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	Batswana: Oh, a Shoe, Oh, a Shoe	Choir of school children, Letlhakeng	00:48
102	Batswana: I Am Happy	Choir of school children, Letlhakeng	00:35
103	Batswana: I Am the Hare That Stays in the Road	Group of Bakgatla children, Mochudi, Botswana	00:57
104	Batswana: When They Are Playing Their Whistles, Praise (Ululate) Them	Group of Bahurutshe children, Mmankgodi, Botswana	01:43
105	Batswana: Drive Away the Birds!	Group of Girl Guides, Molepolole, Botswana	01:15
106	Batswana: I Have a Pain!	Group of Girl Guides, Molepolole, Botswana	00:48
107	Batswana: Yes! Yes! Oh! Oh!	Balete women, Gabane, Botswana	02:01
108	Batswana: At Home, It Rains Heavily	Balete women, Gabane, Botswana	01:19
109	Batswana: We Come from the Forest	Balete women, Gabane, Botswana	02:03
110	Batswana: The Rain, Hey, It Is Raining	Balete women, Gabane, Botswana	01:27
111	Batswana: Mrs. Modise Doesn't Want to Plough	Balete women, Gabane, Botswana	00:44
112	Batswana: The Fowl Are Eating the Sorghum	Balete women, Gabane, Botswana	01:47
113	Batswana: It Is in the Tall Grass, the Shy Porcupine	Balete women, Gabane, Botswana	02:03
201	Batswana: Let's Go to the River	Small group of women, Mochudi, Botswana	01:14
202	Batswana: Speak to Us	Small group of women, Mochudi, Botswana	01:39
203	Batswana: The Hills of Mourning	Group of twenty men, Mochudi, Botswana	04:02
204	Batswana: The Children of the Lion Have Been Called Up	Group of twenty men, Mochudi, Botswana	02:38
205	Batswana: Give Us the Signal to Fight	Group of twenty men, Mochudi, Botswana	01:36
206	Basarwa (Bushmen): Basarwa Song (1)	Group of twenty women, Tsetseng, Botswana	01:01
207	Basarwa (Bushmen): Basarwa Song (2)	Group of twenty women, Tsetseng, Botswana	01:31
208	Basarwa (Bushmen): Basarwa Song (3)	Group of twenty women, Tsetseng, Botswana	01:19
209	Basarwa (Bushmen): Lengope (Mouth Bow)	Young Mosarwa woman, Kang, Botswana	00:47
210	Basarwa (Bushmen): Setinkane (Mbira) (1)	Young Mosarwa man, Kang, Botswana	01:02
211	Basarwa (Bushmen): Setinkane (Mbira) (2)	Young Mosarwa man, Kang, Botswana	00:41
212	Basarwa (Bushmen): Setinkane (Mbira) (3)	Young Mosarwa woman, Kang, Botswana	01:40