More and more children's stories like 'Abiyoyo' are appearing in books that combine story and song. The leader sings the song the first few times, and soon the children will know it and can all join in. The song is sung throughout the story and eventually becomes an integral part of it. The combination of story and song in 'Abiyoyo' is irresistible.

When Abiyoyo lies down, the magician has a chance to make the monster disappear. In the story, the monster attacks, and only by having everyone sing the song with energy can they make the monster dance and eventually lie down in exhaustion. The story tells of a magician who can make objects disappear and his son who loves to sing a little song about a monster called Abiyoyo. Pete Seeger's adaptation of the South African song/story, 'Abiyoyo,' is a terrific example. Combining song and story excites children, and they become intimately involved with the tale. In this section I will explain how to weave singing throughout a spoken story.Ĭhildren love to sing, and they love to hear stories. The old Anglo-Saxon legend of Beowulf was probably told in song.īut you don't have to sing your stories. The songlines of Australia are ancient paths on which elders embark on walkabouts, singing Creation stories and recreating the world. Praise singers in western Africa chant stories to local leaders, telling of the leaders' many achievements and ridiculing the achievements of their rivals. Storytellers have been combining songs and stories for millions of years, and to this day many cultures tell stories in song.

Free download her story telling lies