Kyaa
- Authors: Mutabi with Kamba men , 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/10962/175903 , vital:42638 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR160-08
- Description: Since recording these two items in 1950, I have been told that these stamping tubes almost if not all together absolete and no longer to be found in Kamba country. The Kyaa is a traditional instrument among the Kamba. It consists of a hollowed tube of euphorbia wood about 3-4 feet long, slightly bulging, with a hide cap on the lower end. A wire is attached to this membrane and passed up the length of the tube and is fixed at the top. If properly tuned it would help the column of air to vibrate when the tube is struck vertically on the ground. A handle is provided at the top of the tube by which the player grips the Kyaa and beats it on the ground. A circlet of metal rattles is also attached to the tube. Love song with Kyaa stamping tubes and Iamba Malebe tin rattles.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Kamulo korgochei
- Authors: Chebitet Arap Muina , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Kipsigis (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Sotik f-ke
- Language: Kipsigis
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177712 , vital:42850 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR165-16
- Description: The singer like most Kipsigis, hisses in between verses. He mocks the uncircumcised and people who do not drink milk the pastoral Kipsigis. He urges everyone to play the Ketuba lyre a fit and manly instrument for the circumcised. The tuning of his instrument is as follows:- 184, 162, 138, 120, 240, 212, 184, 162 vs. Arap Towett was the name of the Kipsigis interpreter who translated all his peoples songs for us. Topical song, Ketuba 8 string bowl lyre, laced. (-10.621 x 8-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Bwana Shanua kidzhere nguma inende
- Authors: Kanga Mayele 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/10962/176630 , vital:42722 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR162-13
- Description: Bwana Shanua was an old singer famous in his day for inventing Juba dance steps. In this song they praise the old man for his cleverness. The facination of the Juba dance lies largely in the syncopated clapping which goes with it. Juba dance for men and women.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Arap chemonget
- Authors: Kipkemo Arap Sitonik and Kepkoske Arap Chepkwony , 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/10962/176994 , vital:42779 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR164-13
- Description: This lyre is strummed and fingered like the Bangwe zither of Nyasaland. The right hand strums the strings and the left mutes or opens the siz strings making it possible to play two or three chords on the open unmuted strings. The singer mentions by name his home village, places of common interest to his friends. The player flips the body of his lyre on the 2nd and 4th beats. In common with several African verse makers the singer sings in complets, repeating the second phrase and making it the first line of the next. Praise song with Chepkongo 6 string bowl lyre.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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
Chebusit
- Authors: Kinutit Arap Ngasura , 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/${Handle} , vital:42780 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR164-14
- Description: The solo singer singing in falsetto praises his country and many of its desirable places. He mentions among others the administrative centre at Kericho, some 25 miles away, which he says is ;full of words' referring to the information service supplied to the country by the office of the district commissioner. This wishbone shaped frame lyre is held onto the top of an empty 4 gallon parafin tin. At the end of his song the lyre slipped off its resonator. Praise song with Kibugandet 5 string wish bone lyre (-10.6405 x 5-) resonated on a parafing tin.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Sochoi
- Authors: Kiptui Arap Moroko 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/10962/176761 , vital:42749 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR163-12
- Description: A dance song with words of no special meaning whose only function is to keep the dance alive. The Moran dance with its leaping young men springing into the air like pogo sticks is one of the more spectacular performances which frequently have the simplest and most unattractive music as background. This item is typical. Moran dance song for men.
- 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
Bengeria
- Authors: Feituk Arap Sumeiyot , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Kipsigis (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Sotik f-ke
- Language: Kipsigis
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177395 , vital:42818 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR165-02
- Description: A particulary charming little song. The girl was with her lover when they saw her father coming to look for her. She begged people to help her by distracting her father's attention while she escaped. They did so and afterwards she sang this song to thank the men who helped her escape. Love song with Kipungandet 5 string lyre.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Niila nkwoma tene
- Authors: Munyithya wa Kyenze , 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/10962/175833 , vital:42628 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR160-02
- Description: ""It is long since I last sang your praises. It is long since I last saw you, my dear." The singer uses his lute as a rhythmic rather than a melodic instrument. His voice appears to be pitched well above the instrument. His voice appears to be pitched well above the two basic notes of his lute, but the interval may bear some constant relationship which is not discernable to a foreign ear at first hearing. On the other hand the lute may be considered as a two note 'drone' to the melody. It will be noticed that the pitch of his lute slightly lower in this and the next song "Musenga." Love song, with Mbebe, one string, bowed lute.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Arap Momoen I
- Authors: Arap Ng'asuru , 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/10962/177611 , vital:42838 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR165-08
- Description: Drinking song under the same title expressing thnks to their host for the party and wising 'farewell' as they leave. Drinking song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Kin anyone en Arap Nairobi
- Authors: Chebitet Arap Muina , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Kipsigis (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Sotik f-ke
- Language: Kipsigis
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177703 , vital:42849 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR165-15
- Description: The song describes a donkey's complaint. It was brought from Nairobi, it says, when it was much fatter. Unlike lucky men. it does not recieve money as wages but only maize. "Don't bother me but leave me alone" says the donkey. The Chepkseem is a wishbone shaped instrument, virtually the two arms and yoke of the lyre but without the usual resonating bowl. The tuning was:- 316, 268, 240, 220, 188 vs. Arap Towett was the name of the Kipsigis interpreter who translated all his peoples songs for us. Topical song, with Chepkesem 5 string frame lyre (external resonator - petrol tin).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Sore cherono
- Authors: 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/10962/177683 , vital:42846 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR165-14
- Description: This song "I go for Cherono" is about a woman who went to fetch a girl called Cherono and was met on the path. When asked what she was doing she replied "Sore cherono". This word Sore "I go for" sounds like the English word 'sorry' and now implies a double meaning, as the English word has slipped into the local language. The girls were doing a jerky little dance as they sang which is reflected in their singing. Children anywhere are usually poor subjects for recording and there are no exception. These two items are included to show how small Kipsigis girls perform Both songs show a possibility of school (foreign) influence. Topical song
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Katuiyo II
- Authors: Charondet Arap Ng'asura with Kipsigis men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Kipsigis (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Sotik f-ke
- Language: Kipsigis
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177781 , vital:42872 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR166-02
- Description: A song sung on the same day and at the same place but with different leaders. The song is unaccompanied by a Chepkongo lyre. Katuiyo was the name of the man who introduced this kind of dancing. His name also means a 'meeting place' and the lyric includes the names of various boys and girls who have met each other at the dance. This happy coincidence is made use of friends greeting each other at the dance. Dance song for men and women with Chepkongo 6 string bowl lyre, laced.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Meri I
- Authors: Ndulu wa Ngolanie with Kamba boys and girls , 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/10962/176196 , vital:42671 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR161-03
- Description: A young man leads his troupe of girl and boy dancers who all blow whistles. The dance largely consists of the shaking of shoulders and advancing towards ones partner, bending forward and placing the cheeks together while continuing to shake the shoulders. The dance is a fine spectacle but poor music. The second part of the dance is done with whistles only and without the drum. The Kamba, in common with a few other Bantu tribes appear to be able to tolerate deafining noises in their dance music such as this shrill cacophony of whistles played into each others ears. Mbeni and Kibebe dance song for boys and girls, with Kithembe conical drum, one bunch of Malepe hand bells.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Chepulionit
- Authors: Paul Serefu with Nandi boys , 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/10962/176809 , vital:42761 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR164-01
- Description: The Chemelilit dance for young men is performed at night as a general entertainment. The present dance song is a traditional one and was used in the old ways before going out to raid neihbouring tribes after which they felt they were fit to accomplish anything they set themselves to do. It was sung by the raiding party sitting down, but is now solely as a dance. Chemelilit dance song for young men.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Onyiego Obara
- Authors: Nyawaga Mgele , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Luo (Kenyan and Tanzanian people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kasipul f-ke
- Language: Luo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178075 , vital:42905 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR167-06
- Description: "When Onyiego Obara invited me to play my lyre at his house there was a large audience. I was surprised for I had never been to town before." The lyre is played horizontally with the bowl and one arm resting on the floor. It is held in this position by the left hand over the top of the upper arm of the lyre and by the foot. Topical song with Thum 8 string lyre, legs bells (-12.55-) and Oduong toe ring (-12.151-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Alego
- Authors: Muruku Ndai Fula , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Luo (Kenyan and Tanzanian people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Siaya f-ke
- Language: Luo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177889 , vital:42886 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR166-14
- Description: Alego is the fertile province of north Nyanza whose grain feeds the rest of the country. They praise Daudi Ogode the chief of the district. Wend Kong drinking song, with Gara leg bells.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Usingi
- Authors: Ndulu with Kamba boys and girls , 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/10962/176022 , vital:42653 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR160-15
- Description: A song in a definite mode, with an interesting melodic line and a rhythm which defies easy analysis. Circumcision song for boys and girls.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ndisala shitongolwa
- Authors: Daudi Mutekete with Wanga men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Wanga (African people) , Folk music--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Nyanza f-ke
- Language: Wanga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176439 , vital:42696 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR161-15
- Description: This is a well known song by all the people: "I am as fierce as the black snake. Everyone wants me. The Kitoshi would like me to fight for them! If you think I am lying, go and ask them yourself. Song after fighting with conical drum, laced played with sticks. 1 Eshitsiriba side blown horn (-11.122-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950