Hottentottilaulu (Finnish for "The Hottentot song") is a Finnish language version of the song Visen om vesle Hoa written by the Norwegian songwriter-author Thorbjørn Egner.[1] The song was translated to Finnish by Jukka Virtanen and the music was composed by Olli Heikkilä.[1]

Song

The song is about a Hottentot boy Huua Kotti, "black as soot", living in Africa along the Chickadua river.[1][2]

Asui kerran Afrikassa Chickadua-joella, pikkupoika Huua Kotti musta kuin pesty noella. Ei ollut puettu Kallen tavoin, kulki melkein paljain navoin. Siten kulki Huua Kotti, hän oli oikea hottentotti.

Once upon a time there lived a small boy Huua Kotti in Africa along the Chickadua river, black as if washed with soot. He was not dressed like Kalle, he went almost with his belly button bare. So went Huua Kotti, he was a real Hottentot.

The song was first published in 1961, when it was performed by Maikki Länsiö and Esa Saario.[1] Later recordings of the song have been made by Vesa-Matti Loiri, Markku Suominen, Veltto Virtanen and Tuomari Nurmio, among others.[3]

According to the Helsinki City Library, the Hottentots are portrayed in the song as happy, childlike and harmless fairytale characters. The details describing the tribe's habits and living conditions are largely fictitious, for example the names are fictitious and bamboo, mentioned in the song, grows mainly in Asia. The song has been viewed as misleading or downright derogatory.[4]

Controversy

In March 2010 the song caused controversy, when Member of the Parliament of Finland Pertti "Veltto" Virtanen performed the Hottentottilaulu on a True Finns party cruise. The cruise hostess interrupted Virtanen's performance, as it was viewed as racist.[5] Virtanen later accused the cruise hostess who had interrupted him of "racism".[5] Later, Viking Line announced that the reason for the interruption had been Virtanen's derogatory and tactless comments about the other passengers.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Henriksson, Raimo: Rakkaimmat lastenlaulut: 150 koko perheen suosikkia (Valitut palat), p.60. Belgium: Brepols, Turnhout, 1990. ISBN 951-8933-14-6.
  2. ↑ Rytsä, Paavo: Tapani Perttu: Hottentottilaulu, YLE Elävä arkisto 22 November 2007, accessed on 14 February 2010.
  3. ↑ Search results for Hottentottilaulu, Äänitearkisto. Accessed on 14 November 2010.
  4. ↑ Miksi Veltto Virtasen Hottentottilaulu herättää nyt julkisuusmyrskyn, muttei lainkaan Haloo (vuosi 1974?) levyn julkaisuvuonna. Näinkö paljon maailma on muuttunut? Archived 2015-01-08 at archive.today Helsinki city library - Ask anything. 29 March 2010, accessed on 7 April 2010.
  5. 1 2 Veltto Virtasen rasistinen show hämmensi persujen risteilyllä, Helsingin Sanomat 9 March 2010, accessed on 7 April 2010.
  6. ↑ Viking Line: "Hottentottilaulu lietsoi", Uusi Suomi 9 March 2010, accessed on 7 April 2010.
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