Dongo Mothi
- Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175630 , vital:42601 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-17
- Description: The 'struck iron' was an old starter ring from the fly wheel of a car. It is necessary to have a circular or 'S' shaped piece of metal for convnient playing of the double beat. The performer called it 'Kengere' or 'Beru' bell. The sweepers in Nairobi, they say, always come from Embu. Kibunga Waita, the iron player, was no exception. Eleswhere in Africa certain tribes tend to adopt one occupation exclusively. After hearing a few Kikuyu songs to the accompaniment of the iron and accordion, the listener who is not case hardened to the pulse may experience a singing in the ears for several hours afterwards. Listening to this kind of Kikuyu song is more a feat of endurance than an aesthetic pleasure. Mamboko dance song with accordian and struck iron (-12.161-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
J iri ciande
- Authors: Kang'ethe Nduati with 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/10962/175513 , vital:42588 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-07
- Description: The 'J' refers to a J shaped wooden dagger which they used as a dance baton. Muthuu dance songs for boys and girls with Kiigamba leg rattles (a tin with stones inside).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Kariaara (Slow motion)
- Authors: Shinda Kamwana , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kiamuthambi f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175590 , vital:42597 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-14
- Description: The button accordian has recently (1952) made its appearance in this area and largely on account of its ease of playing and the great amount of sound emitted, it has become very popular as an accompanying instrument. Most players are content to use only the simplest chords and as few notes as possible regardless of the melody of the song which the instrument accompanies rhythmically. For the recording the man with his piece of iron and box had to be placed a considerable distance from the microphone. Mamboko dance with accordian and struck iron (-12.16-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Kariala
- Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175616 , vital:42599 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-16
- Description: The singer was a cycle repairer by trade, claimed to belong to the Njeudura age grade (his own age at the time being about 22 years in 1952). He, like other Kikuyu who buy these expensive accordians uses it as a noise maker rather than a melodic or harmonic accompaniment. As with the guitar players they rarely change key. This performance was remarkable for the understanding between the singer and his accompanist on the 'iron'. The song was deafening to observers nearby, but apparently enthralling to the performers. Kikuyu musicians appear to be able to tolerate an intensity of sound far beyond the normal, in fact bordering on the threshold of pain in the ears. For the recording the man with his piece of iron and box had to be placed a considerable distance from the microphone. Mamboko dance with accordian and struck iron (-12.16-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Kiriri
- Authors: Wangari wa Gibson with kikuyu girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Forest Hall f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175549 , vital:42592 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-11
- Description: "Anyone who dares to stop the dance should be denied the abilty to bear children. Simple school dance song. European insipiration is almost certain in the first item, possibly taken from "There was a farmer who had two sons." Dance song for boys and girls.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Kolasi
- Authors: Chinda Kamwana , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kiamuthambi f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175563 , vital:42593 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-12
- Description: "The father of the girl I want to marry came to Mombasa leaving his daughter at home. So I came to Mombasa too and said to him 'Now, how about it? I want to discuss the marriage arrangements." Topical song, with accordian and struck iron (-12.16-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Koras (Chorus)
- Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175641 , vital:42602 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-18
- Description: The 'struck iron' was an old starter ring from the fly wheel of a car. It is necessary to have a circular or 'S' shaped piece of metal for convnient playing of the double beat. The performer called it 'Kengere' or 'Beru' bell. The sweepers in Nairobi, they say, always come from Embu. Kibunga Waita, the iron player, was no exception. Eleswhere in Africa certain tribes tend to adopt one occupation exclusively. After hearing a few Kikuyu songs to the accompaniment of the iron and accordion, the listener who is not case hardened to the pulse may experience a singing in the ears for several hours afterwards. Listening to this kind of Kikuyu song is more a feat of endurance than an aesthetic pleasure. Mamboko dance song with accordian and struck iron (-12.161-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Machi (March)
- Authors: Johnnie Murithe Wambu and Kibunga Waita , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Embu f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175607 , vital:42598 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-15
- Description: The singer was a cycle repairer by trade, claimed to belong to the Njeudura age grade (his own age at the time being about 22 years in 1952). He, like other Kikuyu who buy these expensive accordians uses it as a noise maker rather than a melodic or harmonic accompaniment. As with the guitar players they rarely change key. This performance was remarkable for the understanding between the singer and his accompanist on the 'iron'. For the recording the man with his piece of iron and box had to be placed a considerable distance from the microphone. Mamboko dance with accordian and struck iron (-12.16-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Mucungwa
- Authors: Tabitha Wairimu with kikuyu girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Forest Hall f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175535 , vital:42590 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-09
- Description: A very simple dance song, sung in unision. Dance song, Mucungwa for men and women.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Muthuu
- Authors: Kang'ethe Nduati with 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/10962/175508 , vital:42587 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-06
- Description: Scraps of conversation heard in River Road, Nairobi, when the soilders came back from the war in Burma. Muthuu dance songs for boys and girls with Kiigamba leg rattles (a tin with stones inside).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Mwomboko
- Authors: Chinda Kamwana , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Kiamuthambi f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175572 , vital:42594 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-13
- Description: Song to accompany a town dance in which men and women dance together in pairs, after the fashion of Europeans. The accordion is used as a ground which creates a happy noise but has little, if any, melodic or harmonic relationship to the tonality or mode of the voice. Topical song, with accordian and struck iron (-12.16-).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ndirathire
- 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/10962/175461 , vital:42582 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-01
- Description: "I went north where I found Njeri weeping because her love had left her." Story song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ndumo
- Authors: Wangari wa Gibson with kikuyu girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Forest Hall f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175544 , vital:42591 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-10
- Description: A girl named after her father's people argues with a girl named after her mother's. Simple school dance song. European insipiration is almost certain in the first item, possibly taken from "There was a farmer who had two sons." Dance song for boys and girls.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ngochu
- Authors: Kariuki, Karurua with 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/10962/175499 , vital:42586 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-05
- Description: An interesting example of modal (probably 'modern' or 'model') singing. Party song.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Nyumba ya mwari witu
- 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/10962/175526 , vital:42589 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-08
- Description: "My daughter's hut is thatched with reeds and the bushy tails of cows." The song has ten verses, the first three repeated. The accent or stress on the ultimate syllable instead of on the penultimate might indicate mission influence in this song. Local linguists would be able to determine this point. Dance song, Njama for old men.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Ruimbo rwa ngu
- Authors: Rebecca Nyanyega and Kikuyu girls , Hugh Tracey
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Folk songs, Kikuyu , Kikuyu (African people) , Songs, Kikuyu--Kenya , Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa Kenya Njeri f-ke
- Language: Kikuyu
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175490 , vital:42585 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-04
- Description: A woman whose husband was away complains that she did not want to go out to collect firewood and would not have gone if she had not found the axe lying outside. "In any case, she says, there is no one to meet me at home on my return, only the poles of the hut." Work song, carrying firewood.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
Wainaga
- 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/10962/175480 , vital:42584 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , TR159-03
- Description: This is an example of a song sung at the preliminary feast before circumcision. On the day before the event the people enjoy a great feast of manyu varieties of food and drink after which they sing these songs. Some of the verses are in the form of riddles and others may be both pointed and harsh. Circumcision song for boys and girls.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1950
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