Singila
- Authors: Francis Keter with Nandi men , 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/10962/176779 , vital:42751 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR163-14
- Description: Another simple repetitive song by the Nandi which is sometimes used as a party or drinking song. Moran dance song for men.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ngitowucelinkhoto nahojaba (I have come to ask for admission from thr groom's mother)
- Authors: Lomadlozi Dlamini and group of Swazi women , 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/10962/152267 , vital:39240 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR068-11
- Description: Song sung by the bride's party at a wedding. It appears that the bride must go to her prospective mother-in-law and ask formally to be accepted by her son's family as part of the wedding proceedings. Wedding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Nenemegyeti
- Authors: Oboto Sukuma , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Medje f-cg
- Language: Mangbetu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166898 , vital:41416 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0121-02
- Description: Only one of the two strings of this lute is stopped, the other being used as a kind of drone. A very simple five note accompaniment is possible by this means, from the open string with three stopped notes together with the drone. A bent piece of midrib from a fowl's father is fixed at the far end of the string to act as a buzzer when the string in vibration strikes against it. This stopped lute is found occasionally all the way from this district southwards to the Zambezi, though very rare in the north. What its distribution my be further north and west unknown at present. Both words and instrumental accompaniment are clearly heard in this recording. Topical song with Nenjenje lute, two strings.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Gebede-gebede ulendo wasabwera (Pack-pack, to go and not return)
- Authors: Eight 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/10962/155784 , vital:39916 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR087-13
- Description: Gebede, gebede is the sound of putting ones things together and the banging together of boxes preparing for a journey. This said to be the most typical of all the Mang'anja dances. "Pack, pack, to go and not come back is like the journey when you do not say goodbye." Chitsukulumwe dance with gourd rattles, drums and clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Bazungu banashindana Malindi
- Authors: Chad Obuyi with Giryama men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Giryama (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Malindi f-ke
- Language: Giryama
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176689 , vital:42740 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR163-04
- Description: The Gonda was danced by a small group of dark skinned boys and girls who were dressed in the equivalent of the ballet dancers 'Tutu', a short multiple skirt made of banana stalk fibres which exaggerated every movement of the hips. It was one of the most pleasing and attractive dance displays by child dancers in the whole of East Africa, all of whom were expert performers. The excessive noise of the drums and the somewhat shrill voices of the singers do not do justice to the expert dancing which went with them. Gonda dance song for men and women, with 4 Mabumbumbu cylindrical drums, pegged and footed (-14.01101-), 1 Mushondo conical drum (-14.21201-). 1 Kaamuri goblet drum (-14.51101-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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
Hamolo
- Authors: Salim Zeydan with Arab men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Music--Kenya , Songs, Swahili--Kenya , Songs, Swahili--Tanzania , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Malindi f-ke
- Language: Arabic
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180021 , vital:43294 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR171-15
- Description: A song which is sung when the bridegroom is having his head and beard shaved. "We have shaved him by force. Let us rejoice together." Wedding song, with 1 Hayir bass drum, 1 Maras bass drum, played with hands, 2 Tasa bowl drums, laced, played with sticks and clapping (-12.02-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Amai anda nena mangwila-ngwila (My mother always told me not to touch anything in the house)
- Authors: Josani Phiri , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Songs, Chewa , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Dowa f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/160790 , vital:40544 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR099-04
- Description: On hearing his song played back to him, Josani Phiri held his head in his hands and shook it unbelievingly during the whole playing. Self delectative song with Bongo board zither.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Wa sara ndeka wuranda ukuwawa (You stay alone and bitter)
- Authors: L. Marangi , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Nyakyusa (African people)--Music , Ngonde (African people)--Music , Africa Zambia Nkana mine, Kitwe f-za
- Language: Nyakyusa-Ngonde
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/151893 , vital:39184 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR066-09
- Description: TThe 'drum' was a large aluminium pot turned upside down and beaten by sticks. "Danzi" town dance with accordion, bottle and drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Enaku zita amalembo
- Authors: Kabyoma Mashulamo , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Haya (African people) , Nyoro (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania / Uganda Bukoba f-tz / f-ug
- Language: Nyoro , Haya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172138 , vital:42165 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR145-03
- Description: "I am worried because I am poor and have no one to look after me." The zither is the ideal instrument with which to express your sorrow it appears. Tuning 152, 136, 126, 118,105, 101, 93 vs. Lament with Nanga trough zither, 7 notes.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Takundambi kumulumi wako (Never mention me to your husband)
- Authors: Blakufus Simukolo and "White" Korio , 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/10962/138279 , vital:37617 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR042-15
- Description: "I cannot marry a Luvale girl, or a Shona, because they put on ties. Their only duty is to cut grass, therefore I cannot marry a woman like that." Both singers were full of good beer. Two notes. 416 and 228 vs. Instrument stopped by the left thumb pressed against the longer section of the string at approximately 3 inches from the straining wire. Party song with Kalumbo bow. One-stringed, gourd resonated, struck with reed.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Noh'a Metsi (Water snake)
- Authors: Agnes Nchanyana. 4 assistants and group of women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Sotho , Sotho (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Lesotho Berea f-lo
- Language: Sotho
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/161222 , vital:40604 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0102-08
- Description: The leader does a shaking dance on her knees as she sings "Water snake! it comes out the east and it is very angry." The singer, in addition to her diviner's beads, shells, bells and small antelope horns, wore a large Catholic rosary with a worn medal of the Sacred heart, knotted into her girdle. Her scarlet skirt was thickly embroidered with designs in white beads. The adoption of Catholic symbols by pagans for their divination rites is common in nominally Catholic countries, especially by Black Africans (originally referred to as Negroes at the time) who use them in their Voodoo ceremonies. Diviners' song with cylindrical drum (-14.03-) and frame drum (-14.92-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Bana ba tau we-e! (Children of the lion!)
- Authors: Group of about 70 men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Mochudi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166218 , vital:41339 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0117-02
- Description: "Children of the lion. He - he! we! Having been called, we have come." This song was recorded on the occasion when the Chief was being presented with the skin of a lion which had recently been killed, out at one of the cattle posts. According to custom, the skin had to be given to the Chief, Murusi Pilane. A large crowd of men marched up through the village to the Chief's council place, the Kgotla, singing this song as they came. The man who had killed the lion wore the skin over his head and shoulders, while four other men were similarly covered with the skins of leopards. A friend had the hollow fanged skull of the lion strapped on top of his head. As they sang, several men stabbed the air with their assegais as if they were reenacting the scene. Hunting song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Kgatha shoewanene (We have driven the guinea fowl)
- Authors: Tshekoeng Mokgosi and 8 women and 4 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/10962/164966 , vital:41189 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0111-02
- Description: "We men, we have driven the guinea fowl into the ruined, deserted kraal. We have driven it, we have driven it. We did, we drove it to the deserted kraal." This song is now used for threshing. Initiation is no longer practised in this district but the similarity in the wording of this song to the one recorded at Kanye seems to confirm its having been an initiation song originally. It is the general custom among the Tswana people for guinea fowl to be hunted by the younger men and then given to the older men. Threshing song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Oa mona Letsie (You see Letsie) Chief of Leribe.
- Authors: Seforo Mosese , 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/10962/162012 , vital:40749 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0105-04
- Description: "You see Letsie, Leribe where there is a beautiful small mountain. Brakpan with its small pretty hill. My mother's Mosinoa, mother's child. You see Seforo, you see Tefolo. Mosinoa, Moea's child, is crying. He cries although nobody has hit him." Mokorotlo riding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Mme o leleka baeng (Mother drives away the visitors for me)
- Authors: Levi Modisane and 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 Rustenburg f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166313 , vital:41350 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0117-12
- Description: "Mother drives away the visitors for me. I am no longer visiting," Threshing song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Ndayamba dale (I start, darling)
- Authors: Young girls and 5 drummers , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Mpatsa, Fort Herald f-rh
- Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155874 , vital:39926 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR088-08
- Description: A certain girl was complaining about not having her own house, so her young man then promised to start building it so that they could get married. The immense percussive sound of the nine drums completely drowns the voices of the girls only a few yards away. Likhuba dance with 9 drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Uta rungula wamamane lekaya (Greet the mothers at home)
- Authors: Tonga/ Hlanguni (Performers) , T.O. Kowano (Composer) , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1955
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Music--Mozambique , Humorous song , Guitar , Instrumental music , Africa Mozambique Bileni f-mz
- Language: Tonga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/132604 , vital:36856 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR007-10
- Description: Humorous song with guitar
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1955
Tyingabenga (The Giant)
- Authors: Five Nyasa men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Songs, Chewa , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Likoma f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/160799 , vital:40546 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR099-05
- Description: The drum was played with a stick in the left hand tapping on the side of the drum alternately with the head. The right hand kept up the rythm in the usual way. During this lively performnace the bottle player shattered his bottle into fragments, continuing to beat the neck of the beat which remained in his hand until that too disintegrated under the blows of the six inch nail. At the end of the first item the player dashed off to a nearby hut and produced the next best substitute, a new hoe blade. This recording was made by Nyasa workers at a Citrus Estate near Nelspruit, Eastern Transvaal. Party dance with double headed drum, concertina and bottle.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Suchi
- Authors: Chepkorir and 4 small Kipsigis 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/10962/177544 , vital:42831 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR165-03
- Description: Two little girls sing to each other, each trying to outdo the each other in extravagant boasting about their personal charms until in the normal way, the song breaks down in laughter. In this instance they were too shy to laugh. Children's song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950