Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents information about the Ghanaian children's song "Obwisana". This post also showcases five examples of these songs.
The Addendum to this post features a video of another Ghanaian children's rock passing game and a documentary of Ghanaian children's games that includes two clips of rock passing games.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT OBWISANA
"Obwisana" was first sung as a children's rock passing game song. In the United States and elsewhere, "Obwisana" is a song that sung by a number of children's choral groups.
Here's information from http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1254&c=36 about the game song "Obwisana":
"Obwisana is a circle game where everyone has a rock that they tap on the floor to the rhythm of the music. Then they pass it to their neighbor.
Game Instructions
The children sit in a circle while singing ob-wi-sa-na and they each pass around a rock. Each child taps the rock on the ground and passes it to the next kid. The taps make a beat on each syllable of the song.
...Susan Arnold wrote me:
"I know this song as an Akan song from Ghana. 'Obo asi me nsa, nana, obo asi me nsa' which is sung in a circle by children. The Akan place great importance on co-operation and this circle game can't be played without that and a high degree of accuracy when placing the stone, especially as it gets faster and faster and more intricate with 2 stones tapped together or going round in the opposite direction."
-snip-
The lyrics to the Jamaican stone passing game "Go Down Emmanuel Road" (also known as "Manuel Road") also refers to stones hurting the hands of those who weren't fast or careful enough while playing that game. It's very possible that "Obwisana" or some other Ghanaian rock passing game was the inspiration for that Jamaican game and song. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/go-down-manuel-road-part-i-lyrics-stone.html for a pancocojams post on the Jamaican stone passing game "Manuel Road".
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LYRICS TO VERSIONS OF OBWISANA
Version #1
From http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/obwisana-song-with-a-translation-and-youtube-video/
Obwisana Song with a Translation... from LisaMarie Sheppard, February 4th, 2009
"Obwisana
Obwisana sa nana
Obwisana sa
Obwisana sa nana
Obwisana sa.
English Translation of Obwisana:
The rock has crushed my hand, grandma
The rock has crushed my hand.
The rock has crushed my hand, grandma,
The rock has crushed my hand."
-snip-
Notes from that website:
You can also find this translated as: "I just hit my fingers on the rock (grandma)."
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Version #2:
Obwisana (Goin' to Ghana)
By Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid
Tue tue, barima tue tue
Tue tue, barima tue tue
Hey do you want to go on down to Ghana?
Hey do you want to come along, my brother?
Hey do you want to go on down to Ghana?
And as we travel we sing this happy song".
Obwisana nana, obwisana sa
Obwisana nana, obwisana sa
Obwisana nana, obwisana sa
Obwisana nana, obwisana sa
Tue tue, barima tue tue
Tue tue, barima tue tue
-snip-
This version combines the Ghanaian songs "Obwisana" and "Tue Tue" with a newly composed English language song "Going To Ghana".
Hat tip to AnonymousMay 24, 2016 at 5:35 PMwho added this comment to this pancocojams post:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-does-ghanaian-song-tue-tue-really.html:
"The 5th example you have here looks like it might be a corruption of the words to Obwinsa (Goin' to Ghana)"Hey do you want to go on down to Ghana? Hey do you want to come along, my brother. Hey do you want to go on down to Ghana? And as we travel we sing this happy song". The sheet music for this song that I have seen lists the copyright as 1999, and indicates that it is a combination of two folk songs (Tue Tue, and Obwinsa) with NEW lyrics and music added by Mary Donnelly. Perhaps someone heard a performance of this piece, and misinterpreted the new lyrics as being a translation."
-snip-
Some websites indicate that "Tue Tue Barima" means "We are thankful for our harvest". However, I'm very doubtful that that is the correct English translation of "Tue Tue Barima". Click that link to the pancocojams post on "Tue Tue" for examples of "Tue Tue" and comments about the possible meanings of those [Akan?] words.
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THE TUNES AND TEMPOS THAT ARE USED FOR "OBWISANA"
I'm not certain if the tunes and tempos that are used in the United States for "Obwisana" are authentically Ghanaian. In particularly, the ending for some of the examples of this song that I've heard sound Western, and may have added an ending instead of the repeated song lyrics with another ending to make the song more familiar and appealing to Americans and others.
I'd love comments from anyone who knows this song as it was-and is- sung in Ghana. Are any of the tunes used below the tune that is used for "Obwisana" rock passing song in Ghana. Also, does the tempo increase with each rendition of the game song?
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their publishing date on YouTube with the oldest dated video given first.
Example #1: Obwisana
Hannah Lynn Mell, Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012
A group of first graders demonstrates a singing game from Ghana; we pass stones to the beat of the song!
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Example #2: Havergal College - Primary Arts Night, All Grades "Obwisana"
Havergal College, Published on May 17, 2013
The entire Havergal College Primary School performs the Ghanian folk song "Obwisana" at Primary Arts Night on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
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Example #3: "Obwisana" Mrs. P's class
Beth Kinzel, Published on Sep 23, 2013
Stone passing game from Africa.
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Example #4: Obwisana
Erhard Trojer, Published on Aug 15, 2014
Netzwerk Kolibri Oberes Mölltal
Integratives Sommercamp Winklern 2014
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Example #5: "Obwisana (Goin' to Ghana)" - Lindblom Treble Choir
LindblomChoirs, Published on Oct 24, 2015
"Obwisana (Goin' to Ghana)" arr. M. Donnelly and G. Strid
2015 Fall Band & Choir Concert
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ADDENDUM- GHANAIAN CHILDREN'S GAME
Example #1: Ghana, Ayenyah, children's game after school
Tetsublackstar, Uploaded on Jan 8, 2010
My friend Michi shot this children's (maybe especially girls) play in Ayenyah village, Ghana.I seriously loved watching thier playing and listening to their singing. I want to go back to Ghana sooner and see my students again.
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Example #2: DOCUMENTARY: Ghanaian Folk Games Pt.1
Infoboxdaily Published on Dec 12, 2013
Did you play any of these games? Are our kids ditching these indigenous games?
4:57 -5:02" A clip of a rock passing game is shown in the background as a man talks about indigenous Ghanaian games
8:00-8:04: A clip of a rock passing game is shown in the background as a man talks about indigenous Ghanaian games
Brief clips of other indigenous games are also included in this documentary.
-snip-
Part II mostly focuses on Ghanaian educators perceived problems with Western imported video games.
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