H Hènèyamou is a Bobo piece of music from Burkina Faso / Mali. Hènèyamou means: health. Good health is paramount! A person cannot work if he or she is sick! If you are healthy, you can do anything!
Hènèyamou Tyohébwé Hèra Hènèyamou wé wé Bé Wuré (2x)
Uéé Bèn Hènya, Taa O Sè Sa Ma Vanù Mù Wé Yilé ? (2x)
ohh health, your happiness, and it’s your health that’s everything too (2x)
You are sick ! How can you work and have everything? (2x).
In addition to the accompaniment pattern A, there is another pattern that could be used as an accompanist: B. Or is it a solo accompaniment pattern that is played high on the balafon? Pattern C is fine to first mastering the motoric skills and after that the ‘colouring’.
When this piece was given during our workshop in 2015, I was sick myself. In my bed, I could listen to the repeated patterns and melody. What a fitting song! Anja wrote down as much as possible and Carl made numerous recordings so that I could study the song at home later.
Abdoulaye, Youssouf’s son, was diagnosed with appendicitis in early 2021. Fortunately, they were quick and he could be operated successfully. He is slowly recovering. Hènèyamou!
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