Lullabies – The Global Connection

Lullabies – The Global Connection

Lullabies are found in every culture and are often our first encounter with music and song. Though sung in different languages, melodies, and styles, they carry something universal: care, comfort, belonging, and love. For generations, lullabies have soothed children, transmitted cultural traditions, and created bonds between people.

Using the lullaby as a point of departure, this seminar explores the broader power of singing. What is it about song that touches us so deeply? Why do lullabies exist in almost every corner of the world? And what can these intimate songs reveal about identity, community, and shared human experience across languages, borders, and belief systems?

Drawing on perspectives from Norwegian, Scottish, and other traditions, the panel will examine how song serves as a carrier of cultural heritage, memory, and belonging. The conversation is also inspired by Erik Hillestad’s internationally acclaimed project Lullabies from the Axis of Evil, which demonstrated how lullabies from diverse parts of the world can create recognition, empathy, and connection across political conflicts and cultural differences.

At a time marked by uncertainty, polarization, and rapid social change, the seminar raises a timely question: could song be one of the most fundamental things we share as human beings?

The seminar asks:

• What is it about song that resonates across languages and cultures?
• Why do lullabies exist in every part of the world?
• How does song communicate identity, memory, and belonging between generations?
• What can Norwegian, Scottish, and other singing traditions teach us about the universal power of song?
• Can song serve as a cultural and human bridge in a polarized world?
• What role does singing play in community, well-being, and human connection today?

Contributors

• Unni Løvlid (Norway)
• Hans Ola Baden (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
• Brian O' hEadhra (Scotland)
• Additional contributors to be announced