Nkhondo ya Amyachusa (The battalion of Nyakyusa)
- Authors: Young Chewa girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Chewa , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Ncheu f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/160115 , vital:40386 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR096-16
- Description: The song refers to the visit, in 1953, to the Southern province of a battalion of Northern Rhodesian soildiers (Wemba, wrongly called Nyakyusa by the local people, they now know) which was sent to Nyasaland to restore order after rioting had broken out. "To Njolomole came the battalion of the Nyakyusa I am sorry, members." Cintala dance for girls with bass drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Munthu na chinkwanya
- Authors: Verrah Chirwa , Henga and Nyanja grils of Blantyre Secondary School , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Tumbuka , Tumbuka (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Mzimba f-mw
- Language: Tumbuka
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185566 , vital:44399 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR189-20
- Description: The story teller was taught this story, she says, by her uncle's wife. This is a story about a brother and a sister who went to see their sister in the next village. Before they left they were warned not to take a certain path. When they reached the junction they started arguing about which was the right path. Unfortunately they took the wrong path which led them to a giant. Story song
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Call to war
- Authors: Drummers of Chief Mongika , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Mangbetu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169075 , vital:41681 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0129-02
- Description: Away from the Congo river itself it appears that the art of sending drum messages deteriorates into the sendng of signals only, the former being based upon the tonality of the individual words comprising the sentences transmitted, the latter comprising pre-set phrases and rhythms to which certain significance is attached. The signals may have risen from messages in the past but the skill of 'talking' on the drums has almost if not entirely vanished among the Mangbele. The significance ofthe 'Tamatsaro' signal was not explained. Drum rhythms or signals with 2 slit drums, 2 large pod shaped slit drums, 2 long cyclindrical drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Tshetlha di kae (Where are the tawny ones)
- Authors: School girls , 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/10962/162560 , vital:40947 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0108-10
- Description: "Where are the tawny ones, where are the animals standing? The gemsbok, where are they standing? They are standing in the veld." The sound of thunder can be heard in the distance during this recording, the first storm of the season. Work song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Tlalerwa re Humanega (Improverished by the wild dog)
- Authors: Lentswe Male and 20 Kgatla men , 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/10962/166005 , vital:41306 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-10
- Description: "The wild dogs will make us poor. Poverty from the wild dogs, you men!" There are no wild dogs left in the district. The reference in this case is to the prowess of the hunters themselves. The leopard are plentiful in the Pilansberg hill where they eat goats and baboons. Hunting song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Mwangalile leke ndali na wasoga
- Authors: Hashima Bin Kilamata with Nyamwezi men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Nyamwezi (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Mwadui f-tz
- Language: Nyamwezi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/173246 , vital:42349 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR150-01
- Description: "Everyone despises me because I make love to ugly women." The leader was dressed up in his dancing kit, with feather head dress, red ochre on the face and rag dress. The singers were workers on the Mwadui diamond mines, recruited locally. The song features a character whom they call Sajeni Meja (Sergeant Major) no doubt on account of the fact that several of them served for a while in the K.A.R., the Kings' African Rifles. During the singing they call out the familiar cry used by the soilders of the King's African Rifles. The moral problems of the disintegrated family and tribal life present themselves at every turn and especially in the towns or industrial areas where large bodies of men are attracted to work. Hiyari ya moyo dance song for men and women, with metal cylindrical drum, and conical pegged drum and bells.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Maiyo ewandaile kufwalu chikwembe (My mother taught me the proper way to dress)
- Authors: Isaac Matafwani and Sunkutu , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Ruund (African people) , Ushi (African people) , Congo (Democratic Republic) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Zambia Fort Roseberry f-za
- Language: Aushi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140018 , vital:37824 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR053-01
- Description: The rhythm of the struck bottle contains 12 pulses instead of the usual 16. Few popular tunes anywhere in the central Africa of N. Rhodesia and southern Congo are sung or played without the tinkling accompaniment of the bottle. Topical song with guitar and bottle.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1957
Tozali makasi
- Authors: soilders of the Force Publique, at Camp Militaire, Gombari , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Ngala (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Mbangala
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169168 , vital:41688 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0129-09
- Description: These marching songs are well known and sung by all Congo askari, the African soilders of the Force Publique. Ngala is the official lingua franca for all the native soilders of the Congo, a country where there are over 400 Bantu and nearly 100 non Bantu, languages and dialects. (Copied from disc). Soilders marching song with 3 bass drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Wakaratha
- Authors: Kariuki Ndenderu and Kikuyu boys , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kiambu f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175470 , vital:42583 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-02
- Description: "Archer, let us shoot at each other, then if I kill you, we will sacrifice a ram for you. The meat will be given to the rain-makers, rain will fall, the grass will grow to feed the cattle. The cattle will be used for a wife's dowry and she will make beer for me."
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Saluti
- Authors: soilders of the Force Publique, at Camp Militaire, Gombari , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Ngala (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Mbangala
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169148 , vital:41690 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0129-10
- Description: These marching songs are well known and sung by all Congo askari, the African soilders of the Force Publique. Ngala is the official lingua franca for all the native soilders of the Congo, a country where there are over 400 Bantu and nearly 100 non Bantu, languages and dialects. (Copied from disc). Soilders marching song with 3 bass drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Awoli a legimenti
- Authors: Tumbuka women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Tumbuka , Tumbuka (African people) , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Malawi Kasungu f-mw
- Language: Tumbuka
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185141 , vital:44332 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR188-11
- Description: "Soilders wives, take care of your clothes, you may have to dispose of some of them to buy yourselves food." A poignant little song which reflects the experience of war wives (1939-45). It has an attractive melody in the chorus. Pounding song with mortar and two pestles
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Magayo gonalemaga
- Authors: Nyakela with Gogo man and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Gogo (African people) , Songs, Gogo , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Tanzania Mvumi f-tz
- Language: Gogo
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174175 , vital:42449 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR154-09
- Description: "We have taken great pains to come here and sing. Look here my lad, you must do as you are told." The shaking of their heads violently from side to side induces giddiness or an entranced state. Friends come to their assistance when they fall on the ground and force their heads between their knees to regain the circulation. The Malimba were large trough shaped zithers, 3' 10" long supported at either end by two large gourds upon which they were held. Owing to the lowness of the notes they produced, the sound of the drums drowned them. But the three players shook their long strings of red ochred hair in most ecstatic style as they played and sang. The Zithers were tuned as follows:-103, 90, 84, 76, 63 vs. Both 76 and 63 vs had two strings each. The strings are plucked about 4 inches from one end. The spectators crowd around the small group of zither players and drummers, who sitting on the ground or standing holding their hour glass drums between their knees, jump and shake their long locks as if they were possessed. They say several hours of this performance frequently gives the performers a kind of involuntary hysteria which takes time to calm. The drums appear to be played out of tune with the rest of the performance. Topical song with 2 hour glass drums (-14.31201-), 3 Malimba trough zithers (-10.3515-), Ndwala bells (-12.55-), flat tin rattles(-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Pita uko (Together)
- Authors: Johani Kamzimbi , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Chewa , Songs, Nyanja , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Pemba f-mw
- Language: Nyanja/Chewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/158978 , vital:40247 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR094-16
- Description: The player held his zither sideways and plucked the far top string with the thumb of his left hand, running over the other strings with his right, alternate strings together. "To go by yourself to Nyanja (Nyasaland) is not good. Better come with me." Self delectative song with board zither.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Mora Motlole (Motlole's son)
- Authors: Mahlapane Qoalike and group of women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Sotho , Sotho (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Lesotho Tebang f-lo
- Language: Sotho
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/161937 , vital:40693 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0104-14
- Description: "Son of Matlole I am a girl who does not like (not fall in love with) uncouth people. Her people's cattle will all die. Goats are all killed by brack deposits. I want ti listen to what my heart tells me and think it over." Mokhibo women's knee dance with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Apa mkuti
- Authors: Chewa 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 Vidzumo, Kasungu District, Central Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153428 , vital:39450 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR076-13
- Description: "When you say it is a dog, it is a dog, Mama. My childis a dog, Mama. Bugs! Bugs! Yaya-hole! They bite my child in the hut, Mama. Dori I am tired." Pounding song with pestle and mortar.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Mwamuwona kambelembele (Have you seen that cunning fellow?)
- Authors: R. W. Katenga-Kaunda and 3 Tonga lads , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Arts, Malawi , Songs, Tumbuka , Songs, Tonga (Nyasa) , Tumbuka (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Chinteche District f-rh
- Language: Tonga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156216 , vital:39963 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR090-02
- Description: A cheerful song sung at parties. The subject matter is very slight but makes a good foundation for a simple melody and equally simple humour. "Have you seen that cunning fellow son of Darash? Peering iut and ducking back again?" Party song with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Keke, keke garuyo 1 (Yap, yap, the dog barks)
- Authors: Four elderly Chewa women , 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/10962/160576 , vital:40478 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR098-04
- Description: The Konsolo dance is said to have been performed in the 1930's. Two wives in next door huts call to each other. The one hears the dog bark and calls out the other, "why is the dog barking?" thinking her husband is with her. But the other replies: "No! he is not with me. He is out with that young beauty". (Ndege-aeroplane). A young good looking girl is called 'Ndege' (aeroplane) in the local slang. "Yap, yau, yap, why is the dog barking? Don't you hate beating me because you think our husband is in my house. He is not here because there is Ndege elsewhere." Konsolo women's dance with clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Meri, Meri (Mary Mary)
- Authors: Adija Nyamkhomo and Chewa women and children , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Songs, Nyanja , Songs, Chewa , Nyanja (African people) , Chewa (African people) , Folk music , Africa Malawi Kota Kota, Lake Nyasa, Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Nyanja, Chewa, Chichewa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153699 , vital:39501 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR077-18
- Description: The statement is usually sung by 2 women together with the others joining in the chorus. The words of the song are mixed being sung both in Chewa and Tonga (Ny.). Topical song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1958
Ndiribe m'mbale (I have no neighbour)
- Authors: Boys of Dedza Secondary School , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Field recordings , Ngoni (African people) , Arts, Malawi , Folk music , Africa Malawi Dedza, Ncheu District, Central Nyasaland f-mw
- Language: Ngoni
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154929 , vital:39794 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR084-14
- Description: The song refers to a court case taken by the chief of the village. "I have no neighbour to rescue me at the court. Those without witnesses stay behind. Ae aia." Ngoma dance.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Wathi wa mwita mwendwa
- 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/10962/175856 , vital:42631 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR160-05
- Description: "I love you so Munanie, I do not know where I am. If a man is hated by the Kamba many bad things may be said about him. But it does not matter if they turn your heart from me, you will still come to my hut.". 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