List of Titles

Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
Date: 1950
Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
Language: Kikuyu
Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175630 , vital:42601 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-17
Description: The 'struck iron' was an old starter ring from the fly wheel of a car. It is necessary to have a circular or 'S' shaped piece of metal for convnient playing of the double beat. The performer called it 'Kengere' or 'Beru' bell. The sweepers in Nairobi, they say, always come from Embu. Kibunga Waita, the iron player, was no exception. Eleswhere in Africa certain tribes tend to adopt one occupation exclusively. After hearing a few Kikuyu songs to the accompaniment of the iron and accordion, the listener who is not case hardened to the pulse may experience a singing in the ears for several hours afterwards. Listening to this kind of Kikuyu song is more a feat of endurance than an aesthetic pleasure. Mamboko dance song with accordian and struck iron (-12.161-).
Full Text: false
Date Issued: 1950

Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
Date: 1950
Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
Language: Kikuyu
Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175616 , vital:42599 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-16
Description: The singer was a cycle repairer by trade, claimed to belong to the Njeudura age grade (his own age at the time being about 22 years in 1952). He, like other Kikuyu who buy these expensive accordians uses it as a noise maker rather than a melodic or harmonic accompaniment. As with the guitar players they rarely change key. This performance was remarkable for the understanding between the singer and his accompanist on the 'iron'. The song was deafening to observers nearby, but apparently enthralling to the performers. Kikuyu musicians appear to be able to tolerate an intensity of sound far beyond the normal, in fact bordering on the threshold of pain in the ears. For the recording the man with his piece of iron and box had to be placed a considerable distance from the microphone. Mamboko dance with accordian and struck iron (-12.16-).
Full Text: false
Date Issued: 1950

Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
Date: 1950
Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
Language: Kikuyu
Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175641 , vital:42602 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-18
Description: The 'struck iron' was an old starter ring from the fly wheel of a car. It is necessary to have a circular or 'S' shaped piece of metal for convnient playing of the double beat. The performer called it 'Kengere' or 'Beru' bell. The sweepers in Nairobi, they say, always come from Embu. Kibunga Waita, the iron player, was no exception. Eleswhere in Africa certain tribes tend to adopt one occupation exclusively. After hearing a few Kikuyu songs to the accompaniment of the iron and accordion, the listener who is not case hardened to the pulse may experience a singing in the ears for several hours afterwards. Listening to this kind of Kikuyu song is more a feat of endurance than an aesthetic pleasure. Mamboko dance song with accordian and struck iron (-12.161-).
Full Text: false
Date Issued: 1950

Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
Date: 1950
Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
Language: Kikuyu
Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175607 , vital:42598 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-15
Description: The singer was a cycle repairer by trade, claimed to belong to the Njeudura age grade (his own age at the time being about 22 years in 1952). He, like other Kikuyu who buy these expensive accordians uses it as a noise maker rather than a melodic or harmonic accompaniment. As with the guitar players they rarely change key. This performance was remarkable for the understanding between the singer and his accompanist on the 'iron'. For the recording the man with his piece of iron and box had to be placed a considerable distance from the microphone. Mamboko dance with accordian and struck iron (-12.16-).
Full Text: false
Date Issued: 1950

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