Watmon Cultural Group Group
…rming Acholi traditional dance which he had learnt when he was young, both from grandfather in his village and from watching dancers at village events. He went around his district in Kampala, telling people he would like to start a dance troupe, and was met with a positive reaction. Eventually he had people coming to him asking to be a part of it, and from that point the group became an institution. In the fallout of the war against Idi Amin’s reg…
Here for the Music? Page
…ownload through our Bandcamp store in your choice of formats. The proceeds from the sale of our albums will be fed back to the musicians involved in the recordings, wherever possible. Galleries As well as filming and recording, our incredible team also find moments to take some beautiful photography of our surroundings. Head here to see some images of our time on the field, the people we meet and the stunning scenery. YouTube You can find the full…
Kika Boys Cultural Troupe Group
…oo much and talk about everything that came into their heads. “Katonda Bwakuwa Kyoyagala”: If god gives you what you wanted, in your heart you become very thankful but not telling everyone who might be envious. “Tweyanze”: We are thankful and appreciative. Sung when someone has been given something. It is an appreciation song….
Mr Bado Group
…oastal town of Watamu in Malindi. He was born Mohamed Said Ngana. He comes from a very musical family, who have been singing and performing Mijikenda dance and music for generations. He is the son of the legendary mwanzele singer and composer, Nyerere wa Konde. He was greatly influenced and inspired as a child by his father’s Mwanzele playing as well as by Maulid Juma’s Taarab, and Bhalo’s Chakacha. He started singing in 1994 while studying in Mom…
3. Background of the Naizungwe drums Story
…That is what I see in the recording. How are these Basoga drums different from the Baganda ones? Athough Basoga and Baganda conical drums are similar in many ways, they have differences. They are differently woven and this causes them to differ in appearance. Also Basoga drums are mainly played with sticks while only the namunjoloba (the smallest drum in the Baakisimba drum set), and in some cases nankasa (the smallest drum in the nankasa set) is…
Mchele Mchele Sanaa Group Group
…This group, from the Sukuma community, was formed in 2010 and performs with a number of styles: Bukomia Lume, Buchheye, Wigashe. Their instruments are: Ng’oma (Drums), Pembe (animal horns, large impala), Firimbi (flute), and Njuga (shakers). …
Day Five: Ilesi, Khayega to Kisumu Story
…coming together for the wedding. Khuchende Pole: This song is telling everyone to walk slowly to and from the wedding so all the people can gather and honour the bride and groom. The Shishebo process – this is about rites of passage, and specifically male circumcision. The songs include: Bikubanda: This is a song that mocks other tribes and peoples that don’t carry out these rituals and ‘are afraid of the knife.’ Nuli Musata: This is a song that i…
Page
…musical groups on our yearly field visits. But aside from this, we have always aimed to showcase this incredible music with the wider global music community to show just how innovative and exciting this music is. With that in mind, as we approach our 10 year anniversary, we want to truly combine these two missions and celebrate how music in the modern age can transcend global barriers. Alongside our partners, London record label, Abubilla Music,…
Biluli Dutwa Group
…le virtues Balimi: A song about farming where the band brought up children from the village and taught them about hoeing the soil to the song. Later we saw several videos of how this song is used in the fields to motivate farmers, who hoe to the beat. Throughout Tanzania, we saw school kids walking to/from school with their hoes, where they often tend to small plots at the school. Serengeti: We are near the national park and this is a song in cele…
Baseki Group
…le virtues Balimi: A song about farming where the band brought up children from the village and taught them about hoeing the soil to the song. Later we saw several videos of how this song is used in the fields to motivate farmers, who hoe to the beat. Throughout Tanzania, we saw school kids walking to/from school with their hoes, where they often tend to small plots at the school. Serengeti: We are near the national park and this is a song in cele…
Ndagwa Msanga Group
Ndagwa Msanga are a group of young girls are from Msanga and the Wagogo community. The group was formed in 1994 to encourage the young of the Wagogo tribe to embrace and appreciate their culture. Their style of music makes up all the musical styles of the Wagogo community. Their instruments are all about percussion: Ngoma (Drums) and Kayamba (Shakers). These young performers are amazing and if they are a sign, then the future of Tanzanian music i…
Day 4 – Tuesday 4th July 2017 Story
…ough his father Omondi Undugu also used to play, he learned by observation from another player – Ogola Sewe from the same location. He could remember and retrace all the nyatitis he had previously owned, mentioning how he bought the first one at 8 Kenyan shillings in 1951 from a certain Undego Koile. He stated that he never owns more than one instrument and usually gives out the old one to a school teacher who uses it in class. He is equally proud…
Day 3 – Monday 3rd July 2017 Story
…ult to break. Finally, Sewa told us he got the knowledge of nyatiti making from his step‐father and commented on the custom of making a sacrifice upon completion of each instrument in an equally liberal way: “it’s upon the client”. Thus, our day with Sewa Oriwo was, I believe, very pertinent, since it was at the same time technically the most complete demonstration of nyatiti making and revealed the commercial side of the craft and the evolution o…
Day 2 – Sunday 2nd July 2017 Story
…bility of an existing cultural taboo concerning two generations of players from the same home playing actively at the same time. From K’Orengo’s homestead we went on to a second location in Kaluo Umaje village of the same constituency where we met our first nyatiti maker – Obong’o Omenda. Born 1949, the elder was unfortunately feeling unwell and could only explain the instrument fabrication without detailed demonstration. Nevertheless, we were abl…
Namaddu Troupe Group
…y reunite. “Kwakira Wiita”: A song about eating new food, particularly millet, after the harvest. But the children don’t stay home and are out all the time, so they suffer from bad spiritis. They need to be home in the house for the good spirits. Gradually they return home and all is well….
Peter Akwabi Group
…ar and other bottle (ichupa)….