Rorogwela

folk song / traditional

Info

This song is from the island of Malaita, Solomon Islands. A recording by a woman named Afunakwa was collected by an ethnomusicologist in 1970. In 1992, Deep Forest, a French musical group sampled the recording and turned it into a hit in Europe and Oceania. The song is about an older brother singing to his younger brother after the death of their parents. (source) (source)

Lyrics - Baegu

(Folk song from the Solomon Islands)

Sasi sasi ae taro taro amu
Ko agi agi boroi tika oli oe lau
Tika gwao oe lau koro inomaena
Sasi sasi ae na ga koro mi koro

Mada maena mada ni ada I dai
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri
Tabe tu wane initoa te he rofia
Sasi sasi ae kwa dao mata ole

Rowelae e lea kwa dao mata biru
Na rowelae e lea kwa dao mata luma
Rowelae e lea sasi sasi ae
Angi angi boro ti ka oli oe lau

Iaia rofia ro aro aro
Nau No na wela wane ku adedite amu
Sasi sasi ae ko taro taro amu
Ga koro mi koro da maena fasi koro

English Translation - Sweet Lullaby

Little brother, little brother stop crying, stop crying
Even though you cry, I’ll still carry you
Who else will take care of you, we’re now two orphans.
Little brother, little brother our mom & dad

Have died & now live on the island of the dead
From the island of the dead they still watch over us
Like royalty, taking care of us with all the wisdom of such a place.
Little brother, little brother, even in the garden

This lullaby continues in the different parts of the garden,
And even in each house visited, this lullaby seems endless,
Lullaby, little brother, little brother,
Even if you cry and cry, who else will carry you.

Oh, oh, my heavens, calm down, calm down now,
I’m just a child, what can I do with you?
Little brother, little brother, stop crying,
Our mother and father have died
(source)