31/10/2026
Afunakwa was a woman from Northern Malaita in the Solomon Islands whose voice became famous globally as the uncredited sample in Deep Forest's 1992 hit electronica song "Sweet Lullaby".
The Song: She sang "Rorogwela," a traditional Baegu lullaby. The lyrics describe an older sibling comforting a younger brother or sister after their parents died.
The Original Recording: Ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp recorded her singing in 1969 (or 1970), which UNESCO later released on a 1973 vinyl record (Solomon Islands: Fateleka and Baegu Music from Malaita).
The Sample Controversy: The French music duo Deep Forest sampled her voice for "Sweet Lullaby"—initially misattributing the vocal to African Pygmies on the album liner notes—without proper authorization, financial compensation, or acknowledgement for Afunakwa or her community.
Afunakwa's Life: She passed away in 1998.
Documentary & Legacy: The story is explored in the documentary Searching for Afunakwa: The Story Behind Deep Forrest’s “Sweet Lullaby” by Matt Singmin and Jonathan Jenkins, which examines cultural ownership, Indigenous music exploitation, and the Afunakwa Foundation.
Please click on the link below to see the official trailer for the documentary:
On ABC Pacific, Reel Talk, Stephanie Bandi reviewed the 2026 documentary:
https://youtu.be/5zfZE5kU7Mw?si=NpbDB80UtvGZ7B7D
Searching for Afunakwa: The untold story behind Deep Forest's global hit Sweet Lullaby - ABC Pacific
Searching for Afunakwa is a documentary that traces the story behin...
