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"

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.

An Osingolis Longoroyo love song with Arusha women. "Teren angite matalebo." "Bring the cow that I may milk her near the water. Do not leave my place my love. Stay here and keep me constant company."

The love song of a nomadic pastoralist. Different women take over the lead during the song. The full song is not available here.

An Osingolis Longoroyo love song. "High God, Ngai. Give all the women children." A sentiment frequently expressed by all African folk.

The full song is not available here.

An Osingolio Longishu cattle song. "The Germans are nothing to us. They were defeated by the English. We are not sleeping and will fight for our country. We love our country and our cattle."

The Arusha tribe fought on several occasions against the Germans during their early occupation of Tanganyika. Different men take over the solo between the chorus refrains.