Page
…orks as part of Selam, a non-Governmental organisation based in Stockholm that promotes world music, and NACOFU (National Council of Folklorists of Uganda). Working alongside him, we have charted his journey to restoring several musical instruments that have been considered lost, the Royal Drums of the Buganda Kingdom, the Naizungwe Drums and the Bigwala. You can read more about his work here. You can watch our documentary film charting our redisc…
Day Two: February 17, 2020 (Stonetown) Story
…, in Rahaleo. All male group ranging from age 7 up to 40, ten all together today. They sing Islamic and secular songs for weddings and celebrations. Today was mainly an acapello performance with one flute made out of a bamboo stick. The singers included: Ibrahim Ali Hassan (lead singer, flute ), Issa Ali Hassan (lead singer), Mlenge Ali Hassan, Othman Mlenge Ali, Afann Mlenge Ali, Iddi Abdallah Mohd, Abdillah Salum Juma (lead singer), Fesal Sleima…
What We Do Page
…pporting traditional music performance in rural East Africa as we believe that this not only serves to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of a community but is also a key indicator of the sustainability of that community. “While fragile, intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization. An understanding of the intangible cultural heritage of different communities hel…
Mission Page
…heritage of the region and to help make this legacy relevant and fresh to today’s audiences. As a group of sound and video engineers, producers and musicians, we set out on this mission not to become ‘fossil collectors’ and store the recordings in inaccessible archives. We work with musicians to make sure their music traditions continue to be practiced, can be shared amongst the widest audiences and become a source of inspiration for new musician…
The Revival of the Entongooli Page
…they finish off their Embaire and then talk to some young students about what they have learned. What is clear from our trips to visit these students, is that they are keen learners who are really soaking up all the information they can get. They know the process and the reasons for the production methods completely indepth, and it’s encouraging to see such young talent being so passionate about this project. Creating the Base: Part 1 We return t…
Influences songs from Singing Wells Group
…a new generation of musicians and fans who might not consider it relevant today. So, we have developed the Influences series – a fusion of traditional and contemporary styles. Each time the Singing Wells team embarks on a field recording visit we are joined by a talented musician who works with us on ‘Influences’ songs. They work with us in the field and also in the Ketebul Music studios in Nairobi to produce this new material. We believe our Inf…
Page
…nd songwriters to show how this “traditional” music is still relevant into today’s modern world. Below you will find links to the musical loops we have selected that are available to download for the project, If you are interested in joining the Global Influences Project, you can download the project brief here or get in touch with us with any questions you may have. SUBMISSIONS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE NOW CLOSED. Click here to access the Global In…
Day One: January 18, 2019. Assemble in Tanzania Story
…nces artists, a leading commercial artist that we hope to inspire by the music of their region. When the ‘spirit moves’ we will do a song with our influences artist and the group. Our ‘output’ for a field visit is a set of videos that we post on our website, Facebook and Youtube that reflects the performances. When we initially publish our field reports, these videos aren’t available, but as we complete videos, we will provide links from the songs…
Pius Wafula Group
…group called “Webuye Jua Kali” up to 2009, when he founded his own group. Today the group counts 5 members who play the following instruments: LITUNGU – a 7-string traditional lyre; ISIRILI – a one-string fiddle; LUENGELE– a percussive idiophone, they use a wooden stool struck with wooden sticks; ENG’OMA – a generic term for drums, they use a plastic water container also struck with wooden sticks; CHISASI – shakers made out of gourds. We recorded…
Zam Zam Group
…, in Rahaleo. All male group ranging from age 7 up to 40, ten all together today. They sing Islamic and secular songs for weddings and celebrations. It was mainly an acapello performance with one flute made out of a bamboo stick. The singers included: Ibrahim Ali Hassan (lead singer, flute ), Issa Ali Hassan (lead singer), Mlenge Ali Hassan, Othman Mlenge Ali, Afann Mlenge Ali, Iddi Abdallah Mohd, Abdillah Salum Juma (lead singer), Fesal Sleiman M…
Here for Research? Page
…Map The groups we have met, presented on a map so you can see each region that the group is from. A brilliant resource and great for comparing musical styles amongst groups that are local to each other. “Our goal is to record, archive and share the traditional music of East Africa for two important reasons – to sustain and celebrate the extraordinary cultural music heritage of the region and to help make this legacy relevant and fresh to today’s a…
Singing Wells Stories Page
…ry ‘Best of’ Singing Wells compilation to date. It was with great sadness that we learnt after returning to the UK that Okumu K’Orengo had died, just weeks after we had recorded him – a tragic story that underlines the mission behind the Singing Wells project and the aims we have to record music in East Africa. To visit the group page for the Nyatiti group click here: Nyatiti Group To listen to the track ‘Ywak’ on the album of the Music of the Luo…
Day Three: Bungoma Town to Kakamega Story
…villagers followed them into John’s house. John took them to local market that was packed with people and they were a great success. John helped fund a second CD and from that they had a big song in Kisumu, Chapailale. This was 2011. They recording the song in Soundcheck in Kisumu and had a big local hit. This made them stars and allowed each band member to buy their own home. Wilbert said at this point they were too big for the small bars and wer…
Recording, archiving and sharing the traditional music of East Africa Page
…heritage of the region and to help make this legacy relevant and fresh to today’s audiences. As a group of sound and video engineers, producers and musicians, we set out on this mission not to become ‘fossil collectors’ and store the recordings in inaccessible archives. We work with musicians to make sure their music traditions continue to be practiced, can be shared amongst the widest audiences and become a source of inspiration for new musician…
Tarajazz Group
…rector), Mahsin Basalama (contra base), Christopher Weston (Cajon and high hat), Regina Juma (singer). There was supposed to be a violin player but unfortunately he couldn’t make it. Songs: Alamina Dura – The orbit of the Gods Pakistan – written by Siti Binti Saad who loved Pakistan when she visited Kasha – Kenyan Taarab love song. A man singing about his “chest being opened and empty” In typical Taarab style this has sexual inuendo Hijjaz Solo –…
Field Recording Report by Kahithe Kiiru Story
…nique percussive style was originated by the Isukha and Idakho sub-groups that reside in that area of Western Kenya. Internationally recognized and inscribed, in 2014, on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, isukuti has become a cultural identity marker of the entire Luhya ethnic community. The first isukuti group we recorded was Matende Cultural Isukuti Youth Group, founded in 2006 by Johnstone Asutsi an…