kankobela song, by Aaron Nchenje

Michael Baird visits Aaron Nchenje in the Zambezi valley in Zambia, a master of the kankobela (= thumb-piano) of the Batonga, who live on both sides of Lake Kariba in Zambia and Zimbabwe. He is featured on the cd SWP 036 'The Kankobela of the Batonga Vol. 1' (which you can buy via www.swp-records... and downloadable via swp-records.ba... ) recorded by Michael Baird in 2008. This beautiful music is dying out, as young people prefer the guitar instead. Aaron is one of the last players. Filmed by Rogier Kappers and Boudewijn Koole. (thanks to hEuzzz).

[@leobatuki2949]

Thank you for all this effort to record this beautiful music. It makes me sad that Aaron Nchenje passed away.. at least his music is still alive. Thank you for recording this heritage

[@victormweene8345]

❤❤nice song there, I miss my village, kumunzi nkubotu basa

[@rainfordchilambe1838]

the best tracks of my tribe,this makes me get moved,ndasungukka....

[@pantoum]

This song is so good! I wish I knew what he was singing about!

[@CMBaird]

This song is one of two tracks featuring Aaron Nchenje on the cd SWP 036 'The Kankobela of the Batonga Vol. 1', available through the SWP Records website. This song is about a lost love - a man does not want to go to the village where his love lived. The title is Wakili Perfume - 'She was my perfume'.

[@namename8315]

that lady has the best weed bong ever!!

[@mariano697]

fantastico

[@CMBaird]

Since the release of the cd 'The Kankobela of the Batonga Vol.1' in 2009 (SWP 035), now finally the long-awaited album 'The Kankobela of the Batonga Vol. 2' (SWP 039) due for release in October 2011. Together these two albums constitute the first serious study of this micro-cosmos that is the thumb-piano of the Batonga

[@takesuremudimba8313]

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK, UZONDIYIISYE MWAI AMBEBO SYAANENE

[@fwah23]

Are there resources to learn this music and keep it alive? Beautiful

[@CMBaird]

No! Nobody cares about this instrument or the music played on it. Aaron Nchenje died in 2016.

[@CMBaird]

@@cubicfilms3200 There is nothing. Kankobela is but one of many musical microcosms in Africa that are dying out or have already died out. But as I recorded the last kankobela players in 2008, you can hear this beautiful music on 2 cds and 1 lp, which you can buy via www.swp-records.com and also digital downloads via swp-records.bandcamp.com .

[@CMBaird]

@@cubicfilms3200 Karimba has very little to do with kankobela. There is no basic tuning of kankobela as the tuning is highly personal - as you can hear on the 2 CDs - which is also why kankobela is always played solo, as it is not possible to play two together.

[@fwah23]

Is it possible to get a hold of an instrument or is it quite difficult then, I imagine many of the instrument makers have passed too then

[@geisamacedo8165]

❤

[@isstephanie4]

..is it rude to think he should have taught at lest one or two of the young adults how to play it? .. keep it going? It's really cool..

[@CMBaird]

+Stephanie “Sushi” W Not one young person wants to learn!

[@isstephanie4]

oh =(

[@pantoum]

Can anyone translate the words of the song?

[@MH-yj5ed]

My Tonga is a bit diluted so this is my best interpretation lol. From what I gather, he's basically singing about witchcraft in his village. He's telling the witches in his family to not bewitch his children. IT's a folk song ;) " Khamu ba leka bana"= Leave the children alone "Muta ba lowi bana"= Don't bewitch my children Khamu ba leka bana iyi bayiye chikolo= Leave my children alone so that they can get education ndha komba tata = Im begging you father, I ndha komba kha kha tata = Please I'm begging you to not bewitch uta ba lowi bana - Don't bewitch the children Ula mwaikha munzi = The village will be scattered. (He's basically saying the village will be destroyed if you allow for this to happen (witchcraft) Bana - This is plural for children (Singular is mwana) Tata - This is a title and means different things (i.e it means father as in GOD, father as in dad, an uncle or you can use it to refer to a man who is much older than you, particularly a relative.) Khu lowa = To practise witchcraft or to bewitch Mwaikha = To be scattered Munzi = Village/Town/Home etc depends on the context

[@pantoum]

Thank you very much for your reply! This is one of my favorite videos on youtube. I am grateful that you have taken the time to share your knowledge with me and everyone reading this.