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Malipenga dance music from the Tonga-speaking people of Malawi

Various Artists
Mozabique. Muganda dance with malipenga singing gourds, large muganda drum and smaller chandi drum.
Mozabique. Muganda dance with malipenga singing gourds, large muganda drum and smaller chandi drum.
Photograph by Hugh Tracey. Courtesy of the International Library of African Music.
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The malipenga, dance music of the Tonga people of Nyasaland, now called Malawi, is said to have originated in imitations of military drills, substituting singing horns--kazoolike instruments--for military brass instruments. Hugh Tracey recorded this music in 1957. The people were from Malawi, but the recordings were made in mining compounds in Zambia and South Africa.

Track Listing

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101
Muganda we Chitonga Banda (The drum of the Tonga Banda) Group of sixteen Tonga men and boys 2:42
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102
Akapunda (The conqueror) Group of sixteen Tonga men and boys 2:14
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103
Mungore Group of fourteen Tonga men 3:44

Album Info

Catalog Number

ILAMTR037B

Year(s) Released

1957

Label/Collection

International Library of African Music (ILAM)

Genre(s)

World

Country(s)

Malawi

Culture Group(s)

Tonga

Instrument(s)

Bass drum; Chandi; Drum, cylindrical; Ensemble leader; Malipenga; Muganda; Vocals

Language(s)

Tonga (Nyasa)

Credit(s)

Hugh Tracey - Compiler, Liner Notes Editor, Liner Notes, Recorder