Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents four videos of the Liberian folk song "Banuwa" ("Don't Cry"). This song appears to be part of the repertoire for a number of music classes in schools throughout the world.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this song. Thanks also to the transcriber of these featured lyrics, the vocalists & musicians who are featured in the videos, and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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LYRICS: BANUWA
From wilcokloosterman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMe5EFqeHis, [given as Example #1 below], 2011
"Banuwa is a Liberian folk song used as a love song, lullaby, or even a processional. Here is the original text and translation:
Banuwa, Banuwa,
Banuwa yo
A la no
nehnio la no
Nehnia la no
Don't cry, Don't Cry,
pretty little girl don't cry.
Don't cry, Don't Cry,
pretty little girl don't cry.
Your father off at the village
your mothers out for a while,
your brothers down by the river.
No need to sit and cry."
-snip-
This comment is reformatted for this post. Two other commenters wrote the same or similar lyrics for this song.
Clearly, these lyrics in a Liberian traditional language aren't the complete lyrics for the English translation.
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FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order with the oldest dated video presented first.
Example #1: Banuwa
mananachorus, Uploaded on Feb 5, 2007
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Example #2: {Ugandan] African choir sings banuwa
Nico van den Berge Uploaded on Jun 1, 2009
...www.zendeling.wordpress.com
One by one the choir members appear from their seat and walk to the stage in front. The choir of the African Bible University in Uganda sings Banuwa during the gradution ceremony of 2009. The Mzungu in the choir is my wife Inge. Does anybody know what the word Banuwa means? (we don't) nvandenberge@cs.com
-snip-
"Mzungu" = colloquial Swahili for White person
Here's what this video's publisher wrote in response to the question is this the original version of this song:
"
Nico van den Berge, 2010
"@jesst666 Well, uh, don't know if this is THE original version. We tried to have it as original as possible, but who on earth knows the original version of a folk song like this?"
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Example #3: BANUWA.MPG
Charles Hiram Romão Bruno, Uploaded on Feb 14, 2011
MÚSICA REALIZADA NA CAPACITAÇÃO CORAL DE PROFESSORES DO PROJETO GURI PELA "TI" SANDRA LIMA
-snip-
Portuguese to English partial translation - music from chorale class for student teachers
-snip-
Notice the chest body patting alternating with individual hand claps, and thigh slaps that the choir does for percussive accompaniment for their singing.
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Example #4: Banuwa Yo
Various Artists - Topic; Published on May 30, 2015
Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Banuwa Yo · The Song Swappers and Pete Seeger
Folk Songs of Four Continents
℗ 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1955 Folkways Records
-snip-
Update: January 2, 2019- This video replaces one that was originally embedded in this post but is no longer available.
It's likely that this 1955 Folkways record is the one that introduced this Liberian, West African song to the USA, if not also to other "Western" nations.
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI was browsing the internet while sipping my morning cup of coffee when a song from my childhood popped into my head- "Bon Doo Wah' by the Orlons (from Philadelphia!). I find the song on Youtube and enjoy listening as it conjures up some of my earliest memories. When reading the description of the song, it's noted that the melody is based on 'the calypso song Banua'. Down the rabbit hole I go! First stop - the Kingston Trio. Not really a fan of their music, but I hear the similar melody to the Orlons song. I could not find anything further relating the song to being a 'calypso' song, and more research takes me across the Atlantic to Liberia! Now I have learned all about this melody and it's origins. I was a radio DJ and ran record shops throughout the 80s and 90s and have always had an affinity for Caribbean and African music, and you have helped broaden my knowledge and connect it to my earliest memories! Your blog entry puts the icing on the whole learning experience. Thank You, John Dahlin
Hello, John Dahlin. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteI had forgotten about this post but your comment prompts me to work on an update which includes the Orlons' record and more?
That post will include your comment.
I'll add a link to that post here when I publish it.
Best wishes!
Azizi
John Dahlin, here's a link to Part II of a two part pancocojams post entitled "The History Of And Some Remembrances About Versions Of The Liberian Folk Song "Banuwa" ": https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-history-of-and-remembrances-about.html
DeletePart I features seven videos, two of which are in this 2014 pancocojams post. That link is included in that Part II post.
Thanks again and additions and corrections are welcome.