It Takes a Village and a Song

The Unborn Child's Song

Thought in Your Mother's Mind 

In the Himba tribe in Africa, a child's birthday isn't designated as the day they were born or conceived but as the day the child became a thought in its mother’s mind.

When a Himba woman decides to conceive she sits alone under a tree, listening until she hears the song of the child who wants to come into being. 

This song becomes the child's identity throughout life--with the birth song sung during all significant developmental phases of the child.

Conception

Inviting your Child to come to you thru its Song 

When the Himba woman hears the song of the child she returns to the father-to-be and teaches it to him. During mating to conceive, they sing the song of the unborn child to welcome the child into their lives.

Welcome--You Belong

Welcoming Child with Its Song 

A pregnant mother teaches her child’s song to the midwives and old women of the village. When the child is born the old women and people around him sing the child’s song to welcome him into the community where he belongs.

Sooth, Honor and Calm 

Calming and Honoring Child with It's Song

As the child grows up other villagers are taught the child’s song. If the child falls or hurts its knee someone picks it up and sings the child's song to soothe her. 

When the child does something wonderful or goes through the rites of puberty the people of the village sing her song to honor her.

Your Song Calls You Back

When you Lose Your Way

If at any time during his life, a person commits a crime or aberrant social act the individual is called to the center of the village and the Himba people in the community form a circle around him and sing his song to him.

The correction for antisocial behavior in this tribe is not punishment--it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.

Ancient Traditions 

The Final Song

In a person's final days, the villagers sing to him or her one last time. While lying in bed ready to die, all the villagers sing the song as the person crosses over.

Thanks to the Unknown Singer

The story of this tribal tradition first came to me two years ago in an email from my sister-in-law. I squirreled it away waiting for the right moment for it to be born into my consciousness. 

As I studied my recently created art pieces (one's that emerged on their own), this practice of 'singing our song' to guide and comfort us through life jumped out and into my thoughts. 

I don't know who wrote the email about the tribal tradition. I thank her and share her final 'so whats' for us:

"You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not."

"When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn’t."

"In the end, we all recognize our own song and sing it well. You may feel a little weak at the moment but so have all. Just keep singing and you’ll find your way home."

Unknown

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before.


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