Written by	Joe Raposo
Date	1987
Publisher	Jonico Music, Inc.
First	Episode 2360

"African Alphabet" is a Sesame Street song performed in two different season 19 inserts, both involving the South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

One version was performed by Kermit the Frog and a group of Anything Muppets (voiced by Ladysmith Black Mambazo), made up of five different patterns: Fat Blue, Lavender, Pumpkin, Purple, and Reddish Magenta. The creatures of the savanna, including numerous frogs and birds, sing along as well. Kermit recites a short story in which each word begins with a consecutive letter of the alphabet as they are sung.

At the end of the song, the chief asks Kermit, "Iphi imali?" This is Zulu for "Where is the money?"

Another version of the song was performed by Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a cappella style. This version omits the story verse. (First: Episode 2431)

A worm parody of the group, "Wormsmith Black Mambazo," later sang the song in Episode 3448.

Notes[]

• Performers for the Muppet version include David Rudman (the chief), Kevin Clash, Richard Hunt, Martin P. Robinson, and Jerry Nelson as the other singers, with Richard Termine, Bryant Young, Caroly Wilcox, Pam Arciero, Patricia Hodelin, and Pat Hudson as the various animals.^[1]

• The Paul Simon version was taped on May 4, 1987 and was directed by Jon Stone. The Muppet version was also directed by Stone and was taped on December 18, 1987.^[1]

• Rapper Childish Gambino sampled the opening alphabet chant throughout his 2024 song "Can You Feel Me."

Releases[]

Audio

• Jim Henson: A Sesame Street Celebration (1991)
• Sesame Street Celebrates! (1994)
• Sesame Street Best (1997)
• Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music (2003)
• ABCs and 123s (2012)
• Lyrical Letters (2014)

Video

• Shalom Sesame: Passover (1990)
  The Hebrew aleph-bet is dubbed over the alphabet portion from A-W, and X-Z is replaced with "זה האלף-בית" which means "This is the alphabet."
• The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street (1998)
• The World According to Sesame Street (2006, excerpt)
• 40 Years of Sunny Days (2009)
• ABCs with Elmo (2010)
• 50 Years and Counting (2019)

Special

• Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music (1990, with added narration by Jon Stone)
• The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990, clip)
• The Street We Live On (2004, brief clip during timeline sequence only)

Online

• Sesamestreet.org Kermit's version: (sesamestreet.org)
• SesameStreet's YouTube Channel Kermit's version: (YouTube) Wormsmith version: (YouTube)

Other

• Kinect Sesame Street TV ("Bubblefest" episode)

See also[]

• Kermit's Sesame Street songs

Sources[]