African Before The Cities · English / Pidgin / Ibibio / Efik / Igbo
African Folklore Dance
Ancestral rhythms and the spirit of Africa brought to life through dance and drums.
Lyrics
Intro (Spoken – Deep ancestral voice)
Drums of Africa…
Voices of the ancestors…
From Calabar to Lagos…
From the village square to the moonlight…
We dance… we remember…
(Talking drums begin softly)
Verse 1
In the village when the moon shine bright
Children gather by the firelight
Grandma tell the stories of old
Warriors brave and hearts of gold
Drummers calling from the sacred ground
Every heartbeat carry ancient sound
Masquerade spirit walking slow
Through the dust where the ancestors flow
Pre-Chorus
Body moving like the river tide
Spirit rising from the earth inside
Every step tell history
Every drum beat set us free
Chorus (Call & Response Style)
Lead:
Africa dance o!
Choir:
Dance o! Dance o!
Lead:
Spirit of our fathers rise!
Choir:
Rise up! Rise up!
Lead:
From the village to the city lights!
Choir:
We no forget our roots tonight!
All:
Eh-yah eh-yah
We dance for life
Eh-yah eh-yah
Through day and night
Verse 2
Ekombi beauty for the Calabar shore
Masquerade spirit knocking on the door
Bata drums talking to the kings
Ancient wisdom every dancer brings
Ibibio Section
"Ke imọ ikot, imọ ima"
(We know the village, we know the tradition)
"Mbọkpọ ọwọño Abasi mi"
(The glory of my God)
Efik Section
"Eyen Efik imọkpọ imọ"
(The Efik child knows the tradition)
"Anam mkpọn idem ke usung"
(I dance with my whole body)
Bridge (Spiritual Build-Up)
Oh ancestors guide our feet
Through the fire and the heat
Every culture every tribe
Keep the African soul alive
Igbo Chant
"Ndi nna anyi, bia nu!"
(Ancestors, come!)
"Anyi ga agba egwu!"
(We shall dance!)
"Africa wu ndu!"
(Africa is life!)
Chorus 2 (Bigger Choir)
Lead:
Beat the drum make the earth shake!
Choir:
Earth shake! Earth shake!
Lead:
Let the spirit awake!
Choir:
Awake! Awake!
Lead:
From Nigeria to Ghana side!
Choir:
Africa spirit never die!
All:
Eh-eh eh-eh
Dance in the rain
Eh-eh eh-eh
Break every chain
Verse 3
From the desert to the ocean side
African rhythm we no fit hide
Zulu steps and Maasai high
Talking drum under the sky
Children dancing round the flame
Calling every ancestor name
Modern world but still we know
African spirit still dey grow
Final Spiritual Outro
Spoken over drums
When we dance…
We remember who we are…
The earth speaks…
The ancestors answer…
Choir Fade
"Africa… Africa…"
"Egwu… Ekombi… Bata…"
"Spirit never die…"
Video embed coming soon.
The official video and karaoke timing will be wired in via the CMS.