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AFRICAN AMERICAN PAGES
Edition
001
These pages contain complete examples and excerpts
of traditional and contemporary African American game songs,
rhymes, chants and slavery dance songs.
Most of the featured examples are from children’s play.
However, some featured rhymes and chants are from Black
fraternities, Black sororities and other Black adult organizations. Examples of game songs, rhymes and chants from other Black
cultures throughout the world will be found on the WORLDWIDE pages.
Examples of African
American slavery dance songs are also included because of their historical
value and because their words, tunes and performance styles have often
been used to create contemporary game songs, rhymes and chants.
CocoJams’ examples are presented in alphabetical
order based on the first letter of the first word of the title.
Number titles are listed under the first letter of the number’s
word. Titles are written in
bold and placed above the example.
Words
such as “soloist” and “group” are written in italics in front of
call & response examples to indicate who is singing or chanting the
lyrics. These words aren’t
recited.
Performance instructions are written in italics and
placed in parenthesis either in the example or immediately below the
example. Words that may not
have been clearly heard are written in italics and placed in parenthesis
within the example. Brief
definitions of slang words and definitions of unfamiliar words are also
written in italics and placed in parenthesis within the example.
Words that are written in italics and placed in parenthesis
aren’t recited. Some words
in the examples of slave songs have been updated to make them more
understandable or more politically correct.
These revisions are recited. They
can be identified because they are written in italics within the
example’s lyrics, but aren’t placed in parenthesis.
Words such as “And”, “Yeah” and “Well” may be written
in the beginning of chants and rhymes.
These words may be found in parenthesis within the examples, but
are written without italics. Performers can choose whether they want to recite these
words.
Brief
commentaries about the examples are written in smaller print below the
example. These comments
provide information about when and where the game song, rhyme or chant was
collected, and who or what was the source of the example.
The commentary also provides information about how the game song,
rhyme or chant is played and who generally plays it.
In addition, the commentary also provides opinions on the cultural
meanings of the example. Unless
it is otherwise indicated, the examples come from my collection and I have
written the commentaries. The
names of other persons who provide examples and write commentaries will be
noted in the commentary.
CocoJams
visitors are encouraged to
submit traditional and contemporary African American game songs, rhymes
and chants for possible addition to this collection.
Examples
may be submitted with or without commentary.
Click on to the Submissions section for more information about how
to send material to CocoJams.com.
Enjoy
learning about Black culture with CocoJams.com!
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