Elosi aberu akipore imaniti abiro
- Authors: Iganitiyo Ekacholi and Teso men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Chopi , Jopadhola (African people) , Teso (African people) , Music--Uganda , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Lukiko f-ug
- Language: Adhola
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169309 , vital:41713 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0130-13
- Description: It is interesting to note the apparent differences in tone between the scale of the harp and the voice. Iganitiyo, the harp, made friends with Chief K. Omudeka and he visited him at his place over the border in Kenya. He was surprised at the great amount of land which was under cultivation there. He entertained the chief every evening of his visit by playing and singing to his Adedeu harp. Topical song with five string Adedeu horizontal harp, clapping and leg rattles, 1 side blown Aluti horn.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ikwara watindi tindibala
- Authors: Bulasiyo Namawa , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Gisu (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Mbale f-ug
- Language: Masaba (Gisu, Kisu, Dadiri, Buya)
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169448 , vital:41751 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0131-05
- Description: This song recalls the days when the Gishu were first subdued by the English during the early occupation of Uganda. Topical song with Lidungu seven string lyre.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Teohela Silatsatsi(Go down Silatsatsi)
- Authors: School girls of Qeme , 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/10962/161821 , vital:40681 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0104-05
- Description: This singing game is done in a circle, each girl kneeling with a stone in her hand. They beat their stones on the ground and in some cases hand them onto the next girl to their right in an anti-clockwise direction. This singing is also found among the Tswana. Singing game.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Oyo oyo wanize
- Authors: The seven wives of the Chief , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Malawi , Songs, Zulu , Zulu (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Mzimba f-mw
- Language: Zulu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/160907 , vital:40560 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR099-17
- Description: The women, the members of the brides party depart and they wish the bride 'goodbye'. The song long associated with the Zulu wedding custom in Natal but separated by over 100 years and a thousand miles, show how persistent and nostalgic old songs can be in a strange land inhabited by African 'colonials'. Wedding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Arap Chepsiolei
- Authors: Malakwen Chepsaikut , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Mijikenda (African people) , Nandi (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kapsabet f-ke
- Language: Nandi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176838 , vital:42764 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR164-03
- Description: This lyre is strummed like a guitar with the right hand, the left hand stopping the five strings, like the Bongwe Zither of Nyasaland. This gave two chords. Notes 1, 3, and 5 and notes 2 and 4. One string, they said, was missing, the lower octave of No. 1. The scale was:- 308, 256, 232, 206, 180, (154) vs. Praise and topical song with Kipukandet 5 string lyre.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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
Babe kasenankomo (Father has no cattle left)
- Authors: Masitela with 2 boys and 3 girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Folk songs, Swazi , Folk music , Africa Ewatini Lobamba, Mbabane f-sq
- Language: Swati
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/152330 , vital:39247 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR068-18
- Description: A "reed ceremony" song, sung for the Mhlanga or reed ceremony. The words of the song imply that father has gone to court over various cases so often that all his cattle have been attacked. The reed ceremony is carried out when the girls of the tribe all go together to the reed beds to cut reeds for the palings of the villages which are a feature of the Swazi Kraals. Mhlanga song for the reed ceremony.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Tsiku limodzi (One day)
- Authors: S. R. Chitalo and De Ndirande Pitch Crooners , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Blantyre f-rh
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa/Chichewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155515 , vital:39890 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR086-06
- Description: A mother was beating her child for disobedience. I was just passing by when I saw this happen and asked her why she was whipping the child and she told me that was the best way of teaching a child. I learnt a lesson and from now on my children will learn in this way. The melody is believed have been copied from Johannesburg recordings. Topical song with guitar.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Kwathu kumangulu (At Mangulu, our country)
- Authors: Frank Nantibule , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Salima f-rh
- Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155883 , vital:39927 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR088-09
- Description: The country of Mangulu, the land of the Angulu or Lomwe is to the South East of Nyasaland. The song is taken from a young people's dance song. Self delectative song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Mulavu
- Authors: S. Mondo , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Soga (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Iganga f-ug
- Language: Soga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171534 , vital:42088 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR142-05
- Description: A certain Gombolola chief named Mulavu is said to have ordered his people to uproot the groundnuts and other crops of the people nearby. They naturally objected, and reported him first to the Saza county chief and then to the District Commissioner who severly reprimanded him. The tuning of the instrument was, 248, 220, 202, 174, 144, 130, 110, 101 but the order of the notes themselves on the instrument does not follow the sequence of the scale. Topical song, with Ntongoli 8 string lyre.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Cheptim
- Authors: Kipterer Arap Kenik with Kipsigis men and girls , 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/10962/177795 , vital:42875 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR166-04
- Description: 'Cheptim' is a term of endearment for any girl, and the song is largely a repetition of the words 'Merire Cheptim" "Weep not pretty maid." Dance song for men and women with whistles.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Dzombe Rija (My Grasshopper)
- Authors: Muzize Mware , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Visanza, Kotakota District, Central Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153833 , vital:39529 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR078-08
- Description: "Where does that grasshopper of mine sleep? I won't eat until everyone helps me to catch it."
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Mugasha 3
- Authors: Habib Bin Seliman , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Haya (African people) , Nyoro (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania / Uganda Kabale / Bukoba f-tz / f-ug
- Language: Nyoro , Haya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172359 , vital:42192 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR145-14
- Description: The singer was word perfect throughout the whole recitation. He tells the locally well known legend of the Lake Victoria Nyanza. He is credited with being the best legend reciter in all the Haya country. Before Mugasha was born he is said to have threatened his mother that unless he was born quickly he would come out of the side of the womb. The instrument had to be returned before the end of the legend, as one or two strings were slightly flat. It was originally recorded in five sections. The Legend of spirit of the Lake, with Nanga trough Zither.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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
A lona le utse le ithuta dithuto tseo tsa lona
- Authors: Mapidio Elisabeth Mothulwe and Kgatla women , Tracey, Hugh
- 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/10962/165960 , vital:41301 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-05
- Description: Chief: "Are you going on with those lessons of yours, Kgabo (monkey)? show them to me." Children: "Here they are, here they are." Chief: "Show them to me." Children: "Here they are, here they are." This is believed to be a very old song taught in the early days of the church when the Chief would come round asking the children if they were learning their lessons properly. The Dutch Reformed Church was first established in this village in 1864. Morality song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Naba aninduga Kilanja
- Authors: Felisiano Karungula with Haya men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Haya (African people) , Nyoro (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania / Uganda Bukoba / Bibanga f-tz / f-ug
- Language: Nyoro , Haya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171788 , vital:42125 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR143-09
- Description: "On my way back from Kihanja I met that famous girl Felista. She was very beautiful yet she had no husband." On first hearing , this style of singing would appear to have an Arabic or Swahili origin, but this is denied by the singers. Love song with 1 conical laced drum, beaten by sticks, clapping (-12.03-), 1 Nyimba gourd rattle (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Jean Pierre
- Authors: Mingana Paul and soilders of the Force Publique , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Ngala (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Mbangala
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169186 , vital:41693 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0129-13
- Description: Stories of this kind are a peculiar invention of the Congo askaris, who have a large variety of them. This one is about a soilder who had three sons who refused to go to school and set out to educate themselves. One went to Leopoldville, one to Elizabethville and the third to Brussels. The last one, Jean Pierre, the youngest son, became a professional theif. He stole a fine car and drove it all the way up through Africa and on to Brussels in Beligium. There, he presented himself at the Palace. The Queen Astrid received him very graciously and asked him he wanted Jean Pierre was so overcome and taken aback at her kind request that he could think of nothing to say except "Some water please." Presently the King came in, having been on a long journey and when he saw Jean Pierre he ordered up the askari and had him flung into gaol, after which his friends would have nothing to do with him. The moral od the story, they said, is that one should not steal, and if the soilders steal, they say, their wives have them flung into gaol. These Congo soilders appear to have invented a wonderful way of ensuring the attention of the audience throughout their stories, at unexpected intervals, the story teller shouts out "Histoire" to which everyone must immediately respond "Onolo!" No one could explain to us the origin of the response and whether the word was of French or African origin, 'en or' or 'onolo'. (Copied from disc). Story
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Elija
- Authors: Joshua Omwami and John Manyasi , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Bunyore f-ke
- Language: Luya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176554 , vital:42714 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR162-07
- Description: The lyre was played horizontally with the right hand plucking the group of four strings and near the bridge. The left hand extended to pluck the group of 3 strings near the crossbar. The scale was:- 416, 352, 304, 268, 248, 232, 208 vs. The lyre is used more as a rhythmic base rather than melodic instrument, though the player can and indeed frequently does play the melody. Praise song, with Litungu lyre, 7 string leg bells and gourd rattle (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Nimboroga
- Authors: Eriya Bakwasa , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Nyoro (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Hoima f-ug
- Language: Nyoro
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169733 , vital:41793 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0132-14
- Description: The Ekidongo harp is a pleasing instrument in the hands of an expert. This man Eriya Bakwasa is a professional minstrel who makes his livelihood by singing songs. "I weep" he sings "because I am poor", a theme very popular among mendicant musicians. Self delectative song with Ekidongo eight string harp.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Awe wedikoyoyo (No meaning)
- Authors: Pearson Kapeni , 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/10962/153788 , vital:39522 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR078-03
- Description: "The women of Dowa desire very much to drink beer. Their work indeed is to drink beer. The women of Dowa, their work is to sell flour and flat cakes. And when they get home their marriage is broken. The women of Msoci, their work is to love the market place. And they was on Saturday only." I, Pearson Kapeni have troubles in the country of Dowa. This country hates me, why does it hate me? The reference to washing on Saturday is appreciated when one remembers that Saturday is market day in Dowa when the women put on their best clothes. The song struck home as it was true. Topical song with guitar.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958