Ceremonial, topical, and dance songs from the Luba of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Various Artists

Photograph by J. S. Laurenty, 1971. Courtesy of the International Library of African Music.

Photograph by C. Lamote. Courtesy of the International Library of African Music.

Photograph by Ronnie Landsberg, 1960’s. Courtesy of Companhia de Diamantes de Angola and ILAM.

Luba/Shankadi people, southern Democratic Republic of Congo. Instruments are Lusuba mouth bow and bottle.

Photograph by J. S. Laurenty, 1971. Courtesy of the International Library of African Music.

Luba/Bakwanga people from Bakwa Balongi (Chief’s village), Bakwanga, Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Chipeni singing gourds and three drums.

Photograph by C. Lamote. Courtesy of the International Library of African Music.

Luba people, northern Angola. Chisanzhi cha lungandu lamellophone, master player from northern Angola.

Photograph by Ronnie Landsberg, 1960’s. Courtesy of Companhia de Diamantes de Angola and ILAM.

These ceremonial, topical, and dance songs performed by the Luba of the Democratic Republic of Congo were recorded by Hugh Tracey in 1957. Included are pieces with guitars, xylophones (silimba), mbiras, and drums as well as songs connected to mourning, weddings, and social gatherings.

Track Listing

101	Mutomboko and Luwendo	Group of six Luba men	02:40
102	Kantende maninga	Group of eight Luba men	02:45
103	Tuhuri	Group of Kasai (Lulua) women and six men	02:54
104	Masengu	Kasongo Adalbert	03:11
105	Dundu we, dundu makevata bina tauni (Football, football is played in the town)	Group of Kasai (Lulua) women and five men	03:06
106	Chombela	Group of nine Bena Shimba (Luba) women	02:46
107	Musambo	Group of Luba men and women	04:36
108	Bankulu ne yumba	Group of seven Luba men and one woman	02:12