Chon Chon Abe

Elegua

🎙 Stephanie recording 🎧 Community recording

Audio

Full recording.

Stephanie recording · recorded April 5, 2022

Audio

Full recording.

Stephanie recording · recorded April 5, 2022

Audio

Full recording.

Stephanie recording · recorded April 5, 2022

Audio

Heard between 1:55 and 2:40.

Audio

Heard between 4:35 and 5:34.

Audio

Heard between 7:11 and 7:54.

CALL (First ‘verse’):

common spelling	common pronunciation
(I) chon chon abe	(Ee!) shon shon ah-bay
Chon chon abe odara	shon shon ah-bay oh-da-rah
Kolori eyo	koh-lah-ree aay-yo
babasemi	bah-bah-say-mee
Chon chon abe	shon shon ah-bay

RESPONSE (First ‘verse’):

common spelling	common pronunciation
(I) Chon chon abe	(Ee!) shon shon ah-bay

---

CALL (Second ‘verse’):

common spelling	common pronunciation
(odara) kolori eyo	(oh-da-rah) koh-lah-ree aay-yo

RESPONSE (Second ‘verse’):

common spelling	common pronunciation
chon chon abe	shon shon ah-bay
Chon chon abe odara	shon shon ah-bay oh-da-rah
Kolori eyo	koh-lah-ree aay-yo
babasemi	bah-bah-say-mee
Chon chon abe	shon shon ah-bay

---

You might also hear the middle sung twice as in:

common spelling	common pronunciation
chon chon abe	shon shon ah-bay
Chon chon abe odara	shon shon ah-bay oh-da-rah
Kolori eyo	koh-lah-ree aay-yo
Chon chon abe odara	shon shon ah-bay oh-da-rah
Kolori eyo	koh-lah-ree aay-yo
babasemi	bah-bah-say-mee
Chon chon abe	shon shon ah-bay

---

Need Help?

• Listen to the akpwon (vocalist/chanter)! Chon chon abe might get an extra sound at the start, like this: ee-chon chon abe.
  • It may be written as i-chon chon abe. Remember that i sounds like ee.. hear it here: Yoruba Alphabet: i
  • Another thing to note, chon may be said like chon (like ch as in choose) or shon (like sh as in shoe). There is no difference in that word; just simply know that it is the singer’s choice.
  • Also note, that the first line may also be sung as (Ache) chon chon abe.
• You may hear the akpwon say the name of the path of Elegua instead of Babasemi, listen carefully and respond accordingly.
  • Laroye
  • Alagbana

TRANSLATION/MEANING

• He who walks with a pointed blade/knife
• Be good; don’t allow your head to bring tragedy
• Father who is mine
• Be good; don’t allow your head to bring tragedy, the one who lurks in solitary places

Resources

• Ritual Songs as taught by Afolabi
• Elegua Class with Bobi Céspedes on December 6, 2021 (link)
• Elegua Class with Bobi Céspedes on May 9, 2022 (link)
• Recording by Stephanie Frantz recorded on April 5, 2022
• Recording by Stephanie Frantz recorded on April 5, 2022
• Recording by Stephanie Frantz recorded on April 5, 2022

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