Performing Arts | August 19, 2010

Video: Soulfège reinterprets the West African classic "Sweet Mother"

Shot in Ghana, a reinterpretation of the West African classic by a band including Derrick Ashong ’97 and Jonathan Gramling ’98

From The September-October 2010 Issue

When the band Soulfège reinterpreted the West African classic "Sweet Mother," their version included English, Jamaican patois, Ga, and Twi—all in one verse. Watch the music video here and see how much you can catch. The video features lead singers Derrick Ashong ’97 and Jonathan Gramling ’98, and was shot in Ashong's native Ghana.

Read more about Soulfège in "Afropolitans," from the September-October 2010 issue.

Published in the September-October 2010 print issue under the headline “Soulfège Video: Sweet Mother,” in the section.

You might also like

Three actors perform on stage, with one actor interacting closely with another, set against abstract backgrounds.

The play Spare Parts is a contemporary fable about the quest to live forever.

A group of choir singers performs in a cathedral

The Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum reunites for a 50th anniversary tour around France.

A man sitting at a wooden table in a formal setting with portraits on the wall.

A theatrical reenactment explores a 1976 clash between science and democracy.

Most popular

Caricature of a young man in front of red doors, wearing a green striped sweater.

In 1954, Gregory Corso moved into Eliot House. How he stayed there is a literary legend.

A former Harvard College writing tutor changes her mind on LLMs.

White House and Harvard University buildings split diagonally with contrasting colors.

Harvard Weathers a Year of Turmoil

The federal government has launched unprecedented actions against the University. Here’s a guide.

Explore More From Current Issue

Colorful cartoon animals, including dogs, cows, rabbits, and a fence, on a pink background.

Letters to the Editor

Inseparable cows, big dogs fostering a tiny kitten, and a show beagle’s second act

A glowing bulb shape surrounded by colorful, swirling energy lines against a blue background.

Research

Harvard researchers achieve medical breakthroughs in cancer therapy and infection control.

Modern building with large glass windows, surrounded by greenery and pedestrians.

University News

A roundup of University news from the summer of 2026