Cradle songs ( kenget e djepit ), also called lullabies (ninna-nanna), have been used through the years as an artistic communication between mother and child, to put the baby to sleep. These songs occupy an important place in Albanian folklore, and have come to express the feelings, thoughts, values and the bond that is created between the mother and her child.
The researcher Ferial Daja said:
“Lullabies are more or less intimate monologues of the mother, but she experiences them as a real head to head conversation with her child. Referring to her child she expresses her deepest dreams and desires she has for the baby: wishing good health and a long life, high moral qualities and a good position in society. Each lullaby glows from the mother’s enthusiasm and her parental love.”
During lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, we asked some of the younger members of the Shpresa community to sing their favourite lullabies.
Nina Nina bija ime
kush ti lane ato skutine
E ti lane nena ime
ty t’ka nena nder mjedise
Nina nina bije ime
ty t’ka nene nder mjedise
ty t’ka nene nder mjedise
gjithnje lajka e bukuruse
Nina nina
Nina nina Buna Buna
Qika e Babit ‘tat me pula
Tat me pula ‘tat me kingja
Qika jeme osht ma e mira
Nina nina n’djep të drurit
Ty tka babi qikë t’katunit
Nina nina n’djep me kashtë
T’u rrit shtati dhe t’u trashtë
Nina nina qika babës
Ti mu rritsh si rremi thanës
Rremi thanës, rremi mollës
Vijnë e t’thërrasin shote
e shkollës
Xhumo xhumo kah mullajni o
ti vaj cauces mu ke sajni o
Xhumo xhumo hah Vardari o
a ti vaj cauces kah balli o
Xhumo xhumo kah ke shetajto
caucen teme ma ke shetajto
Luli Lulu n’djep alltanit o
nuk don nana tjeter kond
pervec taj e babes tond
Sleep or sleep at the mill
would you rest at my daughters eyes?
Sleep or sleep at the oak tree
would you rest at my daughters forehead?
Sleep or sleep where are you walking?
where are you taking my daughter?
Flowers flowers in golden cradle
your mother loves no one else
except you and your dad
Nini-nini, nin-nin-o,
zene, gjumi, çunin-o,
çunin gushpëllumbin-o.
Djepja me çarçaf të hollë,
rritu, bir, të t’çoj në shkollë;
djepja me çarçaf si vdorë,
t’m’i boesh nanës doktor;
rritu, bir, i fort’, vigan,
të punosh ti për vatan.
Nini-nini, nin-nin-o,
go to sleep little boy
my boy, as beautiful as a dove-o.
Your cradle has white sheets
Grow up my son; I’ll take you to school;
Your cradle has white sheets,
I want you to be a doctor;
Grow up, my son, strong as a giant,
Grow up to work for your country
A selection of traditional Albanian lullabies passed down to younger generations.
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