, but the voice is actually Jester Hairston's. A video of that scene is included in this pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/amen-gospel-holiday-song-information.html.
****
LYRICS: MARY'S BOY CHILD
(Jester Hairston)
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said,
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
While shepherds watch their flocks by night,
they see a bright new shining star,
they hear a choir sing a song, the music seemed to come from afar.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
For a moment the world was aglow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
"let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace".
Now Joseph and his wife, Mary, came to Bethlehem that night,
they found no place to bear her child, not a single room was in sight.
And then they found a little nook in a stable all forlorn,
and in a manger cold and dark, Mary's little boy was born.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
Oh a moment still worth was a glow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
"let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace".
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/boneym/marysboychildohmylord.html
That page also includes the lyrics to "Oh My Lord" as sung by Boney M
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord - Boney M
Ben Wilder Uploaded on Mar 12, 2008
****
Example #2: 1956 HITS ARCHIVE: Mary's Boy Child - Harry Belafonte (full-length LP version)
MusicProf78, Published on May 30, 2014
Mary's Boy Child (Lorin-Jester Hairston) by Harry Belafonte, orchestra conducted by William Lorin (CD audio source)
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Examples Of The 19th Century American Play Party Song - Old Sister Phoebe (The Juniper Tree)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information, lyrics, and musical examples of the play party song "Old Sister Phoebe" (also known as "The Juniper Tree" and "Sister Phoebe".)
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube.
****
EDITOR'S NOTE:
When I cleaned out an old filing cabinet today I found -among other things- a number of pages from New Music Horizon books that I had copied more than fifteen years. Among those pages were the words to the song "Sister Phoebe".
I believe that I copied the song "Sister Phoebe" that was given in book four of that children's music textbook because I mistakenly believed that it was of African American origin. Part of my reason for that conclusion was the fact that the title "Sister" was used by Black women in in the 19th century American South in substitution for the prohibited titles "Mrs." and "Miss". Those titles were reserved for White females only. I also jumped to the (I believe erroneous) conclusion that the song "Sister Phoebe" originated with Black Americans because I'm familiar with Black women calling each other "sister" and the title "Sister" being used among some church going African Americans- I think particularly in the predominately Black American Church of God in Christ congregations.
Although I now believe that "Sister Phoebe" probably didn't originate with African Americans, I think that that it's very likely that this game was played by African Americans. If so, it's appropriate that this game be shared on this blog that focuses on music and dance from African American and other Black cultures around the world.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These lyrics, information, and sound file examples of"Old Sister Phoebe" are given in somewhat random order, beginning with an example that has the most information about this song that I've found to date.
Example #1: Old Sister Phoebe
Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band – Topic., Published on Nov 10, 2015
Provided to YouTube by CDBaby
Old Sister Phoebe · Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band
Songs in the Life of Abraham Lincoln (Ballad of America Vol. 3)
℗ 2009 Slip Songs/ASCAP
-snip-
From http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/songs/oldsisterphoebe/index.htm
....
"Lyrics to Old Sister Phoebe
Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The day we sat under the juniper tree
The juniper tree, hi ho, hi ho!
The juniper tree, hi ho!
Place this had on your head, it will keep your head [warm]
And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm
But a great deal of good, I know, I know
A great deal of good, I know
Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The day we sat under the juniper tree
Now around and around we go, we go
Around and around we go"
-snip-
From http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/albums/volume3.htm#2
"Old Sister Phoebe
In the fall of 1816, after chaotic land laws caused the Lincolns to lose three different farms in Kentucky, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln moved with their two children - Sarah, 9, and Abraham, 7 - to southern Indiana. Abraham became skilled with the plow and axe as he assisted his father in the work that had to be done to survive on the frontier. In October of 1818, when Abraham was 9 years old, his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died of milk sickness.
Nancy had encouraged young Abraham to read and explore the world through books, which he did voraciously. Although the demands of life on the frontier left little time for formal schooling, Abraham educated himself and could often be seen carrying a book as well as an axe.
As he grew from a boy to a young man, Abraham was popular at community gatherings such as corn shuckings, logrollings, grubbings, and play parties. Play parties were a popular form of entertainment in frontier communities, especially ones in which religious beliefs did not permit "dancing" and considered the fiddle to be the "devil's instrument." Though based on European and English antecedents, play parties were truly an American phenomenon.
Abraham's favorite play-party game was Old Sister Phoebe , in which boys and girls join hands and circle around one girl in the center of the ring who holds in her hands a hat or coonskin cap. In keeping with the lyrics to the song, she places the cap on a boy's head and kisses him. She then takes the boy's place in the circle and he moves to the center. The game and song sometimes went on for hours.
Old Sister Phoebe, as recorded here, includes a Jew's harp, an instrument Lincoln once told a group of schoolchildren that he played as a boy."
****
Example #2
From http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/playparty-indiana/indiana-play-party.html The Play Party In Indiana: A Collection of Folk-Songs and Games with Descriptive Introduction, and Correlating Notes With Sheet Music & Lyrics By Leah Jackson Wolford, M. A, Published By The Indiana Historical Commission, 1916
[p. 80]
..."Mrs. Peter Geiling (Laurel, Ind.) states that the following games were played twenty-five years ago,�*"Miller, Weevily Wheat, Melven Vine, Skip Come-loo, Snap, Old Sister Phoebe, Getting Married, Chase the Squirrel, Needle's Eye and Marching to Quebec. The last six mentioned were 'kissing games.
Lyrics for Old Sister Phoebe. given with musical notations
1. Old Sister Phoebe, how merry were we, The night we sat under the juniper tree, The juniper tree, high-o, high-o, The juniper tree, high-o.
2. Take this hat on your head, keep your head warm,
3. And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm, But a great deal of good, I know, I know,53
4. But a great deal of good I know.
Mrs. Calvin Stark, Versailles, Ind.
[Note] 53. In the place of these last two lines, the following were often substituted: It will do you no harm, but a great deal of good, And so take another while kissing goes good.
-snip-
The question mark was included on that page. Twenty-five years from that book's first publication date is 1891.
****
Example #3: New Music Horizons Fourth Book – 1945
by McConathy et al (Author)
Publisher: Silver Burdett Company; page 184
"SISTER PHOEBE
1. Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The day we sat under the juniper tree
The juniper tree, high ho, high ho!
The juniper tree, high ho!
2. I’ve a young daughter and she sleeps upstairs.
She’s always complaining being ‘fraid of the bears,
Being ‘fraid of the bears high ho, high ho
being ‘ fraid of the bears, high ho.
3. Rogers came out with his old rusty gun
And said he would shoot us if we didn’t run
If we didn’t run high ho, high ho
If we didn’t run high ho
4. Rise you up, daughter and choose you a man,
Go choose you the fairest that ever you can,
So rise you up, daughter, and go, and go,
So rise you up, daughter and go.
5. Rise you up, sonny, and choose you a wife,
Go choose you the fairest you can in your life.
Go rise you up, sonny, and go, and go
Go rise you up, sonny, and go.
6/8 The time signature tells us that there are six beats in a measure and that an eight note equals one beat. How many beats will a quarter note get? A dotted quarter note?
Scan the words and clap the accents. How many accents are there in each measure? There are only two strong accents in each measure because the music moves quickly and lightly. A dotted quarter note equals one beat. Song with autoharp accompaniment."
-snip-
*This song is given with musical notations and is listed as an “American Singing Game”.
****
Example #4: The juniper tree or Oh, Sister Phoebe - a children's circle game
Dany Rosevear, Published on Jun 9, 2015
For music, chords and how to play this as a game visit: http://www.singinggamesforchildren.co...
A traditional resource for children, teachers, child care providers, librarians, parents and grandparents or just nostalgia enthusiasts. Visit http://www.singinggamesforchildren.com to find many more songs including those from other countries and also to find out how to play this as a game and see it in the context of teaching singing games for children.
Oh, Sister Phoebe, how happy were we,
The night we sat under the juniper tree,
The juniper tree, hi-o, hi-o,
The juniper tree, hi-o. rise you up sister, and go, and go,
Put this hat on to keep your head warm,
And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm,
Will do you no harm, I know, I know
Will do you no harm, I know.
Go choose you a partner, go choose you a one,
Go choose you the fairest that ever you can,
Now rise you up sister and go, and go,
Now rise you up sister and go.
-snip-
"Fairest" here means "the most physically attractive".
****
Example #5: The Juniper Tree
swissinus Uploaded on Jan 13, 2012
Arkansas Folk Song, arr. by Kenneth Carter
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information, lyrics, and musical examples of the play party song "Old Sister Phoebe" (also known as "The Juniper Tree" and "Sister Phoebe".)
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube.
****
EDITOR'S NOTE:
When I cleaned out an old filing cabinet today I found -among other things- a number of pages from New Music Horizon books that I had copied more than fifteen years. Among those pages were the words to the song "Sister Phoebe".
I believe that I copied the song "Sister Phoebe" that was given in book four of that children's music textbook because I mistakenly believed that it was of African American origin. Part of my reason for that conclusion was the fact that the title "Sister" was used by Black women in in the 19th century American South in substitution for the prohibited titles "Mrs." and "Miss". Those titles were reserved for White females only. I also jumped to the (I believe erroneous) conclusion that the song "Sister Phoebe" originated with Black Americans because I'm familiar with Black women calling each other "sister" and the title "Sister" being used among some church going African Americans- I think particularly in the predominately Black American Church of God in Christ congregations.
Although I now believe that "Sister Phoebe" probably didn't originate with African Americans, I think that that it's very likely that this game was played by African Americans. If so, it's appropriate that this game be shared on this blog that focuses on music and dance from African American and other Black cultures around the world.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These lyrics, information, and sound file examples of"Old Sister Phoebe" are given in somewhat random order, beginning with an example that has the most information about this song that I've found to date.
Example #1: Old Sister Phoebe
Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band – Topic., Published on Nov 10, 2015
Provided to YouTube by CDBaby
Old Sister Phoebe · Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band
Songs in the Life of Abraham Lincoln (Ballad of America Vol. 3)
℗ 2009 Slip Songs/ASCAP
-snip-
From http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/songs/oldsisterphoebe/index.htm
....
"Lyrics to Old Sister Phoebe
Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The day we sat under the juniper tree
The juniper tree, hi ho, hi ho!
The juniper tree, hi ho!
Place this had on your head, it will keep your head [warm]
And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm
But a great deal of good, I know, I know
A great deal of good, I know
Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The day we sat under the juniper tree
Now around and around we go, we go
Around and around we go"
-snip-
From http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/albums/volume3.htm#2
"Old Sister Phoebe
In the fall of 1816, after chaotic land laws caused the Lincolns to lose three different farms in Kentucky, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln moved with their two children - Sarah, 9, and Abraham, 7 - to southern Indiana. Abraham became skilled with the plow and axe as he assisted his father in the work that had to be done to survive on the frontier. In October of 1818, when Abraham was 9 years old, his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died of milk sickness.
Nancy had encouraged young Abraham to read and explore the world through books, which he did voraciously. Although the demands of life on the frontier left little time for formal schooling, Abraham educated himself and could often be seen carrying a book as well as an axe.
As he grew from a boy to a young man, Abraham was popular at community gatherings such as corn shuckings, logrollings, grubbings, and play parties. Play parties were a popular form of entertainment in frontier communities, especially ones in which religious beliefs did not permit "dancing" and considered the fiddle to be the "devil's instrument." Though based on European and English antecedents, play parties were truly an American phenomenon.
Abraham's favorite play-party game was Old Sister Phoebe , in which boys and girls join hands and circle around one girl in the center of the ring who holds in her hands a hat or coonskin cap. In keeping with the lyrics to the song, she places the cap on a boy's head and kisses him. She then takes the boy's place in the circle and he moves to the center. The game and song sometimes went on for hours.
Old Sister Phoebe, as recorded here, includes a Jew's harp, an instrument Lincoln once told a group of schoolchildren that he played as a boy."
****
Example #2
From http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/playparty-indiana/indiana-play-party.html The Play Party In Indiana: A Collection of Folk-Songs and Games with Descriptive Introduction, and Correlating Notes With Sheet Music & Lyrics By Leah Jackson Wolford, M. A, Published By The Indiana Historical Commission, 1916
[p. 80]
..."Mrs. Peter Geiling (Laurel, Ind.) states that the following games were played twenty-five years ago,�*"Miller, Weevily Wheat, Melven Vine, Skip Come-loo, Snap, Old Sister Phoebe, Getting Married, Chase the Squirrel, Needle's Eye and Marching to Quebec. The last six mentioned were 'kissing games.
Lyrics for Old Sister Phoebe. given with musical notations
1. Old Sister Phoebe, how merry were we, The night we sat under the juniper tree, The juniper tree, high-o, high-o, The juniper tree, high-o.
2. Take this hat on your head, keep your head warm,
3. And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm, But a great deal of good, I know, I know,53
4. But a great deal of good I know.
Mrs. Calvin Stark, Versailles, Ind.
[Note] 53. In the place of these last two lines, the following were often substituted: It will do you no harm, but a great deal of good, And so take another while kissing goes good.
-snip-
The question mark was included on that page. Twenty-five years from that book's first publication date is 1891.
****
Example #3: New Music Horizons Fourth Book – 1945
by McConathy et al (Author)
Publisher: Silver Burdett Company; page 184
"SISTER PHOEBE
1. Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The day we sat under the juniper tree
The juniper tree, high ho, high ho!
The juniper tree, high ho!
2. I’ve a young daughter and she sleeps upstairs.
She’s always complaining being ‘fraid of the bears,
Being ‘fraid of the bears high ho, high ho
being ‘ fraid of the bears, high ho.
3. Rogers came out with his old rusty gun
And said he would shoot us if we didn’t run
If we didn’t run high ho, high ho
If we didn’t run high ho
4. Rise you up, daughter and choose you a man,
Go choose you the fairest that ever you can,
So rise you up, daughter, and go, and go,
So rise you up, daughter and go.
5. Rise you up, sonny, and choose you a wife,
Go choose you the fairest you can in your life.
Go rise you up, sonny, and go, and go
Go rise you up, sonny, and go.
6/8 The time signature tells us that there are six beats in a measure and that an eight note equals one beat. How many beats will a quarter note get? A dotted quarter note?
Scan the words and clap the accents. How many accents are there in each measure? There are only two strong accents in each measure because the music moves quickly and lightly. A dotted quarter note equals one beat. Song with autoharp accompaniment."
-snip-
*This song is given with musical notations and is listed as an “American Singing Game”.
****
Example #4: The juniper tree or Oh, Sister Phoebe - a children's circle game
Dany Rosevear, Published on Jun 9, 2015
For music, chords and how to play this as a game visit: http://www.singinggamesforchildren.co...
A traditional resource for children, teachers, child care providers, librarians, parents and grandparents or just nostalgia enthusiasts. Visit http://www.singinggamesforchildren.com to find many more songs including those from other countries and also to find out how to play this as a game and see it in the context of teaching singing games for children.
Oh, Sister Phoebe, how happy were we,
The night we sat under the juniper tree,
The juniper tree, hi-o, hi-o,
The juniper tree, hi-o. rise you up sister, and go, and go,
Put this hat on to keep your head warm,
And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm,
Will do you no harm, I know, I know
Will do you no harm, I know.
Go choose you a partner, go choose you a one,
Go choose you the fairest that ever you can,
Now rise you up sister and go, and go,
Now rise you up sister and go.
-snip-
"Fairest" here means "the most physically attractive".
****
Example #5: The Juniper Tree
swissinus Uploaded on Jan 13, 2012
Arkansas Folk Song, arr. by Kenneth Carter
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Monday, December 5, 2016
Racists Angry About A Black Santa At The Largest Mall In America In 2016
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides information and comments about and a video of a Black Santa at the Mall of America (Minneapolis, Minnesota).
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Larry Jefferson and others who have portrayed Santa, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or gender. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO:
Mall of America Hires First Black Mall Santa for Holiday Season
Trump VS Hillary, Published on Dec 1, 2016
| Mall of America Welcomes its first Black Santa |
Visiting for just four days, Larry Jefferson is the first black Santa to listen to kids' wish lists at the Mall of America. After 24 years, the Mall of America celebrated a new first Thursday: Its first black Santa.
Dozens of Santas cycle through Twin Cities shopping centers each year, spreading joy to children who entrust them with their holiday wish lists. What has been missing from that experience, some parents say, was a Kriss Kringle who represented a wider swath of believers.
This week, for the first time in the Mall of America’s 24-year history, a black Santa will greet families for annual Christmas photos.
“This is a long time coming,” said Landon Luther, co-owner of the Santa Experience, which has run the intimate photo studio at the mall for 10 years. “We want Santa to be for everyone, period.”
The mall offers a free, wait-in-line-with-the-masses Santa, as well as the book-an-appointment Santa Experience, which this year added a second location at the Bloomington megamall. The appointments require purchase of a photo package.
Luther started a national search last spring for a diverse St. Nicholas that kids of color would be able to relate to. Santa Sid, a 20-year veteran at MOA, finally found one while at a Santa convention in Branson, Mo., where nearly 1,000 impersonators convened for a “Kringle family reunion” in July.
Larry Jefferson, a retired U.S. Army veteran from Irving, Texas, was the only black Santa Claus in attendance. The jovial actor agreed to sign a four-day contract to work in Minnesota, after which he’ll return home to work the seasonal circuit in Dallas.
“It was like finding a needle in a haystack,” said Luther, who runs the business with his girlfriend, Rachael Zuleger. “He considers himself a Santa for all.”
From Thursday to Sunday, by appointment only, Jefferson will greet kiddos at the mall while decked as Santa Larry, passing out candy canes and reminding them how to stay off the naughty list: “Clean your rooms, eat your vegetables and do what your mommy and daddy say all year.”
As he prepared for his first appointments Thursday morning, Jefferson said that skin tone doesn’t matter to the kids he meets.
“What they see most of the time is this red suit and candy,” he said, patting his sleek velvet coat. “[Santa represents] a good spirit. I’m just a messenger to bring hope, love and peace to girls and boys.”
Becoming Santa
Jefferson officially began donning the red suit in 1999, but his love of playing St. Nick started as just a boy.
After his father hurt his back, a 12-year-old Jefferson took on the role of Santa in the Arkansas family home, divvying up presents for his younger siblings. It was a role that stuck, continuing long after he joined the U.S. Army infantry and served abroad in the Gulf War.
His young nephews may have catalyzed his decision to play Santa-for-hire after he practiced the act on them, Jefferson said. The boys were sick and wouldn’t get a chance to visit the resident mall Santa, so he bought a $30 suit at Wal-Mart and affixed a fake beard, then knocked on their front door.
Following the visit, the parents asked if the boys knew who the visitor was. They replied, “Of course — it was Santa,” Jefferson recalled with a chuckle.
Since then, he’s graduated from a premiere Santa school, retired from the military and grown his own bushy white beard.
Last year, Jefferson became the first, and only, black member of the Lone Star Santas, a nonprofit boasting more than 350 Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, and elves who donate toys to children in disaster-stricken areas.
Jim Fletcher, director emeritus of the fraternal order, said the group also has around six Hispanic Santas and at least two Jewish members. Ethnicity and religion are not what matters, he said; rather, it’s the spirit of giving.
“Being Santa comes from the heart,” Fletcher said. “It’s not what comes down the chimney.”
On Thursday morning, Jefferson emerged as Santa Larry, wowing toddlers and their siblings during individual play sessions. He spoke softly to his fans, patiently waiting for them to divulge their Christmas wishes.
Shelly Major, of Blaine, toted her three children to the photo studio for their few minutes with Jolly ol’ St. Nick. “He was very warm,” Major said.
Parents of biracial tots said they were especially pleased to show their kids that heroes come in all ethnicities. “Santa isn’t just white,” said Sara Schwantes, of Inver Grove Heights.
****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK SANTA AT THE MALL OF AMERICA
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/black-santa-racists-freak-out_us_5844fb5ee4b09e21702f631b Racists Freak Out Over Black Santa At Mall Of America
...but most people absolutely love “Santa Larry.” by Ed Mazza, 12/05/2016
"There’s a black Santa Claus at the Mall of America in Minnesota, giving children of color a Kringle that looks like them at the nation’s biggest shopping destination.
Naturally, some people just can’t handle this, and racists are taking to social media to denounce Larry Jefferson-Gamble, a retired U.S. Army veteran who has been playing Santa since he was 12 years old.
The response has been so heated that the Minnesota Star-Tribune had to shut down the comments section for a simple profile of the mall’s first black Santa:
A CBS Minnesota report was also swamped with negative and outright racist comments, which were also shut down but are still visible in the article.
But this was one battle the trolls wouldn’t win, as many others took to social media in support of the black Santa:
George Takei ✔ @GeorgeTakei
Watching people meltdown over a Black Santa in the Mall of America. "Santa is white!" Well, in our internment camp he was Asian. So there.
4:16 PM - 3 Dec 2016
....
Mark Buchanan @therealmarkb
The Mall of America has a black Santa and racists done lost their minds. #SantaLarry is awesome! He's also a vet and deserves respect!
10:43 PM - 3 Dec 2016
....
Caroling Along 🔔🎄 @SoCalRamen
All the love and prayers go out to Larry Jefferson. Santa can be *anybody* y'all.
1:17 PM - 2 Dec 2016
-snip-
Here are some comments from this article (Numbers assigned for referencing purposes only)
1. Terry Lee
" "Kids love Santa no matter what color you are." -- Santa Larry
If the kids don't care what color Santa is -- neither should the adults."
**
2. Edie Gignac · McMaster University
"It's sad that the color of skin still raises the hackles of people in 2016.....it's time to stop it......maybe those that have a problem with color should go back to where their ancestors came from....oh wait, people of color live everywhere in the globe today.....what to do??"
**
3. Armand DeLuise · UCLA
"Wait until the Trumpholes go to Heaven and find out that god is also black...oh that's right, they will see a red person where they're going!"
**
Reply
4. Terry Lee
"Wait till they find out that not only is God black, she's a woman!"
**
5. Grace Carney
"I love Santa Larry! Some people are so ugly they have to pick on Santa Clause. If they are so disturbed, there are many many (99.9) white Santas out there for their children to see, who I hope do not grow up and see the world like their parents."
**
6. James Pugh · Omaha, Nebraska
"It's really just one more thing that whites have never had a clue over. In my house there was always two santas. The white one on Television and the Black one who showed up at our door each year with presents when I was a kid. Whites just don't get the privilege they live in......."
**
7. Derrick Mitchell
"I an 53 years old and our house as a child was always decorated with images of Black Santas! Did these people just start see Black santas? I am sure there are Mexicans and Asian santas too!"
**
8. Terry Lee
"Sadly, these racists who think the color of Santa's skin matters, are blinded by hate, to the real meaning and spirit of Christmas."
**
9. John Lee
"I need all the "respect our veterans and our flag" conservatives to step up for a veteran playing santa...oh and also the "war on Christmas " fox heads
....or does his blackness negate all that?"
**
10. Delilah Darcy
" "I do not wanna be in the same room as the people who are offended by black santa when they find out that Jesus was a middle eastern refugee" BOOM!!!"
**
11. Reply
"LOL, their heads expoloding no doubt it will disturb them so very much. Dare we remind THEM he was Jewish also?"
**
12. Ron McWater
"Given the reaction to a black Santa they will really freak out when they learn Jesus wasn't white either."
**
13. Thomas Hurt
"1. Santa Claus is a myth
2. Santa Claus was based in part on a Catholic Saint, St. Nicholas
3. St Nicholas was Turk/Greek so it is unlikely he was a nordic white bread dude
4. Santa Claus is not Jesus
5. Santa is fictional
6. Santa has been turned into a secular symbol of consumerism.
Why is anyone in the WASP majority complaining at all............."
**
14. Joanne Hublitz · New York University
"I have a picture of my two (white) young daughters sitting on a Black Santa's lap taken at a mall. My daughters are now 32 and 37 years old."
**
15. Linda Maria
"Santa is a sentiment, a feeling, a big heart, not a level of melanin."
**
16. Giles Jackson · Middletown, New Jersey
"The real St Nic; Father Christmas, Santa Claus was born in Patara, Turkey, so he was middle Eastern, not white."
-snip-
Additional information is given in the summary for the video given below.
****
This post provides information and comments about and a video of a Black Santa at the Mall of America (Minneapolis, Minnesota).
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Larry Jefferson and others who have portrayed Santa, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or gender. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO:
Mall of America Hires First Black Mall Santa for Holiday Season
Trump VS Hillary, Published on Dec 1, 2016
| Mall of America Welcomes its first Black Santa |
Visiting for just four days, Larry Jefferson is the first black Santa to listen to kids' wish lists at the Mall of America. After 24 years, the Mall of America celebrated a new first Thursday: Its first black Santa.
Dozens of Santas cycle through Twin Cities shopping centers each year, spreading joy to children who entrust them with their holiday wish lists. What has been missing from that experience, some parents say, was a Kriss Kringle who represented a wider swath of believers.
This week, for the first time in the Mall of America’s 24-year history, a black Santa will greet families for annual Christmas photos.
“This is a long time coming,” said Landon Luther, co-owner of the Santa Experience, which has run the intimate photo studio at the mall for 10 years. “We want Santa to be for everyone, period.”
The mall offers a free, wait-in-line-with-the-masses Santa, as well as the book-an-appointment Santa Experience, which this year added a second location at the Bloomington megamall. The appointments require purchase of a photo package.
Luther started a national search last spring for a diverse St. Nicholas that kids of color would be able to relate to. Santa Sid, a 20-year veteran at MOA, finally found one while at a Santa convention in Branson, Mo., where nearly 1,000 impersonators convened for a “Kringle family reunion” in July.
Larry Jefferson, a retired U.S. Army veteran from Irving, Texas, was the only black Santa Claus in attendance. The jovial actor agreed to sign a four-day contract to work in Minnesota, after which he’ll return home to work the seasonal circuit in Dallas.
“It was like finding a needle in a haystack,” said Luther, who runs the business with his girlfriend, Rachael Zuleger. “He considers himself a Santa for all.”
From Thursday to Sunday, by appointment only, Jefferson will greet kiddos at the mall while decked as Santa Larry, passing out candy canes and reminding them how to stay off the naughty list: “Clean your rooms, eat your vegetables and do what your mommy and daddy say all year.”
As he prepared for his first appointments Thursday morning, Jefferson said that skin tone doesn’t matter to the kids he meets.
“What they see most of the time is this red suit and candy,” he said, patting his sleek velvet coat. “[Santa represents] a good spirit. I’m just a messenger to bring hope, love and peace to girls and boys.”
Becoming Santa
Jefferson officially began donning the red suit in 1999, but his love of playing St. Nick started as just a boy.
After his father hurt his back, a 12-year-old Jefferson took on the role of Santa in the Arkansas family home, divvying up presents for his younger siblings. It was a role that stuck, continuing long after he joined the U.S. Army infantry and served abroad in the Gulf War.
His young nephews may have catalyzed his decision to play Santa-for-hire after he practiced the act on them, Jefferson said. The boys were sick and wouldn’t get a chance to visit the resident mall Santa, so he bought a $30 suit at Wal-Mart and affixed a fake beard, then knocked on their front door.
Following the visit, the parents asked if the boys knew who the visitor was. They replied, “Of course — it was Santa,” Jefferson recalled with a chuckle.
Since then, he’s graduated from a premiere Santa school, retired from the military and grown his own bushy white beard.
Last year, Jefferson became the first, and only, black member of the Lone Star Santas, a nonprofit boasting more than 350 Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, and elves who donate toys to children in disaster-stricken areas.
Jim Fletcher, director emeritus of the fraternal order, said the group also has around six Hispanic Santas and at least two Jewish members. Ethnicity and religion are not what matters, he said; rather, it’s the spirit of giving.
“Being Santa comes from the heart,” Fletcher said. “It’s not what comes down the chimney.”
On Thursday morning, Jefferson emerged as Santa Larry, wowing toddlers and their siblings during individual play sessions. He spoke softly to his fans, patiently waiting for them to divulge their Christmas wishes.
Shelly Major, of Blaine, toted her three children to the photo studio for their few minutes with Jolly ol’ St. Nick. “He was very warm,” Major said.
Parents of biracial tots said they were especially pleased to show their kids that heroes come in all ethnicities. “Santa isn’t just white,” said Sara Schwantes, of Inver Grove Heights.
****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK SANTA AT THE MALL OF AMERICA
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/black-santa-racists-freak-out_us_5844fb5ee4b09e21702f631b Racists Freak Out Over Black Santa At Mall Of America
...but most people absolutely love “Santa Larry.” by Ed Mazza, 12/05/2016
"There’s a black Santa Claus at the Mall of America in Minnesota, giving children of color a Kringle that looks like them at the nation’s biggest shopping destination.
Naturally, some people just can’t handle this, and racists are taking to social media to denounce Larry Jefferson-Gamble, a retired U.S. Army veteran who has been playing Santa since he was 12 years old.
The response has been so heated that the Minnesota Star-Tribune had to shut down the comments section for a simple profile of the mall’s first black Santa:
A CBS Minnesota report was also swamped with negative and outright racist comments, which were also shut down but are still visible in the article.
But this was one battle the trolls wouldn’t win, as many others took to social media in support of the black Santa:
George Takei ✔ @GeorgeTakei
Watching people meltdown over a Black Santa in the Mall of America. "Santa is white!" Well, in our internment camp he was Asian. So there.
4:16 PM - 3 Dec 2016
....
Mark Buchanan @therealmarkb
The Mall of America has a black Santa and racists done lost their minds. #SantaLarry is awesome! He's also a vet and deserves respect!
10:43 PM - 3 Dec 2016
....
Caroling Along 🔔🎄 @SoCalRamen
All the love and prayers go out to Larry Jefferson. Santa can be *anybody* y'all.
1:17 PM - 2 Dec 2016
-snip-
Here are some comments from this article (Numbers assigned for referencing purposes only)
1. Terry Lee
" "Kids love Santa no matter what color you are." -- Santa Larry
If the kids don't care what color Santa is -- neither should the adults."
**
2. Edie Gignac · McMaster University
"It's sad that the color of skin still raises the hackles of people in 2016.....it's time to stop it......maybe those that have a problem with color should go back to where their ancestors came from....oh wait, people of color live everywhere in the globe today.....what to do??"
**
3. Armand DeLuise · UCLA
"Wait until the Trumpholes go to Heaven and find out that god is also black...oh that's right, they will see a red person where they're going!"
**
Reply
4. Terry Lee
"Wait till they find out that not only is God black, she's a woman!"
**
5. Grace Carney
"I love Santa Larry! Some people are so ugly they have to pick on Santa Clause. If they are so disturbed, there are many many (99.9) white Santas out there for their children to see, who I hope do not grow up and see the world like their parents."
**
6. James Pugh · Omaha, Nebraska
"It's really just one more thing that whites have never had a clue over. In my house there was always two santas. The white one on Television and the Black one who showed up at our door each year with presents when I was a kid. Whites just don't get the privilege they live in......."
**
7. Derrick Mitchell
"I an 53 years old and our house as a child was always decorated with images of Black Santas! Did these people just start see Black santas? I am sure there are Mexicans and Asian santas too!"
**
8. Terry Lee
"Sadly, these racists who think the color of Santa's skin matters, are blinded by hate, to the real meaning and spirit of Christmas."
**
9. John Lee
"I need all the "respect our veterans and our flag" conservatives to step up for a veteran playing santa...oh and also the "war on Christmas " fox heads
....or does his blackness negate all that?"
**
10. Delilah Darcy
" "I do not wanna be in the same room as the people who are offended by black santa when they find out that Jesus was a middle eastern refugee" BOOM!!!"
**
11. Reply
"LOL, their heads expoloding no doubt it will disturb them so very much. Dare we remind THEM he was Jewish also?"
**
12. Ron McWater
"Given the reaction to a black Santa they will really freak out when they learn Jesus wasn't white either."
**
13. Thomas Hurt
"1. Santa Claus is a myth
2. Santa Claus was based in part on a Catholic Saint, St. Nicholas
3. St Nicholas was Turk/Greek so it is unlikely he was a nordic white bread dude
4. Santa Claus is not Jesus
5. Santa is fictional
6. Santa has been turned into a secular symbol of consumerism.
Why is anyone in the WASP majority complaining at all............."
**
14. Joanne Hublitz · New York University
"I have a picture of my two (white) young daughters sitting on a Black Santa's lap taken at a mall. My daughters are now 32 and 37 years old."
**
15. Linda Maria
"Santa is a sentiment, a feeling, a big heart, not a level of melanin."
**
16. Giles Jackson · Middletown, New Jersey
"The real St Nic; Father Christmas, Santa Claus was born in Patara, Turkey, so he was middle Eastern, not white."
-snip-
Additional information is given in the summary for the video given below.
****
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