How to Map 2: The Map Outline News
…ase, GBR_adm.zip. Open it up and take a look. What you will see is a crazy number of files, none of which your computer seems to really recognise. Don’t panic. What you’re seeing is just a few shapefiles (remember shapefiles? No? Let me jog your memory). As we’re looking at the shapefiles in the C: drive rather than in ArcMap itself, you can see the six individual files which make up the one shapefile. In fact, in this case you’re looking at 18 fi…
How To (Arc)Map News
…and replicate it. To that end, Singing Wells will be blogging about how to use ArcMap 10 and what exactly we’re doing with it, so anyone with access to it can understand and follow along (and that includes members of the Singing Wells team itself). Watch this space for future posts, and if you’re interested in ArcMap, you can find out more here. You can also check out their non-profit organisations’ scheme, which allows registered charities access…
From Kisoro to Nairobi to Lake Victoria Story
…d Green: The earth was a deep terracotta that seeped up the buildings. Because of the rain, the hills were a deep green and most houses and huts were framed in green. These became the colours of the trip for us: Nairobi to Kisumu Sunday we were off again. Jamming our Pelicases in the back of the van and heading to the studio where Winyo was doing his Michael Jackson impression: Once the equipment was loaded, the Ketebul guys got the big truck… In…
Day 6: The Studio @ Traveller’s Rest Hotel, Kisoro Story
…sion with Winyo. Here, they put down their track. Not at all phased by the use of headphones and mics, they take everything in there stride, performing a number of takes as the song develops. We start by giving them a simple click to follow the beat but quickly realised that their tempos are far more subtle than this. Francis comes back to set the rhythm with their natural clapping and it suddenly all came together again. Once we have the female v…
Day 5 (PM): The ‘Togetherness Group’ from Kanyabukunga Story
…he essential sun shield for the mixing desk. They also found an additional use for the Pelicases, and Winyo’s guitar case, as mixing table and chairs! This little girl sensibly brought an umbrella for a sunshade……and happily accepted some much needed water: And here’s a very special young lady from this community – Fiona Nyiraguhirwa. Fiona has been sponsored by UOBDU through Junior School. Everyone is hoping she will be able to continue her educa…
The Batwa Trail News
…on about the living, the medicinal plants, hunting methods… that the Batwa use(d). When I think about the darkness in the Garama Cave and then the sudden singing and dancing, I am still deeply touched. After that in front of a beautiful panorama the singing and dancing continued. I am very happy to have experienced this on my travel and recommend it for all Kisoro visitors. I would be honoured If you use my video on your website. Warmest regards,…
Day 4 (later): Recording for ‘Influences’ with the Birara Dancers Story
…r goal wasn’t to shove the music on to hard drives and store them in some museum. Our goal was to also bring that music to the next generation of artists and encourage them to incorporate the music traditions of East Africa into modern music. Winyo, one of Ketebul’s key artists, does this everyday with his music, which is why he is such an inspiration: But too many (most) East African musicians want to sound like 50 Cent or Justin Timberlake and t…
Day 1 & 2: Preparing to leave for Kisoro, Uganda Story
…icrophones. This also carries the tripod for Roving Video 1. Cable Bag/Headphones: This is full of all the jacks, mic connects, headphone extenders. There’s a lot of cables. Mega Tripod: This is the bag for Pado’s pride and joy, the mega tripod for Stationary Camera 1. Project Management: How do we now set ourselves up for audio-video recording on site? Again, based on lessons from both the March Pilot and Lake Turkana, here’s the set up: Overall…
Kenya (Coast): Day 4 – the road back to Nairobi Story
…hole richness of Kenyan music. Some of the groups were very large, but because of budgets we could only bring a small number. We had good production but we couldn’t get the whole band in their element . Gargar was an example. Huge women’s group with lots of culture things – women’s rights … we could only work with four. We realised it would be better to take the studio to them. We would get a better view and get a more authentic sound. Then Abubil…
Interview with Fifty Cows – fixer for Singing Wells News
…t boarder where singers and dancers from both tribes come together and perform. He feels this would bring a sense of unity and peace. He is a remarkable man and has used his past to shape his future and use it for good. Posted by Kathy Allen 9th March 2012 …
Nick Abonyo (the ‘clapper-man’) News
…ired every two weeks and replace every two months. They lit fires in the house to cook. When he went to primary school Nick had to live with his grandmother in Abasuba because there was a school there. He started going to school when he was eight. He would go home to his parents in August and December for a month. He preferred being in his parent’s village. He liked village life because everything is free there. They grew their own food including…
The Kalenjin & Kenya’s elite athletes News
…o Chela was born and raised in Kitale, Kenya. She works with the Content House Education Trust to archive the history and progress of Kenyan runners. Chela has been working on the documentary project for the past four years. The programme follows two main runners – David Rudisha who won the 800m in the Beijing Olympics and Edna Kiplagat who is the world cross country champion. They are focusing mainly on their coaching and what it takes to get to…
May 2011 – Jimmy reports back on the pilot phase News
…s Zaire ndindingwa, led by Fundi bin Kalale, in the ndindingwa style. They used the filimbi (a type of whistle). Group 2: Zaire ndindingwa Kibarani: We recorded behind one of the long houses under two great trees, which sheltered us from the sun. Click here to read our fuller blog of this visit. Interviewing group leaders in the village of Kibarani The third group was Chechemeko raha, led by Bahri wa katana in the checchemeko style. They danced li…
Lake Turkana Cultural Festival 2011 News
…stival, which is hosted by the German Embassy in Nairobi and the National Museums of Kenya, is to ‘overcome tribalism in the region and to promote peace and reconciliation among the local communities around Lake Turkana by giving them an opportunity for cross-cultural cooperation and exchange, both in the preparation and in the course of the Festival. During the three days Festival, representatives of the Rendille, El Molo, Pokot, Samburu, Turkana…
Reflections on the pilot phase by Pato News
…a close eye on her and he asked me to stop drooling all over the place because she belonged to him and only him. The second car was delivered and Maddo, chairman for Ketebul Music would be the pilot for the V.I.P car. He had to leave because he had to drop the owner of the car and left me with his car, but not without detailed instructions on how to handle it and with a stern warning: don’t visit your girls friends with my car! We met them later…
Reflections on the pilot phase by Willie Bembe News
…t generation is not really interested in learning there music. This is because it’s not packaged in a way that would interest them. DAY 4 Have caught on on how to set up the equipment and under the Andy’s guidance do the recording. The sound quality coming from the recording is amazing considering we are recording outdoors Recording Winyo by the sea shore is a particular favorite. Alas…Jimmy is suddenly the guy with the funniest jokes and everyone…