Traditional Music of Botswana, Africa: A Journey with Tape Recorder along Southern Botswana from Mochudi to Kang

While traveling across Botswana in 1983, ethnomusicologist Elizabeth N. Wood captured music from Tswana–Sotho tribal descendants and Basarwa Bushmen, whose songs cover themes such as war, hunting, farming, school, and religion. Singing styles range from unison to harmony to call–and–response and are often accompanied by clapping and stomping, with an occasional whistle or drum. Instrumental tracks feature instruments such as the mbira (thumb piano) and lengope (mouth bow). Liner notes include a description of Botswana’s geography, ethnic groups, music, and dance. Lyrics and track notes are also included.

Track Listing

101	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "Oh, a Shoe, Oh, a Shoe"	Young school children of the Bakgaladi group	00:48
102	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "I Am Happy"	Young school children of the Bakgaladi group	00:35
103	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "I Am the Hare That Stays in the Road"	Young children in Mochudi	00:57
104	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "When They Are Playing Their Whistles, Praise (Ululate) Them"	Older children in Nmankgodi	01:43
105	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "Drive away the Birds!"	High Schools, members of the Girl Guides of Molepolole	01:15
106	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "I Have a Pain!"	High Schools, members of the Girl Guides of Molepolole	00:48
107	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "Yes! Yes! Oh! Oh!"	Older women in the village of Gabane	02:01
108	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "At Home, It Rains Heavily"	Older women in the village of Gabane	01:19
109	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "We Come from the Forest"	Older women in the village of Gabane	02:03
110	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "The Rain, Hey, It Is Raining"	Older women in the village of Gabane	01:27
111	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "Mrs. Modise Doesn't Want to Plough"	Older women in the village of Gabane	00:44
112	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "The Fowl Are Eating the Sorghum"	Older women in the village of Gabane	01:47
113	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "It Is in the Tall Grass, the Shy Porcupine"	Older women in the village of Gabane	02:03
201	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "Let's Go to the River"	A small froup of women from Mochudi	01:14
202	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "Speak to Us"	A small froup of women from Mochudi	01:39
203	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "The Hills of Mourning"	Twenty men from Mochundi	04:02
204	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "The Children of the Lion Have Been Called Up"	Twenty men from Mochundi	02:38
205	Tribal Songs of Batswana: "Give Us the Signal to Fight"	Twenty men from Mochundi	01:36
206	Basarwa (Bushmen) Selections: Basarwa Song	Twenty women from Tsetseng	01:01
207	Basarwa (Bushmen) Selections: Basarwa Song	Twenty women from Tsetseng	01:31
208	Basarwa (Bushmen) Selections: Basarwa Song	Twenty women from Tsetseng	01:19
209	Basarwa (Bushmen) Selections: Basarwa Instrumental Selection - Lengope (Mouth Bow)	A young Masarwa women in the village of Kang	00:47
210	Basarwa (Bushmen) Selections: Basarwa Instrumental Selection - Setinkane (Mbira)	Young Masarwa gentleman recorded in Kang	01:02
211	Basarwa (Bushmen) Selections: Basarwa Instrumental Selection - Setinkane (Mbira)	A young Masarwa gentleman recorded in Kang	00:41
212	Basarwa (Bushmen) Selections: Basarwa Instrumental Selection - Setinkane (Mbira)	Young Masarawa woman recorded in the village of Kang	01:40