The Gwijo "Yebo Lapho" Is An Example Of An African Song That Has A Great Beat & Sounds Beautiful But Also Has "X" Rated Lyrics

Pistole Gwijo, Aug 20, 2024  #gwijokings #gwijo #pistolegwijo

By @UnkleMsarow
-snip-
WARNING- This isiXhosa gwijo includes words that are "x" rated. 

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of the viral gwijo "Yebo Lapho" as sung by Unkle Msarow and the gwijo kings.

This post also includes selected comments from the discussion thread for that video. Those comments focus on how Unkle Msarow's rendition of "Yebo Lapho" sounds beautiful and has a catchy beat, but also has "x" rated lyrics

In addition, this pancocojams post presents selected comments from two Tik Tok videos. Those comments focus on how the commenters were surprised that that gwijo described an x rated bedroom sexual scene.

In my opinion, "Yebo Lapho" refutes the relatively commonly found statement that "Music is a universal language we can all bond over". Instead, that Xhosa language gwijo reminds people that of the importance of being aware of the meanings of a song's lyrics in a language you're not familiar with before embracing that song as one of your favorite jams.  

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

All copyrights remain with their  owners.

Thanks to Unkle Msarwo and the gwijo kings. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the producers of this YouTube video and this Tik Tok video. 

****
DISCLAIMER:
I am an African American who doesn't read or speak any language but English.

I don't have any direct knowledge of South African culture and the only information that I have about that culture and the Xhosa language is from my reading on and off the internet.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES ABOUT SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 AND THAT YOUTUBE VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
The gwijo "Yebo Lapho" (Xhosa meaning "Yes, over there" is a viral hit in South African and in some other nations based on the number of social media videos and comments.

Unkle Msarow's version of "Yebo Lapho" and other versions I've come across online feature the standard "Zampampam" refrain that is found in other amagwijo (plural for "gwijo") with the title "Yebo Lapho" or other gwijo that don't include that title or any of those lyrics. Based on what I think I hear in that showcased Unkle Msarow YouTube video, here's what I refer to as the standard Zampampam refrain:

"Zampampam
Zampampam
iyhoo ah zampampa"

This fixed refrain is sung by the group in response to the leader's varying lines (call).

Although the title of the showcase "Yebo Lapho" video that is embedded at the top of this pancocojams post indicates that it includes lyrics for that song, the Xhosa lyrics (with no translations in another language) are written in captions within that video for only 0.41 seconds of that 2:24 video. Why are there no captions for the remainder of this video? Is this a way of not acknowledging that the lyrics for that song refer to a x rated sexual scene?

Furthermore, that video's summary doesn't include any of that song's lyrics and only a few comments in that video's discussion thread refer to any of that song's lyrics.

Most of that video's discussion thread focus on how beautiful that song sounds and how people throughout the world love singing it or dancing to it, even if they don't understand what the words to the song mean.

Here's my transcription of that song's lyrics that are given in that video along with the Xhosa to English translation of those words given in parenthesis. Imo, those results reinforce my opinion that Google translation shouldn't usually be considered as an accurate translation of gwijo songs (in large part because of the cultural differences between South Africa and the United States).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTOzHCLw-hk

Nango umalamola seka bheke umandlamini
(Even if you look at the river, you will see)

Nango u16 seka gijimisi v
(Here is the 16th runner v)

(Athi uyababona seba bhekane ngo 6)
He said that he saw them stealing from each other at 6

 Zampampam pam
(No translation given)

Hebathi yebo
(He said yes)

Yebo lapho
(Yes,here)

Kufunek isbhamu somdoko
(Need a shotgun)

Hayi yaya
(No, it went)

Zampampam
(No translation)

Zampampam
(No translation)

****
Here are two of the very few comments in the discussion thread for Uncke Msarow's "Yebo,Lapho" video that mentions lyrics to that song. These examples are numbered for referencing purposes only: 

1. @nonkuthalozondi802, 2024
"so sweet i like the part when he say nangu umadlamini esekabheka umalamula and it end when he say aaa ach men"
-snip-
Here are the Google translate results for this sentence from Xhosa to English:
"nangu umadlamini esekabheka umalamula" =here is a drunkard still looking at the lemon

 "aaa ach men" = oh my god

**
2. @makunguchabangu, 2024
"Nangi u16 seka gijimisi v🔥🔥❤️"
-snip-
from the on page Google translation feature for this video:
"“I'm 16 and I'm running v🔥🔥❤️”

****
Most of the comments in that video's discussion thread either praised the lead singer Unkle Msarow, and/or praised that song, praised the amamgwijo music genre, described their positive reactions to that song, or ranked the currently popular gwijo lead singers.

Here are a few examples of these comments (numbered for referencing purposes only).

2024
1.@NomhlepertuniaMashabane
"Love this gwijo❤❤❤❤"

**
@AsandaNkambule-h5w
"100%guys this is 100%

❤"

**
3. @BokamosoNtuli-d7y
"Yoo msaro  what  a nice song❤"

**
4. @thapelomagaxa5804
"his voice wow they are only 4 but the talent is amazing keep it up"

**
5. @OmphemetseKgopa
"oh what a nice remix ❤"

**
6. @BonisiweMpanza-f8n
"This Voice is makes me feel good ❤❤❤"

**
7. @Rmkays.132
"Yhoo these guys are fire

Love their music, always making me feel alive and making me wish l was there singing with them❤❤❤😊😢

**
8. @WillmahMagida
"You sing like a angel ❤❤❤"

2025

9. @MatsedisoMdi-t2e
"Wow❤❤it is a nice gwijo❤❤❤"

**
10. @IngridSelamolela
"I love this song is my favourite song for ever and ever amen and make crying😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤❤"

-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-possible-source-for-xhosa-word.html for the 2025 pancocojams post "A Possible Source For The Xhosa Word "Zampampam" That Is Used As A Title And/Or Refrain In Certain Amagwijo (Call & Response Songs)."

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/06/general-gee-zampampam-gwijo-video-with.html "General Gee & Group - "Zampampam" (Gwijo) video with partial lyrics with English translation"

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A LINKED TIK TOK VIDEO #1
[Unfortunately, I don't know how to embed Tik Tok videos in this pancocojams blog.]

This video and the selected comments from its discussion thread are numbered for referencing purposes only.

https://www.tiktok.com/@yanolyrics_extra/video/7392519723126131973?lang=en "yanolyrics_extra: Yebo Lapho English translation😂…, published by Yano Lyrics Extra 💚, 2024-7-17

1. rat
"what is this translation 😭😭"

2024-7-17

**
2. risten🐆

"I lost it at porridge gun😭💔"

2024-7-17

**
Reply
3. Chanda!!
"Holding what ???😭😭😭🤣🤣"

2024-7-18

**
4. Kamogelo Montisi-Taw
"Lol nah these lyrics must be wrong 😂😂"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
5. Londeka Dlamini
"😂😂"

2024-7-20

**
Reply
6. thobz52
"No really 😂"

2024-7-22

**
7. creezy
"How's this song Legal😭😭😭😭"

2024-7-17

**
Reply
8. aubreykanji
"south africans y'all been singing this all this time ahh"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
9. kay_bee
"Even at school😂"

2024-7-19

**
10. Frieda🫠❤️♾️
"I never expected this😭😅"

2024-7-17

**
Reply
11. Sibahle Mtana
"No guys you don’t have to make a literal translation of everything."

2024-7-19

**
12. CHIHERA
"this is why you should know the meaning of these tunes before singing your heart out 😭😭😭😭"

2024-7-18

**
13. king mafi
"all l do learn is never never ever 💯 translate amapiano some of them especially this generation 🤣🤣 jut do the dance challenge and enjoy 🤣🤣"

2024-7-18

**
14. Nva_Kyankwanzi🇺🇬
"the way we all was vybing to it 😂"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
15. lucie💜💜💜🇹🇿❤️‍🔥
"😂😂😂😂"

2024-7-18

**
16. kelvincumbe1
"It's worse than I thought😭😭😭"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
17. Sizwe Mkhize
"😅😅😅😅"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
18. Chris
"I prefer not to understand 💔💀"

2024-7-18

**
19. blackbrunette_nancy
"No ways 🤭🤭🤭🤭 what?"

2024-7-18

**
20. Ayanda Cekiso
"it's doesn't make sense in English keep it like that"

2024-7-19

**
21.emanuelchimzythun
"😂😂😂😂 look what you did to my fave song💔"

 2024-7-19

**
22. kearsa🏳️‍🌈🥹💕

"you mara ke I enjoy this song but don't know the translation😔😂"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
17. miriam
"😂😂😂"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
18. PITSO NDABA
"😂😂😂 rather not translate coz wow"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
19. Thoby_23
"😂😂😂"

2024-7-19

**
20. Dineo❤️
"lol 😂 the day I listened to this song properly I was shook".

2024-7-19

**
Reply
21. JaneenMelissa
"😭😭😭😭😭😭"

2024-7-24

**
22. Dii
“A porridge gun is needed” for what?😂😂😂😭

2024-7-19

**
23. Silver Moon
"I thought everyone understood this song😭???"

2024-7-20

**
Reply
24. Yols
"No 😭"

2024-8-3

**
25. BoitumeloM
"Its worse in english 😭😭😭😭😂😂"

2024-7-20

**
26. d33_Vers
"😂😂😂I was NEVER ready 😭🙏"

 2024-7-21

**
27. janeyy_m3
"😂😂😂Why direct translation ?"

 2024-7-21

**
Reply
28. @...danon ✨🎀
"Pov:ur mind is..... If yk, yk🤣😭"

2024-7-21

**
29. Nangula_E4🇳🇦
"what are you guys making us sing along to😭😭😭"

2024-7-22

**
30. Dj Hlukzin 👑🙏
"aowa I'm no more singing this song😭"

2024-7-22

**
Reply
31. Nolwazi K🌸
"😭😭😭😭✋🏽"

2024-7-22

**
32.  Witty🦋🌺

" The dance is so cool though 😂😂😂😂the words🙌🙌🔫🔫"

2024-7-23

**
33. sunshine
"it's a joke because the meaning is different in our languages and it's just hard to translate it ends up sounding like nonsense 😂"

2024-7-23

**
34. Gulia🇳🇬🇮🇹

"I have learnt my lesson🤣🤣"

2024-7-23

**
35. moodswingssz
"welcome to sasa frika where we dance to what we don't know it means"

2024-7-26
-snip-
"sasa frika" - a colloquial way of saying "South Africa".

**
36. Phuluphedziso
"Why did i sing it in those English lyrics 😭😩"

2024-7-28

**
37. EasyRipper aka Jaja Tayo
"Wow no no. Wait what the hell yall got us singing lol what!?"

2024-10-19

**
38. Yols
"Never singing it loud again lol wtf"

2024-8-3

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A LINKED TIK TOK VIDEO #2

[Unfortunately, I don't know how to embed Tik Tok videos in this pancocojams blog.]

This video and the selected comments from its discussion thread are numbered for referencing purposes only.

https://www.tiktok.com/@leanzo_theron/video/7401093787994344709 
The first video caption (written in English) “I can’t listen to this song anymore after knowing the English lyrics.”

published by Is That Leanzo?, 2024-8-9 

COMMENTS 
[These comments are numbered in relative chronological order, except for replies.] 

1. AllLove_365
"Hello be singing this with his innocent looking face 😂😂"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
2. kabo.diale
"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

2024-7-18

**
Reply
3. Prosper Makhamba
"Doesn’t make sense in English 😂😂😂"

2024-7-26

**
Reply
4. pourstiel.saxx
"yes our languages can't be translated bro"

2024-7-26

**
5. kelvincumbe1
"It's worse than I thought😭😭😭"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
6. Chris
"I prefer not to understand 💔💀"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
7. blackbrunette_nancy
"No ways 🤭🤭🤭🤭 what?"

2024-7-18

**
Reply
8. Dineo❤️
"lol 😂 the day I listened to this song properly I was shook."

2024-7-19

**
Reply
9.

**
10. Ayanda Cekiso

"it's doesn't make sense in English keep it like that"

2024-7-19

**
5. Dj Hlukzin 👑🙏
"aowa I'm no more singing this song😭"

2024-7-19

**
6. @emanuelchimzythun
"😂😂😂 look what you did to my fave song💔"

2024-7-19

**
Reply
7. user87327547
"why are you translating it 😭😭😭😂"

2024-7-22

**
8.Micodi
"The (direct) translation is wild 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂"

2024-7-21

**
Reply
9.  Mkhonza
"Gun porridge?😂😂😂"

2024-7-21

**
Reply
10.Buhlebendalo 🪷 🇿🇦
"these lyrics...ngeke💀"

2024-7-22
-snip-
ngeke-[Zulu] = English meaning- I won’t

**
Reply
11. shaun
"😂😂translate it properly chief"

2024-7-22

**
Reply
12. Aka Ninja
"then people still say there's nothing wrong"

2024-7-25

**
Reply
13. Infinity_soul❤️
"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭 “yess yes a porridge gun is needed”

2024-8-9

**
Reply
14.Grace🎀😍
"Imma search it"

2024-8-9

**
Reply
12. Grace🎀😍
"Should’ve stayed curious"

2024-8-9

**
13. Danica💋
"the lyrics are heavy yoh😭"

2024-8-11

**
14. Reply
✝️
 "us who always knew the lyrics 👇"

 2024-8-12

**
Reply
 15. Callyn Alexander
"and the way people dance it but dont know the actual lyrics 😂"
2024- 8-14

**
Reply
16. Tati
"But yet here you are dancing to it 😂

2024-8-14

**
17. Yung Angel
"Yes Yes over there A porridge gun is neede

2024-8-21

**
Reply
18. English Police𓅓
"Porridge??? 😭😭😭"

2024-8-17

**
Reply
19. tshepi
"what does it mean"

 2024-8-20

**
Reply
20. londiwe 😋🤪🤪
"a boys infront💀"

2024-8-20

**
Reply
21. tshepi
"thanks"

2024-9-13

**
22. _D.ian_a
"Me too this song took away my innocence 😭😭😭😭😭

2024-8-21

**
Reply
23. Mimi💋
"I thought I was the only one😭😭"

 2024-8-21

**
Reply
24. zykara 101
"I can never delete this frm my memory ,yohhhh🤣🤣🤣🤣"

2024-8-29

**
25. princeĖßakhe
"whyyyyyyy"

2024-9-25

**
Reply
26. ❤️shady❤️
"tℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛"

 2024-9-25

**
Reply
27. Cindy Hassan
"for real 😭😭😭😭"

 2024-9-25

**
Reply
28. hazelhoffman2
"that gun will make thing appear after 9 months😱😱😱"

2024-9-26

**
Reply
29. girvan_n
"😂😂😂😂"

2024-10-27

**
Reply
30. girvan_n
"God bless your innocent mind"

2024-10-27

**
Reply
31. Stunna
"And this is song we are screaming"

2024-8-15

**
Reply
31. maya🌺🐻
"after translation I won't sing loudly 🤣😂😂

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂"

2024-8-15

**
Reply
32. Jomo Sedibane
"but why are you still listening to it"

2024-9-25"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

What Does The Ghanaian Song "Tue Tue" REALLY Mean?

Edited by Azizi Powell

Update: February 5, 2019: Video of "Tuwe Tuwe" [hat tip to Unknown Feb 5, 2019 for alerting me to this video.]

Tuwe Tuwe dance performance



litworld, Published on Aug 6, 2013

****
[Originally published post]
Anyone searching for a translation of the Ghanaian song "Tue Tue" (also known as "Tue Tue Barima") is bound to be very confused because there are widely conflicting translations of this song online.

As of June 29, 2012 there are ten YouTube videos of American [?] children singing "Tue Tue". There's also one video of a woman playing "Tue Tue" on the recorder. In all of these renditions of "Tue Tue" the tune is the same and the words vary only slightly. In most of these videos, "Tue Tue" is performed as a "round", and the tempo for a few of those renditions is faster than the tempo for other renditions.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/07/videos-of-song-tue-tue.html for a post which showcases five videos of "Tue Tue".

What all those posting videos & lyrics to this song agree on is that "Tue Tue" is an African song. All but one of the examples of this song that I've found to date indicate that "Tue Tue" is a Ghanaian song. That lone example is a version of this song entitled "Tue Tue Mareema" which purports to be from the Republic of Guinea. [Information about that song is found with Example #1 below.]

Some sites describe "Tue Tue" as a "traditional Ghanaian folk song" while others categorize it as a "Ghanaian children's song" - these song categories aren't always the same thing. Many websites which include lyrics for "Tue Tue" add the name of an arranger for that particular version of that song. No composer's name is given for this song which may suggest that it really is a traditional folk song. Also, I've yet to find information on how & when this song became known to English speaking people in the United States and elsewhere.

This post provides six text examples of "Tue Tue" that I've found on the internet, along with the meaning that those contributors gave to this song. Those meanings are given in italics to highlight that statement.

These examples are representative of the widely varying meanings that have been given to this song. I use the word "meanings" instead of "translations" because it's my sense that those adults who have taught this song were more interested in identifying a song that met their multicultural need for an African children's song with a lively rhythm & spirit than they were in determining what the individual words of the song might actually mean. That is fine if you believe that the words to the song have no actual meaning as is the case with Example #3 given below. But it seems to me that if the individual words of this song do indeed have a specific meaning in the Akan/Twi language from which the song is suppose to come, then we do children a disservice by "making up" a feel good meaning for those words & that song. Instead of using that opportunity to teach children something about a particular African language, teachers may be introducing or reinforcing the idea that Africans speak "gibberish".

Furthermore, if these examples are adaptations of a traditional Ghanaian song, then it seems to me that teachers should specify what the adaptations are. For example, since so many of these examples specify singing in a "round", children might believe that that style of singing is the way that song was traditionally sung in Ghana. But is that true? Also, accompanying this song with body pats might give children the impression that this song-and perhaps all African songs- are supposed to have such accompaniment. But is that true?

These concerns wouldn't be problematic if multiple examples of "African" songs were taught to children in American schools. However, that certainly isn't true. Given that "Tue Tue Barima" might be the only African song or one of very few other African songs that non-African children learn, it seems to me that we owe it to those children to make sure that the information shared about that song are correct. I believe that efforts should be made to ensure that the words of the song being taught are accurate. And indeed those words appear to be relatively consistent in the examples that I've found. But I'm far less concerned about getting the words "right" than I am concerned that people are "fudging" a feel good meaning for this song, or indicating that the song is a nonsense song whose words have no meaning, if those particular words- or some of those words- actually do mean something in the language from which the song comes.

These examples are not presented in any order of preference. Notice that in each of these examples no English words are sung.

Example #1:
[These lyrics came from a person who identified himself or herself as Ghanaian]
"Mawuli wrote:
March 20th, 2010 at 7:47 am

My dear, l am a ghanaian from the EWE tribe of Ghana.and your request is an ASHANTI language which l speak very well.
the right sentence will be/—- DUE DUE BARIMA DUE DUE
ABOFRA BA AMA WA DA WA
DUE DUE.

Simply means SORRY SENIOR MAN SORRY, THIS SMALL BOY HAD MADE YOU FALLEN FLAT SORRY SORRY.

English translation:
1.DUE DUE means sorry sorry
2.BARIMA means a man/young man/boy–(simply a male).
3.ABOFRA BA means a young boy/young girl.
4.AMA WA DA WAA means you have fallen flat or helpless.

Source: http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/can-anyone-help-with-the-song-tue-tue-from-ghana/ [hereafter known as Mama Lisa: Tue Tue]
-snip-
For what it's worth, the name "Mawuli" is a Ghanaian Ewe name which means "God exists".

On another page http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3174&c=36, that site editor also credits Mawuli and wrote that "This song is spelled "Tue Tue Barima" or "Due Due Barima". The pronunciation is "doo-way doo-way".

On still another Mama Lisa page http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3435&c=246, a contributor named Abi shared the very similar lyrics for a song entitled "Tue Tue Mareema". Abi also wrote that "I understand you have found a Ghanaian version of this song and you might find this information below of interest as well, as I know many versions exist of most African songs as it is, after all, the natural outcome of a mostly aural tradition.

...this is a song which accompanies the Moribyassa rhythm of the Malinke people from Northeast Guinea"."
-snip-
I'm not that concerned that there are slight changes in the lyrics of "Tue Tue" in the examples of that song that I've found online. What does raise my doubts about the African authenticity of the internet versions of this song that I've found are the widely diverging meanings that have been given to this song's lyrics.

****
Example #2:
..."anyone here know of the song/game Tue Tue? (pronounced "too-ay too-ay")

Tue Tue, barima tue tue (repeat)
Ambasa dow, ama dowa dowa tue tue (repeat)
Barima tue tue

(a little girl is selling rice cakes in the marketplace)

Children stand in a circle, performing a complicated hand clapping pattern:
clap twice
pat legs twice
clap twice
pat partner's hands twice
clap twice
pat legs twice
clap twice
pat neighbor's hands (person on the child's other side) twice

According to my source, this is done whilst side-stepping around the circle! My 5th graders can manage the patschen but only one group several years ago could add the footwork!

I learned this from Carolyn Parrott, director of the women's chorus Songweavers in Concord, NH. The year they performed this they had a woman from Ghana in the audience who came up to Carolyn after the concert with tears in her eyes, saying they had sung it exactly as she remembered it as a child. "
-Allison; 27 Jan 08 - 07:03 PM
Source: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=108069&messages=60#2246567 [hereafter known as Mudcat: Tue Tue]
-snip-
Notice that the Ghanaian woman indicated that the song was sung the same way that she remembered it. This might mean that the tune & the words [but not the performance movements] were the same. Also, the blogger didn't write that the Ghanaian woman agreed with the statement about the song's meaning.

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Example #3
"...With that, I'll leave you with the song that caused all the uproar among my students - Tue Tue, a nonsense song from Ghana.

Tue tue barima tue tue
Tue tue barima tue tue
Abofroda, ama dawa dawa tue tue
Abofroda, ama dawa dawa tue tue
Barima tue tue .... tue tue.

Consider adding two claps after the first and second lines. This song can also be sung in a round.
-Posted by MegMcelweeeatSaturday, May 26, 2007
Source: http://montessoribyhand.blogspot.com/2007/05/saturday-song-tue-tue.html

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Example #4
Tue Tue (A round from Ghana proclaiming gratitude for food at harvest time)
Tue tue barima tue tue (Repeat)
A maza bo amma dawa dawa tue tue
A maza bo amma dawa dawa tue tue
Barima tue tue Barima tue tue
Tue Tue (Ghana)
Tue tue Berima tue tue
[tue tue bE Ri ma tue tue]
Abofuma amanawae tue tue
[a bo fu ma a ma na wa ye tue tue]

Source: http://www.bluejamcumbria.com/public_html/vocalunion/info/tue%20tue%20notes.pdf

Example #5
Traditional Ghanaian folksong, arr. Rachel Wadham
Yam it up! Tue, Tue is a traditional Ghanaian song about harvesting. This would fit perfectly into Harvest Festival assemblies and can be used to explore food and farming in Ghana
Tue tue Tue tue
Tue tue Tue tue
Abo fra ba a-ma da wa da wa tue tue
Abo fra ba a-ma da wa da wa tue tue
Tue tue Tue tue
Tue tue Tue tue

English translation:
We are thankful for our harvest
Do you want to come down to Ghana
Do you want to come along, brother
As we travel we'll sing our happy song
Source: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/~/media/Files/Education/Resources/Sing%20up/7_Tue_Tue.ashx

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Example #6
"TUE TUE

Tue tue, barima tue tue
Tue tue, barima tue tue
Abofra ba ama dawa dawa
Tue tue
Abofra ba ama dawa dawa Tue tue
Barima tue tue
Barima tue tue
Barima tue tue
There are many different languages spoken in Ghana. Although the words of this song come from a combination of languages and have no particular meaning, they are rhythmic and up tempo. It is important to sing this song with lots of energy and spirit."

Source: http://nyuchildrenschorus.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/lyrics/.
-snip-
If the words to "Tue Tue" are made up of a combination of languages from Ghana, what are those languages, and why would a song whose words have no particular meaning -as is noted above- need to be made up from a combination of languages?

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Example #7 [Added on February 5, 2019]
Selected comment from the video given at the beginning of this post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPi8d82xT4Q Tuwe Tuwe Dance Performance
1. ruth mcneal, 2014
"Anyone know the translation."

**
REPLY
2. Mollie Da Panda, 2017
"ruth mcneal Yeah, ages ago I looked it up. Its"Sorry man, sorry man.. Something something I forgot:)"

**
REPLY
3. Another Random Bystander, 2017
"ruth mcneal
It means thx for the harvest"
-snip-
end of February 5, 2019 additions

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RESULTS OF ONLINE AKAN (TWI) TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION
It occurred to me that an online Akan to English translation feature could determine which -if any- of the translations given above for the song "Tue Tue" were accurate. Here's the results of my translation efforts using http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tribes/translate_english_to_twi.php
[The Akan/Twi word is given first followed by its English translation.]

tue - [no English translation]
due due - condolences
barima - young boy
abofra (bofra) - child
Ama (ama) girl born on Saturday
wa - yɛ (yɛ) was
waa (waa) strip
da wa – never strip
da - never; not, rarely, seldom etc
-snip-
These translations seemed to me to be close to Example #1's translation with the big exception of the line "Ama Wa Da Waa" (whose meaning the Ghanaian contributor Mawuli gave as "you have fallen flat or helpless".

I tried to find the Akan words for "helpless" and for "fall":
helpless - no English translation
fall - powbere
-snip-
I then looked up the Akan word for "weak" as I thought that was close to the meaning of the word "helpless".
weak - bosaa; guahaa; mberɛw
-snip-
I then looked up the meaning of the English word "strip":
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strip
"strip
transitive verb
1
a: to remove clothing, covering, or surface matter from
b: to deprive of possessions
c: to divest of honors, privileges, or functions
2
a: to remove extraneous or superficial matter
b: to remove furniture, equipment, or accessories
-snip-
If a word of that last line in this song means "strip", I wonder if "2a", does that line mean "removing all obstacles from the person's path?

I also didn't find any results for falling down or flat that were spelled like the words in that line from Example #1.

I then looked up Akan words that pertain to the harvest, thanks food themes that are mentioned in some of the "translations" of "Tue Tue" that are given above:
Harvest – [no translation result]
food - eduane, ediban, eduan
rice - mo
cake - keeki
praise - ayeyi
thank - aseda
to thank (thank) { da ase } verb; show appreciation

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CONCLUSIONS [Revised January 5, 2019]
It seems that the translation given in Example #1 is the most accurate. However, the meaning of that last line "Ama wa da waa" is still unclear. Is this the "right" English translation for this song? Is this song "just" an apology to someone for making them trip & fall? Is this song about harvest time or is this truly a nonsense song? I'm not sure, but from the results of those Akan to English translations, "Tue Tue" doesn't appear to be a song about selling rice cakes. Nor does those translations support the theories that "Tue Tue" is a harvest song about giving thanks.

Does it matter that the meaning isn't as warm & feel good as those "harvest song, praise for food" type meanings? I believe so for the reasons that I gave above. I think lack of knowledge about the Ghanaian culture coupled with a desire for a catchy multicultural addition to a school's repertoire and the desire for a "feel good" meaning were the probable reasons for the creation of another meaning for this song.

The widely diverging meanings given to "Tue Tue" makes me question the authenticity of this song. Is "Tue Tue" a real African song? If so, how was it actually sung in Ghana and/or any other African nation which might have variant forms of this song?

Although I like the spirit & the sound of the song "Tue Tue", if I were a music teacher, I'd be reluctant to teach this song to children until I knew for certain just what the words of that song really mean.

I'd love it if any folks who know Akan/Twi & English would confirm [in English] what the Akan lyrics for "Tue Tue" really are and what that song truly means. Thanks in advance.

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Thanks to all those who I've quoted.

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