kenyan songs & strings

From his home in South Africa, Hugh Tracey — son of a Devonshire doctor — travelled throughout southern, central and eastern Africa every year between 1948 and 1963, amassing his pioneering field recordings.

From his work with the Luo, Luhya, Kipsigis, Kikuyu, Nandi, Swahili, Wanga and Giriama tribes — this is an awe-inspiring selection of choirs and songs with string accompaniment. Except for a couple of guitar parts, and one oud, the string instruments are all lyres — chepkongo, kipukandet, litungu, and thum (with strings made of cow-tendons).

As always with this series, the remastering is excellent, and the booklet is fully informative, with translations and great photographs. And the music itself is stunning, unearthly and beautiful as a matter of routine.


01 Chemirocha 01:29
02 Kang'et Chorwet 02:34
03 Arap Chemonget 02:42
04 Bengeria 02:47
05 Ho Jambo Bwana 02:41
06 Naftali Ouko 02:51
07 Chief Gidion Magak 02:56
08 Onyiego Kobara 02:30
09 Peny Gi Polo 02:46
10 Okech Okelo 02:57
11 Olenyo Ber Neno Nyar Oganda 01:50
12 Tong Tong 02:46
13 evuse 01:32
14 Mulima Hale 02:38
15 Makomere 02:51
16 Habana Mapenzi02:58
17 Wanga Syeche 02:36
18 Nenda Mundani 02:36
19 Arap Chepsiolei 02:53
20 Chepchoni Marinda 02:59
21 Arap Kapero 02:46
22 Ruimbo Rwakwa 01:11
23 Kiriri 01:13
24 Mucungwa 01:35
25 Kiss Cha Moto-moto 02:36
26 Nyon Anyona 02:59



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