Music Tradition of Malawi

The southeast African country of Malawi was a Bantu settlement in the 10th century, a British colony in the 19th century, and became an independent nation in 1964. A country of great cultural diversity, Malawi shares many musical traditions with its African neighbors of Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique.

This recording, made in 1991 and originally released in 1996, presents diverse Malawian traditions of storytelling through song and competition through dance, using native instruments like the ulimbaxylophone and bangwezither, showing Western influence with military march-style rhythms and formations.

Track Listing

101	Ulimba: Mama Wo	Ulimba ensemble, Nthukuso Village, Nsanje District	03:45
102	Bangwe - Phumbwa, Pezera	Mangulama Kutcha	02:07
103	Tchopa: Saulo	Lomwe dancers and drummers, Januwale Village, Thyolo District	02:51
104	Mazoma: Mphini	Nyanja singers and drummers, Chingondo Village, Zomba District	04:35
105	Nyakatangale	Mayeso Petro Lawrence	01:13
106	Beni: Ayana	Yao singers and drummers, Makokola Village, Mangochi District	03:38
107	Bangwe - Ellis	Chitenje Tambala	02:46
108	Nkhwendo	Amatengo-Ngoni performers from Chiphilira Village, Ntcheu District	03:28
109	Msindo: Uyaka, Kuwathanda a Ngwazi	Ngoni girls and women, Lizulu village, Ntcheu District	02:45
110	Ngoma: Boya Boya	Ngoni men and women, Lizulu village, Ntcheu District	03:45
111	Buyeni: Kamwana Kamwini, Kaya wiyo	Ngoni girls and women, Lizulu village, Ntcheu District	04:13
112	Mganda: Chidindo cha jombo	Chewa men, Tembo Village, Dowa District	03:37
113	Chimtali: Nasiwelo	Chewa girls and women, Tembo Village, Dowa District	03:39
114	Chisamba	Chewa girls and women, Tembo Village, Dowa District	02:48
115	Ingoma: Abafana bonkhe	Ngoni men and women, Zulu Village, Mchinji District	03:10
116	Gule wamkulu: Akuluakulu adapita	Chewa women's chorus with male drummers, Njombwa Village, Kasungu District	03:26
117	Mitungu: Bagholi bane bakale	Tumbuka men, Mzimba District	02:58
118	Ingoma: Boye Boye	Tumbuka men and women, Edingeni, Mzimba District	02:19
119	Vimbuza: Awoliyere mwana akulira	Tumbuka women, Edingeni, Mzimba District	02:16
120	Visekese: Nthengwa wayimanya wekha	Tumbuka women, Mdoyi Village, Nkhata Bay District	04:17