Sweet Lullaby Lyrics

The Baegu lullaby heard in "Sweet Lullaby" is from Northern Malaita in the Solomon Islands. The lullaby was recorded by ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp in Fulinui in 1969. The song is called Rorogwela and is sung by Afunakwa. The lullaby is about a young child crying because his parents are not around. In response his older brother sings this song to comfort, as well as tell him the reality, with an appeal for his deceased parents to protect this child in the land of the living (local ancient belief is that the dead care for loved ones they left behind). Celsus Eloga Talifilu and his relatives helped to transcribe and translate the lyrics of this lullaby. Celsus is son of Saverio Talifilu who was the Baegu headsman that organized the recording session with Hugo Zemp.