African Music – The Blog of Samite

Posts Tagged ‘kalimba’

The Finger Harp is known by many names in Africa: mbira, kalimba and ikembe, though various regions of the continent use one name more than others.

This beautiful sounding instrument traces its roots to the 1920s and businessman Hugh Tracey who emigrated from England to Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia.  He came to assist his brother with a tobacco farm however he was quickly enchanted by the local culture.

Music was particularly intriguing to Tracey.  By the 1960s he created a kind of mbira called the kalimba which became popular throughout the world.  The performer is able to use both thumbs to play harmony and for that reason, the kalimba, translated as “little music”, is popular in the West.  The kalimba is also played in Asia, the Middle East and South and North America because of its ease of use.

The mbira is similar. Like the kalimba it uses wood and strings to produce sound.  The mbira has metal tongues called lamellas on top.  The sound box itself if made of wood or gourd, and demonstrating the industrious spirit of the African people, the metal keys are sometimes make from old mattress spring wire, bicycle spokes or the handles of spoons.

Sound is produced by plucking the strings with the thumbs, or thumbs and fingers.  It is common to find holes drilled into the sides of the box so the musician can vary the resonance and sound by blocking the holes.

All of the finger harps produce a sound that is well suited for diverse melodies and rhythms.  There are usually two melodic parts in the music created for this instrument; a kushaura and a kutsinhira, and the sound is typically a pattern of four 12 beat phrases.

The Finger Harp is often played along with other performers who clap and sing, making this instrument a joyful and soulful expression of African sound.

Click on the picture of Samite at the lower right to order his new CD, “My Music World”.

Here is a message from Samite and a free sample of music from his recent concert where he released his latest CD, “My Music World”.

“I just had a wonderful experience performing with six very talented musicians!  We played songs from my new CD and a few old favorites as well.

When I listen to the mix, I hear my dream band!  This music will be released in a live DVD coming soon, but right now, I would like to share a taste of it with you.

This song, “Nawe Okiwulira,” from Embalasasa; in it the kalimba leads the other instruments.  You will hear the banjo, which originates from Africa, talking back to the kalimba.

Enjoy!
Samite”

You may order the CD by clicking on Samite’s album cover photo at the bottom right of this blog.

We share with you another message from Samite on the African Music Blog, in answer to a question asked about the music that he personally listens to.

“I am often asked what kind of music I enjoy listening to and what music inspires me.  My taste is broad and varied because the music I listen to depends on the mood that I am in.

However, there is one group of musicians that I can listen to anytime – no matter where I am or what I am doing.  I met these musicians in Soroti, Uganda while visiting IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps that house those who have been forcibly moved from their homes due to conflict. I will tell you  more  later about the work that I do in these places.

I call these musicians the “Soroti Boys” – they did not have a name for themselves and I knew they deserved one.  They made the most amazing music on the kalimba, and a traditional string instrument called an adungu – a nine-stringed arched harp that has the silhouette of a sail boat at sea, and of course their voices were beautiful instruments as well.

If I did not tell you my name for this musical group, the falsetto voices of some of the members would trick you into believing you hear women singing.  They played kalimbas of a few different sizes that represented the sounds of bass, solo, and rhythm guitars.

I was very fortunate that they allowed me to record them performing which is why I am able to share it with you today.  I think you will enjoy this taste of music from Uganda. -  Samite Mulondo”

“Wewe ndugu zangu”
(“For you my friends” – Swahiri)

You may listen to the Soroti Boys by using the built in mp3 player here:

You may also download the song here: Soroti Boys mp3
Enjoy.

We asked Samite to forward some information about his instruments and music to post here on the African Music Blog, and this was his reply.

“Most of the instruments I play, find me.

Some of them are given to me by instrument makers, and others like all the instruments I have collected from East Africa, are very old and have been played by masters who are now dead.

Such instruments have soul.  They are the “Soul of Africa” in my opinion.

If these instruments were to talk, they would repeat all the stories that they have accompanied over the years as musicians were entertaining in the villages.  Many of the stories would happy stories about newborn babies, and others would be sad stories about the death of a loved one.

I am very excited to have this Africa Music Blog so that I can share stories with you.  I look forward to telling you about the music that I write, the experiences that have shaped my songs, and my hopes for the future of African music.

When I am not playing the kalimba or flutes, I am playing the litungu.  The litungu is a seven string Kenyan harp, typical of the kind of instrument you will find in all the stringed East African Music.

I love this instrument because it’s very gentle.  If you just listen, you might think you are listening to a guitar.  In this link you can download for free, an MP3 version of a song I call “Waterfall.”

It was recorded live in a concert I did with David Cullen in Elizabethtown PA.  Let me know what you think.

I look forward to sharing other songs with you in the future.

Mirembe (peace),

Samite”

Wow, all I can say is this is very moving.  You will truly appreciate the spirit of Samite’s talent and beautiful music in this free African music download. > Right Click Here to Download – Select Save Link As

Rich Hill, editor
AfricanMusicBlog.com

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