A South African Lullaby in Zulu
Kaitie says: I loved singing this with Maggie and Emile at Golden Bridge Choir years ago. I found myself singing it more often once I became a mum, and now am looking forward to singing it with my own choir. It’s a beautiful, poignant song, and for me it hints that the parent is comforting their child as well as themselves, and processing the pain of seeing what their coparent is missing at home. One parent is away, likely working in mines which was dangerous work and could keep families apart for months at a time. If you want to learn more about that, visit this page about mining in South Africa.
Notes from Mama Lisa: “Thula Baba” is sometimes called “Thula Thul”. It’s sometimes sung about the “father” or “little man” (using “baba” and “ubaba”), sometimes “mama”(using “mama” or “umama”). In some versions, you’ll hear “thula ntwana”, which means, “hush little child” (“prince” or “princess”).
Lyrics for Thula Baba (Zulu/South African)
Background:
Thula, thula mama
Thula, thula baba
Thula, thula sana thul
Thula thul, thula baba, thula sana,
Tul’ubab ‘uzobuya ekuseni
Thula thul, thula baba, thula sana,
Tul’ubab ‘uzobuya ekuseni
Kukh’in khan-yezi, zi-holel’ u baba,
Zim-khan yi-sela indlel’e ziyak-haya,
Sobe sik hona xa bonke be-shoyo,
Be-thi bu-yela u-bu-ye le khaya,
Thula Baba (English translation)
Background:
Calm, peace mama
Calm, peace dada
Calm, peace, very peaceful
Keep quiet my child
Keep quiet my baby
Be quiet, daddy will be home by dawn
There’s a star that will lead him home
The star will brighten his way home
The hills and stones are still the same, my love
My life has changed, yes my life has changed
The children grow, but you don’t know, my love
The children grow, but you don’t see them grow
Our teaching tracks are below.
For Pronunciation: please refer to the Soweto Gospel Choir’s recording: https://youtu.be/PINRcuqqDUg?si=kzIeg1pjXaLRzJik
Our arrangement, based on an arrangement learned from Golden Bridge Choir:
Parts separated: