Kalulu nkulu wa bwalo (The Rabbit is Chief of the Court)
- Authors: J. W. Gwengwe and boys , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Chewa , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Dedza f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/160188 , vital:40417 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR097-03
- Description: The dance is performed only at night by young men, the pricipal dancers themselves dancing naked, some with special masks called Nyau in the shape of an antelope, an elephant, and a lion, while some walk on stilts. The larger masks are usually carried by two men. Some observers have said that the dance is connected with fertility rites. Only males are permitted to participate and women can only observe from a distance. The dance, they say is usually performed on bright moonlight nights. The gist of the song appears to refer to a familiar story which is told and sung in the district. "Rabbit is the chief of the court (of animals) Hopping, hopping. The rabbit was elected to be the chief." Dance song for Nyau dance with rhythmic clapping and struck iron (-12.16-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Wakuzi (Who spoiled the relish?)
- Authors: J. W. Gwengwe and boys , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Kachere, Lilongwe, Central Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153676 , vital:39497 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR077-15
- Description: "Who has told you to squeeze the caterpillars? Who has told you to prepare the frog? Who has told you to squeeze the chameleon? Who has told you to squeeze the grasshopper? Who has told you to squeeze the snake? Meaning, you have spoiled the relish provided by caterpillars, etc. by squeezing them out instead of leaving them. Of the ones mentioned, the caterpillars, grasshoppers and snakes, but the chameleon definitely inedible. The song which was originally a Nyau dance song is now used as a drinking song. It appears that the creatures mentioned in the song are best cooked in their natural state without being dressed in any way. Drinking song with clapping and struck iron (a hoe) -12.16-.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958