Se Bana wa Lela (Do not cry baby)
- Authors: Nthebolang Molebatsi , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Disaneng f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Tlharo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164267 , vital:41103 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0110-13
- Description: "Do not cry baby! the water pans have dried up, my father and mother died and I had no one to advise me. (literary 'to straighten me') "My uncle gave me a brown cow which, if it rains, will give me a pailful (of milk). Do not boast of your lover, boast of your husband. One does not boast of a theif." The player sat on the ground with the right leg passed through the bow. She held the bow in her left hand resting the curved wooden part on the ground, string uppermost. She stopped the upper part of the string with her chin, the other end of the bow rested on an enamel basin turned upside down. A second woman joined her towards the end. She stopped playing at one point to adjust the enamel basin resonator. The instrument is played by both men and women. When asked when they play these songs, the answer was, "Any time when we feel onely." Self delectative song with one stringed Nokokwane bow.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sebata (The clawed lion)
- Authors: Group of Hurutshe men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Motswedi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Lete
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165520 , vital:41252 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0113-01
- Description: This song is introduced by an old woman. The word "Sebata" used for the lion, is a generic name for all clawed carnivorous animals. "Mariwi" - the "manned one". "Sebata" - the "clawed one" (with special reference to the lion). "The clawed one, the manned one. Lion! It ate the cattle of my in-laws when I was looking after them. Alas! It did not run away." Men's initiation song, sung on returning from the hills.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sebodu ke Nnenekwane banna (Men are told Nnenekwane is the laziest)
- Authors: Matubako Marumo and 3 men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Disaneng f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Tlharo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164984 , vital:41191 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0111-04
- Description: "Men are told that Nnenekwane is the laziest of all. White people are like sharp-eyed buffaloes!" The herdboys while away their time dancing, singing and playing games. Herdboy's dance song with stamping and with leg rattles.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sechomane, ke kabo ke itsi (Sechomane, if I knew how to write)
- Authors: Group of about 30 women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Ramoutsa f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Lete
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165344 , vital:41235 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0112-07
- Description: "Sechomane, if I knew how to write, I would write to the Chief." The melody of this song suggests a similarity with songs from the Masai - Arusha region of Tanganyika. There may be no direct connection whatsoever; it is only the musical impact which suggests the comparison. People's dance with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Seeta le kgwale mosesetho (Visit the partridge)
- Authors: Jemina Pheha and 24 women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Saulspoort f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165933 , vital:41298 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-02
- Description: "Visit the partridge, where have the mothers been last year? Visit the partridge." The initiation schools are held out in the country away from the village, hence the visit to the wild creatures, such as the partridge. Initiation song with drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sekokodia pula wee (We humbly implore rain)
- Authors: Large group of women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Ngwaketse (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Kanye f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Ngwaketse
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162799 , vital:40984 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-07
- Description: "We humbly implore rain, oh, may it rain! If it rains, we shall rejoice." The land belongs to the chief so they bring him the first fruits and a portion is returned to them of which they make beer and also bring some of it to the Chief. This song and others like it, are sung when they drink the beer themselves. This beer is drunk at the Chief's Kgotla. Rain song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Selepe ga se a ja mesu (The axe on the thorn tree)
- Authors: Ngwaketse men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Ngwaketse (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Kanye f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Ngwaketse
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162550 , vital:40946 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0108-09
- Description: "Chop, chop, the axe on the thorn tree." This is also used as a dance song for the Pina dance, a cheerful party dance. Work song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Serago ko gae ngwania maphokoje (Serago, at home, the child of the female jackal
- Authors: Large group of about 60 young men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Sotho , Folk songs, Tswana , Sotho-Tswana languages , Tswana (African people) , Sotho (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Lesotho Tshidilamolomo f-lo
- Language: Tswana/Rolong
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162410 , vital:40928 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0107-05
- Description: On this occasion, the ululating of the women and the general festive air was enhanced because of the singers being freshly returned from their initiation school. "Serago, at home child of the (female) jackal. The shoe, at home, child of the jackal let us go home! Because we have died and vanished, never to return. The sound of the gun was heard in the hills and the gun that was shooting was the Europeans's." Male initiation song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sikere ka lenaka (He is carrying it with a horn)
- Authors: Mapidio Elisabeth Mothulwe and 30 women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Saulspoort f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165942 , vital:41299 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-03
- Description: "Mankeke is carrying a bucket with a horn, we have seen him. He is carrying the bucket with a horn." Initiation ceremonies bring out a number of somewhat strange songs whose meaning appears to be symbolic and only understood by the locals, if at all. Initiation song with drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Silang moshoko (Grind and make porridge)
- Authors: Grace Merementsi and group of about 30 school girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Disaneng f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Tlharo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165177 , vital:41215 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0111-09
- Description: "Grind and make porridge, milk the cows. The sun has set. The children are hungry. The children are getting rheumatic. That man is lean." Some of the children knelt and rubbed the stones on each other, in imitation of grinding whilst the others sang and made appropriate miming gestures to each verse. Children's singing game.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Stepps a dikgomo di teng (Steeps, are there cattle in this place)
- Authors: Mokgele Mokgejane and group of 24 Hurutshe men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Motswedi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Hurutshe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165583 , vital:41259 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0113-08
- Description: "Stepps, are there cattle in this place? Come, let us take them. We must take them from Mokwena and drive them into a cave." The woman at the end of the song spoke the praises of the successful cattle-raiders. It appears to be a local custom to recite praise verses at the conclusion of each song. How the name 'Steeps' originated is not known. Cattle raiding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tebele ya sila ya gaila (The Ndebele girl is grinding and crushing)
- Authors: Group of about 40 women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Ramoutsa f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Lete
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165502 , vital:41250 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0112-11
- Description: This song may refer to the fact that the Ndebele under Mazilekatsi came through this country on or before their way north in 1840, in Moffat's time. Grinding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Thatholla (Unwind)
- Authors: Mpara Mosienyane and large group of men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Sotho , Folk songs, Tswana , Sotho-Tswana languages , Tswana (African people) , Sotho (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Lesotho Mokoroane f-lo
- Language: Tswana/Rolong
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162446 , vital:40933 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0107-09
- Description: "Where does the chief want us to go today? To leave in the evening when it is cold. With a drizzle of rain like a mist. With all the lads afraid of mounting their horses. Our saddles will be wet, and our trousers creased. By Morake's child, I will curse somebody! We of the Tau family, are one-handed. We receive food with it and feel pleased. We kill our own monkey's at Matsau-Tsau. Where did they see him? They saw him at the sugarcane fields. Why does he say he wants Basotho? He says he wants a Basotho blanket. Jump on my back and away we go. Fathers, let us go." Riding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tlalerwa re Humanega (Improverished by the wild dog)
- Authors: Lentswe Male and 20 Kgatla men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Saulspoort f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166005 , vital:41306 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-10
- Description: "The wild dogs will make us poor. Poverty from the wild dogs, you men!" There are no wild dogs left in the district. The reference in this case is to the prowess of the hunters themselves. The leopard are plentiful in the Pilansberg hill where they eat goats and baboons. Hunting song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tlhaba we re tsena bene kakwe rea (We stab)
- Authors: Group of men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Kwena (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Molepolole f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Kwena
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162835 , vital:40988 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-11
- Description: "We stab, we enter. This is the song of the Kwena." All these songs were led by different soloists. It is difficult to obtain an adequate translation of an initiation song as they appear to be couched in mysterious and highly idiomatic terms. This song is used also as a fighting song. Male initiation song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tloga o ense ka dinao kwalatla (Stand up, brave men)
- Authors: Japhta Modisane , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Rustenburg f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166356 , vital:41355 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0117-17
- Description: This praise song or verse is addressed to the present Chief Mohgatle Mabe, of Mabe's Kraal. Praise verse.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tlotlang Kgosi (Honour the great Chief)
- Authors: Lentswe Male and 20 Kgatla men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Saulspoort f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165987 , vital:41304 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-08
- Description: "Honour the great Chief, men! Tribes are serious. Men! Honour the great Chief, men! When tribes are serious." Praise song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tomolang ka diatla (like putting up carrots with your hands)
- Authors: Dintsa Marumolo and about 60 young men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Sotho , Folk songs, Tswana , Sotho-Tswana languages , Tswana (African people) , Sotho (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Lesotho Tshidilamolomo f-lo
- Language: Tswana/Rolong
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162382 , vital:40925 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0107-02
- Description: The singers had just come back from initiation school. Here they use floor polish instead of the traditional red ochre with which to stain themselves. Several of them looked like Nilo Hamite men from Kenya and some of their songs also suggested the modality of those Northern tribes coincidence perhaps, but noticable. The singers were waering tribal attire, skins, carrying sticks and knockberries, had their heads shaved except for a patch in the crwon and were stained red. "It is like pulling up carrots (by hand)! To be a policeman is a battle with your hands! Let us go and do it with our hands." 'Diatla'-hands. The word 'hands' is significant and the meaning of the song plays upon this word. Male initiation song performed while in the veld.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tsabalala ('Tshabalala' - girl's name)
- Authors: Large group of men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Motswedi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Hurutshe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165547 , vital:41255 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0113-04
- Description: "You who reject men's advances, Tshabalala. What will your mother eat, Tshabalala? In point of fact, food is provided by son-in-law, Tshabalala." The 'son-in-lwa' reference implies not only the bride-price 'Bogadi' paid for a girl, but the son-in-law also ploughs for his mother-in-law. A wedding song for the bride, with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tshetlha di kae (Where are the tawny ones)
- Authors: School girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Ngwaketse (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Kanye f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Ngwaketse
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162560 , vital:40947 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0108-10
- Description: "Where are the tawny ones, where are the animals standing? The gemsbok, where are they standing? They are standing in the veld." The sound of thunder can be heard in the distance during this recording, the first storm of the season. Work song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959