After I made this posting, I found that Mocheddah has a christmas cd out, and its even available for free - details here. To my surprise, homegirl can REALLY sing. NICE! In my defense, its brand new. Oh lest I forget, there is also this single by Kelly Hansome. Its also available for free download. Enjoy!!
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So, nobody has ever really made a Naija Christmas album - at least, not to the best of my knowledge. But there is a strong choral tradition of Christmas music especially in the yoruba language that many choirs around the world have performed in concert. I was first made aware of this a couple of years ago when I went to a Christmas concert when I was in school. They were singing in Yoruba, with a shekere and drums. It was awesome!! So, here are a few of my favorite Nigerian songs, by both local and international groups. Hope it brings you some Christmas cheer as we enter the season.
Just for information: One of the most popular is Betilehemu. I found this comment on youtube regarding the song:
While I do not speak Yoruba, I was taught this song by the man who write it more than 50 years ago, Wendell P. Whalum. Dr. Whalum was the Director of the Morehouse College Glee Club from 1953 until his death in 1987. Sometime in the early 1950's, he overheard his friend Babatunde Olatunji humming a tune from Babatunde's childhood. Dr. Whalum thought it would make a terrific song for the Glee Club to perform. Betelehemu has been a staple of the Morehouse Glee Club repertoire ever since.source
Enjoy!
1)BETELEHEMU , different versions
a) Mormon tabernacle choir (I may not agree with their theology, but dang, can they sing!!)
African Children's choir
Morehouse glee club
Its obviously a very popular christmas song - so many choirs sing it. Just google it or put the song on youtube, you will find so many awesome renditions of the song.
The next three songs are by the Fountain of Life church choir in Lagos.
2) Elu agogo (in yoruba)
3) In Efik language
4) In Igbo language
Other christmas songs I found:
Keresimesi (the original)
Some copies:
LOLL!!!!
And to end with some awesome music:
African Noel by The Marionettes Chorale (Trinidad and Tobago)
We need to put more of our Christmas music out there honestly. I remember attending some awesome concerts when I was back home. I guess I should have recorded them, but there was no youtube back then (sigh!).
I guess my next assignment will be to find christmas music from the rest of Africa.
Enjoy!
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