A multi-rhythmic West African drum song that originated in Nigeria. The original is “Bubble,” by Adewale Ayuba and his Bonsue Fuji Band. “Bubble” is a rollicking example of “fuji,” the Yoruban genre that grew up as a popular offshoot of “were music,” which itself a genre of improvisational music performed by Muslim youth to rouse other Muslims in the mornings before fasting begins on the days of Ramadan. In music class we bring out the drums on this song and explore the concept of African polyrhythms.

COUNTRY: Nigeria
LANGUAGE: Yoruba

GENRE: Fuji

LYRICS OF ALL AROUND THIS WORLD VERSION:

Bale ile yi eweso o
Iyale ile yi eweso o

There is a flower and she lives in your house
I love a flower and she lives in your house
I will pick the flower if you let her be mine
I will pick the flower if you let her be mine.