Sing a traditional Sotho folk song from South Africa.
Sing a song with a 3/4 time signature (beats in groups of 3).
Sing a song in AB form.
Read and play even and uneven rhythmic ostinati.
Materials
World map or globe
Optional: melody bells
Ostinato #1 poster: Ti-Ti (Eighth rest)-Ti Ta
Shekeres and gourd rattles
Ostinato #2 poster: (Eighth rest) Ta Ti Ta
Djembes (or low-sounding hand drums)
Instructions
"Mangwani Mpulele" is a Sotho folk song of the Bantu people in South Africa, Lesotho, and Botswana. Roughly translated from the original language, it means: Aunt, open the door for me, I am getting wet with rain. Whether it is here or whether it is there, I am getting wet with rain.
Locate Botswana in Africa on the world map. Locate South Africa. Locate Lesotho.
ASK Why do you think the people of southern Africa would sing about rain? (In the southern region of Africa, drought is an ongoing and severe environmental problem. Rain is very precious. Rainfall is a reason for singing!)
Echo-sing So, So, So, Mi, Re, Do in solfege and with the lyrics: listen to the rain fall and raining down on us all.
As you listen to this song, join in by singing listen to the rain fall (while putting one hand next to your ear) and raining down on us all (while wiggling fingers from top to bottom like rain).
Optional: Add melody bells to the phrase: listen to the rain fall and raining down on us all. The notes are Bb, Bb, Bb, G, F, Eb.
Echo-speak the pronunciation of Mangwani Mpulele: Mahng-wah-nee poo-lay-lay. (Notice that the "m" of "Mpulele" is silent.)
Echo-sing Mangwani Mpulele: Mahng-wah-nee poo-lay-lay. Sing smoothly in one breath as your voice moves higher and lower.
This song is in two sections (AB form).
Echo-sing the first section (A): Mangwani mpulele, listen to the rain fall. Mangwani mpulele, raining down on us all. These words are sung again. Harmony is added on Mangwani Mpulele and a vocal ostinato of Mangwani is sung after the words fall and all. (If desired, divide the group into a melody and harmony group to practice this section.)
Echo-sing the second section (B): It's raining over here, raining over there, listen to the rain fall. It's raining over here, raining over there, raining down on us all. Later in the song, the lyrics change to It's tapping on the roof, on the window pane, listen to the rain fall. It's tapping on the roof, on the window pane, raining down on us all. Listen to the rain fall.
Sing the entire song together.
Rhythmic ostinato #1: Ti-Ti (Eighth rest)-Ti Ta
Echo-clap this rhythm.
Display the Ostinato #1 poster. Read this rhythm using rhythmic language (Ti-Ti eighth rest-Ti Ta OR Eighth Note-Eighth Note eighth rest-Eighth Note Quarter Note).
Add the sound of raindrops to the song by playing this ostinato on shekeres and gourd rattles. These instruments originate from Africa. Demonstrate the correct way to play a shekere. (If these instruments are not available, use shakers.)
Choose a small group to play this ostinato while singing the song.
Rhythmic ostinato #2: (Eighth rest) Ta Ti Ta
Echo-pat this rhythm.
Display the Ostinato #2 poster. Read this rhythm using rhythmic language (Eighth rest Ta Ti Ta OR Eighth Rest Quarter Note Eighth Note Quarter Note).
Add the calling to the aunt to open the door (Mangwani!) by playing this ostinato on djembes or low-sounding hand drums. Make sure to alternate hands when drumming. (This is the same rhythm sung in the vocal ostinato in section A: Mangwani.)
Choose another small group to play this ostinato while singing the song.
Perform this African song with vocal melody, optional harmony, shekeres, gourd rattles, djembes and optional melody bells. Easily memorized, this would be a great song to sing for a Spring program. A simple choreography could be created by a small group to illustrate the words of the song.
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