Rorogwela
(solon savasana MIx)
Released 2026
LISTEN
ABOUT THE TRACK
Rorogwela (SOLON Savasana Mix) is a re-imagining of a traditional lullaby sung by Afunakwa, a woman from the Baegu region of Malaita in the Solomon Islands.
Her vocal was originally recorded in 1969 by Swiss ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp, while conducting research in the area.
In the early 1990s the song became widely known through the use of the recording in Sweet Lullaby by the French band Deep Forest. While their version introduced the melody to a global audience, the intimacy of the vocal and the meaning of the original song were somewhat obscured in the process.
Contrary to the celebratory tone of Sweet Lullaby, the words tell a tragic and tender story: that of two orphaned brothers, navigating the loss of their parents, with the older brother singing to comfort the younger.
This mix was created with the intention of bringing Afunakwa’s voice back into focus, allowing the nuances and emotional weight of the performance to be felt more directly. The instrumentation was designed to create a gentle backdrop of sound, supporting the voice rather than overtaking it.
The result is a spacious, meditative re-contextualisation that seeks to honour the spirit of the original song while offering an ambient journey designed to support stillness, reflection, and savasana.
Working on this project has been a long journey. Over the course of nine years, it led me far beyond the studio — including to the Solomons and the remote jungle of Malaita, where I was able to meet three of Afunakwa’s grandsons and document the exact location where the original song was recorded (Fulinui — as pictured on the album cover art).
That journey became the foundation for the accompanying documentary Searching for Afunakwa, to be released shortly. The film explores how the song came to be used internationally, and the impact this had on Afunakwa’s family and community, who had little visibility or agency in what followed.
All proceeds from the Rorogwela (SOLON Savasana Mix) will be donated to the Afunakwa Foundation. The foundation has been set up to provide a way for those who have benefited from the use of the original song to give back to the community from where the song came.
TRANSLATION
Little brother, little brother,
Stop crying, stop crying.
Even though you cry, I'll still carry you
Who else will take care of you, we're now two orphans.
Little brother, little brother
Our Mum & Dad have died and now live on the island of the dead.
From the island of the dead they still watch over us,
Like royalty, taking care of us with all the wisdom of such a place.
Little brother, little brother,
Even in the garden, this lullaby continues
In the different parts of the garden,
And even in each house visited, this lullaby seems endless,
Lullaby, little brother, little brother,
Even if you cry and cry, who else will carry you.
Oh, Oh, my heavens, calm down, calm down now,
I'm just a child, what can I do with you?
Little brother, little brother, stop crying,
Our mother and father have died
Both of us are now orphans, little brother, little brother.
TRACKLIST
01 Rorogwela (SOLON Savasana Mix)
02 Rorogwela (SOLON Savasana Mix Instrumental)
03 Rorogwela (SOLON Savasana Mix Afunakwa Vox)
04 Night by the Ata’a River with Rain Approaching (Field Recording)
CREDITS
Audio
Vocal performance: Afunakwa
Original recording: Hugo Zemp
Production, mixing, and mastering: Matt Singmin
Rainforest field recordings (tracks 1-3): courtesy Marc Anderson (Wild Ambience)
Night by the Ata’a River field recording: Matt Singmin
Special thanks to mastering engineers Ben Feggans and Darren Ziesing for their ears and perspectives.
MUSIC VIDEO
Footage: Matt Singmin & Jonathan Jenkins
Editing: Matt Singmin
Colour: Tim Wreyford
COVER ART
Fulinui drone image and cover design: Matt Singmin
With thanks to Clement Iata for guiding us there
translation
Translation: Celsus Talifilu
acknowledgement of source recording
With deep gratitude to Afunakwa’s grandsons - Tony Kwaomae, Clement Iata, and Claudius Iluga - and to Hugo Zemp for their blessing and support in the use of the vocal recording.