The African lullabies on this album feature many new and uniquely beautiful sounds that originated in the villages, cities, tribes, and families of Africa. Douyore, a traditional song of the Mandingo people, uses a balafon (an African xylophone with wooden keys), bolon (a three-stringed African bass), and a karignan (a metal scraper instrument), to tell the story of a parent trying to figure out why their child is crying. A traditional Zimbabwean thumb piano, called a mbira, is featured in Usa Cheme (Don't cry). Salaman features the kora, an African harp with 21 strings made form a large dried squash shell covered in cowhide. The soothing sound of this unique instrument will help your little one drift peacefully off to dreamland. Ikope Ye Tollo (The Birds Are Sleeping) is sung in the Bubi language from Equatorial Guinea, and includes sounds of the forest breeze and birds chirping in the background.  Sao Horas de Dormir (It's Time to Go to Sleep) is a beautiful lullaby in the Cape Verdean language of Crioulu, a linguistic blend of Portuguese and West Africa. The chorus repeats, "Even the sun has gone to bed. Those who go to bed early will wake up smiling tomorrow." Children join in the final chorus.

These lullabies lend themselves perfectly to some cuddle time with your little one as they drift asleep. Although you won't likely know the languages of the songs, a connection to music goes far beyond understanding the lyrics, so you can rock with your little one and hum gently. The universal lullaby language of 'la la la's is even included in Mimi, although the rest of the song is sung in Swahili. If your little one is awake while listening to this album, you can try and name different types of birds, as the song Lonon asks listeners to do, practice 'walking softly' which is what the title Nomathemba means, or read the cover booklet for interesting background information on the singers and songs that you can share with your little one.

My three-year-old friend Sam likes to listen to this album during his afternoon nap. The beats and new instruments must provide him with pleasant dreams because he hand picks this album many afternoons. His favorite song is Mali Sadio because I told him the title means "Sadio's Hippopotamus". Sam wants to be a zookeeper when he grows up, and hippos happen to be his favorite zoo animal.   

 

--Audra