BLEWU | A dirge in Eʋe

BLEWU
A dirge in Eʋe, of endearment for the Dead,
to wish them a safe journey home (to the Ancestral World).
Blewu was famously performed by Bella Bellow (Togo), later also Angelique Kidjo (Benin).
Some claim that the melody was composed by Ephraim Amu (Ghana), originally for the atenteben flute.
I played this on Jan 27, 2022 in Lund, Sweden, after the passing of a good friend.

[@donewell7427]

I was reading about the Ewé people and I came across Bella Bellow whose song Blewu was performed before Donald Trump and other Dignitaries. So I searched to see, and that's how I accross this beautiful performance too❤❤ Love from Ghana

[@avadadatv]

I thought Angelique Kidjo did the original version and also performed it before Donald Trump and other dignitaries Edit: I've just confirmed that Bella Bellow made the original song and Angelique Kidjo modified and performed it. R.I.P to the legend Bella 🙌 🙏

[@pabloel-matter1678]

Each year on my birthday, I play Bella Bellows' version of this song on repeat almost all day. It reminds me of all my wins and loses. Sometimes I cry listening to it. Other times I just smile sheepishly. Today being my birthday, I happen to come across this version by Eva and I just can't stop listening. Partly because this year has been a very tough one and also that the journey may be slow and uncertain but we shall get to our destination one day; happy ending or not. Love and light to everyone counting a loss or celebrating a win.❤

[@senyak7576]

Bless you

[@collinswaves2502]

Here would never be any other recording of this song better than Bella's. Her voice makes the lyrics sink deep into your soul.

[@afiezechiellaamesse7872]

You are Bless

[@emmanuelkwamejunior]

it's funny.. for a moment I thought you were referring to me...

[@faustinezaglago3833]

Wooow!! Wonderful rendition with perfect Ewe accent. Thank you very much

[@aklessonabede5646]

"Gently, slowly... so that we can reach home safely". But... she didn't reach home, unfortunately. I'm so sad when listening this timeless song. You are immortal, Bella Bellow.

[@Roland-vo3ym]

RIP EMMANUEL AKORTSU ELIZABETH AKORTSU CHARLOTTE YAWA ADZRAKU H.V. K NYAWUTO FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS 😭😭😭

[@ostazzofficiel2735]

Wow it's great I'm from Togo🇹🇬

[@smileylady485]

I like her version. Very soothing. Ewe is a difficult language to learn so kudos that she pronounced everything nicely

[@jojognonsou8540]

Madame même si je comprend rien en paroles la mélodie me va droit ou cœur ❤❤

[@aillyshome7512]

Wow Thank you dear Tho I'm an ewe but for the first time in my life,i learnt the lyrics and sang my favourite song right Thank you

[@kofinsiah4416]

I heard it first in the late 1950's. Great performance, TheEvakunda, of this beloved traditional tune from Ewe, Ghana. Thank you!

[@kofinsiah4416]

@@jeanjacquesvovor8918 The original was recorded in the 1950s. I was ere, and I listened to it on the Gold Coast Broadcasting System. What a calm, lovely time to be alive! Bella Bello's version was a re-recording!

[@icerox_]

Wow, I'm amazed! I was raised in Togo listening to Bella as a kid. I remember how beautiful she was on black and white TV. I love this homage to her 🙏

[@revprofkokufoliadomdzacorp7191]

Smashing to Paradise and unto Heaven. Shalom TheEvakunda🙏🙏🙏

[@flamani54]

It is a popular song we learned growing up in southern Togo. Bella Bellow took it to the world. We sing in times of distress and of sorrow, just as you did. I am sorry for your loss and thank you for this new rendition of it. It is also a prayer of thanks.

[@sofoantwi5935]

Bella Bellow is not the original composer

[@flamani54]

@@sofoantwi5935 I did not say so.

[@Khelly112]

Great I love this song

[@Bellajoful]

Wonderful!

[@maudinand1]

Thank you so much.... I knew Bella and listening to you gives me goose bumps.

[@wisdomklu7024]

I always remember my dear sister Elemawusi one anytime that I hear this song

[@franklinattah]

Great job! Pronounced the words clearer and better. Listened to others but this is super considering the fact that she is not Ewe.

[@milliemil7514]

Simply beautiful. ❤🎉

[@TarsiciusPrime]

Absolutely fantastic performance

[@maixentlandou3362]

Bravo et merci Madame! Quelle nostalgie dans cette chanson.

[@karateburkina6-9-38]

Magnifique merci beaucoup

[@johnnyayivi]

Madame vous êtes Extra-ordinaire... Recevez ma profonde ADMIRATION....

[@MaryEyiAdjibolosoo]

am just in love with this song I feel it deep down

[@tevilawson342]

Pure beauty ! I'm ewe the langage in wich you sing : congratulations Madame !

[@TheEvakunda]

Thank you :)

[@justovermusic4620]

As a Ghanaian, Thank you

[@koffiviwatta5862]

Its togolese Song bro

[@emmanuelkwamejunior]

this channel needs lots of publicity.... there are too many of us in this world

[@davorwonder8249]

Waoooooo! Very touching

[@peamysty]

Rest well my beautiful friend

[@patrickaboagye6501]

Thank you. This blessed me.

[@AmetonouEmmanuel]

Very impressive rendition. Thanks for this piece. Proudly ewe

[@africansaint4986]

Wow from a deep sigh to say ths is veritably deep,its pierce the soul

[@Brytelyte-nj4pk]

Eva you’re so gifted. I thank God for your life.

[@theresakumah5567]

This is so beautiful my condolences on your friends passing

[@stonetheunbreakable]

Thanks

[@dovercliffs9455]

Song,well sang .akpe.

[@richardnyabi879]

You have got me glued to your account

[@GreaterDeity]

Just cried my heart out😢😢😢😢

[@one_africa_tv1444]

just made my morning. thank you.

[@SantamariaFudzagbo]

I’m even teary ❤❤❤❤❤

[@megatronDelaMusa]

Eva is more ewe than most ewes. her accent is impeccable

[@farelabiola]

I'm astonished . it's just beautiful

[@UlrichEvAss]

J'adore 💕

[@adolphakpaglo401]

Akpe akpe kakaaa EWELAND NGO

[@r-bela]

Wow. Beautiful. Love the your pronunciation. Thank you

[@Explorateur228]

L'univers 🇹🇬

[@krelovfranklin]

Excellent. You sang it like an indigene

[@nelsonafianu2510]

So much love and respect. A rendition well served.

[@AfuaAmber18]

My condolences on your friends passing

[@TheEvakunda]

Thank you

[@djpeaceakad4415]

Blewu🥺🥺🥺🥺🥰❤

[@mawunyaagbleze104]

Hmm,beautiful rendition.

[@wilfriedtodji7290]

Big respect 🎉akpé loooo

[@r-bela]

You just got a new subscriber

[@emmanuelowusu2704]

Splendid !

[@Cotyledonous]

Hmmm, a beautiful rendition. But it’s unfortunate that this song is regarded by many as a dirge perhaps because it is played at funerals in much of Eυeland and Kidjo’s international performance of the song at a memorial for the dead. But if you are Eυe, listen carefully to the lyrics and the song is not saying farewell to the dead. Whoever wrote the text may not have been thinking about the dead. This is a song of encouragement and hope to the living. It is saying that with patience and bit by bit (going slowly) you will reach your goal in life. There’s no hurry in the things you do just like the strongest in the animal kingdom do not hurry in their steps. The music is sentimental and sounds like a dirge. But the lyrics are saying something different. They are not bidding farewell to someone who is already dead. What do others say?

[@mireillebellow8558]

Thank you Cotylédonous ! That's truth meaning.

[@TheEvakunda]

Thank you for your input, very valuable to me. I know this song is often used in Ghana at funerals, often played as a dirge. Do you know the person who wrote the lyrics? It would be interested to hear his/her input...

[@Cotyledonous]

@@TheEvakunda Unfortunately, I don't know who wrote the lyrics. I know that Bella Bellow first recorded this song in 1971 or 1972 (she died in 1973) after her return from Paris. She had formed a group in Lomé called Gabada and recorded this song as a single (45 rpm) with the group. I also know that she worked with a lyricist on some of her other songs. Perhaps those in Togo who have the original 45 rpm can check the lyricist from the cover of the single. I do not know if Bella was the original composer of the music or if she worked from an old Ewe folk song. When I was growing up in the 70s, this song was not performed at funerals. It may be because recorded music was not played in those days at funerals. There were not many record players. At any rate it was not regarded as a funeral song. The playing of this song at funerals is of a relatively recent development with sound systems at funerals playing at high volumes 😁. Your own English transcript shows it is not a song for the dead. Perhaps another thing that makes people think it is a dirge is the first line which is often mistakenly sung, especially by Ghanaian Eυes, as: Blewuu mia ga kpe (Blewuu we shall meet again) which is something you can sing to the departed. But that is not what Bella was singing. She was saying Blewuu we shall reach home (our destination). Daavi Eva, your rendition of this beloved Eυe tune is superb.👍 Whether it is a dirge or not does not detract from your performance. And you have performed other Eυe tunes most magnificently. We love them all. Your ability to pronounce some sounds in this language that our fellow countrymen think is too difficult for them to learn, is most admirable and commendable. More grease to your elbows! Vi alla älskar dig... 🥰🥰🙏

[@smileylady485]

Spot on!!! I was also surprised when people were relating it to a dirge. Well done for explaining further on it..

[@edenrose6718]

By grace we life thank you ❤

[@papoumkl7118]

Bravo madame 🌹

[@techsocialmedia2849]

Great piece

[@emmanuelnanaadu-yeboah7025]

beautiful

[@ahuefatchao6585]

waouw merci

[@stevenstrong1123]

Waaaoooh my goodness

[@emmiedjoson9661]

Great job!ma ...

[@choralesaintaugustindazove7780]

J'ai aimé 😊

[@euniceetor8634]

Wow, impressive>

[@kokoutsewilliamkouwonou692]

It's a very nice interpretation.

[@joekakone]

Wouah 🤩😍 What an interpretation 🎉

[@eaccentaigu]

Thanks for sharing this

[@SamSam-jr5qu]

Wao! I’m touched 🥰

[@saidbankole9060]

Félicitations. Je ressens beaucoup de frissons

[@germainekoudapko7154]

💕💕💕💕💕

[@davidadorble5707]

Well done

[@otilium7503]

❤❤❤

[@johnakpalu2118]

Slowly, Slowy we shall reach home 2X Slowly, slowly, a leopard does not rush 2x An animal with a tail does not cross over a fire We are in the hands of God and only he knows our life stories We are in the hands of the most high and only he knows our life stories Be Alert, Pray! A long life does not bypass the grave Slowly, Slowy we shall reach home 2X This song says live your life, God knows your issues, do not take unnecessary risks (walking over a fire when you know your tail can catch fire), do not hurry your life; when the your time comes, you will depart; BUT OTHERWISE, LIVE. Just as the late Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes of the US Supreme Court Said: "Death plucked my ear and said, live, I'm coming!"

[@mdactuel04]

Hummmm😢😢

[@lilianflynn1876]

EWE's can't speak EWE language let alone sing in the EWE language! This lady does it beautifully ❤❤❤Proud to be Ewe right to my little toes.

[@davidadorble5707]

Akpe

[@dmasse579157]

Very nice, thank you.

[@afiklenam4073]

🫶🏻🎉

[@germainekoudapko7154]

💕💕💕💕

[@lamysterieuse2499]

❤❤❤