Lala, Lala, Mntanami
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Lala, Lala, Mntanami Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Xhosa cradle-song tradition of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, home to rolling green hills and the wild Atlantic coastline. Here you will find the lyrics, meaning, and chords.
Lyrics & chords
An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.
Verse
What the words mean
Chords — guitar & piano
What “Lala, Lala, Mntanami” Means
The Xhosa people of South Africa’s Eastern Cape are known for their rolling green hills, coastal traditions along the Wild Coast, and the isiXhosa language’s distinctive click consonants. “Lala” means “sleep” and “mntanami” means “my child” — words often heard in isiXhosa lullabies. This original song draws on the imagery of cattle, hills, and coastline central to Xhosa rural life.
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