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AFRICAN MUSIC. |
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Baker ordered his own musicians to cease playing, and all was again perfectly still.*
We close this account of the music of some of the savage tribes of the earth, with a description of a farewell dance, given to Stanley, by the Wanyamwezi of Singiri, which is well worthy of a place, as showing the powers of improvisation of the Africans.
" It was a wild dance, with lively music, four drums giving the sonorous accompaniment, being beaten with tremendous energy and strength. Everyone (even Stanley himself) danced with great fervor, and combined excited gesticulations, with their saltatory efforts. But after the close of this war-like music, came a total change; all dropped on their knees, and in sorrowful accents Bang a slow and solemn refrain, of which the following is a literal translation,—
Solo:—" Oh, oh, oh I the white man is going
home. Chorus:—Oh, oh, oh! going home! going
home! oh, oh, oh! Solo:—To the happy island on the sea,
"Where the beads are plenty, oh, oh, oh! Chorus:—Where the beads, etc. Solo:—While Singiri has kept us, oh, very long From our homes, very long, oh, oh, oh! Chorus:—From our homes, etc. Solo:—And we have had no food for very long, We are half-starved, oh, for so long Bana Singiri.
•Bftkm'f " Ixmailia,'- page 361. |
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