Gembe Nagema Ng'wanone

Album: Sukuma Labor Songs from Western Tanzania (1994)

Songfacts®:

  • The title of this song can be translated as "I have made the hoe my child"; it was written by Paulo Mafanyanga, and yes, he really does mean a hoe.
  • This is one of many songs and chants alluded to in Sukuma Labor Songs from Western Tanzania 'We Never Sleep, We Dream of Farming', by Frank Gunderson, which was published by Brill of Boston in 2010.
  • "Gembe Nagema Ng'wanone" is written in 4/4 time, and was performed by the composer to the American Ethnomusicologist during a lengthy walk. It was recorded July 20, 1994. According to the author: "the singer considers the hoe as a member of the family, literally as his child. He scolds it like a child and jokes with it, telling it not to complain about the work it is doing, lest it be thrown in the great river Beregedi." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

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