Mbo I
- Authors: Chief Bianoko and Buudu men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Bira (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombe f-cg
- Language: Bira
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168331 , vital:41567 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0126-01
- Description: This is a man's dance performed on festive occassions to celebrate a Chief's arrival or when the coffee has been harvested. The steps are very simple the whole group moving slowly around in a circle with the drums either in the centre or to one side. The notables wore attractive scarlet parrot tail feathers on their head of plaited palm leaf. The ivory was covered with several cat skins. These horns, beautifully carved out of elephant tusks are a notable feature of the material culture of this part of the Congo. They use the hollow end of the tusk, cutting it off at the nerve tip, so that the tip of the horn is open and can produce two notes. A special feature is the carefully carved broad mouthpiece on the inner side of the curve about one third of the length of the horn from the small end. The small end is often carved as a small human head. In playing the orifice is opened and closed with the thumb. Party dance, with 1 very small slit drum, 1 small slit drum 2 conical laced drums, 2 pod slit drums, ivory horn and basket rattles.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mbo II
- Authors: Chief Bianoko and Buudu men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Bira (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombe f-cg
- Language: Bira
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168343 , vital:41570 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0126-02
- Description: The Buudu is one of the north Eastern Congo Bantu tribes which makes good use of slit drums of groups, both for sending signals and for dances. The largest of these are frequently found roughly shaped like an antelope with head, tail and legs protruding from the body of the drum, carved out of a single log. The almost mechanical exactness of the performance of these five men in typically African strict tempo is quite remarkable, dull perhaps to the outsider who does not participate, but highly conducive of the motoe-reaction of the dancers. Drum rhythm, tall slit drum shaped like an animal, 2 pod drums, 2 small slit drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mbuti dance
- Authors: Mbuti Pygmy men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Mbuti (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Congo Swahili
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168259 , vital:41557 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0125-13
- Description: The Pygmies of the forest borrow the instruments of the Bantu people outside. They have few if any instruments of their own. The slit drum was beautifully proportioned, semi-circular in shape, 41" across the diameter and 3" broad. The slit was 1" across and was carved out a hole through it to act as an insulating foot while playing or a handle to bang it up by. It is called Ndundu. The two conical drums were called Gude and were the usual laced drums of the district and measured 22" x 13" head and 30" x 8" head. Both made of very light wood. Conical laced drums, 1 semi-circular slit drum and basket rattle.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mbuti drum rhythm
- Authors: Mbuti Pygmy men and women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Mbuti (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Congo Swahili
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168268 , vital:41558 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0125-14
- Description: The Pygmies of the forest borrow the instruments of the Bantu people outside. They have few if any instruments of their own. The slit drum was beautifully proportioned, semi-circular in shape, 41" across the diameter and 3" broad. The slit was 1" across and was carved out a hole through it to act as an insulating foot while playing or a handle to bang it up by. It is called Ndundu. The two conical drums were called Gude and were the usual laced drums of the district and measured 22" x 13" head and 30" x 8" head. Both made of very light wood. Conical laced drums, 1 semi-circular slit drum and basket rattle.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mbuti hunting cries
- Authors: Moke with Mbuti men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Mbuti (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Congo Swahili
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168277 , vital:41559 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0125-15
- Description: The hollow clapping sound in the first song was produced by the Pygmies slapping the hollow of their crooked arms held against the chest with their hands. This kind of clapping indicates pleasure or rejoicing and takes the place of the two handed clapping which they do not appear to use. These cries, they said, were used when hunting the iddi, the small forest antelope, driving it into the hunting nets.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Memeluba
- Authors: Hari Ebundo , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Genya (African people) , Nande (Congolese (Democratic Republic) and Ugandan people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Mbau-mbili f-cg
- Language: Nande
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168757 , vital:41646 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0128-19
- Description: Charming little tunes from the edge of the Ituri Forest. Six notes are played in the left hand and five in the right. The first two Likembe have a vibrato sound hole on the right underside which is opened and closed by the first finger of the right hand. Kiliyo Likembe with whistling.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mere
- Authors: Nasuti Social Club , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Soga (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Iganga f-ug
- Language: Soga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171207 , vital:42030 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR140-06
- Description: "You should always trust in God and not be proud of yourself without thinking of him." The eight Budongo Likembe were in three pitches each an octave apart. (1) Th treble - Mbaire, (2) The baritone - Ndumi, (3) The bass - Nene. The common scale was as follows:- 656, 560, 496, 432, 368, 328 vs. Religious song, with 8 Budongo 11 note Likembe and a Nsaasi flat tin rattle (-12.54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Meria
- Authors: Ebogoma Gabriel , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Medje f-cg
- Language: Mangbetu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166833 , vital:41409 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0120-10
- Description: An attractive little falsetto song to a rippling accompaniment typical of the instrument. The tuning of the Neikembe was:- 640, 592, 528, 480, 432, 396, 360, 320, 264, 216 vs. The player was given a "Highly Commended" prize in the 1952 Osborn Awards for the best African musician of the year. Topical song with Neikembe likembe.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Meweritiriwe fwabobo
- Authors: Ngbanda Mandefu and Kumbazingi Louis , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Buta f-cg
- Language: Zande
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167021 , vital:41430 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0121-16
- Description: "What can I do to please the people who do not like me." These words are taken from a local popular song. This is a cheerful little tune with typical Zande lilt. The people sitting nearyby began to sing to the second tune which is a well known piece in that village. The tuning of the Isanzo was pentatonic, the scale being 624, 536, 448, 392, 328, 292, 268, 224, 196, 164 vs. The player said he was not able to sing and play at the same time. Tune played on Isanzo likembe (Mbira) of 10 notes.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Midebina vungu kwato
- Authors: Bakia Pierre , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Buta f-cg
- Language: Zande/Bandiya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167382 , vital:41474 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0122-07
- Description: "I made this song for a friend who was not my brother." The tuning of the harp was:- 352, 324, 288, 240, 220 vs. Ngbanda Mandefu, the other harp player, a tall bearded man got up and danced in a style reminiscent of a Cossack dance, snapping his fingers and stamping now and then. Bakia Pierre is a large quietly spoken man who works in a Portuguese butchers shop in the small town of Buta. His songs were greeted with great applause and satisfaction by his fellow Zande in the circle. Topical song, with vertical angular Kundi harp, 5 strings.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mo mgdekiriga
- Authors: Iyenga Francois and friend Eleo , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Zande , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Bondo f-cg
- Language: Zande/Bandiya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167445 , vital:41481 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0122-14
- Description: "I have paid my money, now you pay yours." Tune without words with 2 Ekembe 12 note Likembe Mbiras.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mongu
- Authors: Mbuti men, women and children , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Songs, Swahili , Mbuti (African people) , Swahili-speaking peoples , Pygmies , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Gombari f-cg
- Language: Congo Swahili
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168232 , vital:41554 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0125-10
- Description: The local popular name for these Pygmies is "Batikitiki". Like other groups of pygmies they are very much at the mercy of the Bantu tribes who live outside on the edges of their portion of the Ituri forest. They exchange meat and honey from the forest for grain and other food stuff, but as often as not are robbed of their efforts by exploiting Africans. The musical instruments used by these Pygmies are those borrowed from teh Bantu outside the forest. Drums, especially, would be too heavy and cumbersome for the Pygmies to carry into the forest with them, or keep in their flimsy camps. Party song with 2 conical, laced drums and 1 basket rattle.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mopepe
- Authors: Buja soilders of the Force Publique , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Ngala (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Bumba f-cg
- Language: Mbangala
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/169121 , vital:41686 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0129-07
- Description: Recorded at the camp Militaire, at Gombari, on the northern edge of the great Ituri Forest in north eastern Congo. Ngala is one of the most important Lingua Franca of the Congo having been the commercial language of the tribes trading up and down the river between Stanley Pool (Leopoldville) and Dtanley Falls (Stanleyville) 1000 miles up the river. The home of this Buja tribe is in central Congo on the great river itself, between Basoko and Lisala, north west of Stanleyville. Topical song with 2 bass drums.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Moyanbule wa madile dumayo
- Authors: Ngbanda Mandefu and Kumbazingi Louis , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Buta f-cg
- Language: Ngbandi
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167007 , vital:41428 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0121-14
- Description: "You possessed me the day you married." The tuning of the Isanzo was pentatonic, the scale being 624, 536, 448, 392, 328, 292, 268, 224, 196, 164 vs. The player said he was not able to sing and play at the same time. Tune played on Isanzo likembe (Mbira) of 10 notes.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mpagatare
- Authors: Batwa singers of Chief Kamuzinzi , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Kinyarwanda--Rwanda , Rundi (African people) , Folk songs, Rundi , Africa Rwanda Rugerero f-rw
- Language: Kinyarwanda
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148942 , vital:38788 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR058-06
- Description: A song in which the Batwa people ask the chief for a favour at the wedding. Marriage song with hand clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mpundu
- Authors: Batwa singers of Chief Kamuzinzi , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Kinyarwanda--Rwanda , Rundi (African people) , Folk songs, Rundi , Africa Rwanda Rugerero f-rw
- Language: Kinyarwanda
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148951 , vital:38789 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR058-07
- Description: A song rejoicing for a marriage festivity. The singers wish the bride and bridegroom happiness. Marriage song with hand clapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mpundu
- Authors: Batwa women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk music--Africa , Songs, Kinyarwanda--Rwanda , Rundi (African people) , Folk songs, Rundi , Africa Rwanda Shangugu f-rw
- Language: Kinyarwanda
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148840 , vital:38778 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR058-01
- Description: The singers wish their chief prosperity in his chieftainship and his country. An interesting chorus with 2 parts sung in organum and complex clapping patterns. Praise song for chief with handclapping.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mugoi asole
- Authors: Mulapala Kpeli, with Chief Gatanga, Mongonika and Zande men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Folk songs, Mangbetu , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Buta f-cg
- Language: Zande/Bandiya
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167322 , vital:41468 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0122-03
- Description: "There was a man who loved Mugai, daughter of a Chief and wanted to marry her. But she refused him. So he came weeping and knelt before her saying, "My Princess, why will you not love me? If you marry me I will be your servitor and care for you. I will even take the jigger fleas out of your feet." The tuning of the harp includes five notes of a pentatonic scale, the octave above the tonic being omitted. These Zande harp songs seem to slide into an informal start, the singers taking their time into the swing of the melody. Topical song, vertical angular Kundi harp, 5 strings.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mukama Gavumba yaira
- Authors: Nekemiya Nanywamu and Kasani Byansi , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Soga (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Iganga f-ug
- Language: Soga
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171225 , vital:42033 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR140-08
- Description: There was once a well known theif in this district called Gavumba. He is held up as a bad example which should not be copied. Morality song, with Ntongoli 8 string lyre and Ndingidi 1 string lute (-10-54-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952
Mulamu namala ampita erinya
- Authors: Ludovico Mugerwa and Ganda women , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Music--Uganda , Folk songs, Ganda , Ganda (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Uganda Kampala f-ug
- Language: Ganda
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171108 , vital:42020 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0139-13
- Description: The literal translation was:- "Alive, but he still calls my name." which means:- "I am alive but still in the favour of the Kabaka. He still asks me to play for him." This is a very old song with a rather sinister implication as the Kabakas (Kings) of old were inclined to put to death those who displeased them and particularly musicians who failed to play well. Historic song with 1 tall cylindrical pinned drum, 1 large conical laced drum and hand clapping (-12.03-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1952