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Topical and ceremonial songs including rain songs from the Valley Tonga people of Zambia

Various Artists
Tonga people, Zambia. Tonga man playing the Kalumbo bow at Gwembe district, Zambia.
Tonga people, Zambia. Tonga man playing the Kalumbo bow at Gwembe district, Zambia.
Photograph by Hugh Tracey, 1957. Courtesy of the International Library of African Music.
In 1957, Hugh Tracey recorded topical and ceremonial songs, including rainmaking songs, from the Valley Tonga people of Gwembe District, Zambezi Valley, Zambia, then called Northern Rhodesia.

Track Listing

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101
Nabutema fulida mvlito (Widow, blow up the fire) Anrosi Kaniamba 02:10
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102
Muzimu wandiyanda moyo (The love of my heart) Jerevani Siakuteka 03:00
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103
Karubgwerubgwe kone agwari (I will sleep on a stone) Group of Tonga women 01:31
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104
Ngoma Group of Tonga men and women 04:01
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105
Tulila menda (We are crying for rain) Group of Tonga women 02:44
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106
Wai mwanangu (Where is my son?) Syadimana Nsaga 01:33
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107
Muzolange nobakotata (You come and see me) Siambelele Nyama 02:50
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108
Atuwendi kumanzi ntwende kumulonga tukateke menda (Go to the river, go to draw water. Let us get water) Timoti Sadimbi 01:03