Matende Culture Isukuti Youth Group

Group Information

We recorded the group Matende Culture Isukuti Youth Group, which is led by John Stone Khakabo Asutsi since 2006. There are 35 members of the group. The soloist is Stanley Liai.   Their instruments include:

• The Isukuti Isatsa: The Big Bass Drum
• Mutibo: The bigger, ‘mother’, of the smaller drums
• Mutiti: The smaller, ‘son’, of the smaller drums
• Imbati: The horn
• Shirili: Single string instrument
• Tsichenjele: The rings

The group dances in ‘processions’ for different ceremonies, so we asked them to play a couple songs for each type of ceremony. They performed the following:

• Songs around a “Bull Fight” or Mayo Dance
  • Woyo:   The song you sing as you move to the venue to watch two bulls fight
  • Ndulu Mumbo: The song you sing to celebrate the winning bull
• Songs around a funeral (Lwikhulu):
  • Tsimbasi Tsia Mama: A song to console the mother who has lost a loved one.
  • Mwoyo Kulimbila Mwikulu: After you die your heart will be able to rest.
• Songs for weddings (Shiselelo)
  • Nukhufwale Maua: Giving flowers to the bride after the wedding
  • Wulila Harvsi: The procession of groom coming to church and announcing the wedding at they travel through the village.
• Songs about the circumcision ceremony (Shishebo)
  • Chambombo (during the circumcision)
  • Bwambo (after)
• Magic Moment: Kahithi returns.   Kahithi had stayed with this village and band during her research and the joy of the village at her return was amazing.  Everyone felt they needed to dance!