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