A Fransaskois from Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan, she was a member of the folk music band Folle Avoine in the 1970s. Her brother Paul Campagne and sisters Suzanne Campagne, Michelle Campagne and Annette Campagne, her bandmates in Folle Avoine, have also continued in music with the folk band Hart-Rouge.
She, along with Connie Kaldor, received a Juno Award at the 1989 Award ceremony in the category Best Children's Album for Lullaby Berceuse.
In 2013, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions as a singer, songwriter and composer enhancing music for young children and using music in French-language education".
She died of cancer at age 58 on July 4, 2018, in Willow Bunch.
Mustafa
Carmen Campagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Au cœur de la jungle de l'Afrique
Depuis qu′il est tout petit garçon
Il adore la musique
Mustafa vit dans son petit village
Avec ses parents et ses amis
Partout, peu importe où il va
Son père est musicien
Il joue du tambour africain
Mustafa lui aussi voudrait jouer
Du bougaroubou et du djembé
Shé, shé, shékéré
C'est le langage du djembé
Shé, shé, shé, shékéré
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
É, é, écoutez
Il veut vous parler
Il a quelque chose à raconter
Il y a longtemps dans ce petit village
On parlait aux villages voisins
On envoyait des messages
Sur le tambour africain
S′il veut être musicien
Jouer du tambour africain
Mustafa doit apprendre à faire parler
Le bougaroubou et le djembé
Shé, shé, shékéré
C′est le langage du djembé
Shé, shé, shé, shékéré
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
É, é, écoutez
Il veut vous parler
Il a quelque chose à raconter
(Shékéré)
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Shé, shé, shékéré
C'est le langage du djembé
Shé, shé, shé, shékéré
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
É, é, écoutez
Il veut vous parler
Il a quelque chose à raconter
(Shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
Aye oh aye oh aye
(Shé, shé, shékéré)
The song "Mustafa" by Carmen Campagne tells the story of a young boy who lives in a small village in the heart of the African jungle. Music is a huge part of Mustafa's life, and he has a passion for playing traditional African instruments, particularly the bougaroubou and the djembé. Mustafa's father is a musician himself, and plays the tambour africain. The song emphasizes the importance of learning how to use these instruments properly, as they were once used to communicate with neighboring villages in the past.
The lyrics of the song are simple yet powerful, and encourage children to embrace the joy and beauty of music, regardless of their background or location. The repetitive chorus, which features the shékéré rhythm, adds a certain lightheartedness and playfulness to the song, making it enjoyable for listeners of all ages. The song ultimately serves as a celebration of African music and culture, and encourages children to learn more about this rich heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
Mustafa vient d′un petit village
Mustafa comes from a small village
Au cœur de la jungle de l'Afrique
Located in the heart of the African jungle
Depuis qu′il est tout petit garçon
Ever since he was a little boy
Il adore la musique
He loves music
Mustafa vit dans son petit village
Mustafa lives in his small village
Avec ses parents et ses amis
With his parents and friends
Partout, peu importe où il va
Wherever he goes
C'est la musique qui le suit
Music follows him
Son père est musicien
His father is a musician
Il joue du tambour africain
He plays the African drum
Mustafa lui aussi voudrait jouer
Mustafa also wants to play
Du bougaroubou et du djembé
The bougaroubou and the djembe
Shé, shé, shékéré
The sound of the djembe
C'est le langage du djembé
It is the language of the djembe
(Shékéré, shékéré aye oh aye oh aye)
The repeated chant of the djembe
É, é, écoutez
Listen
Il veut vous parler
He wants to talk to you
Il a quelque chose à raconter
He has something to tell
Il y a longtemps dans ce petit village
A long time ago in this small village
On parlait aux villages voisins
They talked to neighboring villages
On envoyait des messages
They sent messages
Sur le tambour africain
On the African drum
S′il veut être musicien
If he wants to be a musician
Mustafa doit apprendre à faire parler
Mustafa must learn to make
Le bougaroubou et le djembé
The bougaroubou and the djembe talk
Contributed by William J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.