Songs and tales from the dark continent : the authoritative 1920 classic, recorded from the singing and the sayings of C. Kamba Simango, Ndau tribe, Portuguese East Africa, and Madikane Čele, Zulu tribe, Natal, Zululand, South Africa / Natalie Curtis.

Format:

Musical score

Author/Creator:

Burlin, Natalie Curtis, 1875-1921.

Contributor:

Simango, C. Kamba.

Čele, Madikane.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Folk songs--Africa.

Folk songs.

Africa.

Folklore--Africa.

Folklore.

Genre:

Folk music.

Notated music.

Physical Description:

1 score (170 pages) : illustrations ; 28 cm

Place of Publication:

Mineola, New York : Dover Publications, 2002.

Summary:

In addition to their intrinsic entertainment value, these authentic regional singings and sayings offer significant insights into African lives and customs. Recorded in the early twentieth century, this compilation features folklore from the Ndau tribe of Portuguese East Africa and the Zulus of South Africa: songs celebrating the rain, labor chants, dances and laments, as well as songs of war, meditation, and love. Extensive commentary, metrical and literal translations, and notes on pronunciation provided by the editor, one of the world's foremost ethnomusicologists. A splendid introduction to the rich and varied musical and folkloric tradition of Africa, this volume offers a fine resource for music students and all enthusiasts of African culture. Unabridged reprint of the classic 1921 edition. 10 black-and-white illustrations.

Contents:

Introduction: Africa and the Africans xi

Songs, Tales and Proverbs of the Ndau Tribe

Kamba Simango 1

Simango's Letter to the Reader 12

Notes for the Pronunciation of Chindau' Text 13

African Proverbs 14

Beliefs and Customs of the Ndau Tribe 15

Mate'ka: Song of the Rain Ceremony (I) A ndi'na mwa'na wokwe'nda na ye (No child may journey with me) 20

Mate'ka: Song of the Rain Ceremony (II) Nyamakamba'la tape'la (Thunder-of-the-East, we're dying) 22

Manthi'ki: Spirit-Song (I) Sa'lanyi, sa'lanyi (Farewell, farewell) 24

Manthi'ki: Spirit-Song (II) Nyam'nje'nje we'nda (On homeward pinion) 25

Manthi'ki: Spirit-Song (III) Vamalo'va nje'che (Who little ones doth beat) 26

Manthi'ki: Spirit-Song (IV) Nyamuzi'va wo'ye (He who knows) 27

Lu'mbo rlo lu'do: Love-Song A ndi'na wa'ngu, Muzi'ya (I have not my own, Muzi'ya) 28

Mafu've: Dance of Girls Eyo'we, Kwa'maiwe (Alas, Mother's home) 29

Children's Songs

(I) Mu-to-to-li'le (Drip-Drop the Rain) 30

(II) Cha-Kom'ba-Kom'ba (Hopping Song) 31

(III) Muvi'li, Zu'ma-Zu'ma (Drying Song) 31

Laboring Song (I) Kwae'ja no makashot' (Day dawns with freight to haul) 32

Laboring Chant Kanye', kanye'! (Come on, come on!)

Laboring Song (II) Ma'le Kambe'n' (Money in Kamben') 33

Pwi'ta: Dance-Song (I) Ku muse'ngele wa Lu'nde! (To hammock now for Lu'nde!) 35

Nthoko'do: Dance-Song (II) Chamale'bvu (The Long Beard) 37

Nthko'do: Dance-Song (III) Baba' va lova'la ngwena' ino luma' (My father he married a crocodile wife) 38

Kufa'mba: Mocking-Song Kufa'mba (To walk thus) 39

Chili'lo: Lament Ndi'no muwana' pi i'nga Bala'nku (Where shall I find one like to Bala'nku) 41

Folk-Tales

(I) The Hare and the Tortoise 43

(II) The Hare and the Baboon 44

(III) How the Animals Dug Their Well 45

Chinya' nje-nje'leka nje (I'm coming joggy-jog trot) Song I

Na'ndi Shu'lo kupe'mbela-u (Hi, oh Hare, going away) Song II

The Hare's Dance-Song: English Paraphrase

(IV) The Jackal and the Rooster 47

(V) Death of the Hare 48

Legend and Song of the Daughter and the Slave 49

Lusi'nga, lusi'nga, da'ndali! (O cord, O cord, whirr!) Song I

Mai va-i-le'va (Mother, she was saying) Song II

Vasa-Go're: Legend and Song of the Sky-Maiden Sam'du'mbi-we'-we', ndekande' (O youth, I entreat thee, I pray) 51

Songs and Tales of the Zulu Tribe

Madika'ne Qandeya'ne Ce'le: Autobiographical Sketch 57

Note for the Pronunciation of Zulu Texts 62

Iga'ma le 'mpi: Song of War Se'nge sa'ba naku'pi we mako'si? (Fear I aught, ye hostile Kings?) 63

Iga'ma la bantwa'na: Song of Children O tu'la, mtwa'na, O tu'la (O hush thee, baby, O hush thee) 66

Dance-Songs 68

Iga'ma lo kusi'na:' Dance-Song (I) Be'ngi le'le egqume'ni (On the hillside I slumbered) 69

Iga'ma lo kusi'na: Dance-Song (II) Dubul'! U'ngi bambe'le i'nto i'nye Shout! She kept me waiting for one thing 71

Zulu Love-Songs, or Songs of Meditation 71

Iga'ma lo ta'ndo: Song of Love

(I) U-ye'ze, u-ye'ze (He cometh, he cometh) 73

(II) Uda'li use'le ematsho'n' (My darling stayed in the West) 74

(III) Awu-yi'ni-ye'lelema'm' (Ah, think of this, 'lelema'm') 74

(IV) Ngi hla'gene nento'mbi za se nza'nsi (I saw some maidens coming from the Southland) 75

Creation Story 76.

Notes:

Words in Chindau' and Zulu with English translations, also printed separately as texts with commentary.

Includes historical and biographical information.

Includes pronunciation guide.

Reprint. Originally published: New York: G. Schirmer, 1920.

ISBN:

0486420698

OCLC:

53308062