Was The South African (Zulu) Word "Kuyabongwa" The Source For The English Made Up Word "Cowabunga" ("Cowabonga")?

CookiePearl, August 19, 2023

TURTLE POWER! This week we teamed up with Zach B, ChewieCatt & MackOnTheBeat to bring you a song for one of our favorite franchises! TMNT! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was an awesome movie and the animation was top notch! We had to create our very own TMNT soundtrack! -snip- TMNT - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

**** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post presents information and examples of the isiZulu (South African) word "kuyabongwa" and information and examples of the English made up word "cowabunga". This content presents my theory that the Zulu word "kuyabongwa" was either the source of the English made up word "cowabunga" or the similarity between the spelling (but not the pronunciation) of these two words is just an interesting coincidence. Thanks to all those who contributed to the content for the videos that are embedded in this post... **** COWABUNGA SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- HOWDY DOODY

SURFSTYLEY 4, Oct 23, 2011

"The term COWABUNGA was first said in 1953 by Chief Thunderthud on the Howdy Doody show. Spelled Kowabonga or Cowabonga by the show. Here is a skit with Chief Thunderthud using the term on the last Howdy Doody show to air in 1960. Now i wait for comments about hiding bananas and such. Surfers of the '60's having grown up with Howdy Doody as little kids started saying the word and spelled it Cowabunga by changing the O to a U probably because that's just how it sounded to them and they never saw the word in print, US Soldiers Fighting in Vietnam used the word i've been told, In 1965 Snoopy would think it while skateboarding or surfing, Rick Griffin drew Murphy Saying it while toting his surfboard around. In the 1970's Cookie Monster on Sesame Street would yell it out sometimes before eating something, though the one time he spelled it for the letter "K". K is for Kowabunga. Many people think Bart Simpson said it all the time but he didn't, What he usually said was Ay Caramba or Eat my Shorts or Don't have a Cow, Man, Most times you saw Bart on T-shirts or stickers saying "Cowabunga" while surfing. The Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles had Michelangelo saying Cowabunga. And sometimes Merv Griffin would say Cowabunga during his tv commercials promoting his tv show in the '70's. Rumor was that Cowabonga was a secret curse word, The show claims it never was and it wasn't in the very beginning of the use of it on the show but watching this clip, you could easily use it to replace a swear word, "Oh no no no COWABONGA no that clown looks sillyer on television than in person". -snip- Here's the complete reprint of " https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Etymology/cowabunga
"Cowabunga

Etymology

Unknown but generally credited (as "Kowa-Bunga") to Edward Kean, writer of The Howdy Doody Show, a children's TV show that ran in the USA from 1947 until 1956.[1] Chief Thunderthud, a character on the show, started every sentence with the nonsense word "kawabonga" or with the syllable "kawa"[2] followed by ordinary English words. Other Indian characters of a different tribe, such as Chief Featherman or Princess Summerfall Winterspring, used "kawagoopa" similarly, as a greeting or to voice frustration or surprise.[3] The comic character Chief Thunderchicken exclaimed "Kawa Chicken!". Chief Thunderthud was also occasionally heard to exclaim "Kowaraschi" to express extreme frustration, perhaps in reference to major league baseball player Vic Raschi, whose daughter occasionally appeared in the Peanut Gallery (studio audience).

During the 1950s and 1960s surfers adopted "kawabonga!" as a declaration of enthusiasm, changing the pronunciation slightly to "cowabunga!".[3] "Kupaianaha" is the Hawaiian word for surprising or wonderful[4] and it may have influenced surfers who had grown up with Howdy Doody. "Cowabunga" appeared in a 1965 Peanuts cartoon in which Snoopy uses the word whilst surfing,[3] and in surfer movies of the time. Its use continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, particularly as the catchphrase of Cookie Monster in the US children's television program Sesame Street.[5]

The word was repopularized by the surferesque character Michaelangelo in the 1987 US animated television program Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles[3] and subsequently by Bart Simpson,[3] usually while skateboarding. (Although the The Simpsons' creators subsequently believed "Cowabunga" was only used in the show after it was used as a slogan on the T-shirts,[6] Bart actually used the term in the Tracy Ullman Shorts[7] and in the first season episode "The Telltale Head".) It was later used as a tagline for the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch.[3]"

****
"KUYABONGWA" SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - izandla ziyagezana || kuyabongwa ❤️🙏

 

Amatshitshi, Sep 22, 2023
-snip-
"hands wash each other || it is appreciated"
-snip-
https://gogetfunding.com/blog-single-update/?blogpre=6212028&single=40239
posted by Jabulani Mashiyane, August 12, 2019
"There is a saying in Zulu that says "Izandla ziyagezana" direct translation (hands wash each other), meaning that as a people we help each other out."
-snip-
Here's another quote about that Zulu saying: 
https://www.facebook.com/utilitysystemswater/photos/a.182616309159544/871691956918639/?type=3 Inzalo Utility System, September 21, 2020
"There is an isiZulu proverb which says, "Izandla ziyagezana", meaning: "one hand washes another".

We have adopted this saying, which is present in many other cultures, because we understand what it truly signifies. No one can rise without the help of another. No business can thrive without it's customers finding value in their offering. 

Here, at Inzalo, we understand that our customers, and their needs are our priority. 

We are, because You are."
-snip-
Here is the Google translate results from Zulu to English for the word "kuyabongwa" = "It is appreciated".
-snip-
Here's how I think that word is pronounced: "koo-yah-bon-gwa"
-snip-
Click https://www.facebook.com/everydayzulu/videos/bonga/631218093880090/ for a Facebook page about the isiZulu word "bonga". Here's information from that page:

"Ngiyabonga is 'thank you'. Ngibonga is 'I thank'."
-snip-
https://www.names.org/n/bongiwe/about
"Bongiwe is a Zulu and Xhosa (male/female) name that means "We give thanks".
-snip-
Additions and corrections are welcome. 

****
KUYABONGWA SHOWCASE VIDEO #2

chubbycheeks -kuyabongwa

chubbycheeks, Nov 5, 2023 Released on: 2023-02-10

Her song has gone viral on TikTok and earned her a seat in the South African music industry. Rising star ChubbyCheeks, real name is Mbali Buthelezi, has reached an incredible milestone in her blossoming career by achieving gold status for her debut single Kuyabongwa. -snip- Click https://www.paroles-musique.com/eng/ChubbyCheeks-Kuyabongwa-lyrics,p8704575 for the Zulu lyrics of this song as sung by Chubby Cheeks.

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/11/kuyabongwa-zulu-south-african-song-sung.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Kuyabongwa" - A (Zulu) South African Song Sung By Graduating Students In Appreciation Of Their Teachers".
****
KUYABONGWA" SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -Izandla Ziyangezana Gwijo Song

ACAPELLA SOUTH AFRICA, Apr 4, 2023  #acapellaRSA #Gwijowave #GwijoLiyaphilisa
-snip-
A "gwijo" is a short song or chant that is sung to uplift (encourage/support) individuals and/or groups such as soldiers (similarly to military cadences in the United States) or athletic teams (similarly to the purpose of cheerleader cheers)*. 

In the sub-titles for this gwijo video, the word "kuyabongwa" is spelled "khubongwe". I haven't come across other examples of that spelling online.

In those subtitles the word "khubongwe" is given along with the word "omdale". Google translate gives the English translation for the Zulu word "omdale" as = "who created him". 

This particular gwijo probably has its source in a Christian song.

*Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-do-xhosa-south-africa-words-gwijo.html for the 2021 pancocojams post entitled "What Does The IsiXhosa (South African) Words "Amagwijo" & "Igwijo" Mean?".

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Stereotypical Images Of Black People In Children's Cartoons: Dave & Ava's YouTube Channel STILL Includes Cartoons With Black People Drawn As Monkeys

Dave and Ava - Nursery Rhymes and Baby Songs, Nov 5, 2015
-snip-
Total # of views as of April 15, 2022 at 12:08 PM EDT - 13,152,270

Comments have been turned off because this channel is directed to children.

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the 2015 Dave & Ava YouTube video of the "Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed" song and rhyme.

This post also includes selected tweets from Dave & Ava's twitter account that were published from 2015 to March 2022. Those tweets focus on Dave & Ava's "Five Little Monkeys" cartoon and some other Dave & Ava cartoons in which Black people are stereotypically drawn as monkeys (or monkeys are stereotypically drawn as Black people).   

In addition, this post reprints all of the comments to date that were posted to my 2014 pancocojams post entitled "The Racist Roots Of The Five Little Monkeys Chant" https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-racist-roots-of-five-little-monkeys.html

Almost all of those comments refer to the Dave and Ava YouTube channel's drawing of Black people as monkeys (or monkeys as Black people).

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
That the Dave & Ava cartoon channel is based in Ukraine isn't central to the issue of that cartoon company drawing Black people as monkeys. However, it does point to the fact that  racism exists in the Ukraine, just as racism exists throughout all or most nations in the world.

That said, I support Ukraine in the war that Russia started.

****
SELECTED TWEETS 
From https://twitter.com/daveandava/status/662206166676537344?lang=en

Dave and Ava

@daveandava

Nov 5, 2015

🐒 NEW! FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS🐒

Every kid can confirm: it’s more fun to jump on the bed than to sleep in it!

[The Dave & Ava "Five Little Monkey" video is attached to this tweet.] 

3 Retweets, 16 Quote Tweets, 3 likes

**
ItsZaib

@iSpeakTheTrut13

Oct 16, 2016

Allow me to explain. Historically, there has always been a racist association with blacks & monkeys -snip- This is the tweet that follows the Dave &Ava tweet that is shown above. There's no indication that any tweet before this ItsZaib tweet was deleted.

**
ItsZaib

@iSpeakTheTrut13

Oct 16, 2016

Replying to

@iSpeakTheTrut13

 and

@daveandava

When u see a representation of a symbol thats been used to justify hate, it heightens sensitivities

**

ItsZaib

@iSpeakTheTrut13

Oct 16, 2016

It's too easy to dismiss it when you've never been forced to deal with that perspective.

**
Brenda Niani

@niyanibibs

Mar 31, 2020

Replying to

@iSpeakTheTrut13

 and

@daveandava

@ann_kinz

  did you notice too ? I just googled out of curiosity and boom !!

**
Laura Holmes

@LauraMHolmes87

Oct 31, 2016

Replying to

@daveandava

our job is to prepare our children for the world & teach history & mistakes that were made. "If" a cartoon offends you (cont)

**
Laura Holmes

@LauraMHolmes87

Oct 31, 2016

Replying to

@daveandava

(cont) or your child. That's when you teach your child what's right and wrong. I honestly think they did a good job to (cont)

**
Laura Holmes

@LauraMHolmes87

Oct 31, 2016

Replying to

@daveandava

(cont) cover up the fact that most nursery rhymes were created in an ignorant time of the world!

**
Roamtowngirl 🌻💔🇺🇦

@roam_town_girl

Jul 2, 2019

....said the white woman. Wow, you can’t sweetly candy coat your way out of a case of abject racism. It is sad that you tried.

**
Irene

@aireen233

Nov 23, 2016

You're not alone. I was shocked at the imagery in some of their videos too. Disappointing.

@daveandava

**

RC

@rnc0909

Nov 28, 2016

Replying to

@daveandava

@JerzPaisana Yep. I noticed this too when my kiddo was watching this. Disappointing.

** 
Across Madrid Walking Tours

@AcrossMadrid

Jun 22, 2017

I am not comfortable with the monkey family being the only hybrid creatures in these cartoons. They are offensive. Oh and am Caucasian btw!

**

Across Madrid Walking Tours

@AcrossMadrid

Jun 22, 2017

Replying to

@daveandava

Am absolutely disgusted by the BLATANT racism and objectification of black people in these cartoons. They are not acceptable whatsoever.

**
Angus Bearn

@angusbearn

Oct 1, 2017

Replying to

@daveandava

I'm puzzled why there are white kids, but a family of black monkeys.  That doesn't look very 2017 to me!  All human or all monkeys better?

**
Kizito

@leeryda

Nov 8, 2017

Replying to

@daveandava

@CayIhejieto

 please read the comments to this tweet. You might want to discontinue playing

@daveandava

 due to this racist angle

**
Ryan Merritt

@GotMerritt

Dec 21, 2017

Replying to

@daveandava

Wow-White guilt is prevalent in this thread. Okay guys, calm down. Your baby doesn’t know anything about racism,YOU are the one w/ the guilt

**
One That Got Away

@OneThatGotAway7

Nov 9, 2018

No, it is people like the creators of Dave & Ava who guarantee that parents will never let their children forget that racism hasn’t died in society; it is now reinforced through toddler cartoons. SMH

** 

Kumo 😷🇺🇸

@Kumo_1865

Jun 5, 2018

Replying to

@daveandava

I came across this while trying to look up info on Dave and Ava. My children love your youtube channel! Thank you for providing quality entertainment when it seems to be sparse on that website with mostly those silly toy reviews. Both you and Blippi  have the two best channels!

**

TJ Mool

@teejaywrites

Jul 16, 2018

Replying to

@daveandava

This video is abhorrent. Do I really need to explain why? Here goes: I guess this white Christian mom sees the whitewashed reality- this is blatant racism. Not okay.

**
IZON Bayelsa

@Loxodonta

Jun 18, 2018

Replying to

@daveandava

There is clearly intentional racist coding happing in some of these videos.  My 2yo pointed at the female monkey and exclaimed to my absolutel horror 'mommy'.  She doesn't know anything about racism but it's clear in her mind that these creatures are more human than simian.

**
Grumpy Owl Momma

@owl_momma

Jan 13, 2019

Replying to

@daveandava

I was really enjoying your channel, until this clip showed up. Not okay. It's very racist.

**

Kris Eale

@HighlanderMc

Apr 20, 2019

Replying to

@daveandava

I just googled Dave and Ava racist to see if I was the only one paranoid enough this but indeed it is racist if more than one person is feeling bad about it and noticing the same hypocritical one sided depicting of other humans in monkey yes it is racist...

**
Leighton Smith

@Leighto55299924

Jun 12, 2019

Same here bro. I found some of the references very uncanny... so i decided to do a google search and it auto completed

**
Roamtowngirl 🌻💔🇺🇦

@roam_town_girl

Jul 2, 2019

Replying to

@daveandava

Blatantly racist and shameful. I too saw it once and immediately went online to find out if I was the only one who thinks so. I CLEARLY am not. We will never watch your programming again and I will tell as many as I can about this. SHAMEFUL!!!!

**
Roamtowngirl 🌻💔🇺🇦

@roam_town_girl

Jul 16, 2019

Replying to

@daveandava

Still have racist images I see. I have told all the moms and grandmothers I know about this and they are in agreement. My grandson now says , “the bad one” when your show comes on. We can’t change it fast enough.

**
Cree Quaker

@CreeQuaker

Aug 8, 2019

Replying to

@daveandava

Absolutely racist - I was pretty shocked to see this.

**

Djsharp

@Djsharp7

May 28, 2020

Replying to

@daveandava

Yes was loving the songs until I noticed that everytime anyone of color was depicted on here they were monkeys. Clearly its not just monkeys when the doctor and mother was a monkey as well and no other kids on the show are black until you see the monkeys

**
Sally Redondo Padilla

@RedondoSally

Jun 18, 2020

Replying to

@daveandava

I just watched at my granddaughter's house. She is not even 2, and I was sickened at the racism. It is BAD! It needs to be removed, not still playing for years!

** 

B Johnston

@ethenyj

Jun 25, 2020

Replying to

@daveandava

@YouTube

 I'm shocked that you're still allowing this to be shown on your platform after a number of people have confirmed it to be triggering.

@daveandava

 what's your response?

**
Leah Gallo

@leahgallophoto

Jul 4, 2020

Replying to

@daveandava

This is totally a racist portrayal, down to the hair styles. Not ok!

** 

Rajat Gupta

@RajatGu91767352

Dec 20, 2020

Replying to

@daveandava

Shocked that these videos are still up. Maybe not intentional but given recent conversations totally not appropriate, especially being a children's cartoons. You guys need to review all Monkey videos you have up on YT. My child will not be watching anymore Dave and Ava videos.

**

Emma Berg

@emma___berg

Mar 30, 2021

Replying to

@daveandava

I had this on for my child to watch and was in absolute disbelief how blatantly racist this is. Having this on was a #parentfail. If you don't see the similarity between the imagery here and that of racist imagery of the Jim Crowe era, you're in denial of your own bias.

**
VE

@Virgo2Abangboom

Apr 3, 2021

Replying to

@daveandava

I just saw a sickening D&A clip where five monkeys who are clearly representing Africans (hairstyles, clothes) steal apples and bananas from the white kids and run away. The white kid makes the wp sign and says “OK”.

@daveandava

 you aren’t fooling anyone

**

Frisbeetarian

@hellandreason

Apr 30, 2021

I like how every few months someone else finds this thread after searching about how Dave and Eva is insanely racist.

**
Rose

@stilwtrrunsdeep

Jun 16, 2021

Replying to

@daveandava

@daveandava

 should be removed from YouTube it is VERY racist. Especially this monkey family who is clearly portrayed as a black family. This is very bad for children. Your company should be ashamed!

**
Netta🖖🏽💫

@the_plug151

Aug 6, 2021

It’s 2021 and it’s still insanely racist

**
Katie

@KcRobinson81

Sep 16, 2021

I just watched this episode and was shocked. I googled as well just to make sure I'm not insane. It was BLATANT

**
Cynthia Sammi

@cyndiiloop08

Sep 18, 2021

Replying to

@daveandava

VERY offensive

**
Latino Privilege

@JuNic7586 Dec 31, 2021

Dec 30. 2021.

Yep. Still racist.

**
Sarai Juelz

@saraijuelz

Jan 22 [2022]

Replying to

@daveandava

I googled to see if anyone felt my sentiments after just seeing this cartoon for the first time after Finger Family came on… My daughter will NOT be watching this. My mouth was twisted up the whole time and they have the nerve to have the boy monkey in a basketball uniform

**
Kerisha

@Kerisha4truth

Mar 21 [2022]

Replying to

@daveandava

Yeah it’s the hairstyles for me that rang alarm bells and I had to confirm this with my husband. There’s a monkey in cocomelon and it looks like a monkey but this is blatantly suppose to be black family. Never watching this again!

****
COMPLETE REPRINT OF COMMENTS FROM THE PANCOCOJAMS POST "The Racist Roots Of The "Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed" Chant" [as of April 15, 2022 at 1:25 PM EDT] 

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-racist-roots-of-five-little-monkeys.html

These comments are given in chronological order except for replies. I added numbers for referencing purposes only. Thst post indicates that there are 56 comments. However, according to my count, the total number of comments is 55 and not 56. My counting may be off as I believe that I have included every comment in that discussion thread (except one that I added giving the link to this post).

In July 2017 I congratulated Dave & Ava's channel for the changes in the way that they drew Black people that some commenters had brought to my attention and that I saw when I viewed a couple of their cartoons. (comment #37 below).

However, as people tweeting on Dave & Ava's twitter account have indicated and as I have confirmed today, while Dave & Ava's channel have changed some of their depictions of Black people, and may have even added a Black step mother who isn't drawn like a monkey, they didn't remove all of the stereotypical cartoons on their channel such as the "Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed" cartoon that is embedded in this pancocojams post. For instance, while they published a 2017 version of "Ten In The Bed" that features cats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLZ9vWKi_3c, they haven't removed the 2016 "Ten In The Bed" cartoon that features Black children who are drawn as monkeys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzAh_yDUIRE

This is what prompted me to publish that pancocojams post on that topic.

1. anonymous momFebruary 13, 2016 at 9:48 AM

Thank you so much for posting this and sharing it with the world! I am 46 and honestly don't ever remember hearing any version at all of the "ten little monkeys" song during my own childhood, but the song popped up on a favorite children's website of my son. Unfortunately for us, it disappeared suddenly, and because my son is autistic, it was incredibly difficult to reconcile him to its loss. It was only after contacting the website moderators that we learned that they had taken it down after learning it had racist roots. I went researching and found your site! I wasn't sure what to do, as my son loves the song and likes to sing it, etc. I really do not want him to inadvertently offend people by singing it in public, but teaching him about this kind of social complexity right now is challenging. Anyway, it was so nice to find this terrific information and hear your very thoughtful ideas on the subject. Thank you!

2. Azizi PowellFebruary 13, 2016 at 2:12 PM

Nyx Qualls,

Thanks for your comment. I appreciate your concern. In my opinion, even though "Five Little Monkeys" has racist roots, it can be enjoyed by children and still sung in public.

There are lots of "Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed" videos on YouTube. I think that the racist connotations of this song occur when the monkeys are drawn to look like some Black people.

3. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2016 at 10:30 PM

As a non white parent I have been quite appalled by the more recent depictions of the so-called 5 little monkeys being made very much in the image of black people. I think this is no accident at all. I feel that black and non-white parents as a whole should really monitor the usage of these so-called youtube nursery rhymes paying particular attention to the imagery being used (e.g. Depictions of black people as criminals, monkeys, wolves etc). It has been my experience that these utterly racist depictions normally occur near the middle of the longer (say 50 minute) runs of nursery rhymes and they are easy to miss unless you are sitting with the child and looking at the screen with them. It is depressing to watch such horrible Jim crow style programming being wrapped into a sweet modern looking format. As a parent of color I feel that these nursery rhymes can be used to promote white supremacy in a very deceptive way. I thank the author of this blog for pointing out the origins of some of these seemingly harmless songs. This has been a constructive dialogue.

4. Azizi PowellFebruary 21, 2016 at 11:06 PM

Thanks anonymous for your comment. And you're welcome.

As a grandmother of a two year old, I've also experienced what you wrote about racist depictions of Black people occurring in long series of nursery rhymes and other children's songs. And I agree that those depictions would be missed if an adult wasn't sitting with the child and watching the screen with them. I offer this series as an egregious example: Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed | Nursery Rhymes Collection | Nursery Rhymes Dave and Ava https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oaMuB4qQDM

And although I usually LOVE chuchu TV's children's series (and my granddaughter loves those videos too), I dislike their version of Five Little Monkeys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWO9uP_VJV8

In addition to what I believe are negative racial depictions, I'm also concerned with some versions of "Five Little Monkeys" which show the other monkeys laughing when one of them falls out the bed and bumps his or her head.

I can't find the version of "Five Little Monkeys" that I used to show my granddaughter (who I regularly babysit). There are so many other good YouTube videos for children that I've not replaced that video with another Five Little Monkeys video that I would consider acceptable.

5. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2016 at 11:28 PM

Ms. Powell,

Thank you again. This is very constructive and informative. Hopefully more people can be made aware so that we can guard against some of the stereotypical programming that seems to perpetuate itself across generations. It really seems like the nursery rhyme monkey imagery on YouTube could fall right in line with some of the minstrel type imagery of the late 1800's.

Again, thank you for the information, discussion, and helpful links.

6. Azizi PowellFebruary 22, 2016 at 9:58 AM

You're welcome, anonymous.

I thought about publishing a post that includes examples of what I consider to be contemporary racially stereotypical children's cartoon animations, but instead I've decided to focus on presenting some historical and contemporary examples of positive Black culture.

Best wishes!

7. UnknownAugust 17, 2018 at 2:51 PM

How in the world is This Racist do you think you're monkeys what how silly

8. Azizi PowellFebruary 22, 2016 at 8:32 AM

With regard to my comment to Nyx Qualls dated February 13, 2016 at 2:12 PM,

I should have written "drawn to look like stereotypical images of Black people" instead of "drawn to look like Black people".

9.  Azizi Powell February 23, 2016 at 9:48 AM

I found the version of "Five Little Monkeys" that I show to my granddaughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx1NcLZBZ1k Five Little Monkeys | Family Sing Along - Muffin Songs

 The monkeys in this video aren't drawn with exaggerated Black facial features or so-called "Black" hairstyles such as female monkeys with multiple braids in their hair.

Also, the monkeys don't laugh when one of them falls off the bed.

If you know other animated examples of that song that you like, feel free to share them.

10. JeremyMarch 5, 2021 at 2:48 PM

Dear Azizi Powell,
In this video I hear the sound of chittering laughter each time a monkey falls out of the bed. On another note, the monkeys seem to be gendered by their clothing, for example, a monkey with a pink bow on their head, but the lyrics refer to the monkey "bumping his head".

I must respectfully disagree with the claim that this song has been sufficiently corrected as it still maintains "little monkeys" in place of the other offensive words used to refer to Black children, since this wording is entirely within the tradition of racist words used to dehumanize Black children. I would argue that any single-word attempt to correct this song is likely to be insufficient, because it cannot hope to reckon with the long racist history of the song. Paraphrasing Angela Davis, I would argue that it's not enough for us to make a non-racist form of this chant - we must make an anti-racist version. Perhaps something like...

"Five white supremacists on their pyramid,
One not white enough they had to get rid,
People called a protest and the people said,
Let's tear down this racist pyramid!"

The song could go on to detail some other ways that white supremacy excludes people and creates hierarchies of power and control, such as perfectionism (not perfect enough), purity (not pure enough), strength (not strong enough), etc...but perhaps this isn't quite enough. I note that it shows that white supremacists are eliminating people that don't conform to their philosophy, but the people are effectively waiting for the white supremacists to eliminate themselves while just shouting to tear down the pyramid. I would like to depict the people in a more powerful active role in undermining white supremacy and racism. Any thoughts?

11. Azizi PowellMarch 5, 2021 at 7:51 PM

Thanks for your comment, Jeremy.

I choose not to make any other comments about any "Five Little Monkeys" video or that rhyme.

12. Molly Stern CoachingAugust 19, 2016 at 6:52 PM

I'm so glad I'm not the only one watching Dave and Ava and thinking oh my gosh they are portraying the black family as monkeys! Totally unacceptable!!

13. Azizi PowellAugust 19, 2016 at 8:26 PM

Hi Molly.

So I'm not the only one who thought this, un?

And I liked watching a few other episodes of that cartoon with my pre-school granddaughter- until I began to watch that one with her and saw the way they depicted Black people . After that- the entire series is off the list of which cartoons my granddaughter can watch.

14. Molly Stern CoachingAugust 20, 2016 at 1:03 AM

No you're not alone! Especially when the two white kids look perfectly human and all the other animals just look like animals. Then all of a sudden there is the monkey family that definitely looks like it's suppose to be a human-animal cross. It's awful, it's off our list too.

15. Azizi PowellAugust 20, 2016 at 3:09 PM

I'm glad that you stopped watching Dave and Ava cartoons because of the way that they depicted monkeys to look like Black people. I turned off that Dave and Ava series because of the way that they drew the monkeys in that five little monkeys cartoon and my granddaughter hasn't been allowed to watch that series since that time.

If enough people who watched Dave and Ava cartoons stop watching that series because of the offensive way that they drew those monkeys and if enough people who would watch Dave and Ava cartoons boycott Dave and Ava cartoons because of that depiction, then maybe the producers of those cartoons will get a clue and draw monkeys so that they don't look like stereotypical Black people.

16. Laura PhillipsSeptember 19, 2016 at 1:45 PM

What is up with Dave and Ava? It's not just the appalling "5 Little Monkeys," it's the "Apples and Bananas" song where, not only do the monkeys steal from the white kids (who chase them), they dance. The whole show is just creepy.

17. Azizi PowellSeptember 19, 2016 at 5:46 PM

Laura Phillips,
Ugh! I hadn't watched Dave and Ava's "Apples and Bananas" animation until you mentioned it in your comment.

You are right. The drawing of the monkeys with their stereotypical Black hairstyles is appalling.

The author of this page http://ukrainegoodnews.com/dave_and_ava_breaks_records_in_usa.html, written in May 2015, indicates that "For one month and a half 15 000 000 Americans have watched 'Dave and Ava' cartoon. It is an incredible success not just for Ukrainian 3D animation but for all Ukrainian cinematography.

Animation 'Dave and Ava' is 100% Ukrainian product: idea, plot, direction, team of 3D animators, composers, voice actors and financing."

The cartoon is produced at animation studio in Lviv. However, the cartoon is available in English because it was produced for English speaking audience."....
-snip-
There are no comments to date for that article. I just wrote this comment:

"The animators of Dave and Ava cartoons should be aware that their depictions of monkeys (including their hairstyles) are offensive to Black people. (see for instance, the Dave and Ava "Five Little Monkeys" and the Dave and Ava "Apples And Bananas" cartoons.)

And it is not just Black Americans who have noted this and are letting others know about it. Read for example the comments on this blog http://pancocojams.blogspot.co...

Hopefully, the animators will become more socially conscious and change these drawings.

-signed the editor of that above mentioned blog and a grandmother who will never allow her pre-school grandchildren watch Dave and Ava because of those stereotypical depictions."
-snip-

It appears that that comment was published without the specific link for this post. I added a reply with the title of this blog post.

18. UnknownJanuary 26, 2018 at 11:51 PM

It's a cartoon. Y'all should be ashamed. You promote it. Looking for the bad in kids cartoons. Leave the people of dave and ava alone. My daughter loves them. It's people like this who keep the hate alive. Quit grasping at straws.

19. UnknownSeptember 25, 2018 at 11:57 PM

Thanks John, I 100% agree with you. If you ask a 2 yr old what the song means he will tell you it's monkeys jumping on the bed!!! Parents are the real issue reading too much into a simple cartoon.

20. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2016 at 12:03 PM

I am neither black or white, my husband is of East Indian descent and I am asain. We were both very disturbed by the racial connotations depicted in Dave and Ava when watching with our 1 year old son and have decided to boycott the show from our house.

21. Azizi PowellSeptember 22, 2016 at 1:54 PM

Thanks, anonymous.

I appreciate your comment. Dave and Ava's animators should be aware of the racist connotations in their cartoons and change those drawings, for all of our children's sake.

22. Azizi PowellOctober 12, 2016 at 12:34 PM

This comment was posted to http://ukrainegoodnews.com/dave_and_ava_breaks_records_in_usa.html in reply to my comment written on September 22, 2016

Jaquelynn Herrera Azizi Powell • 3 days ago [October 9, 2016]
"Agreed. My 19 month old daughter pointed to a group of African Americans and yelled "Monkeys!" I was mortified and couldn't understand why she was so adamant. I mentioned it to my mother who put it together...I now bypass all those nursery rhymes."

I wrote this in reply:

Azizi Powell Jaquelynn Herrera • a few seconds ago
"Thanks for your comment, Jacquelynn Herrera.

Hopefully, the producers of Dave and Ava cartoons are aware of the negative consequences of the stereotypical depictions in their cartoons and will change them."

23. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2017 at 7:10 AM

Dave and ava have since added an actual black character who is not a stereotype. she appears to be the kids mom.

24. Azizi PowellFebruary 4, 2017 at 8:01 AM

Thanks for that information, Anonymous.

What is a name of a cartoon in which this character appears?

25. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2017 at 7:44 PM

Hi Azizi,

I believe they have been including her in most of the recent ones. Apples and bananas part 2 I believe it's called is one of them.

-Andrew

26. Azizi PowellFebruary 6, 2017 at 11:09 PM

Thanks for that information, Andrew.

I watched the Dave & Ava Apples and bananas part 2 video that you referred me to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0FiMc7BOT0&t=869s.

I found the artists' depiction of Black people to be very much improved from the five little monkey video that I had critiqued and mentioned in this pancocojams post.

You (or another anonymous commenter) wrote that the Black woman with the curly hair and glasses "appears to be the kids mom". I'm curious if she is identified as their biological mother or their step mother in one of this cartoon's episodes and if so which one?

Also, I noticed that in the "Miss Polly Had A Dolly" segment [beginning at 12:40 in that same video] Ava plays with a Black doll who is also drawn without stereotypical characteristics. I'm very pleased with that depiction.

The "Wheels On The Bus" segment beginning around 12:20] has a monkey family that appears to drawn as though they are a Black family. Given the stereotype [in the USA and I think elsewhere] of Black people as monkeys I'm not thrilled about that depiction and would have preferred that the characters on the bus be drawn as some other animals and not monkeys. That said, the drawings were considerably better than the "Five Little Monkeys" caricatures of Black people that I commented on before. (For instance, the little girl in the "Wheels On The Bus" segment had her hair in a pony tail and not the multiple braids sticking out of her hair like the previous drawing of the girl monkey had.

Thanks again for letting me (and other pancocojams visitors) know about this (and other) new Dave & Ava episodes.

And thank you very much to the artists and other production staff of this Dave & Ava cartoon!

27. JillianOctober 25, 2020 at 6:55 PM

The Wheels on the Bus one actually bothered me the most, as a white bus rider who's used to being the only white person on a bus in a major US city. It makes me wonder if it's truly an accident/coincidence or if someone involved in making the cartoon had had that experience. It definitely seems inappropriate to show to American children who might ever ride buses.

28. Azizi PowellOctober 26, 2020 at 8:30 AM

Thanks for your comment Jillian.

For the record, I choose not to revisit that cartoon and I choose not to speculate about the motives of those associated with making that or other cartoons.

****

29. UnknownFebruary 14, 2017 at 7:23 PM

I find their videos blatantly racist! Main characters have bright blue and green eyes subliminally representing the perceived racial class of Caucasians. The main characters always look way better than the rest of the characters, usually represented as non-Caucasians in every video, as if non-Caucasians can never look as good.

Initially, I did not think much of it, but as I watched more along with my son it stared to hit me that it was in fact racist, very much so. Out of all their videos, I find "Five Little Monkeys" video especially racist.

I am not for hyper political correctness, but I find Dave and Ava cartoons to be racist and wrong.

It's no surprise that they are from Ukraine.

30. UnknownFebruary 14, 2017 at 7:24 PM

As pointed by others as well, I have boycotted that channel at our residence.

31. Azizi PowellFebruary 15, 2017 at 1:31 AM

Thanks for your comments, Brian Scott.

UnknownMarch 12, 2017 at 8:02 PM

That's a bit rich, especially accusing creators of being racist and immediately making generalizations about their nation as a whole.
The absolute majority of Ukrainians have never seen a black person in real life, the country has no history of slavery and racial tensions to the extent that the US and certain European countries do, and there is therefore no inherent evil monkey stereotypes. Characters from the 'Five Little Monkeys' actually seem to be loosely based on an old Soviet cartoon about five mischievous young monkeys living in a zoo with other anthropomorphic animals, and the trouble they cause to their ever-exhausted but ingenious mum and everyone else. A nod to parents from their expected audience, who are likely to remember these cartoons fondly from their own childhood.
I am sure the creators found their product very unexpectedly popular outside of their own country (where it was marketed as series for early years English acquisition) and were mortified by how the global community read the message behind the characters. They actually made a massive effort introducing a much better representation of racial diversity into the new series. Dave and Ava's mother (stepmother?) introduced in the new episodes, is actually Black.

Here is the original Soviet cartoon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2K2l02C9As&t

32. Azizi PowellMarch 13, 2017 at 10:55 AM

Unknown, thanks for your comment.

I refer you to all the comments that I've made about my opinions about the depictions on that series.

33. Rose WhitingApril 2, 2017 at 4:36 PM

Recently Dave and Ava have replaced many of the songs that had the monkey family in them with a group of kittens including the 10 in the bed video

34. Rose WhitingApril 2, 2017 at 4:41 PM

https://youtu.be/25WIA-7LZFg new version with kittens

35. Azizi PowellApril 2, 2017 at 7:48 PM

Thanks for sharing that information, Rose Whiting.

When I put that link in Google, it directed me to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25WIA-7LZFg&feature=youtu.be.

36. AnonymousJuly 16, 2017 at 11:59 AM

People this a nonsense.... It has become a childs song. And its used as such.... No one is being racist with this version of the song.... So why bring it there? Dave and ava has by far been the best in my opinion at being catchy educational and fun for my little one and many others... Why pick apart somthing out of thier control? My little one love 5 little monkeys and it definatly isnt out of racist slander!

37. Azizi PowellJuly 16, 2017 at 2:20 PM

Thanks for your sharing your opinion, Anonymous.

I've agree that Dave and Ava videos might be educational and fun. I pointed out what I believed-and still believe-to be stereotypical depictions of Black people in that particular video and I've since learn those depictions were in some other videos from that animated series and have since been changed.

38. AnonymousDecember 30, 2017 at 1:11 AM

I just came across this in a Southern cookbook entitled "The Southern cook book of fine old recipes" on the internet archive. The entire cookbook has offensive imagery and poetry but I was shocked to see this rhyme, exactly as described in the first part of your article, complete with imagery of two children in bed. It is on page 34 of the cookbook: https://archive.org/details/southerncookbook00lustrich if you'd like to see it for yourself. I've sung this song with my kids and had no clue of its roots, well needless to say, now I won't be singing this anymore.

39. AnonymousDecember 30, 2017 at 1:14 AM

I forgot to mention that the cookbooks publication date is 1935, it is from the archive of antique cookbooks...


40. Azizi PowellDecember 30, 2017 at 9:57 AM

Anonymous, thanks very much for sharing information about the 1935 book "Southern Cook Book of Fine Old Recipes".

I didn't know about that book before you alerted me to it.

Here's the song fragment from that book that mentions "shortnin' bread":

Two little ni&&ers lyin in bed,
One of 'em sick an' de odder mos' dead.
Call for de doctor, an' de doctor said,
"Feed dem darkies on short'nin bread."

Source: Southern Cook Book Of Fine Old Recipes, compiled & edited by Lillie S. Lnstig, S. Claire Sondheii, Sarah Rensel [with] decorations [illustrations] by H. Charles Kellui; published by Culinary Arts Press, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1935) ; republished on https://ia802607.us.archive.org/25/items/southerncookbook00lustrich/southerncookbook00lustrich.pdf

[page 34]

The "n word" is fully spelled out in this song fragment and in other song fragments in that book.
-snip-
Most of the song fragments that are included in that 1935 cookbook are from Black American secular songs. I plan to publish a pancocojams post that highlights all of the song fragments that are included in that 1935 book and will add the link to that post in this pancocojams comment section.

Thanks again, Anonymous!

41. AnonymousMarch 11, 2018 at 11:55 AM

People are insane.

42. AnonymousJune 5, 2018 at 2:53 PM

I was saw the dave and eva five monkey family and thought it depicts black people as monkeys. I decided to check it online and saw this post. They should remove that particular monkey family song to show that they have changed. Some people claim that they are just depicting animated monkeys, why not depict white people also after all there are beige coloured babus (monkey) that has caucasian like colour of skin. That Dave and Eva video is pure subliminal racist message to kids.

43. MotunrayoJanuary 24, 2019 at 10:23 PM

OMG!!! I started watching this horrible cartoon called Dave and Ava and wstched this 5 little monkeys. I was so appalled by it. It is extremely racist. When did monkeys stat having two legs and braiding their hair? You tube must take it down with the apples and banana song as well. Higy creepy and disgusting. It really has a white supremacist undertone and any intelligent person will realize this. What a shame on these perpetrators of evil.. I wish we can all sign a petition so that it can be banned on youtube.

44. Azizi PowellJanuary 25, 2019 at 8:47 PM

Thanks for your comment, Motunrayo.

I've already shared my opinion about that particular Dave and Ava cartoon and I understand that the animators have improved their depictions of certain characters.

45. UnknownFebruary 27, 2019 at 4:48 PM

Im sorry but I dont find any trance of racist subliminal, in fact there was a baby African American doll being held by the caucasian baby girl. I don't think they would be irresponsible or be idiots to portray something like this. They have animals of or sorts on the show. I guess thats liberals way of thinking.

46. Azizi PowellFebruary 27, 2019 at 6:13 PM

Thanks for your comment, Unknown.

As to my opinion about whether this particular episode of this cartoon is racist or not, read my previous comments.

47. AnonymousMarch 12, 2019 at 4:27 PM

Opinions may come and go. The outer appearance nor the color of ones skin determines who a person really is inside. The content of ones character reveals the heart. The Bible says "from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God is love. No one can change the word of God, no matter what other people think about you.

48. Azizi PowellMarch 12, 2019 at 4:58 PM

Thanks for your comment, Anonymous.

49 UnknownSeptember 26, 2019 at 1:55 AM

strange that some people get offended with this cartoon

50. Azizi PowellSeptember 15, 2020 at 9:39 AM

It's disturbing that some people don't get offended by that cartoon.

51. AnonymousAugust 10, 2021 at 1:47 AM

My family is POC from Africa, my mind is blown. Our grandmother used to sing these songs to us, as her grandmother did to her, but especially the shortning song, the word "darkie" was replaced by "doggie" (as in dog) we never questioned it but wow they didn't even change the song, they just replaced one word and its such a similar sounding word at that... and to think I've been singing it to my daughter. lord have mercy!


52. Azizi PowellApril 15, 2022 at 10:58 AM

Note: It's April 15, 2022 and I just noticed a typo in my response to this comment. Here's my edited comment:

Azizi Powell, August 10, 2021 at 12:17 PM
Hello, Anonymous.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with this song.

I don't think this song is inherently offensive. I believe it
can be sung for enjoyment when the offensive word that was used is changed to a socially appropriate word (such as "darkie" changed to "doggy").


53. AnonymousAugust 10, 2021 at 12:21 PM

Question? (familiarity) whether learners from different cultural backgrounds recognize everything required to understand the poem

54. AnonymousAugust 10, 2021 at 12:24 PM

Question? (ideology) whether the lesson being taught by the poem resonates with the values of different cultures?

55. Azizi PowellAugust 10, 2021 at 4:30 PM

Anonymous, here are my responses to both of your questions as I understand them.

With regard to the Five Little Monkeys" song/rhyme:

I believe this song or rhyme was created for entertainment (fun) purposes and not to teach any lesson.

It is a historical fact that in that song "monkeys" replaced offensive referents for Black people.

Western cultures have negatively connected "monkeys" with Black people. If that isn't the case where a person lives, they won't understand why the song can be considered offensive to Black people.

I believe people learning a song should know the cultural history of a song. The fact that a song has a negative history or some parts of the song can still be used negatively doesn't necessarily mean that it is always "wrong" to sing that song.

With regard to the "Five Little Monkeys" song, I consider some contemporary examples of videos of that song to be offensive (stereotypical) because of the way that they are/were drawn. I also consider some videos of that song to be problematic if characters are drawn/shown laughing at characters who fall out of the bed.

****
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