Fula Lullaby (The Gambia)
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Fula Lullaby (The Gambia) Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Fula (Fulani) people of the Gambia, whose lives have long centered on cattle herding across the country’s grasslands. Fula identity across West Africa is closely tied to pulaaku, an unwritten code of conduct emphasizing patience, dignity, and care for one’s herd, and Gambian Fula families have long practiced transhumance, moving their cattle seasonally in search of fresh grazing as the dry and rainy seasons shift. 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 “Fula Lullaby (The Gambia)” Means
“Neene” means mother in Fulfulde/Pulaar, spoken by the Fula (Fulani) people of the Gambia, whose lives have long centered on cattle herding across the country’s grasslands. This original lullaby draws on those pastoral and grassland images of Fula life, with “neene” used as a warm address rather than a literal translation.
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