Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Xhosa: Miriam Makeba Song

You don't have to sing the song yourself (even your teacher has trouble!), but you should be familiar with the click sounds in this song because we studied them in class.

In this version she explains that she used to be unhappy when white people asked her: "How do you make that noise?" "It's not a noise. It's my language!" she would answer. Now she doesn't mind such comments.

Here is a clear recording of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tSJ7L_IRBs

Here she explains the song on stage (but the recording is not so clear):



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m_TEq2E4cs

Miriam Makeba speaks Xhosa.

Below a handsome young man from South Africa teaches us how to speak his language. What do we call those special sounds? Remember? We practiced them in class.

Lesson 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ6oe2U7AOA


Lesson 2 (Here he tells you what the sounds are)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31zzMb3U0iY