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Music of the Waswahili of Lamu, Kenya, Vol. 2: Other Sacred Music

Various Artists
Music of the Waswahili of Lamu, Kenya, Vol. 2: Other Sacred Music

Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa and is considered a leading center of Islamic and Swahili cultures. In 2001, Lamu Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With the exception of the funeral procession, the musical forms on this recording are closely related to maulidi, a Muslim ritual marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad and the most prevalent musical form in Lamu. (See Vol. 1, Maulidi, FW04093.) In the funeral chants, “the contrast between praise and sorrow… is a clear expression of the religious convictions that permeate Lamu society and the tragedies that affect the lives of every man and woman.” In-depth liner notes also include historical information and maps.

Track Listing

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101
Samai Members of the Jamal al-Lail family and descendants of Habib Saleh 10:52
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102
Kasida: Mzuri sana Nabia Hussein Badawy Jamal al-Lail 15:35
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201
Dhikiri Mohammad Khitami and Badawy Hussein 18:32
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202
Zefe: Procession Teachers of the Riadha Mosque 02:44
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203
Funeral Procession A group of school boys and men bearing a coffin in Lamu 01:33