SA: Platoon celebrates Kids Music Day with release of African Lullabies album

Kids Music Day is commemorated each year on the first Friday of October. The project emerged out of a desire to expand on the rich heritage of African folklore and create unique content for children which is representative of African culture.

This is the first in a two-part series with Part 1 focusing specifically on South African singers and songwriters including Ami Faku, Aymos, Azana, Bonga Kwana, Derek Gripper, Inga Hina, Leomile, Manana, Msaki, Nobuhle, Ntsika, Thesis ZA, Tresor, Zu., Qhawekazi, Zoë Modiga and Zolani Mahola (The One Who Sings).

“It’s been a privilege and inspiration to work alongside these artists, some of whom are parents themselves, as they bring their African Lullaby interpretations to life on African Lullabies, Part 1,” South Africa music lead at Platoon Hagar Graiser said.

African Lullabies comprises songs in isiXhosa, isiZulu, Swahili, seSotho and English, including a few instrumental tracks. Most songs on the album are original compositions by the afore-mentioned artists, drawing from their experiences in parenthood, African folklore, and interpretations of previously released material arranged and re-recorded as lullabies.

Graiser added: “Each one took naturally to the task of creating new children's content in their mother tongues and delivered something truly unique. Whilst we started making these for children, we fell in love with the music ourselves, as it offered much needed soothing during chaotic times. We hope to see this music travel the globe and give us all the sweetest dreams.”

Msaki said: “This is my first recording of one and we are so excited because my six-year-old daughter is singing with me. The intro is a song she sings to her younger siblings after our bedtime stories. I’m singing her to sleep, and she is singing her fluffy giraffe friend to sleep.”

Zu. said she wrote the lullaby for her 15-month-old son and realised that her “voice calms him and naturally, as a musician, I sing to him often. When he’s crying, during bath time, when he wakes up and (through the lullaby) to help him fall asleep.”

Zolani Mahola (The One Who Sings) said: “My song is a lullaby, I sang to my second born son when I was putting him down one night. I recorded the voice note on my phone and it’s what you hear at the beginning of the track. The inspiration behind the full track is to make a child feel special and loved and wanted.”

Listen to African Lullabies here.