If you enjoy traditional African music then you are going to enjoy this video.
Sung in the Shona language, this song directly influenced the name of our channel.
Growing up in Zimbabwe we would regularly sing this song.
Girls and boys would form a ring and take it in turns to sing.
Whoever is inside the circle would have to sing “Sarura Wako” (choose yours) and the ones on the outside respond Kadeya deya ne ndoro chena
Whoever is inside the circle would then describe their ideal boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend.
So they would describe any distinguishing features they could think of about this person.
Listen out in this video. You will hear these descriptions:
wangu murefu – mine is tall
wangu mupfupi – mine is short
wangu mutema – mine is dark
wangu mutsvuku – mine is light (complexion)
Ndinonyara – I’m shy
When you hear the child singing
Ndimutore here?
It means should I take them?
Specifically meaning should they take the person from the crowd.
It’s a great little game for kids to play because of its social aspect. Also it helps practise all those wonderful new words they are learning to describe this person.
Please note the person doesn’t always have to be a real person. They can be as fantastic as the singer chooses them to be. Just as long as they’re fun and unique for them!
Not to be confused with the Sarura Wako Leonard Dembo version. This is a classic amongst Zimbos for totally different reasons
Enjoy!
Sarura Wako kadeya deya | Learning Shona with Sarura Kids
Do you enjoy learning Shona with us?
Then you will enjoy these posts on our Shona language page.
