ANGOLA – MALAWI – CAMEROON – NIGERIA – EGYPT – UGANDA – TANZANIA – IRAQ – CONGO – MAURITANIA – CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Afrikanische Saiteninstrumente / African String Instruments – 24 Musical Examples – Curated by Ulrich Wegner – Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin – SMKP Neu Folge 41, released in 1984 (Cassette)
This completely unique cassette accompanied ethnomusicologist Ulrich Wegner’s 1984 book Afrikanische Saiteninstrumente, a comprehensive, 305-page study of African string instruments published by the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and released in the Museum für Völkerkunde's Musikethnologie series. The book presents a detailed typological catalog of chordophones gathered from across Africa and the African diaspora over the course of more than a century of collecting. It also includes a rich iconography.
The 24 musical examples on the cassette, showcasing various African string instruments, were recorded between 1960 and 1983 in Angola, Malawi, Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Côte d'Ivoire, as well as at concerts at the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin, Germany. It highlights recordings made by several notable German ethnomusicologists, including Gerhard Kubik (b. 1934) (tracks A1-A5, A7, A11 and A12); Artur Simon (1938–2022) (tracks A13 and B4); Jürgen Jensen (1938–2025) (track A9); Ludwig Gerhardt (b. 1938) (track A6); Kurt Krieger (1920–2007) (tracks B2 and B5); Till Förster (b. 1955) (track B10); and Ulrich Wegner (b. 1955) and Mary Wegner (track B1).
This precious cassette’s standout tracks include:
· A 1978 live recording of a griot ensemble led by the incomparable Moorish singer and ardin harpist Munnina Mint Eleya (also known as Mounnina) from Mauritania (B9), which I have featured in previous posts;
· Three songs performed by the celebrated Baganda musician Evaristo Muyinda (c. 1916–1993) – a court musician to the Kabaka (king) of Buganda – on vocals and on the endongo lyre (A14), endingidi tube fiddle (B3), and the ennanga harp (B8);
· Traditional Egyptian music including an ūd lute solo by Maḥmūd Kāmil (B6);
· A Hausa goge ensemble from Northern Nigeria with percussion vocals and a goge fiddle (B2);
· The music of the Zanj from Basra in Southern Iraq. These descendants of enslaved East Africans maintained their own distinct musical and spiritual traditions, most notably the Zar spirit possession and healing ceremony of East African origin performed here by Naǧīm ʿAbbūd Ǧumʿa on vocals and the large ṭanbūra lyre accompanied by manǧūr rattle-belt percussion (B1). Wegner wrote his doctoral dissertation on folk songs in Southern Iraq and he and wife, Mary Wegner, recorded this track in Basra in 1978;
· Donald Kachamba's Kwela Band from Malawi, featuring Donald Kachamba on the kwela flute, Moya Aliya on the one-string babatoni bass, and Gerhard Kubik on guitar (A10). Kubic published an essential anthology of traditional music from southern Malawi (see below) and championed kwela music after meeting the Kachamba brothers in 1967. He promoted Kwela music abroad and helped the Kachamba brothers organize concert tours in many countries and often played guitar and clarinet with the band.
Cette cassette unique accompagnait l’ouvrage de l’ethnomusicologue Ulrich Wegner, Afrikanische Saiteninstrumente, une étude exhaustive de 305 pages consacrée aux instruments à cordes africains. Publié en 1984, cet ouvrage a été édité par les Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, dans le cadre de la collection Musikethnologie du Museum für Völkerkunde et comprend un catalogue typologique détaillé des cordophones recueillis en Afrique et au sein de la diaspora africaine au cours de plus d’un siècle de collectes. Il est également richement illustré de dessins et de photographies.
Les 24 exemples musicaux réunis sur cette cassette présentent la diversité des instruments à cordes africains et de leurs traditions musicales. Enregistrés entre 1960 et 1983 en Angola, au Malawi, au Cameroun, au Nigéria, en Égypte, en Ouganda, en Tanzanie, en Irak, en République démocratique du Congo et en Côte d’Ivoire, ils comprennent également des
enregistrements de concerts organisés au Museum für Völkerkunde de Berlin. La cassette rassemble des enregistrements réalisés par plusieurs ethnomusicologues allemands de renom, notamment Gerhard Kubik (né en 1934) (pistes A1 à A5, A7, A11 et A12) ; Artur Simon (1938–2022) (pistes A13 et B4) ; Jürgen Jensen (1938–2025) (piste A9) ; Ludwig Gerhardt (né en 1938) (piste A6) ; Kurt Krieger (1920–2007) (pistes B2 et B5) ; Till Förster (né en 1955) (piste B10) ; ainsi qu’Ulrich Wegner (né en 1955) et Mary Wegner (piste B1).
Parmi les moments forts de cette précieuse cassette ,figurent notamment :
· Un enregistrement live de 1978 d’un ensemble de griots dirigé par l’incomparable chanteuse maure et harpiste d’ardin Munnina Mint Eleya (également connue sous le nom de Mounnina) de Mauritanie (B9), que j’ai déjà présenté dans des posts précédents ;
· Trois morceaux interprétés par le célèbre musicien ougandais baganda Evaristo Muyinda (vers 1916–1993) – musicien de cour du Kabaka (roi) du Buganda – au chant et à la lyre endongo (A14), au violon à tube endingidi(B3) et à la harpe ennanga (B8) ;
· De la musique traditionnelle égyptienne, notamment un solo de luth ūd interprété par Maḥmūd Kāmil (B6) ;
· Un ensemble goge haoussa du nord du Nigeria, avec des chants, des percussions et un violon goge (B2) ;
· La musique des Zanj de Bassorah, dans le sud de l’Irak. Ces descendants d’esclaves d’Afrique de l’Est ont préservé leurs propres traditions musicales et spirituelles distinctes, notamment la cérémonie de possession et de guérison par les esprits Zar, d’origine est-africaine, interprétée ici par Naǧīm ʿAbbūd Ǧumʿa au chant et à la grande lyre tanbūra, accompagné par la percussion à ceinture à hochets manǧūr (B1). Wegner a consacré sa thèse de doctorat aux chants populaires du sud de l’Irak ; c’est avec son épouse, Mary Wegner, qu’il a enregistré ce morceau à Bassorah en 1978 ;
· Le Kwela Band de Donald Kachamba, originaire du Malawi, réunissant Donald Kachamba à la flûte kwela, Moya Aliya à la basse babatoni à une corde et Gerhard Kubik à la guitare (A10). Kubic a publié une anthologie incontournable de la musique traditionnelle du sud du Malawi (voir ci-dessous). Après sa rencontre avec les frères Kachamba en 1967, il s’est attaché à promouvoir le kwela, contribuant à le faire connaître à l’étranger et à organiser des tournées internationales pour les frères Kachamba. Il lui arrivait également fréquemment de se joindre au groupe à la guitare ou à la clarinette.
ANGOLA
A1 – Humbi sagaia mouth bow and vocals by Pequenino;
Recorded in Munengole near Dinde, southwestern Angola, by Gerhard Kubik on July 15, 1965.
A2 – !Kung or Ju/'hoansi (subgroup of the San people) kawayawaya scraped bow and vocals by Gongo;
Recorded in the village of Vinphulu east of Kwitu Kwanavale, southeastern Angola, by Gerhard Kubik in December 1965.
A3 – Mucai Muua played on the large Humbi mbulumbumba calabash-resonated musical bow performed by Chapinga;
Recorded in Munengole near Dinde, southwestern Angola, by Gerhard Kubik on July 15, 1965.
MALAWI
A4 – Gojo! Sung and played on the zeze flat-bar zither by Nigisi (Sena people?);
Recorded in Chipwaere, Chikwawa District, southern Malawi, by Gerhard Kubik in October 1967.
CAMEROON
A5 – Mvet notched bridge zither (or stick zither) and vocals by an unknown Eton (Beti) musician;
Recorded in Cameroon by Gerhard Kubik in July 1960.
NIGERIA
A6 – Jinjom raft zither played by a Kagoro (Agworok) musician;
Recorded in Kagoro (or Gworok), Jos Plateau, northern Nigeria, on February 20, 1969, by Ludwig Gerhardt.
MALAWI
A7 – Anambewe Kulira Mwana Wao. Bangwe board zither and vocals by Mikitala Chinkota Phiri from the village of Zuze in Mwanza.
Recorded in the village of Singano – birthplace and home of legendary Malawian acoustic and Kwela musicians, including the Kachamba Brothers (A10) – in the Chileka area of Blantyre District, southern Malawi, by Gerhard Kubik on May 27, 1979.
EGYPT
A8 – Taqsīm Nahāwand. Performed by Abd al-Fattāḥ Manṣī عبد الفتاح منسي) (1924-1990 on the qānūn plucked box zither;
Recorded in Cairo in 1972.
UGANDA
A9 – Vuma (or Bavuma) Kidongodo ground bow played by the six-year-old Deo Gracias Mulinde;
Recorded on Buvuma Island in Lake Victoria by Jürgen Jensen on November 5, 1966.
MALAWI
A10 – Nampula Jive / Sinjonjo performed by Donald Kachamba's Kwela Band, with Donald Kachamba on the kwela flute, Moya Aliya on the one-string babatoni bass, and Gerhard Kubik on guitar;
Excerpt from a June 22, 1983 concert at the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin.
TANZANIA
A11 – Historical song by Msigibuluma on the Hehe (or Wahehe) ligombo bowl zither and his grandson Fidelis Nyenza beating a rhythmic pattern on a resonating gourd;
Recorded in Lundamatwe near Iringa, in Tanzania's Southern Highlands, by Gerhard Kubik on October 20, 1976.
ANGOLA
A12 – Cushwe. A Humbi chihumba open-string mouth bow played by Chweyenge and vocals by Watepa;
Recorded in the village of Kalingiri in southwestern Angola by Gerhard Kubik on July 17, 1965.
EGYPT
A13 – Taqsīm Yā Lallī. Instrumental prelude on the semsemīya lyre performed by al-Dermerdāš ʿAbd al-Salām, from Port Said, accompanied by a darabukka goblet drum. Recorded in Cairo by Artur Simon (1938-2022) on October 29, 1972.
UGANDA
A14 – Ssinga Mamera Byoya Ssinga Mbuuse ("If feathers grew on me, I would fly"). Ugandan endongo lyre and vocals by the Ugandan Ganda musician Evaristo Muyinda;
Recorded at the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin on June 30, 1983.
IRAQ
B1 – Nūbān Başrī. Performed on the large ṭanbūra lyre and vocals by Naǧīm ʿAbbūd Ǧumʿa with a manǧūr rattle-belt percussion by Mullā ʿAbd al-Razzāq ʿAbd al-Ǧalīl.
Recorded by Mary and Ulrich Wegner in Basra, southern Iraq, on March 16, 1978.
NIGERIA
B2 – Hausa goge ensemble with a goge single-stringed bowed spike bowl lute (fiddle) and two backing vocals playing kwarya half-calabash gourd drums.
Recorded by Kurt Krieger in Anka, northern Nigeria, c. 1961/62.
UGANDA
B3 – Ensimbi ("Money"). Endingidi single-stringed bowed tube spike lute (or tube fiddle) performed by the Ugandan Ganda musician Evaristo Muyinda Evaristo Muyinda.
Recorded at the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin on July 4, 1983.
EGYPT
B4 – Dance songs, performed by a rebāba group from Upper Egypt: The two rebābabowed bowl spike lute players, ʿAzab Sarkin Salama and Ḥamdān Muḥammad Ḥassan, are accompanied on the small ṭār ṣaġīr frame drum by ʿAlī ʿAbd al-Ḥāfiz Ḥassan and on the large ṭār kabīr frame drum by ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Ḥassan.
Recorded by Artur Simon in Qurna near Luxor, Egypt, on November 12, 1972.
NIGERIA
B5 – Praise Song. Performed by a Hausa kuntugi spike lute player.
Recorded by Kurt Krieger in Anka, northern Nigeria, c. 1961/62.
EGYPT
B6 – Played on the short-necked Arabic ʿūd lute by Maḥmūd Kāmil.
Recorded by Artur Simon in Cairo on November 17, 1972.
CONGO (KINSHASA)
B7 – Masanga Njia. Vocals and guitar by Mwenda Jean Bosco from Lubumbashi, Shaba, Congo (Kinshasa).
Recorded at the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin on June 30, 1982.
UGANDA
B8 – Kansimbe Omuggo ("Let me go there with the stick"). A song with an ennangaarched harp performed by the Ugandan Ganda musician Evaristo Muyinda.
Recorded at the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin on June 29, 1983.
MAURITANIA
B9 – Madīḥ Nabawī ("Praise of the Prophet") in the K'hal Karr mode. Performed by the griot ensemble of the Moorish singer and ardin harpist Munnina Mint Eleya (or Mounnina). Two ardin harps, three tidinit internal-spike lutes, and a t'bol kettle drum.
Recorded at the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin on June 20, 1978.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
B10 – Korikaariye (or korkpol) harp lute played by a Senufo sando diviner.
Recorded by Till Förster in Nafoun, northern Côte d’Ivoire, on July 16, 1982.
Front cover photograph (above):
Ganda (Muganda) musician Evaristo Muyinda (1916-1993) on an ennanga arched harp and Ludoviko Sserwanga (b. 1944) on an endingidi single-string tube fiddle, Uganda.
Azande kundi bow harp player photographed by Herbert Lang (1879–1957), Congo (Kinshasa), 1913:
Mvet stick-zither player, Ekang people, Cameroon:
Ardin harp and tidinit lute players in a traditional Moorish
A Ngbaka musical bow played during hunting rituals
in the forests of the Central African Republic:
Tanbūra lyre and vocals by Naǧīm ʿAbbūd Ǧum
in Basra, Southern Iraq:
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