Friends Forever
Introduction
This lesson uses the narrative song Caguama that parallels a friendship between a Yahima, the daughter of a Cacique Jibacoa of Cuba, a Taíno chief and a sea turtle.
A Cuban legend* says that when Spanish conquistadors arrived on the island of Cuba, the Captain of the Spanish ship was overwhelmed by Yahima's beauty and intended to take her for his wife. Yahima wanted no part of the Spanish invaders so the Cacique, Jibacoa helped hide his daughter deep in the jungle. The town of Majibacoa grew from that location, named from combining Yahima with Jibacoa.
Caguama means sea turtle in Taíno. Sea turtles can live to 100-150 years, though the average lifespan is 30-50 years. Depending on the species it can tale 20 years for a female to reach the age of reproduction. Jaguars are lethal predators to sea turtles. Epic Ethics Early Childhood series Music for Ethical Choices, part of the Epic Ethics Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum.
Guiding Questions
What are the qualities of a best friend?
Who chooses your friends?
How can our parents and teachers help us to make good friend choices?
Instructions
1. Listen to the song, Caguama once all the way through without stopping.
2. Study the Lyrics highlighting words and concepts that might be unknown but within the zone of proximal development.
On a midnight beach Yahima walked
as fair as the turquoise sea
She saw a mama turtle nesting near a coconut tree
before the sun had risen, the turtle left the land
she crawled back to the water after burying her eggs deep in the sand
Caguama, Caguama, Caguama green and bright
Caguama, Caguama, swim all day and all the night
Yahima went back to the shore every single night
but less than two months later she saw a terrible sight
the nest and eggs were plundered by a hungry jaguar
Yahima cried in sorrow till she saw something move by the light of a star
Caguama, Caguama, Caguama green and bright
Caguama, Caguama, swim all day and all the night
There a baby turtle wiggled to get free
and crawl to the safety of the deep and noisy sea
Yahima carried the turtle cupped in her golden hands
and released her in the waves
to search for her clan
The turtle flipped and fluttered in the silver foam
and then spoke to Yahima that this would be her home
the two friends played then every day
in the sun they would float
until the fateful day when Yahima spied on the horizon a boat
Caguama, Caguama, Caguama green and bright
Caguama, Caguama, swim all day and all the night
The ship carried men of metal and a creature called a horse
the captain saw her beauty, and tried to take Yahima by force
The chief, Yahima’s father refused to give the bride
and stole deep into the jungle where safely she could hide
The turtle waited patiently but her friend never came
sadness overtook her and the sky began to rain
the clouds turned black and the wind whipped fierce, a hurricane did roar
Caguama and her friend, could play and sing no more
Caguama, Caguama, Caguama green and bright
Caguama, Caguama, swim all day and all the night
The earth turned round the sun twenty times
Caguama then had grown
she came back to that beach to lay a hundred eggs of her own
while burying her babies, she was stirred into fear
by the growls of a giant cat rattling in her ears
just then from the jungle came a torch and a scream
the jaguar ran off hungry and was never more seen
Yahima held the fire and heard Caguama say
Come with me into the sea and friends we shall stay
Caguama, Caguama, Caguama green and bright
Caguama, Caguama, swim all day and all the night
3. Listen to the song once more all the way through without stopping to repeat with context.
Closing Discussion Questions
Why do you think Yahima wanted to save the baby turtle?
What is an example of something unfair from the song?
Who in the song could have used the Four Awesome Questions (download image) to change their decision making?
What was one thing you learned about sea turtles from the song?
How do you think Yahima felt when she had to hide in the jungle from the conquistador?
*Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20131113005200/http://espanol.cuba.com/cuba…
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