The Sing to the Well story

A CD & DVD from Tanzania

Recorded live on location in the mud hut village of Mnase, Tanzania – this album captures the heart of the Gogo people who are renowned for their musicality.

The tracks cover a diversity of styles and instruments. From ancient close harmonies to the intoxicating rhythms of the female Muheme drummers. Listen to the Pygmy-like vocables and the percussive sounds of the dancer’s leg bells (Njuga). Hear the master players of both the 3 stringed (bow- played) Zeze, and the previously undocumented 10 stringed (plucked) Zeze.

Their songs cover many themes of life in their village, from a girl singing about hoeing to different groups singing about farming, aids, celebration and welcome. An old man, the last known player (in the area) of the Donondo, sings whilst playing his strange musical bow sounding like a cross between a Jews harp and a Berimbau. From the sounds of the side blown Baragumu horn, Kayamba shakers, and the tongue wagging shrills (ululation) of the women to the melodic tones of the Marimba Ya Vibao the tracks take us on a musical journey into the heart of this vibrant musical people.

Tanzania in East Africa is home to 126 different people groups whose national language is Kiswahili. Each has their own unique cultural expressions and Bantu heart languages. In the centre of the country around Dodoma, (the Tanzania capital) is one of the most prodigious musical areas, home of the Wagogo.

This is the story of a village, its people and their songs, whose simple existence is determined each year by the weather. It is a farming community of approximately 4000, who eke out a living in a sometimes inhospitable land. Dry river beds are the norm, and walking 2 km for water is considered a favourable year. Yet woven into the very fabric of their lives is a unique traditional music which brings a story of hope within the struggles of day to day life. This recording project is a musical glimpse of the sounds, stories and rhythms of a beautiful people, the Wagogo. Their lives are not stifled by the harsh realities of life but are a people full of creative passion to sing, dance and give thanks.

Our adventure began when visiting this region in February 2003. In living with and sharing life amongst the people we were amazed at their generosity and hospitality in a time of uncertainty. Their total reliance on the land and its harvest brought a day to day existence that was intrinsically linked with their faith and hope in God.

On arriving home we began to ask, “How could we help?” So after much thought we wondered if it could be possible to partner with, and thus honour the Wagogo, enabling them to tell their story to the wider world. Also we hoped to encourage their wonderful cultural music in a time when more Western styles of music are encroaching, enticing the youth to forget their heritage and traditions, some feeling a “west is best” mentality.

It’s one thing coming up with an idea, it’s another thing putting it into action! Recording in a remote location with no electricity, plenty of dust, wind and a hot African sun, is a recipe for disaster. But in April 2005 we found ourselves back in the village, armed with laptop, Mbox, batteries and microphones. This CD/DVD is the result, and this blog tells the unfolding story, hopefully giving you a small glimpse into the world of the Wagogo.  ….. “Asanta sana!”