Wenda m'manja manja (Go in the hands)
- Authors: Elefala Jeremiah Mbewe , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Chewa , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Kudaiza, Karonga, Salima District f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156761 , vital:40047 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR092-03
- Description: This is based upon a song used at the initiation of girls and the reference to Manja indicates that part of the ceremony when the officiators carry the initiate on their hands (manja) during the dance. "Snakes come and bite her, ants come and bite her." Indicating disciplines enforced during the initiation. This instrument was without its 17th string. The tuning of the six strings was:- 656, 616, 576, 520, 488, 432. Self delectative songs with Bangwe board zither.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Wabi
- Authors: Manyoni Zhou and Simoni Mashoko Shawa , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Folk music--Zimbabwe , Shona (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zimbabwe Chilimanzi f-rh
- Language: Shona
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181473 , vital:43737 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR175-06
- Description: A humorous song about a man and his friend who went to a party and the one man stole some meat that was hanging up in a tree. His friend accused him of stealing the meat but the other denied it. This is in reality a kind of improptu sketch set against the musical background with no direct relationship to the rhythm of the instruments. Humorous song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Usingolio londoye
- Authors: Nyangus Siokino 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/10962/173972 , vital:42427 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR153-10
- Description: "If I am late, my love, do note be worried. When I have raided the cattle I will bring them back with all speed. I will not even wait to drink as I cross the river." The great manly sport of the Masai has always been cattle raiding shortly before this recording was made several men of this Arusha district raided over 1000 head of Sukuma cattle from the west. There is more behind the idea of selling cattle to the butcher than one would guess at first sight. The Masai are loathe to sell or trade any of their own cattle for slaughter but trading stolen cattle to satisfy the constant demands of trade is another matter. Cattle raiding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Umanga ukasilagayo
- Authors: Masudi Bini Amani with Nyamwezi women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Nyamwezi (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Itetemia f-tz
- Language: Nyamwezi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/173143 , vital:42337 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR149-04
- Description: This song which is of very old origin, they say, has always been sung for the chief on special occasions. Recently (1950) it was sung to the retirire Provincial Commissioner of the Western Province at Tabora. Chief's song with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ugonile mwankenja
- Authors: Singolile Mwamalundi with Nyakyusa men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Nyakyusa (African people) , Zaramo (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Kiwira f-tz
- Language: Nyakyusa , Zaramo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175371 , vital:42569 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR158-11
- Description: The raft zither is made out of eight palm midribs joined together. The string is continous being tuned from the high note downwards by straining the first then making up the slack in the second and so on. The tuning therefore is apt to be uncertain but conforms to the general mode. The music of the Pango is accompanied by dancing by three men, one having small bell rattles (Nzisi). When the player makes a pizzicato all the dancers bend down and make a 'ha-aa' sound in rhythm. The raft zither is about 22 inches long between the bridges. Tuning:- 352, 332, 296, 252, 212, 166, 198. This tuning is unusal in that the 7th note is higher than the 6th instead of being the lowest on the zither. Nganya dance tune for men and women.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Uchaucha kina mama
- Authors: Pembe Selemani and Zaramo boys , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Nyakyusa (African people) , Zaramo (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam f-tz
- Language: Nyakyusa , Zaramo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175414 , vital:42574 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR158-16
- Description: "You are giving me a lot of trouble. Go and eat food prepared by my mother on a basket. You will find it better and different from food prepared on enamel plates which makes your stomach bad." The players start to play begining with the pipe 3rd from the lowest. Each piper above then takes his rhythm from the next man below. If one fails to get started he holds up all the others above. The leader then comes along and gets his rhythm for him and his companions can then take up the rhythm until the treble player at last joins in. Set of 13 pipes. The tuning of this set was as follows:- 584, 520, 440, 392, 336, 292. Giving a pentatonic scale. The total range was just over two octaves. Mbeta pipe dance, with Viyanzi vertical flutes, 2 friction sticks (-12.61-) and tin rattles (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Tulaongela heya
- Authors: Kasomangila Husen Ishla , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Zinza (African people) , Rundi (African people) , Nyamwezi (African people) , Folk songs, Rundi , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Tabora f-tz
- Language: Nyamwezi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172891 , vital:42292 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR147-21
- Description: "We must be careful not to spoil our customs." The meaning of all this is obscure. The singers were a professional group of entertainers who go around the villages singing, dancing and drumming. Drinking song with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Sinyenye mama
- Authors: Mukhunganilwa with Nyamwezi women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Zinza (African people) , Rundi (African people) , Nyamwezi (African people) , Folk songs, Rundi , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Tabora f-tz
- Language: Nyamwezi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172970 , vital:42303 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR148-07
- Description: "When it became clear that my friend had no drums, I went to her to tell her that we had drums." In this area most of the domestic work in European houses is done by men, familiarly called 'boy'. The woman mentioned in the song became a domestic servant, but, the song says, she repented her decision and preferred to get married and have a home of her own. The connection between this song and the divination of the old woman who sanf it is not clear. Migabo is said to be the name of a group of older people, mostly women, who believe in the power of divination to assist their friends and relatives. Migabo divination songs, with 3 conical laced drums, and 4 gourd rattles (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Sigorira (Who is crying)
- Authors: Mangwato Penge , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Tonga (Zambezi people) , Folk songs, Tonga (Zambezi) , Music--Zambia , Africa Zambia Gwembe f-za
- Language: Tonga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:37693 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR046-06
- Description: The singer was an old man. Self-delectative song with Kankobela mbira, fan-shaped, with external resonator.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Sebei bekyibei
- Authors: Bekyibei Arap Mosonik and Cheriro Arap Korogoren , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Kipsigis (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kapkatet f-ke
- Language: Kipsigis
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177629 , vital:42841 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR165-10
- Description: This is a lament at parting with friends, in which the English word 'Sorry' (now adopted as their own by Kipsigis) predominates. As one of them said "It is a misery giving song". The effect of the song was rather spoiled by one of the young men who took it upon himself to show off during the recording. Lament with Chepkong 6 string bowl lyre, laced.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ngoma ya bantwana (Song for the children)
- Authors: Women of Kalana location , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Folk music--South Africa , Field recordings , Xhosa (African people) , Africa South Africa Peddie f-sa
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149467 , vital:38855 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR059-13
- Description: This lullaby was sung by about 50 mothers and grandmothers and one man. "Tula Ntwana musukulila." (Be quiet child and go to sleep). Lullaby.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Ngoma
- Authors: Group of Tonga men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Tonga (Zambezi people) , Folk songs, Tonga (Zambezi) , Music--Zambia , Africa Zambia Gwembe f-za
- Language: Tonga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/138810 , vital:37674 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR045-05
- Description: The tuning of the horns seems to be entirely hapharzard and is controlled by the fortuitous length and shape of the horns employed. The smaller boys played the shorter horns and the larger boys the longer horns. The bass horns needing more breath to blow them. This is a very wild kind of dance, with everyone dancing madly in a mob. The step is a short staccato, jigging step to and fro, very simple. Noise seems to be the main object and the dust thrown up by their feet in the alluvial soil of the river valley almost obscured the tight knot of dancers. The celeste caused by the treble pipes in deafening to an observer, but too high pitched to record. The names of the 7 drums from smal to large were:- 1) Gogogo, 2) Kingaridi, 3) Chamutanda, 4) Muntunda, 5) Mujinji, 6) Pininga, 7) Pati. The first four are played with sticks and the three others with hands. They are all the same basic shape being an almost square cut rectangular cylinder for a body and a hollow pipe of wood without foot for a base. They are all sung across the shoulder or held between the thighs for playing. Ngoma dance with Nyele end-blown antelope horn and set of Ngoma drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Nenda mundani
- Authors: Kalachi Mbaru with Nyika boys , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Mijikenda (African people) , Nandi (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kilifi f-ke
- Language: Nandi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176716 , vital:42743 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR163-07
- Description: To go to the garden and take the delicious bean flowers instead of waiting for them to ripen is wanton folly, throwing away the crop with both hands like the action of the rattle players. An amusing patter song with clever cross rhythm. Kayamba dance song for boys and girls in two lines, with Kayamba (school rulers) struck together as castanets.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ndikati ubwera ulendo waimba wisulo kunjila
- Authors: Tweleve elderly women and two drummers , 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/10962/155766 , vital:39914 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR087-11
- Description: "I supposed you would come back from your journey singing as you came along the path. But you have gone for good." A woman is being justifyably caustic about her husband who is going away on a journey presumably leaving her to do all the work. Pairs of singers sing alternately, the second pair repeating what the first initiated. Chitsukulumwe dance with rattles and clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Mwimbizi wa Nindo
- Authors: Malaika Chedega with Gogo men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Gogo (African people) , Songs, Gogo , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Dodoma f-tz
- Language: Gogo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174291 , vital:42463 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR155-06
- Description: "I am the best singer and my songs are liked by many people. I will compose new songs which will defeat others in the same way that the King (King George VI) defeated Hitler." The Gogo people have long imitated their neighbours the Masai and have copied many customs, particularly in cosmetics and coiffure. The group singing this song was more colourful than most Bantu, the women wearing bright coloured clothes and beads, the men smeared with red ochre and fat. Nindo praise song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Mwanami waya mwiyawu
- 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/10962/182868 , vital:43887 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR179-01
- Description: "The child lost in the forest." In this part of Africa the whole countryside is covered with thick bush and trees up to 40 or 50 feet high. It would be particularly easy to lose oneself in this endless bush. Four Sikinta dance song with struck bottles
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mugoi asole
- Authors: Mulapala Kpeli, with Chief Gatanga, Mongonika and Zande men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Buta f-cg
- Language: Zande/Bandiya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167322 , vital:41468 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0122-03
- Description: "There was a man who loved Mugai, daughter of a Chief and wanted to marry her. But she refused him. So he came weeping and knelt before her saying, "My Princess, why will you not love me? If you marry me I will be your servitor and care for you. I will even take the jigger fleas out of your feet." The tuning of the harp includes five notes of a pentatonic scale, the octave above the tonic being omitted. These Zande harp songs seem to slide into an informal start, the singers taking their time into the swing of the melody. Topical song, vertical angular Kundi harp, 5 strings.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mshatulo kwenda ovyo
- Authors: Mashaka Kawambwa, and Kitamba Kilaka with Zaramo men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Nyakyusa (African people) , Zaramo (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam f-tz
- Language: Nyakyusa , Zaramo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175448 , vital:42578 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR158-19
- Description: The clear sound of these drums suggests metal rather than membrane tone. The membranes had been tightened almost to breaking point over the fire. A tape fault can be heard near the beginning of this item. 1 x - 14.52104 -; 4 x - 14.25103 -; 4 x - 14.02101 -. This set of 9 drums was very carefully tuned before playing particularly the four small goblet drums which were played by one man and were tuned approximately to 840, 672, 568, 464 vs. Between items the drums would be taken to a fire, wetted and returned by heat, but naturally the tuning can only be approximately correct. If the above tuning was correct the intervals would be approximately 386, 291, 350 cents or about a 7th in all. The drums were made from wood of the Mukongo tree. Madogoli dance song for men and women, with 5 Goblet pegged and footed drums, 4 cylindrical pegged drums and tin rattles (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Maria Mbombwe
- Authors: Luba women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Luba (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Congo (Democratic Republic) Kasai f-rh
- Language: Luba
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181921 , vital:43780 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR177-01
- Description: These gourds are peculiar to this tribe. The performer vibrates her lips in the mouth of the gourd (as if playing a trumpet) thus producing the resonant note of the gourd. At the same time she pats the side of the gourd rhythmically with one hand or with a piece of stick or metal. The two gourds and rhythm appears to be:- //1, ; 3, 4, ; 6, 7, ,//. Funeral song with two singing gourd.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Liwangu wangu weyanga (A married woman who does not respect her parent-in-law)
- Authors: Group of 12 Lozi men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Lozi (African people) , Music--Zambia , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zambia Mangu f-za
- Language: Lozi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/139805 , vital:37786 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR051-09
- Description: "Liwangu wangu weyaya, liwangu wangu musali yasina likule ku musa alukelwi kunyalwa. Musali yasina likute kwa bashemi ba muna alikelwi kunyalwa." "A married woman who does not repsect her husband's parents is not fit to married.". Morality song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957