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This page is a mirror of the Fanga page copied from Artdrum. Accessed and Mirrored on 12SEP2K9 without permission to preserve the chain of information hopefully this falls under "fair use." This archived page was copied and edited to match the style of Signa PHI Nothing webpages, from:

http://artdrum.com/POETRY_DRUM_CHANTS.htm

Fanga Alafyia An Ancient African Drum Chant of Peace and Conviviality

Fanga is a fun chant that captures the essence of peace, friendship conviviality and hospitality. In singing the fanga there needs to be a Caller and a Responder. The lyrics are simple but fun.

Call: Fanga Alafiya (ah-lah-fee-yah)

Response: Ashe Ashe (ah shay)

Caller: Fan-ga, A-la-fi-ya

Response: A-she, A-she

Together: Ashe Ashe Ashe Ashe, Ashe Ashe Ashe Ashe
Ashe Ashe Ashe Ashe, Ashe Ashe Ashe Ashe

Reverse the caller and responder.

Group 1: Fang-Alafyia, fang-alafiya

Group 2: Ashe-Ashe, Ashe-Ashe

The Meaning of Fanga Alafyia

Ashe = so be it

Ashe, ashe = so be it, so be it

The Culture of Fanga

Fanga was used by traveling tribes upon entering new villages.

When a visiting tribe was approaching a village they would sing “Fanga-Alafiya” to indicate that they come in peace If the villagers welcome them, they reply: “Ashe-Ashe.” Then, the travelers and villagers reverse the lines..

The fanga song was often the common denominator between tribes that otherwise spoke different languages.

“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
- Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

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Copyright (c) 1998-2011  R. Clark - clark@acceleration.net .
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