Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest update - April 18, 2026
This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about the traditional Ghanaian children's song "Kye Kye Kule". That children's song title and those lyrics are usually written as "Che Che Kule" and pronounced "Chay Chay Koolay" in the United States.
This post presents online comments from Ghanaians about the children's song "Che Che Kule" with a focus on their memories about that song and their interpretations of the words to this song. Part II includes the comments from Ghanaians that are found in Part I of this pancocojams series. In addition, this pancocojams post includes comments about the children's song "Che Che Kule".directly from Ghanaians or reported by other people by Ghanaians that I found online.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/04/comments-about-traditional-ghanaian.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents my editor's note about the history of and the meaning of the lyrics for the traditional Ghanaian "Kye Kye Kule" ("Che Che Kule") children's song and game. selected comments from the discussion thread that I started in 2008 about the children's song* "Che Che Kule" on the online Mudcat folk music forum. I've added brief notes after a few of those comments to provide information, clarifications, or updates.
*A number of the comments in that Mudcat discussion thread refer to the African or African/Latin records or performances of "Che Che Kule". However, those comments aren't included in this pancocojams compilations.Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/04/children-in-various-countries-singing.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases seven videos of children in various countries singing the Ghanaian children's song "Che Che Kule"
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, socio-cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composers of the traditional Ghanaian children's song "Kye Kye Kule". Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/che-che-kule-origin-lyrics-videos.html for the 2012 pancocojams post "Che Che Kule - Origin, Lyrics, & Videos" In addition to presenting information about the children's song/game version of "Che Che Kule", that post includes information and video examples of the Osibisi's 1969 Ghanaian Highlife record "Che Che Kule" and Willie Colon & Hector Lavore's 1969 Salsa record of that song. Along with additional YouTube videos, that 2012 pancocojams post includes examples of two American girls' foot stomping cheers ("Jay Jay Cool Lay" and "J.J. Kool Aid" that were inspired by the Ghanaian children's song/game "Che Che Kule".
That 2012 pancocojams post has a total of 31 comments (including my replies to visitor comments) as of April 17, 2026.
**** GENERAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE "KYE KYE KULE" CHILDREN'S SONG [Pancocojams Editor's Note: Read this entire section in Part I of this pancocojams series.} "Kye Kye Kule" is a traditional Ghanaian (West Africa) children's song and game. The title "Che Che Kule" is usually given to the children's version of this song, the Salsa versions, the Ghanaian Highlife versions, and other versions of this song outside of Ghana, West Africa The words "Kye Kye Kule" and "Che Che Kule" are from the Twi (Akan) language of Ghana. These words are pronounced "Chay Cha.y Koo-lay".
There's no documented date for the origin of the traditional "Kye Kye Kule" song/game. However, online anecdotal records place this song as more than one hundred years old. Since Willie Colon's and Hector Lavore's 1969 Salsa record "Che Che Kule", that song has been popularized throughout the world. [...]
"Kye Kye Kule" is a traditional Ghanaian (West Africa) children's song and game. The title "Che Che Kule" is usually given to the children's version of this song, the Salsa versions, the Ghanaian Highlife versions, and other versions of this song outside of Ghana, West Africa The words "Kye Kye Kule" and "Che Che Kule" are from the Twi (Akan) language of Ghana. These words are pronounced "Chay Cha.y Koo-lay".
There's no documented date for the origin of the traditional "Kye Kye Kule" song/game. However, online anecdotal records place this song as more than one hundred years old. Since Willie Colon's and Hector Lavore's 1969 Salsa record "Che Che Kule", that song has been popularized throughout the world. Based on conversations that I had in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a few Ghanaians, based on conversations that I have had online with other Ghanaians, as well as comments that I have read online from Ghanaians, it seems to me that there were multiple versions of "Kye Kye Kule" ("Che Che Kule") children's songs in Ghana with more than one "standard" performance activity for that children's game.
As a result of what I've heard and read thus far from Ghanaians about this song and game, I believe that the "head, shoulder, knees, and toes" lyrics and their accompanying actions are adaptations of the traditional Ghanaian children's song and NOT the translation of the traditional lyrics for "Kye Kye Kule" ("Che Che Kule"). I also believe that these "head and shoulders, knees, and toes" examples were influenced by the American "Head, Shoulders, Knees, And Toes" rhyme and reflect how an improvisational Ghanaian game became fixed and standardized.
Click https://folkways-media.si.edu/docs/folkways/artwork/FW77855.pdf for a pdf for the 1979 record "Children’s Songs And Games From Africa with Kojo Fosu and Mrs. Edwina Hunter". I believe that this Folkways album is the American source for the now ubiquitous "Che che Kule song in elementary schools in the United States and throughout much of the world from the 1980s on.".
Read https://funmusicco.com/kye-kye-kule-song/ for a good overview of the children's song "Kye Kye Kule" BEFORE that website's section on the translation for that song's lyrics.
**** SELECTED COMMENTS FROM GHANAIANS ABOUT THE GHANAIAN CHILDREN'S SONG "KYE KYE KULE" ("CHE CHE KULE") These comments are given from several sources that are presented in no particular order. I am publishing this post with the hope that this compilation is just a beginning and that it will motivate Ghanaians to increase understanding about this Ghanaian children's song and game by sharing their memories of and explanations about this Ghanaian children's song. Numbers are given for referencing purposes only. For folkloric, historical, and cultural purposes, please add to this compilation by sharing comments in the discussion thread of this pancocojams post. Thanks in advance.
SOURCE #1
From https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=108069
1. Subject: Kye Kye Kule {Che Che Kulay}
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 09:59 AM
I've been fortunate to receive information about Kye Kye Kule from talking directly and online to several persons from Ghana, West Africa. As a matter of fact, I'm pleased that it was through my exchange of emails with Quarcoo after he wrote to my website http://www.cocojams.com to share information about Kye Kye Kule, that Quarcoo learned about, and subsequently joined Mudcat. Here's a big shout out to Mudcat member Quarcoo!"...
-snip-
My cocojams.com website was online from 2001 to 2014 when I voluntarily deactivated it.
**
2. Subject: RE: Kye Kye Kule {Che Che Kulay}
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 10:25 AM
**
3. Subject: RE: Kye Kye Kule {Che Che Kulay}
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 11:02 AM
Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_name and other websites for information about Ghanaian day names.
**
4. Subject: RE: Kye Kye Kule {Che Che Kulay}
From: Azizi
Date: 15 May 09 - 02:22 PM
The other version of the game was,instead of running behind the circle and tapping someone on the shoulder, one bent down and dropped a piece of cloth behind one of those sitting in the circle. It was supposed to be done so artfully that the one with the piece of cloth did not notice it.The singing and clapping then got more exciting as the runner got closer and closer to where she had dropped the piece of cloth. If the sitting person still did not notice the cloth, she got a 'boo' or a smack on the shoulder for being inattentive. On the other hand, if she got alerted, she would then run as fast as possible chasing the first runner until the first runner took her place in the circle. Then she would take over the kye kye kule and look for another person behind whom she would drop the piece of cloth. This version of kye kye kule was an adaptation of another children's game we called 'anto akyire'"
-snip-
Abena Gyebi is correct that the only Ghanaians who have given me information about this song are males. I'm very grateful that she has shared this performance information and information about the meaning of the word "Kum" in that song."
"In the 1980s, I met a Ghanaian man from the Ewe ethnic group, and asked him about the Kye Kye Kule song. This man, whose name I don't recall, told me that with the exception of the "Kum" at the end, the lyrics that I recited for him were basically as he had sung it in his childhood. Though most of these words didn't mean anything, I was told that "Kofi" is an Akan (Ghanaian) word that means "male born on Friday" and "langa" means a person of low status, "an unclean person". This chant was recited as prelude to a hide & go seek game. One person is chosen to be Kofi, the langa. Kofi chases other people and, by touching them, he would make them unclean too.
In 2004, I asked another Ghanaian man I had met the same questions. Nana Kwesi Afriya, from the Asante (Ashanti) ethnic group, confirmed the information previously given about the meaning of "Kofi" and "langa". However, Nana Kwesi said that school girls and boys chanted this as part of a ring game in which one person {Kofi, whether male or female}, walked around the ring and at the end of the chant tapped someone. Those two then ran around the circle and tried to be the first one to sit in the vacant spot. The loser became 'Kofi"."
-repost from http://www.cocojams.com/games_children_play.htm"
-snip-
This website is no longer active.
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Pancocojams Editor's Note: April 17, 2026:
The second description of the play activity for "Che Che Kule" that is given above is the same as the way the children's game "Duck Duck Goose" is played in the United States.
**
5. . Subject: RE: Kye Kye Kule {Che Che Kulay}
From: GUEST,Lolly
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 04:36 PM
****
6. Subject: RE: Kye Kye Kule {Che Che Kulay}
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 06:43 PM
****
SOURCE #2
From https://www.tiktok.com/@kobeboujee/video/7457175815449562373 "
1. Bokka_Kayamaga🇬🇭, 2025-1-8
"This Kyekyekule song has been around since the '80's"
**
Reply
2. AFUAATTAA, 2025-1-9
"My dear, I'm 60 and remember singing this as a child."
**
Reply
3. komfanko733, 2025-2-9
"You are talking about '80's when I am 73 and sang it in
the nursery. 😆😆😆😆😆"
**
Reply
4. Anthony Mensah, 2005 3-8
"this song is a Ghanaian song and it's more than 100 years
not in 80's"
****
SOURCE #3
From https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/che-che-kule-origin-lyrics-videos.html "Che Che Kule"- Origin, Lyrics, & Videos"
"FranknarosOctober 22, 2015
I am a Ghanaian living in Norway and i was literally in
shock when i heard a Norwegian football team singing Che Che Kule after winning
their football championship and jumping to the song this morning on the news
that i decided to have a look on the internet to see how popular the song
actually is. To my amazement, i found out it is being sang in every corner of
the world. Che Che kule is one of the first songs we learnt as kids in nursery
growing up in Ghana, and it was so popular it was an everyday play activity. To
my understanding it has been around for ages and sang by our fathers and great
grandfathers. I was privileged to have sang it too and played with it as a kid
and some 30+ years later hear it on Norwegian TV. Really made my morning and
thanks Azizi for your time doing this research here and throwing more light on
the song."
SOURCE #4
From
"Kye Kye Kule" is sung in many countries in Africa
and all over the world.
It's a call-and-response song with actions. The leader sings a line and then the group repeats it. All lines are chanted, while performing actions to the beat.
[…]
William wrote to us from Ghana about the meaning of this
song...
"Regarding the 'Kye Kye Kule' song there is no good translation into English, nonetheless it's not a nonsense song at all. This would be like calling 'Hey Diddle Diddle' a nonsense nursery song. It's best characterized as a rhyme, but rhyming in the Ghana language is quite different from English rhymes. It is common to build a new phrase using a substantial part of the previous one as a way to teach rhythm and continuity during language skill development in kids. This song falls in that category, that's why almost every person that went to primary school in Ghana knows it. Pay very close attention and you may be able to spot the 'strategic' repetition of words or phrases from the previous line.
'Kye Kye Kule' is not in Twi or in any Ghanaian language
that I'm aware of. The only familiar Twi or Akan word is the common name
'Kofi'. The song has no literal meaning." -William"
**
"After speaking to a Ghanaian friend of mine, she told me that it was just a rhyming teasing song with words that didn't make any sense. Although she said she identified the name Kofi.
I sing this song with my Reception class and a Ghanaian visitor to the school informed us that he sang it as a child. My class loves singing the song."
**
3. "Roxanne Dixon wrote, "Thought I would share a brief
note - I recently had the opportunity to learn a few Ghanaian children's games
from Dr. Paschal Younge, Ghanaian native and Ohio University professor who has
spent significant time collecting children's games in Ghana. He taught our
group Kye Kye Kule, but instead of fixed motions, Dr. Younge said the motions
are improvisational hand motions, dance moves, clapped or patted rhythms that
the leader performs during the call, then the group copies during the response.
This is a misconception among American educators."
SOURCE #5
From https://www.musicconstructed.com/tool/cultural-connections-kye-kye-kule/ "
"Kye Kye Kule is a call-and-response song performed in several African countries. The actions of this song are reminiscent of the American song Head Shoulder Knees and Toes.
[...]
I asked a friend of mine, Dr. Sunu Doe, about the origins of
this song. Dr. Doe is an ethnomusicology professor at the University of Ghana
specializing in preserving pre-colonial Ghanaian culture through music and
music education. He says Kye Kye Kule is an authentic song that Ghanaian
school children learn.
Depending on the source, both on the internet and in print, the song can be found by searching Che Che Koolay or Kye Kye Kule. According to Dr. Doe, the correct way to spell the title is with Ky instead of ch. Ch doesn’t exist in the languages of Twi or Ewe and was unsure about the Fanti language.
The song is made of meaningless sounds, just as many American songs are. The song has no language, and the use of the name Kofi is thrown in to make it relatable to children. He said other variations of the song use other day names. He surmises that using Kofi could be an alteration of k k sounds…
“Day Names” refer to Ghanaian cultural practices in which children are named for the day of the week they were born. Some people go by their day names, while others go by their “Christian names,” which are mostly European names, or virtue names like “Peace” or “Wisdom.”
If you teach or work with Ghanaian music, you can have students figure out their day names. It’s fun and would not be considered offensive or inappropriate by Ghanaian people. If you go to Ghana, even if you are not Ghanaian, they ask your day name and want to call you by it, or if they don’t know, strangers will pick a day name and call you by that.
I hope you find this information as useful as I did and share it with your students the next time you teach Kye Kye Kule.
A special thank you to my friend Dr. Sunu Doe for sharing
his vast knowledge and expertise about this piece and allowing me to share it
with the greater general music community. "
****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.
Visitor comments are welcome.
