David Rycroft South Africa Collection

Umhlanga Reed Festival

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:41:51

  • Cultures

    Swazi

  • Shelf mark

    C811/23

  • Subjects

    Swazi folksongs and dance, ceremonial songs - Africa (Swazi), emahubo (singular: ihubo)

  • Recording date

    1964-07-10

  • Recording locations

    Lobamba, Swaziland

  • Performers

    unidentified (singers, female)

  • Recordist

    Rycroft, David, 1924-1997

  • Description

    Sounds of young girls singing at the Umhlanga Reed Festival in Lobamba, Swaziland. Some male voices are audible in the background, but the singing is performed by women. The recording stops and starts at different places in the ceremony. Once can also occasionally hear stamping, indicating that the singing is accompanied by ceremonial dance. The recording is not of the best quality, making it difficult to hear the music at times.

  • Metadata record:

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Umhlanga Reed Festival

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