Lozi LullabyLozi Lullaby
A lullaby from Zambia

Lozi Lullaby

Key: A minor~56 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Lozi, Zambia
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Lozi Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Lozi people of western Zambia, known for the yearly Kuomboka ceremony along the flooding Zambezi River. Kuomboka means ‘to move out of water,’ and the ceremony marks the moment each year when the Litunga, the Lozi king, moves by royal barge from his flood-plain palace to higher ground ahead of the rising Zambezi. The barge, called the Nalikwanda, is paddled by dozens of men in traditional dress, and because the ceremony depends on actual flood levels rather than a fixed date, its exact timing is announced only when the waters are truly ready to rise. 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 now, little one, the Zambezi flows so wide,
Dm Am E7
the wooden barge is resting now, along the water’s side.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the floodplain rests tonight,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and fill the sky with light.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep now, little one, the Zambezi flows so wide, the wooden barge is resting now, along the water’s side. Sleep now, little one, the floodplain rests tonight, tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and fill the sky with light.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

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

What “Lozi Lullaby” Means

The Lozi people of western Zambia live along the Zambezi floodplain, famed for the yearly Kuomboka ceremony when the royal barge moves to higher ground with the rising waters. This original lullaby draws on those river and floodplain images of Lozi life.

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Sources & rights

  • An original lullaby by Relax In No Time, inspired by the musical traditions of its region. The words, melody, arrangement and recording are ours.
  • Recording and arrangement: real instruments played by hand, no AI music, by Relax In No Time.
  • Chords: written by us for guitar and piano.
  • Translation: our own meaning-for-meaning translation, written for understanding. The sung words stay in the original language.

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