Northern Uganda: Day 6 – Soroti to Kampala (a driving story) Story
…nge is the arrival of potatoes. We are in potato country now and the roadsides are covered with them. Otherwise, the same road rules apply so we won’t repeat ourselves. We suppose a description of inside the car is overdue. So let’s get the basics out of the way. Some of us sleep. Some of us put on our iPods and drift off to a faraway place, usually not involving an African road at night. But we are also fully-fledged members of the always on ever…
Singing Wells – The Story So Far News
…he Singing Wells Project book. It’s fantastic to see what the project is doing ! Thanks for sharing, Nick” Nick Blazquez, President|Africa, DIAGEO plc …
A day in the field with Singing Wells News
…Shure mics & stands 2 Rode Lavalier omni-directional mics 2 Rode NTG-1 condenser Shotgun mics 1 Matched Pair of AKG C414 XL Microphones 1 Matched Pair of Rode NT5 Microphones2 Rode professional boom pole 1 K&M telescopic mic stand/boom 1 Canon EOS 7D 1 Canon EOS 60D 1 Canon EOS 5D 1 LED video camera lights 1 Flip HD video camera ThinkTank sun screens (for the laptops) Various Canon zoom and fixed lenses Plus at least 9 Sandisk memory cards and 15…
The Tribal and Musical Structure of East Africa – Worldmap Research News
…y on building the Singing Wells community. Rosie has made some ‘how-to’ guides on how to add to a map yourself which you can access easily on our website too, in a few steps, ‘Housekeeping’, ‘The Map Outline’, ‘Prepare Your Data’. I met with Rosie to talk about her experience using the map for the benefit of Singing Wells. How did you discover the mapping software? I am currently reading medicine at UCL, but during my gap year I spend time doing w…
African Strings: The Nyatiti and The Adungu News
…ere used for strings, but now they are made with fishing lines. The two wooden beams are bamboo sticks and wood chips bonded together using bees wax, which helps create a deep echoing sound. Gender: The nyatiti is traditionally only played by a man. The first four days after a male’s birth and a male’s death in the Luo are said to be very special in their culture. The lower four strings of the nyatiti represent the first four days of his birth, an…
Background on the Music of Northern Uganda News
…he Adungu instrument (a traditional Ugandan bow-harp) and the Agwara (a wooden trumpet). Pakwach and Nebbi: Next we visit the Alur and Lugbara tribes in Nyaravuru and Pakwach. Click here to learn more about these tribes through our Alur Profile and Lugbara Profile on the Singing Wells website. Here we will record the Adungu and Agwara but also the Ndara, one of the traditional giant Ugandan xylophones, however this type are unique as they’re mount…
Lugbara Tribe Profile – Music of Northern Uganda News
…toum Arab slaves in the second half of the 19th century. Their origins are described in relation to their belief in mythology: with God’s creation of Meme and the universe. The first two human beings Gboro-Gboro (male) and Meme (female) are said to have been superhuman. Some traditions only speak of Meme, whose womb God filled with the living things in the world. Customs: They are traditionally a farming people and are the predominant keepers of g…
Day 5: Recording the Marakwet Story
…o high that the lungs are pushed to the limit. Second, for such high altitudes, the weather is great and allows year round training. Few places at this altitude allow year round training. Third, Iten is all about inspiration. Foreign athletes are motivated by all the Kenyan runners. You feel part of something huge and are surrounded by amazing runners. But there is also a mystique to the place and foreign runners feel like some of the magic might…
Day 3: Kitale to Kapsokwony, Kenya Story
…lenjin love of cattle to a new level. 50 Cows is a local journalist and student at United States International University (USIU). The Music Groups Ben Kisinja First up for recording was Ben Kisinja, a wonderful guitarist in the typical Kalenjin style. Tabu describes this style as very traditional and the way of singing is very unique to the Sabaot clan of the Kalenjin. The guitar is called a burkandit, and is a homemade guitar somewhat resembling…
Singing Wells – Origins News
…generations dancing together in their village. Andy Patterson, who helped design the mobile studio, noted, ‘I’m a sound engineer and used to recording in professional studios, but I must say, my favourite studios are the ones we create in these villages where even the chickens that wander on to the set add hugely to the essence of the recording.’ So, we piloted the project on Kenya’s Coastal Region around Malindi and Mombasa and have now travelle…
Day 1: In Nairobi, packing and talking to Tabu Story
…y formal training in tribal music. It is mother to child.” Tabu goes on to describe the role of tribal music,” Their music is a ‘way of life’. They use music for communication, passing on information and entertainment. Music is always present when there is a birth, a death, a wedding or other ceremony. Each tribe will have unique stories to tell of their history, of war, of famine etc but there will be common themes as all Africans have similar ch…
Victoria’s reflections on the music of the Batwa Story
…r Abubilla Music Foundation trustees, had to pull out of the trip quite suddenly which left a gap in the team’s resources. Kathy was due to be videographer on ‘Roving Camera 2’ and also document the names and meanings of songs we would be recording. On Tuesday Jimmy asked if I could make any part of the trip to take on that role; on Wednesday we changed the flights into my name and on Sunday I found myself on a plane to Nairobi to meet Jimmy and A…
The Batwa Trail News
…vide an income for this impoverished community. About the Batwa Trail ‘The dense forests at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes were home to the Batwa people: hunter-gatherers and fierce warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine thanks to ancient knowledge passed down for generations. When Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established, the Batwa, a group of indigenous people, were suddenly evicted from the forest and forced…
Gary Barlow, Ayub Ogada & the Diamond Jubilee song News
…was asked by Gary Barlow’s production team about Kenya musicians, he recommended Ayub Ogada who plays a traditional stringed instrument called the nyatiti. We are delighted that Gary did contact Ayub and that he features on ‘Sing’ written especially for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: It was great to see an article about our involvement on Take That Daily, a fan website for all things related to Take That and Gary Barlow. Click here to go to the…
Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor Castle News
…It starts tomorrow in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and will be attended by Her Majesty. The show consists of seven acts drawing displays from different parts of the world, reflecting the countries which The Queen has visited during her reign. Representing Kenya, the show will feature: Performers from the Masai, Samburu, Luo, Kamba and Kikuyo tribes The Nairobi Chamber Chorus considered the topmost choir in Kenya today Cultural Pavil…
News from the Batwa in Kisoro News
…photos. This is an indication that Singing Wells can deliver, if Singing Wells can send photos that means even other things they can. This is the same group that came to Kisoro and gave us a lot of money last which made Batwa a nice food that time. This is Winyo, we shall always remember him for his passionate and his sweet soft voice. Winyo loved the song a parake yacu yo mgahinga. UOBDU say thanks to Singing Wells. Those are the comments from th…