AFRICA: East Africa Witchcraft & Ritual Music (Audio CD / Field Recording)

Product Information

• Title: AFRICA – East Africa Witchcraft & Ritual Music
• Artist/Field Recordist: Recorded in Kenya and Tanzania by David Fanshawe
• Label/Series: NONESUCH EXPLORER (Originally released as Africa: Witchcraft & Ritual Music H-72066)
• UPC: 075597970821
• Catalog Number: NONESUCH EXPLORER 79708-2
• Product Type: Audio CD / Field Recording
• Release Year: 1975
• Genre: World Music, Ritual & Traditional Music, Ethnomusicology
• Format: Audio CD

Overview

"AFRICA: East Africa Witchcraft & Ritual Music" captures the nearly extinct musical heritage of East Africa—a region where music and ritual medicine converge in fascinating ways. This album documents diverse indigenous traditions from Kenya and Tanzania, highlighting the mystical role of music in witchcraft and healing ceremonies. Through a collection of evocative tracks ranging from initiation songs to funeral dances, David Fanshawe’s recording offers an immersive insight into a rich cultural landscape that remains largely unknown to the wider world.

Product Features

• Authentic Field Recordings:
  • A rare compilation of traditional songs recorded in situ from various communities in East Africa.
  • Includes tracks like "Ngoma ra mrongo," "Mwari Initiation," "Coconut Pickers Song," and "Nyatiti Funeral Dance."
• Cultural & Ritual Significance:
  • Explores how music is intertwined with ritual practices—where the sound of drums and melody is believed to carry healing power and spiritual medicine.
• High-Quality Archival Restoration:
  • Remastered from original recordings, preserving the authentic ambiance and raw energy of the performances.
• Educational Value:
  • Provides an invaluable resource for ethnomusicologists, cultural historians, and enthusiasts of world music, emphasizing long-tail keyword phrases like "traditional East African ritual music recordings" and "authentic witchcraft musical heritage of Kenya and Tanzania."

Interesting Facts

• Musical Heritage on the Edge:
  • This album preserves a musical tradition that is rapidly disappearing, offering listeners an opportunity to experience rituals and ceremonies that date back centuries.
• The Power of Ritual Music:
  • The indigenous practice of witchcraft in these communities views music as a potent form of medicine, integral to healing and spiritual balance.
• Field Recording Legacy:
  • David Fanshawe’s work has been celebrated for its meticulous approach to capturing the nuanced sounds of ritual performance in their natural context.

Track Listing

1. Ngoma ra mrongo
2. Mwari Initiation
3. Coconut Pickers Song
4. Matondoni Wedding
5. Marimba
6. Tuken Moral Songs
7. Giriama Spirit Dance
8. Kayamba Dance: Giriama Wedding
9. Alto Bung'o Horn
10. Akamba Witch Doctor
11. Pokot Witch Doctor
12. Pokot Dance
13. Song of Dawn
14. Lukuji
15. Nyatiti Funeral Dance
16. BEAM ET MORT

Note: The track order reflects the original field recordings and captures the authentic progression of ritualistic events.

Publishers

Originally released in 1975 as part of the NONESUCH EXPLORER series, this album stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of East African cultural traditions. Recorded by David Fanshawe and meticulously preserved, it offers a window into the ancient practices where music serves both as ritual and remedy.

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Hashtags

English:

#EastAfricaMusic #WitchcraftRituals #TraditionalMusic #FieldRecordings #DavidFanshawe #Ethnomusicology #CulturalHeritage #NonesuchExplorer