Moroallo oa metsi a pula
- Authors: Ts'oene Toma and young men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Sotho , Sotho (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Lesotho Maseru f-lo
- Language: Sotho
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/161292 , vital:40613 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0103-05
- Description: The melody of this song strongly resembles the songs of the Northern Tanganyikans. "The floods of rain. Ngene, Ngene, the noise of rain. The lightening flashed and then rain came. Makhoabunyane of Mount Katike. When it makes this roaring sound it does it only to annoy. So I took up my stick and went to find out about it. Lengae men's initiation song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Awe wedikoyoyo (No meaning)
- Authors: Pearson Kapeni , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Dowa, Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153788 , vital:39522 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR078-03
- Description: "The women of Dowa desire very much to drink beer. Their work indeed is to drink beer. The women of Dowa, their work is to sell flour and flat cakes. And when they get home their marriage is broken. The women of Msoci, their work is to love the market place. And they was on Saturday only." I, Pearson Kapeni have troubles in the country of Dowa. This country hates me, why does it hate me? The reference to washing on Saturday is appreciated when one remembers that Saturday is market day in Dowa when the women put on their best clothes. The song struck home as it was true. Topical song with guitar.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Kwende kwende ku mpilipili (Go, go to Mpilipili)
- Authors: Young Chewa boys (Under 20 years) , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Chewa , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Visanza f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156894 , vital:40063 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR092-11
- Description: A strange dance in which the dancers move their necks forward and backward like a chicken walking. The sung music is not easily followed at first until the drums between them simplify the ensemble with their clear crossed rhythms, the one (Kachisi) maintaining the ground rhythm. "Go, go to Mpili where there is an affair starting up between Duri and Diki." Ilala dance with two drums (Mudewa and Kachisi).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Misonzi (Tears)
- Authors: Five Chewa women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Chewa , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Visanza f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156986 , vital:40075 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR092-18
- Description: It appears quite usual for the women to take a lament as a theme for their dance songs. The sorrow of a woman who has no one to sing with her is a case in point. "There is no friend of mine whom I can sing with. I can sing like a guitar. I have tucked my jacket into my skirt. I cry, having no friend of mine to sing wth." Chintala women dance song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Muntu olapo (You there, you men, what are you saying?)
- Authors: Mushumbo Dlamini and the Star Brothers , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Folk songs, Swazi , Folk music , Africa Eswatini Havelock Mine f-sq
- Language: Swati
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/152635 , vital:39325 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR071-04
- Description: The song continues, "My kness are shaking because my girl has left me." The 'MBUBE' type of singing is sometimes known as 'bombing' a word coined by Zulu and Swati men who originated such songs in Johannesburg. Mbuhe topical song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Ndayamba dale (I start, darling)
- Authors: Young girls and 5 drummers , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Mpatsa, Fort Herald f-rh
- Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155874 , vital:39926 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR088-08
- Description: A certain girl was complaining about not having her own house, so her young man then promised to start building it so that they could get married. The immense percussive sound of the nine drums completely drowns the voices of the girls only a few yards away. Likhuba dance with 9 drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Kaso Bia wasapwisha Bantu (Because of Castle beer, people go naked)
- Authors: B. Cungu and F. Musonda , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Music--Zambia , Field recordings , Folk songs, Bemba , Bemba (African people) , Africa Zambia Mufulira Copper Mine f-za
- Language: Bemba
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/151716 , vital:39163 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR065-05
- Description: The warning conveyed in this song is that people who spend their money on Castle beer (Kaso Bia) have none left even for clothes. European type beers are more expensive that the more familiar millet beers consumed by the African mine worker. Mortality sing with guitar.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Wimbe ngoma wulisalise ye-ye
- Authors: Mandona , Group of Luvale men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Mbunda (African people)--Zambia , Luvale (African people) , Luchazi (African people) , Chokwe (African people) , Folk songs, Chokwe , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zambia Luvale f-za
- Language: Mbunda , Subiya , Luvale , Luchazi , Chokwe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184153 , vital:44178 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR184-08
- Description: The rhythm was tapped out by a knife on the Mbira. Sung in organum by 3 women and 3 men. The principal man in the group wagged his tongue whilst he mimed the movements of the dance, during the playback. This was his own peculiar contribution and not generally done. This is a typical and highly repetitive Luvale song demonstrating their distinctive manner of singing in organum. Farewell song, with Likembe Mbira 8 notes
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Ali mu Club
- Authors: Nawandala Social Club , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Soga (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Iganga f-ug
- Language: Soga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171274 , vital:42039 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR140-12
- Description: This song encourages women to join social clubs. "Everyone" they sing "should join a club because by coming together they would be able to help each other and be happy." Sung by a singing club of Soga women. The emacipation of many Soga women is on its way, as illustrated by many social clubs run by women such as this. Exhortations, with 1 laced, conical drum played with sticks, and clapping (-12.03-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Ni sa ikela ku mwanalushi
- Authors: Sons of Barotseland Patriotic Society Choir , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Lozi (African people) , Bemba (African people) , Folk songs, Bemba , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zambia Barotseland f-za
- Language: Lozi , Bemba
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183716 , vital:44055 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR182-07
- Description: The song is about a man who went home to his villag and fell ill. He wanted to go to hospital but his people tried to dissuade him. He replied, "I want to go to hospital and lie on a proper hospital bed" (mbeda). In the villages they lie on the ground. This song recounts the actual experience of the composer who was a boy working on the Northern Rhodesia Railways. Before these people were conquered by the Kololo they are said to have spoken the Siluyiana language. Topical song
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Teya-teya
- Authors: Sons of Barotseland Patriotic Society Choir , Davison Sililo , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Lozi (African people) , Bemba (African people) , Folk songs, Bemba , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zambia Barotseland f-za
- Language: Lozi , Bemba
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183695 , vital:44051 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR182-05
- Description: This is the song taken from the story about a father who went out hunting, could find no buck and killed his child instead in the forest. But a bird that had seen what he did, sang that it was going to tell the people. So he killed the bird too, but hardly had he gone a few steps when there it was again. Again he killed it and again there it was, and so in the end the bird told the people. It is the parable of a guilty conscience. The reason why he killed his child, they said, was because he had gone out hunting and was unsuccessful and was so ashamed that he killed his child in the place of a buck. A very gruesome story! Story song
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Matye rupanga (Fear of the knife)
- Authors: Manyika Highlanders (group of singers at St. Augustine's Mission, Penhalonga) , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1951
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Shona (African people) , Folk music--Zimbabwe , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Zimbabwe , Africa Zimbabwe Mutasa f-rh
- Language: Shona
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180718 , vital:43606 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR170-14
- Description: The 'diatonic progression' (the two similar phrases sung one after the other) is typical of a great number of Shona songs. Installation of a Chief, with rattle and clapping (-12.03-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1951
Awoli a legimenti
- Authors: Tumbuka women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Tumbuka , Tumbuka (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Kasungu f-mw
- Language: Tumbuka
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185141 , vital:44332 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR188-11
- Description: "Soilders wives, take care of your clothes, you may have to dispose of some of them to buy yourselves food." A poignant little song which reflects the experience of war wives (1939-45). It has an attractive melody in the chorus. Pounding song with mortar and two pestles
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Benu
- Authors: Maluba Mwale , Tonga men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Tumbuka , Tumbuka (African people) , Songs, Tonga (Nyasa) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Chiundasi f-mw
- Language: Tumbuka
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184689 , vital:44249 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR186-13
- Description: "What am I going to tell them? Where am I going to complain? I am singing like a church organ." Benu is the name of a jumping action in the dance. This instrument was particulary well played and well made of its kind. The one stringed lute appears to come from the upper Nile and has not been found south of Nyasaland and the Zambesi valley. Chioda dance song for young women with Karigo one stringed lute
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Busumbu
- Authors: Isaka Kitutu , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Gisu (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Mbale f-ug
- Language: Masaba (Gisu, Kisu, Dadiri, Buya)
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169421 , vital:41748 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0131-02
- Description: The Busumbu phosphate mines employ many Europeans, Indians and Africans. But what phosphate is used for is a bit of a mystery to the native miners. It is of course, a most important fertiliser. What it will be used for , they sing, will be known. In the meanwhile labourers are many, Europeans, Indians and Africans. The tapping of the players heel on the ground can be heard throughout this recording. Usually the players of these lyres wear an anklet of metal iron bells on that leg. The Gisu cannot be said to be the best exponents of the lyre but they belong to the Nilotic tradition of playing. Topical song with seven string Litungu lyre and leg bells.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Diyele wane
- Authors: Japhiti Zimba , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Tumbuka , Tumbuka (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Mzimba f-mw
- Language: Tumbuka
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185114 , vital:44329 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR188-08
- Description: The Kalimba, they say, is a comparatively new to this district and people. They have recently begun to learn it from the Nsenga at Fort Jameson where this player had gone to work on a Europen farm there in 1922. "You always call me 'dear' with your mouth, but what kind of 'dear' is this if you do not let me sleep with you?" This is a pleasnt little melody set against an appropriate accompaniment. The player's old voice does not do his own melody credit, as so often happens among folk singers, and it should be performed by a younger person to bring out its virtue. Love song with Kalimba Mbira (nine notes)
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ewe rono yangu (You are my heart)
- Authors: Ramadhani Fataki and 'Ngoma ya Udi' , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Folk music--Tanzania , Swahili-speaking peoples , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Tabora f-tz
- Language: Swahili
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179847 , vital:43240 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR170-11
- Description: "You are my heart and the joy of my body. You are my eyes and my wisdom. You remain in my mind. You are dark and slender as a thread. You arrange your hair in woven strands. You are the witness of my eyes." The influence of Arabia is clearly seen in this Swahili poem. Love song, with 1 Udi, 1 Mandoline and 1 Duff Tambourine.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Hadithi ya umbu (The story of the mosquito)
- Authors: Ramadhani Fataki and Saidi Salum Nana , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Folk music--Tanzania , Swahili-speaking peoples , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Tabora f-tz
- Language: Swahili
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179856 , vital:43241 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR170-12
- Description: "How a mosquito overturned a lorry." A lorry was involved in a serious accident, when several of the passengers were badly hurt with broken limbs and other injuries. This was all caused by a mosquito biting off the road into the ditch. Humorous sketches, with a mandoline and Udi.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ho ya-yo
- Authors: Binana Naibara with Arusha men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Maasai (African people) , Songs, Maasai , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Arusha f-tz
- Language: Masai
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174012 , vital:42431 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR153-14
- Description: "Teren angite matalebo." "Bring the cow that I may milk her near the water. Do not leave my place, my love. Stay here and keep me constant company." The love song of a nomadic pastrolist. Different women take over the lead during the song. Osingolis Longoroyo love song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Iyongilo kalamitap kokoek (The Kikuyu's pen)
- Authors: Kiptui Arap Moroko with Nandi men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Mijikenda (African people) , Nandi (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kapsabet f-ke
- Language: Nandi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176752 , vital:42747 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR163-11
- Description: "Kikuyu's pen." The Moran is the attractive Nandi dance where they link arms in a circle and step sideways to the music while others enter the ring and leap like a coiled spring straight into the air. It requires few words to keep the rhythm going. The words in this case, they said, had little meaning referring possibly to pen weilded by a certain Kikuyu clerk. They rise steadily in pitch during the song. Moran dance song for men.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950