Video playlists from Kenya 2018 Story
…pUdIrKZrrZyRF216Mz Pius Wafula https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUa3LzYZ8G8&list=PL6jxUA468Mq-JL9a_FMhl3js2eQdqUBVn Shem Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cewr4zGeAXo&list=PL6jxUA468Mq_qagUS8lrS4ItNX84ceQc_ Peter Awkabi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn-XGp22MhY&list=PL6jxUA468Mq8jxHLbNS6k_pYHTbUBBZMz Fanuel Amimo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz1eILZlyLE&list=PL6jxUA468Mq-FBWk0X39BrJvKiw8sblnH Johnston Mukabi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=…
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…
Day Three: February 18, 2020 (Stonetown, Mpendae, Maungani) Story
…oing by occasionally. We managed to record one song but had to stop after that due to noise. We hope to have this group come to the hotel on our last recording day. We felt bad that they only were able to perform one song but they took it graciously. Performers: Rajab Suleiman (qanun and director), Mohammed Hassan (accordian), Fum Faki (bongo and tabla), Tatu Khamis Haji (singer) Songs: Chungu – means Pot, composed by Said Ali 10 years ago Usikho…
Day Four: February 19, 2020 (Maruhabi Palace) Story
…based on the floor, Kinganga – a short medium sized drum, a Bati – a high hat, a Chapuo – a long narrow drum held under the arm, a Dutu – a smaller version of the Chapuo and Masewe – shakers worn on the legs. The most notable instrument was a type of horn made out of a gourd. Performers (all men): Shaaban Mwasi Sekimbuke (leader, plays he Bati -high hat), Haji Mtumweni (drums), Mohamed Faki (chapuo), Hussein Fereji (horn), Juma Nasoro (dancer wi…
Day Five: February 20, 2020 (DCMA) Story
…side more Western instruments such as the piano, saxophone, cajon and high hat. Culture Musical Club Taarab Orchestra – this culture club is one of the oldest Taarab orchestras in Zanzibar founded in 1965 after independence. Generations of musicians have played in it. It plays traditional Taarab music with all female solo singers and male singers on instruments. It was clear that this orchestra had played together for a long time and were well re…
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 –…
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…
Bigwala Instrument
…O website, explaining about the Bigwala which was inscribed in 2012 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding: Bigwala music and dance is a cultural practice of the Basoga people of Uganda, performed during royal celebrations such as coronations and funerals and, in recent decades, on social occasions. Bigwala describes a set of five or more monotone gourd trumpets blown in hocket to produce a melody, accompanied b…
Singing Wells Stories Page
…ngs was used for a special collaboration with Abubilla Music musicians. To listen to that, click here: http://snd.sc/18Raaae To view the page for the Mperwa Dancers, click here: Mperwa Dancers. Ker Kal Kwaro We recorded the Ker Kel Kwaro group on our second day of recording in Northern Uganda. We were in the village of Awach, near Paibona which in turn is near Gulu. A lot of the traditional music we record is performed by older members of the comm…
Albums Introduction Page
…we were recording in. Each album also contains a number of extra tracks that weren’t strictly part of the archiving recordings we were making. These recordings are of ‘Influences’ sessions – where a popular musical artist has joined us on our trip to collaborate with the groups we record. In the event that we have invited one of the musicians back to the Ketebul Studios in Nairobi to record, we will also include these recordings. The albums are…
Bigwala Cultural Group Group
Bigwala Cultural Group: The coordinator and lead female vocalist is Nabirye Irene. The group are from the village of Bukoona and travelled to the Gately on the Nile Hotel in Jinja for the recording session. The Bigwala is the name of the trumpets they play. Song Meanings “Muwe Bwobona Asaba”: When someone asks you kindly assist them. “Mperekera Omwana Womurembe”: When you are walking with someone by your side they are the special one and you don…
Central & Eastern Uganda: Day 4, Part 1 – Reflections Story
…with great new artists and we hope giving them an opportunity to find new listeners that want to take elements of the music forward. With this as background, this is what we discussed on the grounds of the Kampala Museum. I will paraphrase a half a dozen voices and many long and winding conversations: What is it we’re reviving: palace life or music? We can be emphatic here. We are here for the music and are neither romanticising nor trying to rev…
Singing Wells Youtube Channel hits 2.5Million views News
…e build towards our ten year anniversary in 2021, we are thrilled to know that we have the support of such an engaged audience. Here’s a few of the highlights from our channel. First place on the view count – at 272,000 views, goes to our awesome session with Otieno Aloka in his Luo village. Performing with a traditional band, this video of the famous singer of ‘Kanungo Eteko’ is a great example of the Singing Wells project in action; a modern art…
The Return of Bigwala News
…nt where the hollow fruit expands to a bulb, which creates a ‘bell’ shape that helps the sound to carry. Often multiple gourds can be bound together to create the right shape. It is also the name of the dance that accompanies this type of playing. Our first encounter with Bigwala was when we captured a performance by the Bigwala Cultural Group in late 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2HnP36EVK4 The story of bigwala is a fascinating one, and…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Day 2 – Muranga to Kangema to Nkubu Story
…e cameras during recording). In our case, Jimmy then keeps a master sheet that he completes each day of each location, group, and songs that he circulates to full team so we get all names/spellings correct. Finally, audio and video need to sign off that it is a good take and we move on. Breakdown Typically, the interview team is continuing interviews during recording, preparing the next take. They also handle the end, usually asking a whole new se…
Discussions with Peter Cooke: ethnomusicologist and Ugandan music expert News
…rd the King’s musicians of the Buganda Kingdom in the 60s and 80s. You can listen to some of those recordings here. Here, too, is a full list of Peter’s work on African music. We asked Peter to tell us a little more about his time working with Musisi in the 60s. “In 1967, as head of Music at Kyambogo and at the suggestion of the wonderful young musician Bulasio Busuulwa, one of the former royal flute players, who was already working with me at Kya…