One of the early songs on the Comex repertoire, Baba Noma, came from Ghana. The words were just sounds, meaning nothing in particular, apart from a cry to mother for help when things went wrong – which seemed to fit the bill and not only in Ghana! The English words were approved over lunch with the Ghanaian High Commissioner in Delhi before the song was given a public airing at an entertainment hosted by the British High Commissioner, John Freeman. The lead singer on that occasion was Eddie Torgbor, a Ghanaian law student in Edinburgh, who appeared on stage in a kilt. In this recording, Chris Nicholls leads the Comex choir, followed by an African version led by John Mwesa and the Heritage Singers of Zambia.

Baba Noma, Alla Muta

Baba ici ano luka,

Ke mazumba itchawalele

Ke mazumba zumba o-i-eh.

Chorus:

Chimame chumbulumba, Chimame chumbulumba

Chimame chumbulumba o-i-eh-eh

Chimame chumbulumba, Chimame chumbulumba

Chimame chumbulumba o-i-eh

Crying Drums, everywhere,

Their moaning sets a rhythm on the air,

If the good life ever really is to matter,

Time to pause a while and start to care.

Chorus

Crying Drums, everywhere,

Echo sadnesses that everyone must share,

But the drums of hope will sound again tomorrow,

When we start to build new bridges and to dare.

Chorus