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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Kasimbe omugo ndigwa
- Authors: Entenga, Royal drummers , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Folk songs, Ganda , Ganda (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Kampala f-ug
- Language: Ganda
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170709 , vital:41952 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0137-13
- Description: This drum tune is taken from a song about a simple country lad who wanted to go and work for the Kabaka (the native 'King' of Uganda) as his servant and yet to remain faithful to his obligations both to his family and his ancestral ties at home. The set of royal Entenga drums are kept and played in a separate courtyard of the Lubili palace. In this recording the separate parts are brought out one after the other. Each drummer plays his allotted drums from the treble player down to the deep bass player while the others continue to strike the side of their drums with their beaters. The first four men play 3 drums each. The fifth plays one drum, and the sixth plays the two deepest toned bass drums. Drum tune. Set of 15 tuned conical drums, laced, closed, single.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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
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
Mbiriwiri
- Authors: Chabarwa Musunda Moyo , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1948
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Folk music--Zimbabwe , Shona (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zimbabwe Nedgiwe f-rh
- Language: Shona
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181511 , vital:43741 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR175-09
- Description: This famous piece of music, here played brilliantly by Chabarwa Musunda Moyo was first recorded by me in 1933 when played by a musician called Chigogo. It is a progressive story of various experiences of a wandering player who meets different people along the path to each of whom he does a service and in turn they all give him a present with which he is able to benefit his next acquaintance. For many years I have attempted to locate the player in order to re-record his music on tape instead of on disc as this one, but so far in vain. No one knows where or how he is. Traditional airs on Njari dza maNjanjae
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1948
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
Meri wandinyenga
- Authors: Beti Kamanga , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Folk songs, Tonga (Nyasa) , Songs, Chewa , Chewa (African people) , Songs, Tumbuka , Tumbuka (African people) , Musical instruments , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Chinteche f-mw
- Language: Tumbuka , Chewa, Chichewa, Nyanja , Tonga (Nyasa)
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184821 , vital:44275 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR187-02
- Description: "We long for our homes. We should call ours homes 'Towns'. Mary has deceived me." The attraction of the towns is decimating the male population of Tongaland. The singer makes a plea for the claim of their village homes in the face of foreign attractions. He is blind and he hoped Mary would have married him, but she could not bring herself to do so. Nostaligic song
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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
Munkhwala
- 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/10962/184644 , vital:44244 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR186-09
- Description: "Never marry a Ngoni man. You will have continually to look after his Mugado gourd." (cache sex). The custom appears to have come north from the Zulu where the gourd is called Munyoto. The custom appears to have largely disappeared in the south. Humorous song with Karigo one stringed lute
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Mwali wa Wakwa
- Authors: Kyule wa Kala , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kamba , Kamba (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Machakos f-ke
- Language: Kamba
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175960 , vital:42645 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR160-11
- Description: This chanting is the local traditional method of handing on legends. In this example the performer praises the beauty of certain people and particularly of a girl called Mbengi who is quite the most lovely creature on earth. Kyule sings about his friend whose friendship he says is as close as a cow with her tail. "Kimatu, my friend, if my song was meat you would receive the best joints while others would have to be content with the skin only." Chanted prose legend.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Mwanamwana talikumpa omoya
- Authors: Luhanga Magezi with Haya children , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Haya (African people) , Nyoro (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania / Uganda Rurongo f-tz / f-ug
- Language: Nyoro , Haya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171805 , vital:42127 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR143-11
- Description: The lute is made of a 4 and a half inch section of the lower part of an Ankole ox horn. These cattle have very large horns. The oval shaped membrane is python skin pegged into the horn and the bridge is reed. The string is of raffia palm. "I am worried because my love is away. Whenever I talk or eat, my heart yearns for her." Love song, with Ndingidi one string lute.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ndikakowa wanyambo
- Authors: Tatu Binti Ali with Nyamwezi men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Nyamwezi (African people) , Sukuma (African people) , Folk songs, Sukuma , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam f-tz
- Language: Nyamwezi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/173291 , vital:42354 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR150-06
- Description: "I will go and marry somewhere else, because all the girls think I am not faithful." The singers are all Nyamwezi who have come down to the East coast from the interior near Tabora and have now settled permanently at the coast in or around Dar-es-Salaam. These Nyamwezi singers of Dar-es-Salaam have an attractive way of singing their songs repeating each stanza after the soloist. This style may well have been copied from the Arabs or Swahili. Tatu Binti Ali is the young wife of Idi Selemani the organiser of the group. Hiyari ya moyo dance song for men and women..
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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