Kongwana tshweu wee (Oh, the white cow)
- Authors: Lenpe Mongae and group of about 24 Hurutshe men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Motswedi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Hurutshe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165632 , vital:41265 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0114-01
- Description: "Oh, the white cow! She will bring a very good price at the cattle sale!" Praise song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Mogalepetla nong tsa noka e kgolo (The Mogalepetla birds live near the great river)
- Authors: Group of 8 men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Ramoutsa f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Lete
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165296 , vital:41230 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0112-02
- Description: "The Mogalepetla birds live on the banks of a great river. They live along the banks of the river Mayinole." The praises in the middle of this song were for the present Chief, Mokgosi III. Male initiation song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Stepps a dikgomo di teng (Steeps, are there cattle in this place)
- Authors: Mokgele Mokgejane and group of 24 Hurutshe men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Motswedi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Hurutshe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165583 , vital:41259 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0113-08
- Description: "Stepps, are there cattle in this place? Come, let us take them. We must take them from Mokwena and drive them into a cave." The woman at the end of the song spoke the praises of the successful cattle-raiders. It appears to be a local custom to recite praise verses at the conclusion of each song. How the name 'Steeps' originated is not known. Cattle raiding song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Re a ya ka Uhogo ya Motho (We go with the head of a person)
- Authors: Mapidio Elisabeth Mothulwe and 30 women , Hugh Tracey
- 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/10962/165951 , vital:41300 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-04
- Description: "Tell us to return, we go with a person's head. We, go, we go to this village. We go with a person's head." During the song of the women shouts a 'praise'. The 'head of a person or human being', means the bride who they are carrying. The song is connected with the gift, part of the bridal or wedding presents which are given to the uncle of the bride. Marriage song, with drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Serago ko gae ngwania maphokoje (Serago, at home, the child of the female jackal
- Authors: Large group of 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/10962/162410 , vital:40928 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0107-05
- Description: On this occasion, the ululating of the women and the general festive air was enhanced because of the singers being freshly returned from their initiation school. "Serago, at home child of the (female) jackal. The shoe, at home, child of the jackal let us go home! Because we have died and vanished, never to return. The sound of the gun was heard in the hills and the gun that was shooting was the Europeans's." Male initiation song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Magogwe mo Leseng Part 1(Let the honey bear dig out the ant bear)
- Authors: Mmapane Taunyane with 3 women and 1 man , 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/10962/164231 , vital:41096 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0110-09
- Description: "Let the honey bear dig out the ant bear!" "Honey bear, look out for the flies, they are getting into the honey!" A woman crept about on the ground with her face in a large pot and her arms stretched out before her, grunting into the pot. This was meant to be in imitation of a honey bear. This one of the games played in the evening. Drinking song with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Baroka rifeng-rifeng (Rainmaker-give us, give us)
- Authors: About 40 women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Ramoutsa f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Lete
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165489 , vital:41249 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0112-10
- Description: "Rainmaker, give us, give us. We come from the river of water." This rain song is sung from October to December and in times of drought, but also sung on festive or ceremonial occassions. Sung by both men and women. This song has a particularly long melolic line. Rain song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
O sempone le la kana ke botlhale (I may be young, but I am clever)
- Authors: Silas Kgaragoba , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Zeerust f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Hurutshe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165877 , vital:41291 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0115-12
- Description: "Do not see me as young as I am, but I am clever." i.e. "I may be young, but I am clever."Sung when going up to the hills for initiation.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Pula (Rain)
- Authors: Abraham Sidumedi and group of 6 men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Gopane f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Hurutshe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165647 , vital:41267 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0114-03
- Description: Sidumedi, the leader, sang with great intensity of felling, living the words and accompanying them with gesture and poise. Another variation of this song was also recorded at Wilkeigat. Song for rain.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sebata (The clawed lion)
- Authors: Group of Hurutshe men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Motswedi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Lete
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165520 , vital:41252 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0113-01
- Description: This song is introduced by an old woman. The word "Sebata" used for the lion, is a generic name for all clawed carnivorous animals. "Mariwi" - the "manned one". "Sebata" - the "clawed one" (with special reference to the lion). "The clawed one, the manned one. Lion! It ate the cattle of my in-laws when I was looking after them. Alas! It did not run away." Men's initiation song, sung on returning from the hills.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tumediso ya Morena (Greetings to the Chief)
- Authors: Jemina Pheha and 24 women , Hugh Tracey
- 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/10962/165924 , vital:41297 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-01
- Description: "Great, greetings, owner of the home. Bird greetings. Greetings! Owner of the home, where do I put the shield?" "Bird greetings" implies that the people are the Chief's small birds. The singers are using a local Pedi dialect of Kgatla. Praise song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Waya waya le Makalatshane (You keep comapny with a rogue)
- Authors: Jemina Pheha and 24 women , Hugh Tracey
- 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/10962/166029 , vital:41309 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-12
- Description: "You go, you go with a rogue. My son has gone to work for money. The bus is broken. They have broken the bus. The red one with a hole. The bran breaks the spoon. The rogue is Mokgadi Kwekwe. Mmapula is the clan. Mmapula, do not swear at me. I am not your comrade. They give beer according to relationship. Mokgadi is a 'tsotsi', we are surprised." This song is full of topical allusions to local village scandals, and is only to be understood by those acqainted with them. "They give beer according to relationship" implies family favouritism, and friends being left out when the beer goes round. The girl who is keeping comapny with a rogue is not mentioned by name, but is known in the village. Drinking song with netal bucket used as a drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sikere ka lenaka (He is carrying it with a horn)
- Authors: Mapidio Elisabeth Mothulwe and 30 women , Hugh Tracey
- 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/10962/165942 , vital:41299 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-03
- Description: "Mankeke is carrying a bucket with a horn, we have seen him. He is carrying the bucket with a horn." Initiation ceremonies bring out a number of somewhat strange songs whose meaning appears to be symbolic and only understood by the locals, if at all. Initiation song with drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
He ba bua kgethwa baeme (They thrash skins)
- Authors: Tweleve Kwena men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Kwena (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Molepolole f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Kwena
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162826 , vital:40987 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-10
- Description: "They thrash skins. Early in the morning with the marks of strips on their backs." The translation is doubtful. It appears that flagellation forms an important part of Tswana men's initiation rites. Male initiation song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Mamoko, mamoko, matlabama iye (Clouds, clouds, low clouds, iye)
- Authors: Tietse Modisane and group of about 30 women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Motswedi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Hurutshe
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165574 , vital:41258 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0113-07
- Description: "Clouds, clouds, low clouds, iys, they are thundering." The Western Transvaal has inadequate rainfall in many places as low as 15 to 18 inches a year, gradually becoming reduced towards the West and the Kalahari Desert where recently in one region no rain at all has fallen for five years. This accounts for the numerous rain songs to be found among the Tswana tribes who have good cause for anxiety for their crops each year. No rain songs are sung in high rainfall areas. The praise lines or verses are set lines, not impromptu. The words are both archaic and poetic used only for Leboko. The clapping is ritual, but it is always correct to clap the hands when asking for something. The Moroka or rainmaker was the officiant in a rain-making ceremony. Rain song, with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Ngwanyana a tima Mosadi-Mogola mosoko (The girl who did not give the old woman food)
- Authors: Gertrude Matlou , Hugh Tracey
- 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/10962/166254 , vital:41343 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0117-06
- Description: A certain girl cooked food and did not give any to an old woman. Later on the girl went to play. While she was playing she saw a locust which she follwed into the country. Other girls with her got tired, but she went on. The same old woman was out in the bush and she caught the locust and handed it to the girl when she came up, but when the girl tried to accept it, the woman caught hold of her and she began to cry. A man who was nearby heard the cry and came and killed the old woman, took the girl and nursed her wounds. One day the girl went to the river and there met her fatherwho went with her to her rescuer and gave him an ox and then afterwards took her safely home again. Story.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Motlhala wa Noga (The spoor of a snake)
- Authors: Royal Choristers , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Kanye f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Ngwaketse
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165259 , vital:41224 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0111-14
- Description: This group is the Chief's own choir. The chief Bathoen has always been interested in music and has composed several songs for choirs. He possesses a grand piano himself and keeps up a choir at his home, Kanye. He frequently takes his choir by lorry and car around the country to give concerts elsewhere. His style of composition reflects the insititutional type of song which has been popular among students for several years employing the usual common chords. Interest in the folk music of the country having been discouraged by their teachers as socially inferior, this style of singing was intended to take its place among the 'educated'. Concert song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sekokodia pula wee (We humbly implore rain)
- Authors: Large group of women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Ngwaketse (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Kanye f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Ngwaketse
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162799 , vital:40984 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-07
- Description: "We humbly implore rain, oh, may it rain! If it rains, we shall rejoice." The land belongs to the chief so they bring him the first fruits and a portion is returned to them of which they make beer and also bring some of it to the Chief. This song and others like it, are sung when they drink the beer themselves. This beer is drunk at the Chief's Kgotla. Rain song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Khakha si khudu (The big and the small tortoise)
- Authors: Chief Bathoen II C.B.E. and large group of men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Ngwaketse (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Kanye f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Ngwaketse
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162763 , vital:40980 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-03
- Description: "The great and the small tortoises are both of the same family. When we men are lean it is because we lack the liver of a tortoise. Here is a big tortoise, here is a small one. Take them to the big men!" Men's initiation song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
He mmalo kgaka (We want the guinea fowl)
- Authors: Keelediwe Modise and large group of men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Ngwaketse (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Botswana Kanye f-bs
- Language: Tswana/Ngwaketse
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162578 , vital:40948 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0108-11
- Description: "We want the guinea fowl. We men have surrounded the guinea fowl at a ruined kraal. We fathers have surrounded the guinea fowl." It seems that guinea fowl are the special prequisite of the grown men. The younger ones are not supposed to eat the guinea fowl. In this song the guinea fowl stand for the young men who were hunting them and were supposed to bring them to the older men. The word "Sotswaneng" means a ruined kraal where a special sort of short spreading thorny plant invades such places. Hunting song
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959