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Kwaca milombe kalingilila (Now the sun is rising, I must go into the bush and cut trees)

  • Authors: Group of 4 Ngoni men , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1957
  • Subjects: Folk songs , Songs, Nyanja , Nsenga (African people) , Ngoni (African people) , Africa Zambia Fort Jameson f-za
  • Language: Nyanja , Nsenga
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137492 , vital:37530 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR038-06
  • Description: The leg rattles are made out of the hard shell fruit of the Vitanta tree. It is an edible fruit which is picked when ripe, boiled in a pot and then the seeds are extracted through a small hole at the spot where the stem joins the fruit. It is then dried. A number of pin head size holes are made in the sides "to let the sound out" , they say, a second hole is made opposite the stem hole and the shell are then filled with canna seeds or small stones and strung onto sticks. Four rows of shells of about 6-8 each are needed to make one leg rattle which is attached to the calf of the leg by two straps, one below the knee and the other at the ankle. Mbanda dance song with Malaza leg rattles.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1957

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

Liya kumuchoma wa kanga (Without Liya the dance is not a success)

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)

Sipenbela nkosi (We are waiting for the Chief)

  • Authors: Group of 14 Ngoni men and chorus of women , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1957
  • Subjects: Folk songs , Songs, Nyanja , Nsenga (African people) , Ngoni (African people) , Africa Zambia Fort Jameson f-za
  • Language: Nyanja , Nsenga
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137620 , vital:37543 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR038-13
  • Description: This was probably composed long ago when the people of Mzilikazi were being driven out of the Transvaal by the Boers in the middle of the nineteenth century. The singers agreed that this was a Ndebele song not of the Ngoni songs - but they said their languages were so similar that they had adopted it. Ngoma dance song with stamping and 1 pair of leg rattles.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1957

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

Siyakulindila utinina? (What are you waiting for?)

  • Authors: Group of 14 Ngoni men abd chorus of women , Hugh Tracey
  • Date: 1957
  • Subjects: Folk songs , Songs, Nyanja , Nsenga (African people) , Ngoni (African people) , Africa Zambia Fort Jameson f-za
  • Language: Nyanja , Nsenga
  • Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137547 , vital:37536 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR038-12
  • Description: The song belongs to "umgubo" or, in Zulu "ihubo" type of regimental singing. They were sung by the Mpezeni regiment, in 1920. The last of the age groups to be called officially a regiment by the Ngoni tribe. Ngoma dance song with stamping and 1 pair of leg rattles.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 1957

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?)

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