Fanga by Alafia

Performance of Fanga, a West African welcome song and rhythm. Performed by Sondra Singer and Helen Trencher, also known as Alafia, a storytelling duo.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• drumming
• African
• Fanga
• Alafia
• Djembe
• Story
• rhythm
• song

[HMTrencher]

We're not sure, totally. The song itself comes from several countries in West Africa. The man who made it famous was from Nigeria, Babatunde Olatunji.

[oogaboogabk]

I believe this song originated in Kenya (EAST Africa) although it is now sung/danced in many countries of Africa

[storydrum]

I am the one on the left. I learned this song and rhythm about 15 years ago from an American drummer. I then had the honor of being in a workshop with Olatunji at Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO, in 2000. He taught us Fanga - the song, the story, and rhythms. I have adapted them somewhat, as every performer does. But, essentially, we are performing the song as taught to me by Olatunji. I see many versions of this song and dance on YouTube. With Baba gone, I see this as keeping his work alive.

[azizip171]

@storydrum, the great dancer & choreographer Pearl Primus is who you are thinking of. But from what I've read, she choreographed the Fanga dance movements based on traditional Liberian dance and along with members of the Liberian National Dance Company in 1959 & not the 1930. I'm not certain whether the Little Liza Jane tune was originally used for that dance. The lyrics with Yoruba words may have been created by the great Olatunji. The lyrics "with my mind/heart/mouth" came from someone else.

[Jackrwilliams95]

n00bs lawlz



[storydrum]

Also wanted to add something to the last comment. Helen and I are storytellers. It is traditional to have music, story, dance, and song, together. This is our adaptation of Fanga based upon what we've learned over the years from our teachers, who are mostly from different parts of Africa. It's interesting that we don't always get the same answer to a question from different teachers. So, don't get too hung up on any one answer. There are many languages and dialects in West Africa, alone!

[storydrum]

I was in a workshop with Babatunde Olatunji in 2000 in Boulder, CO. The story is based upon the story he told us. Baba was one of the people who brought Fanga to the Westen world, but not the first. There was a researcher (a woman whose name is currently escaping me) from Liberia who first brought the song to the West in the 1930's, based upon the research I did. The song is from Babtunde Olatunji. If he took creative license, we have no way to check that now!

Sondra (the performer on the left)

[jbrad1211]

Save time. They don't play until 4:05. The song is probably not a true African song. The tune is O...Eliza, Lil Liza Jane. It was most likely taken back to Africa from America. My source on this fact is from a recent publication by the American Orff Schulwerk Association Still a fun song, but not authentic in original, but maybe in style.

[afshinator]

Alaafia is an Arabic word that was adopted by the Yoruba through cultural influences.

[timonleetwentythree]

I like the one on the right. hahah