Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama Bele Mama Yeh
Bele Mama Bele Mama Yeeeh
Bele Mama Bele Mama Yeeeh
Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama Bele Mama Yeh
Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama
Bele Mama Bele Mama Yeh
I remember it as Belle (beautiful)… you may want to check with Mary who brought it to Singing Alive. Or you may want to sing Belly… let me know if you learn something sense it is a womb~n~song– or I will let you know!
yes, It apparently is from an island off of New Zealand. The words got alliterated into english as ‘Belly Mama’. Anyway, I recorded Mary Dennison teaching me the original song, with all the different parts, and variations. Anyone who want to learn it can ask and I’ll email them the recording. . MT Xen
Can you please email me the recording and meaning of the song? I wish to teach it to my music students. Thank you!
I have shared this song a few times lately. I am curious about other parts and would like to hear Mary’s recording. Thanks.
I learned it as Bella Mama, which translates as beautiful mama… We sing it for Blessing Ways for expectant mamas.
Gretchen Sleicher in Port Townsend recently told me that Belle Mama means “Call Mother”. If i recall correctly, the song comes from Camaroon.
Call Mama – from West Africa
http://www.folkways.si.edu/mouangue-african-ensemble/bele-mama-call-mama/islamica-world/music/track/smithsonian
or
in Swahili: Mbele Mama – long time ago, mama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUUVf9kMHs
I’ve searched a lot to find where this song comes from – I’ve heard lots of origin stories but the one that seems the most reasonable is from this Smithsonian Folkways recording of a band from Camaroon:
https://folkways.si.edu/mouangue-african-ensemble/bele-mama-call-mama/islamica-world/music/track/smithsonian