- Hi, my name is Sister Summaya.
It's good to see you.
Good to be here.
The dance and song that we're going to do today
is from the country of Nigeria, which is in West Africa.
And there's no literal translation for this song,
but in Africa there are a lot of songs about people.
And so this song is about someone called Kofi,
that's as much as I know about this song,
but it's a fun song and it's a call and response.
So I'll say it first and then you'll say it.
And you may already know it.
If you know it then help the help those
who you may be dancing with or pass it on.
Once we finish our lesson,
you can pass it on to your parents or your friends.
But the beginning of the song goes,
Che Che Koolay
and then you'll say.
I'll say it first, I'm the caller, and you're the response.
So I'll say Che Che Koolay
and you'll say...
Yes.
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
And some people go Oops Akende
You can play with that song,
nothing is in stone.
You can be creative with that song.
If you wanna to go Oops Sumayya
you can do that and use your own name.
Oops, Miss Tina!
You can do whatever word you want to put there,
you can put there.
I go Oops Adende
And then you have to jump with that.
Oops Adende
Okay, so let's try it one more time.
Remember, it's a call-and-response.
So I'll go first and then you'll call,
it's a call and response.
We don't sing together, but we are singing together.
So, Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Very good.
Now I'll singing it for you.
Okay?
Did you see that I went slow the first time
and then I went faster?
So that's how the story goes.
That's how that song gonna go.
We'll start out slow and then we'll go faster.
I'm gonna put some movement to that.
And again, we'll start out slow
and then you'll see Sister Sumayya go a little bit faster.
Did I tell you I was a teaching artist?
I'm a teaching artist.
What does that mean? It means I'm an artist to teachers.
So I wanted to get that in.
So the first movement is,
Che Che Koolay
Yes, I'll do it again.
Che Che Koolay
Your turn. Yes!
And then we'll go to the shoulders.
Che Che Kofisa
Good.
Now your hips.
Kofisa Langa
Can you do your hips?
Kofisa Langa
Then we go to the knees and you rock forward.
Langa Chi Langa
And then you jump.
Oops Adende
You have it?
Che Che Koolay
You remember there's a response.
Che Che Kofisa
Good.
Kofisa Langa
Can you see my hips?
Can you see my knees?
Langa Chi Langa
Then you jump.
Oops Adende
Then we move a little quicker.
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
(laughs)
(applauds)
Now you're gonna do that.
Do we need to go over it one more time slow?
One more time.
Take a deep breath in,
let it out with sound, ahhh.
Deep breath in
(inhales)
(laughs) Let it out with sound.
Here we go.
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Hips.
Kofisa Langa
Knee.
Langa Chi Langa
Jump!
Oops Adende
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
(laughs)
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Very good.
Now I'll play and you'll do it.
Which drum should I use?
I think I'll use my hands.
I'll play and then,
you'll start your song.
I'll sing with you,
but I think I'm gonna drum
if I can get it right.
(drum beats)
Did you know the drum was first form of communication?
(drum beats)
Used to tell everyone in the village,
something good was going on.
Either a rite of passage,
(drum beats)
or a naming ceremony,
(drum beats)
or a marriage,
(drum beats)
or a wedding,
(drum beats)
or a birthday.
(drum beats)
The birthday is the best right?
(laughs)
And it's on the go, instead of saying birthday
they say happy anniversary.
So if it's anybody's birthday, happy anniversary.
Alright, here we go.
You're ready?
Take a deep breath in,
(inhales)
Let it out with sound,
(exhales)
Sometimes when you make sound it gives you your breath back.
So take a deep breath in,
(inhales)
and let it out with sound
(exhales)
When you dance and you get tired, always make sound.
Take a deep breath in,
(inhales)
and let it out with sound.
(exhales)
Cause air is the most important element for human beings.
(drum beats)
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Good!
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Good!
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Good!
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
(applauds)
Very good.
Now we'll slow it down and go again.
Slow it down, take a deep breath in.
Did you hear the Kofi Sa Langa?
That's the guy, Kofi.
Remember I told you it's about a person.
A lot of songs in Africa they sing about each other.
It isn't just about singing something really deep,
but it is usually not.
It's about someone in the family, someone in your lineage,
someone in the village, someone who was good to your family,
they'll sing, they'll make a song for that person
because that person was good to the family.
And Africa people look at what's in your heart
more than what's on your face.
So we always want to make sure that our hearts,
that we lead with our heart.
Ready?
(drum beats)
Che Che Koolay
Che Che Kofisa
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Hey! Che Che Koolay
Kofisa--ahhh!
Kofisa Langa
Langa Chi Langa
Oops Adende
Thank you.
I hope to see you again soon.
I'm Sister Sumayya and I'm a teaching artist
with the Creative Advantage.
(upbeat music)