Nursery Rhymes›Barci Lafiya, Ɗana
Barci Lafiya, ƊanaBarci Lafiya, Ɗana
A lullaby from Nigeria

Barci Lafiya, Ɗana

Key: A minor~56 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Hausa, Nigeria
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Barci Lafiya, Ɗana Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Hausa cradle-song tradition of northern Nigeria and the Sahel, a region shaped by cattle herding, trade, and wide savanna skies. Here you will find the lyrics, meaning, and chords.

Sing & play

Lyrics & chords

An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.

Verse

Am Dm Am
Sleep well now, my child, the cattle have come home,
Dm Am E7
the savanna wind is settling low, the stars begin to roam.
Am Dm Am
Sleep well now, my child, the market day is done,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow you will wake to greet the rising Sahel sun.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep well now, my child, the cattle have come home, the savanna wind is settling low, the stars begin to roam. Sleep well now, my child, the market day is done, tomorrow you will wake to greet the rising Sahel sun.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Am
x
Guitar
CEA
Piano
Dm
xx
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E7
Guitar
EBG#
Piano
Good to know

What “Barci Lafiya, Ɗana” Means

The Hausa people, one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, are traditionally associated with trade, cattle herding, and the wide savanna landscapes of northern Nigeria and the Sahel. “Ɗana” is a Hausa term for “my child.” Evenings in Hausa communities often close with the return of cattle, the quiet of the market square, and a blessing for peaceful sleep — the images at the heart of this original lullaby.

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