Before “Planet Drum,” before “Drums of Passion,” Babatunde Olatunji attended Morehouse College and collaborated with the Glee Club’s director on Betelehemu.
In 1950, Olatunji went to Morehouse, a traditionally black college in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1911, through a scholarship. While at Morehouse, Olatunji began to perform informally. He also became friends with and the Glee Club director, Dr. Wendell P. Whalum. Whalum arranged Betelehemu, a Nigerian Christmas carol, that Olatunji had introduced to him. Since then, Betelehemu became an important piece in the Morehouse College Glee Club repertoire and in choral music in general.
I had the great privilege of hearing the Club, singing Western classical works and spirituals. Betelehemu gave me chills with its power and brought the house down even more than this video can convey.
Buy music by Babatunde Olatunji
Buy music by the Morehouse College Glee Club
Betelehemu is on “New Born King.”
Culture: African-American, Yoruba
Language: Yoruba
Styles: Eclectic
I can’t get enough of this piece. Even 15 years after hearing so many groups perform it, it’s just an awesome composition. And all male voices on this performance! Wow!