Nthakwedi-Nthakwetsane
- Authors: Meini Mokgosi and about 30 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/10962/165484 , vital:41248 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0112-09
- Description: "Hurry up! Hurry! The Chief has gone to the kraal. When will the rain come?" The leader of this group of women was the wife of the Chief's uncle Ketshwerebothata. 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
Owe, owe, Matebeleng (Oh, oh, home to the Ndebele)
- Authors: Mapidio Elisabeth Mothulwe and group of 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/10962/165996 , vital:41305 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0116-09
- Description: "Red locust, to the Ndebele, it does not return. It comes where it had gone to graze. From the grazing to the Ndebele. Home, home, to the Ndebele. Oh, oh, to the Ndebele. Oh, oh, to the Ndebele." The country of the Ndebele is towards the East, towards Pieterburg and they were the traditional enemies of the local Tswana/Kgatla. Their enemies, the Ndebele or Matebele, are likened to the red locust swarms which used to devastate the crops and the grazing each year. Hoeing song with drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Phatshwa bolela (Tell us, black and white ox)
- Authors: Rantana Dinake and a large group of men and 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/10962/162790 , vital:40983 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-06
- Description: "Black and white ox, tell us where the trampled grass has been swept away. The grass which was carried awayby the water." In the words of this song, the rain clouds are likened to a black and white ox. The rain has beaten down the grass and swept away the debris of broken stalks. Where? A good example of the poetic imagery typical of some Tswana poetry. Rain song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Pina eaa badisa (A herdboy's song)
- Authors: Kgosietsile Mokgosi and Seyedi Merafe , 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/10962/164975 , vital:41190 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0111-03
- Description: This instrument was peculiar to the herdboys in the old days but is seldom seen now-a-days, they say. The pitch of the open string was 146 vs. Herdman's song with one stringed resonated bowed zither "Segankure".
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Pududu we re sentu (Old Chief Ikaneng)
- Authors: Group of 12 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/10962/165511 , vital:41251 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0112-12
- Description: "We have killed the people of the Kalahari." Makgalagadi is a team of contempt apparently used by some Tswana tribes for any tribe which lives further west than themselves. This old song refers to the feuds between the Lete and the Ngwaketse tribes. The Chief Ikaneng was always called "Pududu" - 'the old man' by his people. At the end of the song one of them recites a praise to the old chief "Pududu Ikaneng." Fighting song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Pududu we-e (Old one)
- Authors: Group of 70 men , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Folk songs, Tswana , Tswana (African people) , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Mochudi f-sa
- Language: Tswana/Kgatla
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166209 , vital:41338 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0117-01
- Description: "Grey ox-grey home. There at the place we have come from, we have destroyed. The heart of the enemy, grey home, we have slaughtered for the birds of prey. The ox of the enemy, they have destroyed us and we also have destroyed them. Men, we are people who have spilt blood on the grass. We are the blood spilt on the grass-Grey home. The ox of the enemy, we are those whose blood is spilt everywhere upon the earth. Brindled one, with a blackback, beast of the enemy." The song was introduced by the Chief, Murusi Pilane. Regimental song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Pula (Rain)
- Authors: Large group of men and 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/10962/162772 , vital:40981 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-04
- Description: Slightly different versions of this song, which is evidently widely sung all over Buchuanaland and the western Transvaal by the Tswana people appear on "TR"-114 and "TR"-115. It is sung in times of drought when a deputation of the people would go to the chief asking him to send a messenger to his rain maker. Rain song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Pula (Rain)
- Authors: Mohapa Tshetlereyane and 20 women , 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/10962/165904 , vital:41294 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0115-15
- Description: "They are going to ask for rain, they have been struck by lightening, they are going to look for rain. Long, long rain." The singers were a group of elderly Hurutshe women. This is a very old song, sung in time of drought when a deputation of the people would go to the Chief, asking him to send a messenger to his rain-maker. Rain song.
- 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
Pulana yoo rara bule (Let there be gentle rain)
- Authors: Meini Mokgosi and about 30 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/10962/165475 , vital:41247 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0112-08
- Description: "Let there be gentle rain upon the earth, clouds on earth, rain on earth. We are pierced by thorns. Clouds on earth. Herd of cattle bring themselves home." 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
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
Re tswa kwa Tlhabane (We come from Rustenburg)
- Authors: J. D. Tsimele (girl teacher) and young girls , 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/10962/165219 , vital:41219 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0111-10
- Description: "We come from Tlhabana (Rusternburg). We sell goods. Do you want to buy them? Do you want to bargain for them?" (Girls say to the baby) "Keep quiet, darling, who is going to nurse you? Your mother is stingy, she is too mean to give you a nurse." (Mother says) "Sister, what are you doing? Why don't you comfort the child? Quiet, quiet baby! Quiet, quiet, son of my beloved." This amusing little game began with the girls crouching in a circle, singing and beating the ground with their hands. Then one of them outside the circle pretended to cry like a baby, and another girl put her on her back and began to sing to quiet her. Finally, another girl, pretending to be mother, took the child and sang a lullaby to her. Children's game and sketch.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Re tswa kwa Tlhabane (We come from Saulspoort)
- Authors: Mosadinyana Melato with young girls of Kanye , 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/10962/162736 , vital:40978 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-01
- Description: The girls knelt down in a circle passing stones from side to side to imitate passing to and fro of goods over the counter. "We come from Saulspoort. We sell goods. We see the buyers and the sellers also." A singing game with stones.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Re tswa kwa Tlhabane (We come from Saulspoort)
- Authors: Mosadinyana Melato with young girls of Kanye , 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/10962/162745 , vital:40977 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0109-01
- Description: The girls knelt down in a circle passing stones from side to side to imitate passing to and fro of goods over the counter. "We come from Saulspoort. We sell goods. We see the buyers and the sellers also." A singing game with stones.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sa bona, bona, bona (We saw, we saw, we saw)
- Authors: Dorothy Kgosilentswe and four young girls , 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/10962/165002 , vital:41193 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0111-06
- Description: "We saw, we saw, we saw, hi, hi, we saw, etc." The girls knelt in a circle, patting the earth in front of them with both hands. Singing game.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sananapo (Daughter of the Chief)
- Authors: Mokgele Mokgejane , 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/10962/165642 , vital:41266 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0114-02
- Description: "Sananapo, Sananapo, they have killed her, Sananapo! They gave me a bone which I refused, syaing I cannot eat this person because she is a Chief's daughter." Sananapo, the daughter of the Chief, was murdered. Her murderers were found by the storyteller, cooking and eating her corpose. They offered him a bone, but he refused, saying "I am not a cannibal, especially when it comes to the daughter of a Chief." Cannibalism was rare in this part of Africa and does not often occur in song or story. The last reports of it were believed to have occurred during the Zulu-Ndebele terror in the early part of the 19th century when whole tribes were driven to distraction and desperation by the Zulu raids, under the Captain Mzilikazi who was eventually driven north over the Limpopo river. Story.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Sananapo (Riddles)
- Authors: Itshepheng Masibi, 5 men and 3 women , 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/10962/164258 , vital:41100 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0110-12
- Description: "You said you were not an adultess, why then does the child cry?" "Do not fall pregnant, my father has got no cattle." (For your bride-price). Riddles.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
Se Bana wa Lela (Do not cry baby)
- Authors: Nthebolang Molebatsi , 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/10962/164267 , vital:41103 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR0110-13
- Description: "Do not cry baby! the water pans have dried up, my father and mother died and I had no one to advise me. (literary 'to straighten me') "My uncle gave me a brown cow which, if it rains, will give me a pailful (of milk). Do not boast of your lover, boast of your husband. One does not boast of a theif." The player sat on the ground with the right leg passed through the bow. She held the bow in her left hand resting the curved wooden part on the ground, string uppermost. She stopped the upper part of the string with her chin, the other end of the bow rested on an enamel basin turned upside down. A second woman joined her towards the end. She stopped playing at one point to adjust the enamel basin resonator. The instrument is played by both men and women. When asked when they play these songs, the answer was, "Any time when we feel onely." Self delectative song with one stringed Nokokwane bow.
- 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