Angolan Umbundu music

Click on a track to listen, again to stop.

• Sivaya (Praise) (4:20)  Almost the Ovimbundu’s National Anthem. The recording was made when the Radio Clube de Nova Lisboa came to record some music for their library, during a holiday time.
• Drumming and chanting (1:54) Recorded outside Bunjei. She’s singing that, “Kachiteia is leaving today, oh me! (havoio!), going to the Mission, Babayela, (named from – ovava ayela – clean water). If you want to say your good byes say them to me.”
• We ko vava (White man came from over the water) (1:40) The Radio Clube session with Sr. Tavares leading. ”The white man’s strength is in his ancestors’ burial which is overseas.”
• Thumb piano (1:14) Recorded in Hendersons’ living room, Bunjei. He’s singing ”Ipako vivala, omuenyo uvala, nda ndupapo nye.” Food’s hard, life hurts, what’ll I discard?
• Call and response (1:25) Recorded in Catumbela, next to Lobito. ”It has no feet, it has no hands, but it climbs and climbs. A snake. Not a snake?”  
• Guitar & singing (2:37) Currie Institute students in Dondi. 
• Bela Vista e uma linda vila (is a pretty town) (3:13) Currie Institute students.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1. joao mety says:

   Amazing! These songs bring back memories from my hometown Huambo, where I grew up. Actually, I was born in Catchiungo ( ex-Bela Vista) and listen to these songs is breathe the air that keep us alive.
2. Nancy says:

   Angolan music is some of the most beautiful in the world. I am happy you found this!
3. Luis says:

   Thank you to setup this website.Lots of precious information. My wife was born in Cutato near Chinguar in Kuito district.She stil understand Umbundu language.Maybe one day God allowed us to visit that place.
   May god bless you Nancy.
   Luis Conde
4. Nancy says:

   Luis, I’m happy that you found my site and I hope that you are able to visit one day. I was very lucky to be able to visit my old home in August 2010. Kuito saw a lot of fighting in the wars, but gradually things are coming back. I hope that your wife’s family is doing OK.
5. Anastácio César Culanda says:

   Obrigado, Nancy. Nasci na Missão do Dondi. Vivo em Angola desde que nasci, em 1949.Meu pai Evaristo Chico Culanda, foi ordenado Pastor na Missão do Bunjei, quando o teu pai o Rev. Lawrence W. Henderson era Director daquela Missão. Joguei a Bola com teus irmãos David e Marcus. Mais tarde estive com os teus pais quando dirigiam o Lar de Estudantes na cidade de Nova Lisboa, hoje cidade do Huambo. Era eu então bolseiro da igreja. I Thank you. Greetings to yours brothers, David and Marcus. Tell them that we would like to see them again in this country. May God Blesse you all, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
6. Nancy says:

   Bem-vindo, Sr. Culanda! Vou passar a tua mensagem aos meus irmãos.
7. Zaqueu Marques says:

   Olá nancy!
   Gostei imenso desta página, pois interessei-me pela página.
   Nancy, gostaria que me ajudasses, dando-me informações em relação a missão pois foi o tema escolhido para o meu trabalho de licenciatura em História de Angola.
   Agradecia.