Jacob Nguni

Sweet Mother is Africa's Anthem

Sweet Mother by Prince Nico Mbarga has been voted Africa's favourite song by BBC readers and listeners.

Chosen from a shortlist of 10, the 1976 hit celebrating motherhood won with more than 27% of the vote.

The wedding song Vuli Nadlela by the wild child of South African music, Brenda Fassie, who died earlier this year, came in second.

"We weren't surprised by the result. It's a timeless classic," said Joseph Warungu, who organised the poll.

"It's not just about the lyrics. There's something about the singing guitar that gets you," he said.

Prince Nico Mbarga: A Brief Look

Born to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father on Jan 1, 1950 in Abakaliki, Nigeria, Prince Nico embraced the musical traditions of both cultures.

Prince Nico's music was inspired by the five years he spent in Cameroon during the Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960s.

He played the xylophone, conga, drums, and electric guitar in school bands and he made his professional debut as a member of a hotel band, the Melody Orchestra, in 1970.

He formed his own group, Rocafil Jazz, after returning to Nigeria two years later and performed regularly at the Naza Hotel in Onitsha. In 1973, Nico and his group released a single which was met with little fanfare but their second single, "I No Go Marry My Papa," became a regional hit.