South African Music Archive Project

An Osingolis Longoroyo love song. "When I come back from fighting, then I will marry you, my love. I refuse to look at any other woman because of you. So wait for me my love."

Items of this nature are more recitations of verse rather than true songs. The simple response in this case is "A-a, hoiyo ya hoiyo yaho"

Osingolio dance song for men and women. Osingolio Bunya. "We are all friends, So we should all sing together, Sing the chorus you young people." Although the chorus sung by the girls at first appears simple, it is very difficult to catch and repeat.

Further details refer ILAM field card number D7A-2.

Embrukoi dance song for men and women. The Embrukoi dance is characterised by highleaps into the air with a rigid body. The dancers will leap as much as 18 inches clear into the air, at the same time giving a characteristic lift to the chin. The song praises his friends who kill lions. He sings also that he himself found a lion beside the path and killed it with his spear, a not uncommon feat among these people. He also sings of a faction fight in his district between neighbouring villages. This is a well known song in the Arusha District. The use of a thin falsetto by the solo singer quite belies the look of the man, which is far from being effeminate and typical of the younf Masai moran.

Rika. Initiation song for boys and girls. This is a self praise song by boys and girls who are waiting during the Rika period prior to undergoing circumcision. The leader sings in a kind of falsetto voice which is much appreciated by the people - but on a recording gives no idea of his manly appearance. The calling for a special response during the course of the recitative is typical of Arusha songs. The full song is not available here.