Day Two: 8 March 2022 (Ilesi) Story
…founder of the group, Obasie Palnyang, was still alive. By one o’clock the group arrived and our technical team went straight to work, setting up the musicians but before we could start recording, and just as the previous evening’s session, it started to rain. Luckily we were partially indoors so we did not get too wet. After about an hour the skies cleared and we were able to resume the recording session. However it took a bit of time for the gro…
Muungano Kayamba Group
…Music of the Mijikenda Group Leader: Futuma Ali Mwacherure. Performers: Ali Bora Kopo, Binti Amadi, Chimetse, Mwanamtiti, Mwana Harusi, Nyaishi Dawa, Msindeni, Nkuria Saga, Mwana Kombo, Nchno…
Our Sponsors Page
…original recordings were made. See our post on this project here. The Mara Group Type of sponsorship: Field recording day, Uganda 2013 Thank you to The Mara Group for sponsoring one of the field recording days during our visit to Central Uganda in November 2013. The donation was dedicated to our recording day in Mbale. Click here to read our field report from that day. We were also delighted to welcome Brad Gibbs from Mara to our recording session…
Video playlists from Kenya 2018 Story
Ekhunjwe Musical Group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZWLQCNVUtE&list=PL6jxUA468Mq9Pd2xlX3D7Ru2MTTuT8KqS South Teso Jazz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VW0wNmuq8I&list=PL6jxUA468Mq_tVAwWIrPTe9FlbEmAWWBb Obasie Palnyang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieNi3J-ky4E&list=PL6jxUA468Mq_807_5aRNd5562pLxoHfIl Omong’oluk Traditional Dancers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILMAhvkRtg0&list=PL6jxUA468Mq9LNfV2MxN2k1JwC-xu5n06 Samuel Namatete https://www….
Day Three: 9 March 2022 (Kisumu) Story
…ey were accompanied by Fiston and Ben on bass and congas respectively. The group derives its name from the surrounding Asego hills which are close to the homes of most of the band members. Led by Mwalimu Odede, the Asego Ensemble was formed in December 2021 with the aim of incorporating modern musical instruments to the traditional ohangla, in an effort to making the genre more appealing to a wider audience. The group is based in Oyugis town and r…
Muwewesi Xylophone Group Group
… Muwewesi Xylophone Group featuring Muniru Ayubu and Kisubi Eliasa on lead vocals. Song meanings “Obutasoma”: a song about education. “Obwiire Bukyeire”: meaning ‘the time has come’. “Obwayu”: a song about poverty. …
Tarajazz Group
…traditional music such as Taarab as well as Western music. Members of the group: Suleiman Makame (keyboard, director), Hassan Mahenge (Saxaphone, assistant director), 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…
Day One: 7 March 2022 (Shikangania and Mukumu) Story
…ge. They were a well-rehearsed team and all went according to plan until a group of mourners appeared from nowhere with a coffin of a dead relative that had just recently arrived from Nairobi. Although the burial was planned for the following day, the emotional villagers were already wailing loudly and playing mournful dirges. This dramatic twist of events threw us off guard and we were forced to stop our program temporarily. As required by local…
What We Do Page
…lf but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from one generation to the next. The social and economic value of this transmission of knowledge is relevant for minority groups and for mainstream social groups within a State, and is as important for developing States as for developed ones.” Source:UNESCO website on Intangible Cultural Heritage …
The Luo of Kenya Album
…la village – with The Sega Sega band led by Osumba Rateng, and then a Dodo group led by Ogoya Nengo. We next move to Aluny Village – with performances from The Joginda Boys, Otieno Aloka and the late Okumu K’Orengo and his Nyatiti Group. The Kochia Traditional Dancers gave a very visual performance, and one of their tracks, recorded on the shores of Lake Victoria at the Homa Bay Hotel is also included. The final day of recording on the trip saw us…
Bigwala Instrument
…Uganda in December 2013. While staying in Jinja we invited a local Bigwala group, the Bigwala Cultural Group, to perform for Singing Wells. Click here to read our report from the field. Here is an extract from the UNESCO 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…
Bukaala Twesitule Troupe Group
Bukaala Twesitule Troupe: The group leader is Ikula Charles. The group was started in 1991 with over 200 members, 50 of whom are still active. Lead vocalist: Jane Babirye Musical style is Baganda. Song meanings “Bana Uganda Banange”: It is about a particular brand of beer called Senator Lager. It has contributed to the local economic development because it uses ingredients grown in Uganda. “Abag’ageno”: Talks about HIV and the factors influencin…
Mariene Traditional Dancers Group
…with Monkey hide. The women cover themselves with green head scarves. The group uses the Kibere (shaker), performed by Jeremiah M’Mbiwiriaft, and the Coro (the flute), played by Simon Muriuki. The group played five songs, plus performed three magic moments: Arabamba Mwarone Mpandi mautine Kirarire: Song about pre-cirumcision; they are calling out to all that can hear that they boys are ready. Wikiri Mariri: Song is about herding… He asks a woman…
Filimbi Instrument
…A whistle. The word filimbi is Swahili for ‘Whistle’, ‘flute’ or ‘pipe’. – so the instrument name ‘Filimbi’ could refer to any whistle or flute type instrument. We heard this Filimbi in use by a member of the group Zaire Ndindingwara on our field trip to record the music of the Mijikenda in 2011, played alongside percussion – as a bed for the vocalist in the group….
3. Background of the Naizungwe drums Story
…ties were and still are organized on clan system. One ethnic society has a number of clans where each clan has a leader – clan leader. Each of those clans had identifying regalia and one of them are drum rhythms that symbolize the general belief of that clan. The Basoga ethnic society from the Eastern region of the country is organized according to clans. Eleven clans are royal; they are the leaders and the rest are not. One of the clans is the ba…
South Teso Jazz Group
Patrick Okodoi and his group – the SOUTH TESO JAZZ are based on the adeudeu– a traditional Teso string instrument. This group plays an interesting folk local sound and is very popular in the area. They combine several adeudeu(arched harps) of various sizes and functions, notably: ADEUDEU BASS – 6-strings instrument played by two people sitting on it; struck as a percussive by player in the back; RHYTHM ADEUDEU – 10-string adeudeu; ADEUDEU SEKETA…