Pholo ha lieme (Stop the ox-span)
- Authors: Mosinoa Moea and group of 12 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/10962/162077 , vital:40755 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0105-07
- Description: "Mosinoa, the child who was carried in a lambskin sling. Monyokholo, a glutton of a child. At Tlokoeng I am treated decently, I am regarded as a young gentleman!" Mohobelo dance song with hissing.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tengani madengu (Fetch baskets)
- Authors: M. Njolomole , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Ngoni (African people) , Arts, Malawi , Folk music , Africa Malawi Njolomoe, Ncheu District, Central Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Ngoni
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154820 , vital:39782 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR084-02
- Description: "This is a song, he said, which was sung by the relatitives of the dead chief mourning their great loss. "Take a basket, let us go to the funeral Chief Njolomole has died, he has died Njolomole." This song was sung when the father of the present Chief died in 1929 (March 12th). The baskets, it was explained, refered to the baskets in which the property of the dead chief was carried by the mourners for burial with the chief in his grave. The younger brother of the chief led the singing and the chief himself can be heard singing a verse. The chief's uncle and councillor Robert Gokozera claimed towards the end of the item. Funeral song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Barberton Special
- Authors: 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/10962/152756 , vital:39339 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR072-04
- Description: This "gnome-like"" music, so easily played and accompanied has swept into popularity since 1956. It has an immediate effect upon young Africans, especially those under twenty and perhaps even more so upon the under ten year olds. Every tune on the whistle-flutes or penny whistles enjoys the mane of "special: a trick learnt from gramophone record titles. They all imitate other tunes in an urban/folk manner until there is no telling which tune came first, which is the original, and which is the imitation. Town dance with 2 guitars (-10.58-), 2 penny whistle-flutes.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Chumba (Barren)
- Authors: Denis Yolambo , 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/10962/153806 , vital:39524 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR078-05
- Description: "You have taken a barren woman and I am very tired of her barren, barren, but today I am tired of her. My friend will have children. Mother, mother, but today mother I want a child but today, I Davis, I am protesting, I came to this land (of his in-laws) with the money of my brother, brother, brother but today! You have just come for trouble, brother, but today I make it clear to you. Topical song with guitar.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
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
Kolota ali kudwala (Kolota was sick)
- Authors: George Zongoloti and small girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Mpatsa, Port Herald f-rh
- Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155694 , vital:39906 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR087-03
- Description: The voice of the singer is strongly affected by the vibrations of the drum and its mirliton. He sings partly in Sena, partly Mang'anja. The singer, George Zongoloti is singing about his troubles. If he wants to go to Southern Rhodesia he has to come Chief Tingami for a pass. If he wants to fish, another pass. Even to make a canoe, he needs a pass. Now he is going back to Portuguese territory over the border because there you can do what you like without a single pass, just what you like! Topical song with Nthikwi drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Melo (Name of a man)
- Authors: Young girls and 4 drummers , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Chipwembwe, Fort Herald f-rh
- Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155811 , vital:39919 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR088-01
- Description: The drums are carved out of Mutondo wood (one of Sokosa wood) cut locally on the plain. The maker Bauleni made No. 5 as long ago as 1930. The others are more recent. The membranes are of ox hide. The dance is well performed by the young girls who stand in a row or semicircle near the drums and each comes out in turn to do a solo dance, a clever rhythmic routine ending with a sharp pelvic jerk. As one girl finishes another immediately takes her place. The drums are all played with curved wooden beaters except the 2 bass drums numbers 8 and 9 which are played with hands. Some of the girls held clappers and one a tin rattle. Likhuba dance with 9 drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Mkwaze (Can I give cattle)
- Authors: Gezani Mwale , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Kongwa Mission, Dowa, Central Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153770 , vital:39520 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR078-01
- Description: "Can I give cattle to my wife as when I am dead I shall go together with her to the grave." It seems clear that the mode in which the players is singing is more complex that the pentatonic scale of the instrument. Topical song with Mbira.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Ndozofa (I shall die)
- Authors: Pineas Hungwe , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Folk music--Zimbabwe , Karanga (African people) , Folk songs, Shona , Folk music , Africa Zimbabwe Fort Victoria, Southern Rhodesia f-rh
- Language: Shona, Karanga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154346 , vital:39650 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR081-10
- Description: I shall die here in the wilds far from my father and mother, or any of my family. Lament with Chizambi musical bow.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Nga, nga, nga, nda reka (Lift and drop)
- Authors: Bauleni Zhuau , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Chipwembwe, Fort Herald f-rh
- Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155829 , vital:39921 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR088-03
- Description: The drum leader was not satisfied with the pitch of the drums and stopped playing to adjust the amount of wax on two of the drums and then started again while the girls continued to sing. The wax is made of caster oil beans pounded up, it sticks onto the drum heads in spite of the continual beating of sticks and hands. The addition of wax or paste lowers the note of the drum and the removal of quite a small amount of wax raises the note. Thus the drums can be tunned with reasonable accuracy. The players brought more paste on the drum heads than they needed, no doubt because a certain amount is lost in playing and then tuned by removing a certain amount on each head with a curved piece of tin shaped like a spoon. Note the stress upon the final syllable of Reka NdaReka. Likhuba dance with 9 tuned drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Uyi'ndlwane' mbana
- Authors: Amabutu of the Buthelezi clan (Performers) , M. Nge'ngelele (Composer) , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1955
- Subjects: Music--South Africa , Folk music--South Africa , Folk songs, Zulu , Africa South Africa Buthelezi, Mahlabatini f-sa
- Language: Zulu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/132933 , vital:36910 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR009-12
- Description: Regimental song, unaccompanied
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1955
Agapa
- Authors: Bandani and Mayogo men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Bangba (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Mayogo f-cg
- Language: Mayogo/Bazo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166511 , vital:41372 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0118-11
- Description: "A man went on a journey and took the train." The railway has reached this spot far into the interior of the Congo. It is a narrow gauge (about 2' 6") line which runs from Aketi on one of the northern tributaries of the Congo eastwards to the edge of the great tropical Ituri forest, In common with many other parts of Africa local railway trains have struck the imagination and figure frequently in song. It is interesting to note the "Ai-yo-o" of the singer so often heard in guitar songs. Party song with a Kombi and 1 Gbe-Kombi Likembe.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Ambiga
- Authors: Mudumbu , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Bira (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombe f-cg
- Language: Bira
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168425 , vital:41580 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0126-09
- Description: The singer's face resembled a West African mask with extremely slanting eyes. He sang with his Mbira pressed against the side of his face giving a strange impression of a spirit out of the forest. Topical song with Likembe (Mbira).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Kabireka kundende kure ("Of what tribe are your father and mother?")
- Authors: Kusu women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Kusu (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Manyema f-cg
- Language: Kusu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168849 , vital:41653 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0128-02
- Description: The Kusu are Mohammedans having accepted the domination of the Arab traders on the Luapula River in the 19th century. The simple repetitive songs demonstrating the almost mechanical simplicity of a dance rhythm. They were recorded by Kusu people about 450 miles north of their home district near the Lualaba river about 3 degrees South of the equator. They were working at the elephant training centre at Andudu on the edge of the great Ituri forest. Both items copied from discs. Dance song with one wooden slit drum, one small conical drum, and one bass conical laced drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Masi asiibi mbaya
- Authors: Bandani with Mayogo men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Bangba (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Mayogo f-cg
- Language: Mayogo/Bazo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166494 , vital:41370 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0118-09
- Description: "A woman stole some maize." Yogo women are said to have a large repertoire of women's songs which are sung at special parties and dances. Song for the Gbada dance with 2 Kombi Mbiras, 1 Gbe-kombi Likembe and 1 basket rattle. (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Pygmy dance II
- Authors: Mambuti Pygmy men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Mbuti (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Congo Swahili
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168250 , vital:41556 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0125-12
- Description: Amongst these little people the words for song and for dance are almost synonymous. Because so few local Bantu are able to speak the Pygmy language, it is most difficult to obtain exact informationfro them on this account. Much argument and discussion went on before and after each item. The high pitched beat is the sound of the stick striking the outside of the drum. Dance with conical laced drum, pipes and hand clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Siya ni sike
- 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/10962/183706 , vital:44053 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR182-06
- Description: This is the song from a story about a woman and her child who ere lost in the forest. Suddenly the child saw a coconut palm and asked its mother what the tree was. She answered: "Don't be afraid, my child, that is a sign we shall find our way home. It is significant that David Livingstone in one of his journals describes the impression that the palm tree was for him "A hieroglyph that spells 'far from home'." A possible explanation of this remark by the mother is that the palm trees grow mostly along the rivers, and once at the river she would be able to regain her sense of direction. This was recorded with heavy rain pouring down outside the Musaliili Hall, hence the background noise. Story song
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Udina kuzara ndowayami
- Authors: Gibson Zenzi with Luunda men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Luba (African people) , Ruund (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zambia Mwinilunga f-za
- Language: Lunda , Luba
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182877 , vital:43888 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR179-02
- Description: "My wife is shivering." A short phrase is quite sufficient upon which to hang the melody and rhythm for the local dance. The Luunda come to the mines of the Copperbelt in large numbers from their home in the north western districts of Northern Rhodesia. In common with many other African folk singers there is a gradual rise in pitch during this song. The empty bottles of different sizes are struck with light pieces of iron, such as 6" nails, or small bolts. Four Sikinta dance song with struck bottles
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Bwana ukinipa usitie moyoni
- Authors: Three Wamusha Daku criers , 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/${Handle} , vital:43088 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR170-02
- Description: The metal shallow drum (of Tambourine type)is made from the top of a metal can or bucket and is pegged African fashion and not laced like the metal cylindrical drum whose duble heads are laced onto the metal, and is played slung over one shoulder. The chants were sung to the same tune. The size of the cylindrical drum was 13" x 8". The size of the shallow drum was 11 1/4" x 3 1/2". Moslem chants (Wamusha Daku), with 1 metal cylindrical drum, laced, 1 metal frame drum, pegged (-14.91-), 1 basket rattle (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
John Omuoso
- Authors: Daudi Otuoma , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Folk music--Kenya , Luo (Kenya and Tanzanian people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya South Nyanza Province f-ke
- Language: Luo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178799 , vital:42987 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR168-07
- Description: John Omuoso was a very good friend of the singer. He gave him his big bed, big enough to hold four men. He also gave him a bull and for all this Daudi loves Omuoso like a brother. Omuoso, they say, has four wives, all very gentle ladies. (It is not clear what relationship there is between the four man bed and the four gentle ladies). Praise song, with Thum 8 string lyre and Gara leg bells (-12.55-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950