In this week’s episode, we visit with the Venda and Shona of southern Africa to talk about Ngano - folktales with a musical component.

The musical samples used in this episode showcase the ground bow, one of the many single string instruments popular across the African continent (and Evidence No. Seventy Hundred and Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Five of African people’s ability to make musical instruments out of anything).

Check out the reading resources for some great collections of Venda Ngano which include the stories and songs, the sheet music for the songs and commentary about the Ngano.  And if you want to hear a properly told Ngano, don’t forget to head over to Sarura Kids where Gogo – that is grandmother – Alice, a Shona Sarungano and professional educator, is telling stories and teaching!

Enjoy!

Musical/Sound Samples

(In order of appearance)

Sunrise by Phende (performed with a Kalimba/Mbira)

Children Laughing - Red Library: Voices Children by Craig Smith of USC

Phulu mutada phulu by Ronald Netshifhefhe and an unnamed Venda woman. Recorded by Jaco Kruger. From Rhodes University International Library of African Music

Mouth Bow by Basarwa/San Men. From: Traditional Music of Botswana by Tswana. Ethnic Folkways Library (FE 4371)

I ya vhuya (It is raining) by Ronald Netshifhefhe and an unnamed Venda woman. Recorded by Jaco Kruger. From Rhodes University International Library of African

Reading Resources

* The girls in the baobab : Venda stories from the Limpopo Valley

* The flamboyant rooster and other Tshivenda song stories 

* Preserving Africa’s musical heritage by combining traditional folk music with modern sounds

* Reclaiming a Traditional African Genre: The AfroSurrealism of Ngano

* Unraveling Shona Tales: A Crash Course on Ngano Traditions

* The Ground Bow in Zimbabwe and Beyond

* A Brief survey of African Harps

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