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Kuklala pafupi (If it was near)

Ode tate, kuseli kwaphili kuli njati (There is a buffalo)

Kuku lu-lu-ku (The crowing of the cock)

  • Authors: Kachama , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Dedza f-rh
  • Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155956 , vital:39935 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR088-16
  • Description: "The crowing of the cock, father, the cock crow. The people here, father, the cock crow. They like to deceive, father, to affect something tomorrow. At someone's village, father. Walking is like dancing, the cock crow." No doubt to the singers of this drinking song, walking home would indeed be similar to dancing after an all night party which only broke up at cock crow. Drinking song with clapping.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Inu A'Kachere (You Kachere)

  • Authors: By elderly men at Kachere's village , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Dedza, Central Nyasaland f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153401 , vital:39446 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR076-10
  • Description: One of the songs said to have been sung after a tribal raid - a morality song after victory, so that the people will continue to be strong and not be thrown out of their country. It was sung when Europeans first entered the country about the end of the last century when Sir Harry Johnstone first ruled the country. "You! It is A Kachere who has increased the population of this country. There should not be prostitutes, it is forbidden or you will be thrown out by the white men." The Kachere mentioned in the song was the father of the present Chief who is about 70 years old. The song is no doubt derived from the old Nguni custom of purification after fighting. A fighting song with clapping.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Milisi

  • Authors: Dance with nine tuned drums , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Mpatsa f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157924 , vital:40114 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR093-04
  • Description: The drums are weighted with castor oil bean paste. It is removed from the drum head immediately after playing, or, they say, it would rot the membrane. The tuning of the drums has to be done afresh each time. "Misili killed a buck, so the people were pleased to have the meat." Likhuba dance with eight tuned drums.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Mai dale tawa tumbila (My darling went away)

Panzi paweni mayo (At other peoples village)

  • Authors: C. Thipha , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Dedza f-rh
  • Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/155966 , vital:39936 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR088-17
  • Description: At another peoples villages it is better when you are alive. There used to be a house here. Why was it taken away? It is because you are too talkative." There seems to be some sound common sense about this song but somehow it escapes the singers whose minds have receded towrds the pleasures of trivialities. It is a good thing to have your wits about you when drinking away from home or you may be tempted to make such observations as I am sure there used to be a house here. Old boy, what has happened to it? And as the song implies make a fool of yourself. Drinking song with clapping.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Owaha o Lomwe (When you come from Lomwe)

Vinyatsi Mjila (Grass on the road)

Pita uko (Together)

Coka Coka (Go away, go away)

  • Authors: 9 small girls , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Dedza, Nyasaland f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153491 , vital:39458 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR076-20
  • Description: The 9 small girls put their 5 mortars in one row and with osne exception two girls pounded in each mortar. "Go away, go away. I don't go! Why shoild I leave this place? An orpahn child is difficult to nurse. Where shall I, an orphan, go? No. no. no, I am sorry for you." The difficulty of bringing up an orphan child is often referred to in African songs. Pounding song with pestle and mortar.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Likhuba (Drum Rhythm)

  • Authors: Dance with nine tuned drums , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Mpatsa f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157919 , vital:40113 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR093-03
  • Description: The drums are weighted with castor oil bean paste. It is removed from the drum head immediately after playing, or, they say, it would rot the membrane. The tuning of the drums has to be done afresh each time. "Misili killed a buck, so the people were pleased to have the meat." Likhuba dance with eight tuned drums.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Chitako Bitileshi (Beatrice's thighs)

  • Authors: Joey Ngwira , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Chewa , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Kasengu f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja/Chewa
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156876 , vital:40060 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR092-09
  • Description: The Pango (Bango or Bangwe) is the instrument most commonly found throughout Nyasaland. Here the local dialect changes the more usual Bangwe to Pango and sometimes Pangwe. I was strummed with a swaying of the fingers. "Oh! the thighs of Beatrice. I could not sleep well last night." Self delectative song with board zither (Pango).
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Thano ya Timba (The story of Timba 'small bird')

  • Authors: Edwin Tengani , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Mpatsa f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157939 , vital:40131 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR093-05
  • Description: "Once there was a small bird called Timba. Timba made his living on a certain tree called Nkankande. He put a notice on the tree because he knew that the tree was beside the main path which all the animals took to drink water at the river. The notice said "Everyone who passes must look out because mu hut is here, anyone who does not heed my notice will die." After a while the elephants passed by and knocked down Timba's nest because the Nkankande tree is the natural food of elephants. At the time Timba was away looking after his cotton field. When he got back his house had gone. From the foot prints all around he knew it was the elephants and he said "I will see them on their way back". When the elephants came along Timba said, "which of you broke down my house?" "He had better confess at once or one of you will die, I am sure." Before the elephants arrived home one of them was already unhappy and his friend asked him what was the matter. "I am unhappy about what Timba said to us." He replied, "well if you are the one who spoiled Timba's nest we had better go back and tell him." But he refused and later that day he lay down and died. Messages were sent far and wide that an elephant had died and all the animals came to attend his funeral. Timba knew that the elephant had died on account of his notice, so when he came to the funeral Timba said, "I warned you about my tree, so let this be a warning to everyone that it is better to obey than to disobey because in this way a young man can make bad things right again." Story.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Nkamuona nkadamphwetheka (If I see him I will hurt him)

Mnyamata (Young man why dont you marry?)

Adaweta ng'ombe, kapolo uja (That slave herded the 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 Bimphi, Dowa, Central Nyasaland f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153999 , vital:39552 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR079-05
  • Description: "He herded the cattle, that slave. He herded the cattle, father. The cattle, the cattle, the cattle, mother. He herded the cattle, that slave. They are in the kraal." Slavery was common place in this region until the end of the 19th century because the YAO, on behalf of the Arabs and themselves would capture the local CHEWA and make them slaves for sale or service. Self delectative song with Sansi (Mbira)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Fedina (Name of a man)

  • Authors: Jason Kafunda and Chewa boys , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Mwadzama, Kotakota, Central Nyasaland f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153990 , vital:39551 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR079-04
  • Description: "Fedina and John went to Salisbury. On their way John killed Fedina to get hold of his cloth which was better than his own. From Fedina's blood sprang a bird which sang a song telling of Fedina's death. So John was killed because of what he did, and the bird disappeared into the ground as the blood had done." The bird in circumstances such as this is constantly featured as a form of conscience or sense of guilt which brings the malefactor to justice. The blood of his friend brings the murderer to his end. "Fedina. Fedina is dead. He was dead because of a cloth."
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Njinga yalowa (Njinga is dead)

  • Authors: M. S. Ngomwa and six Mang'anja boys , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1958
  • Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Port Herald f-mw
  • Language: Nyanja/Mang'anja
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/158131 , vital:40151 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR093-10
  • Description: Njinga was a certain man who had a generous wife. When he died his widow married again and had much trouble with the second husband. So thinking of Njinga she used to sing in her sorrow. "Njinga is dead alas." It is notable that the words of many African songs are only loosely associated with the ceremony in hand. There may have been some close local association at one time which has now escaped their memory and tradition has taken over. "Njinga is dead. Njinga is dead. Alas ee. Mother help me. Njinga is dead. Funeral song (during the burial ceremony). Tin used as drums.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958

Akazi amachenjera (Women are clever)

  • Authors: Five Chewa men , 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/10962/160233 , vital:40423 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR097-08
  • Description: An old song, now only sung by the older men and danced by the men at drinking parties. This wicked old song was much enjoyed by the singers and by their contemporaries and all the older people around. "Women are very clever, they have their own ways of having fun (with other men). M'kwenda dance with 5 Umkwenda friction sticks.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1958
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