Description
‘A rhythmically strong work with a compelling text, bringing a Haitian troubadour’s heartfelt cry for ‘Mama Afrika.’ Perfect for competition and festival, it requires a large choir with divisi capacity. While requiring a fair amount of preparation for advanced high school and beyond, it is a challenge, but worth it!’
Translation of Haitian Creole text:
Cries! The troubadour hears cries!
The troubadour from the island of Haiti is asking why…
Why all the chaos in lands of Afrika?
Why all the chaos in the island of Haiti?
Cries! We hear cries!
The young ones are yelling: oh mother!
Cries! We hear cries!
The grown ones are screaming: woh!
Cries! We hear cries!
All the young ones, all the grown ones!
We hear cries!
They are crying:
“Mother, mother, mother, mother,
Oh Mother Africa!
Mother, where are you mother, where are you?
Mother, mother, mother, mother,
Oh Mother Africa!”
Day and night
There is misery and nuisance
Day and night
There is illness and death
There is hunger and war…
Click Here for complete text and English translation
Click Here Traducción al Español
Recordings
Mama Afrika – recording 1:
Kokopelli Choir (Korora)
Bruce Cable, conductor
Mama Afrika – recording 2:
Mt. Saint Antonio College Chamber Singers
Bruce Rogers, conductor
Mama Afrika – recording 3:
Makhanda Kwantu Choir (South Afrika)
Kutlwano Tshekiso Setchaba Kepadisa, conductor
– – –
Recorded at a live concert on September 8, 2024 at
The Chapel of St Mary and All the Angels, Rhodes University
Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) South Africa
Perusal Score
Performance Videos
Practice Tracks