Sweet Mother
Prince Nico Mbarga, Rocafil Jazz
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12 facts about this song
Origin"Sweet Mother" is a highlife song created by Nigerian/Cameroonian musician Prince Nico Mbarga and his band Rocafil Jazz. It was released in 1976.
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Commercial SuccessThe song achieved great commercial success, selling over 13 million copies worldwide. This makes "Sweet Mother" one of the best-selling songs in the history of African music.
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Fluke SuccessDespite being initially ignored, it became a massive hit only after other bigger records ran out at William Onyeabor’s fledgling Onwa label.
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Universal Theme"Sweet Mother" is a tribute to Mbarga's mother, and mothers universally. The lyrics talk about motherhood and the sacrifices mothers make.
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Cultural ImportanceThe song has become an unofficial anthem celebrating mothers in Africa. It is played across the continent on Mother's Day.
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Musical Style"Sweet Mother" is sung in Pidgin English and incorporates the "highlife" music style, which originated in Ghana and became popular in West Africa.
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LegacyDespite the tragic death of Prince Nico Mbarga in 1997, his music continues to live on. "Sweet Mother" is still played across Africa and during African diaspora celebrations globally.
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Enduring Popularity"Sweet Mother" continues to be covered by other artists and performed at live concerts, symbolizing its enduring popularity over the years.
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Vocal RangeMbarga had a unique singing voice, high, sweet and explosively phrased, which added to the distinctiveness of the song.
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Banned ArtistDespite "Sweet Mother's" success, Mbarga was banned from the state-owned Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation for "singing in a childish language".
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Album Release"Sweet Mother" was originally part of an album called "Sweet Mother," released in 1976. The record contained nine other tracks.
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Record LabelThe song was released under the label Rogers All Stars, a Nigerian label known for highlife and folk music.
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Citation
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"Sweet Mother Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/17354121/Prince+Nico+Mbarga/Sweet+Mother>.
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