South African Music Archive Project

A dance song, Njama for old men. "My daughter's hut is thatched with reeds and the bushy tails of cows". The song has ten verses, the first three repeated. The accent or stress on the ultimate syllable, instead of on the penultimate, might indicate mission influence in this song. Local linguists would be able to determine this point.
Further details refer ILAM field card number: D6T 8

A humorous song with Chepkongo 6 string bowl lyre. The mysterious singer and dancer, Chemirocha has been turned into a local god Pan with the feet of an antelope, half beast, half man. He is urged by the girls to do the leaping dance familiar to all Kipsigis so energetically that he will jump clear out of his clothes. The name Chemirocha is based upon the guitarist Jimmy Rodgers.
Details from ILAM field card number: D6L 22

A Mamboko dance song with accordian and struck iron. The "struck iron" was an old starter ring from the flywheel of a car. It is necessary to have a circular or 'S' shaped piece of metal for convenient playing of the double beat. The performer called it 'Kengere' or 'Beru' bell.
The sweepers in Nairobi, they say, always come from Embu. Kibunga Waita, the iron player, was no exception. Elsewhere in Africa certain tribes tend to adopt one occupation exclusively.
After hearing a few Kikuyu songs to the accompaniment of the iron and accordian, the listener who is not case hardened to the noise, may experience a singing in the ears for several hours afterwards.
Listening to this kind of Kikuyu music is more a feat of endurance than an aesthetic pleasure.
Further details refer ILAM field card number: F3H 4

A Msego mourning dance song with Kayamba raft rattles, a gourd horn and whistling. This Msego dance started with the sound of the horn, followed by the leader of the group who sings the first verse. This is repeated by the dancers whistling the melody twice over after which the dance proper begins with rattles. Details from ILAM field card D7N - 7 & 8

A praise song with a Chepkongo 6 string bowl lyre. The player flips the bridge of the lyre with a finger tip as he plays. The song is largely a repetition by the chorus of the words "olei yo lalei yo" a kind of "Hey - nonny - nonny."
The singer also brings into his song the names of many places he has visited and likes in common with his audience.
Both Kipsigis and Nandi are noted for their patriotism, their love of country as such, which they frequently express in song. This is comparitively rare with Bantu people who do not, as a rule, praise the beauty of the countryside and are mostly insensitive to scenery. Details from ILAM field card number: D6L 1