The Singing Wells Project, Apr 9, 2014
Recorded in Mukuuni, Kenya, on the 5th March 2014.
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases four videos of traditional Chuka drumming (Kenya). Some information about the Chuka people is included in this post along with information about the Original Chuka Drummers (traditional drum ensemble).
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the Chuka people and thanks to the Original Chuka Drummers ensemble that is featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the producers and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHUKA PEOPLE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuka,_Kenya
"Chuka is a town on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, in Kenya about 65 km south Of Meru Town. It falls within Tharaka-Nithi County and the former Eastern Province. Between 1992 and 2009, Chuka was the capital of Tharaka Nithi District (split off from Meru District). Tharaka Nithi District was further split into Meru South and Tharaka Districts with Chuka remaining the Capital of Meru South. Later, Meru South and Tharaka were amalgamated into Tharaka-Nithi County.
Chuka people
The people of the area are Gichuka speaking, a dialect of the Kimeru language.[1]
Chuka Town is chiefly occupied by the Chuka people, one of the nine Meru dialect Speakers. They dwell on the south-eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya, and cover the area between the Thuci River in the south, and the Nithi River in the north. It is a common tradition with the Chuka that they have always been in the forests of Mt. Kenya hence they moved down to their present abode. Other versions of the Chuka migratory tradition say that they came out from Mbwa with the other Meru.
The Chuka are believed to have sprung from the Tharaka, another of the meru subtribes. They have also a form of blood-brotherhood with the Igembe and the Tigania of the northern meru dialects. On the other hand, there are some customs, as, for instance, the method of circumcision, by which the Chuka are similar to the Embu. The Chuka are primarily Meru who, having climbed the first slopes of Mt. Kenya, clearing the forest for cultivation (even at present the fields of the Chuka are on the lower section of their country), mixed with the aboriginal inhabitants of the forest and established some kind of contact with the Embu....
Of the former Meru District, the Chuka were those who have suffered most the impact and violence of Mau Mau rebellion. During the Emergency, they were the only Meru to be forcibly settled into villages of the Kikuyu and Embu pattern. Later, they were allowed to return to their fields, as before.
Population
The population of Chuka, is 19,347+ according to the GeoNames geographical database."...
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EXCERPT ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CHUKA DRUMMERS [Traditional Drum Ensemble]
From https://dennisdibondo.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/chuka-drummers/
"Drumming heroes", December 23, 2013 by Dennis Dibondo
"As Kenya celebrates 50yrs since independence and celebrates the Maumau war veterans it is notable that the locals down here in Chuka, celebrates there drumming heroes who have remained the society entertainers for years locally and also internationally.
The group founded in 1942 by the late Ndei Mutaa, from Igaa village in Meru south Sub County of Tharaka Nithi County where it started by the name Mwinjiro.
According to the group leader Mzee Eustace Njuki who was among the first members of the drumming group, it started with only 10 members where they came together to entertain the community and spread the cultural songs to the new generations.
“Whenever we began drumming and dancing the whole village would join in jubilation and people would dance to the rhythm for hours” Njuki said.
The group drew attention from the locality and in 1961 they ultimately landed a job to entertain European tourist who visited Mount Kenya through the Chogoria gate.
[...]
In 1962 the group enjoyed their publicity where they took their first trip outside the country when they were invited to perform in Tanganyika.
The group rose to fame as Kenya was attaining its independence and were invited to perform in state house Nairobi.
Mzee Njuki said that the group attained the first air trip in 1969 where they were going to perform in Nigeria and it was unbelievable since no member of the group has ever bordered the plane.
[...]
When former President Daniel Arap Moi was being inaugurated as the Chairman of OAU in 1981 they were called to perform to the 42 heads of state present at the function among them Julius Nyerere of Tanzanian, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
The group also had a chance to perform to the late former South African president Nelson Mandela when he visited the country in 1990.
I had travelled about 20 kilometers from Chuka town to Itugururu village where the group trains. On arriving there I found the members rehearsing. The group secretary Ngai Kenneth welcomes and orders a seat for me.
[...]
I learn that the dancers wear ‘Thumbi’ a head gear made from ‘Nkoroi’ Columbus monkey skin, ‘Kithiri’ waist attire. They wear ‘Magemio’ around their shoulders made from Guinea Fowl they wore chains localy known as ‘ciumaa’.
They are not complete without their drum kown as Mwinjiro made from carving Cyprus tree and goat skin. The drum is designed with colors that resemble the national flag of Kenya.
The group sings and dance and the group treasurer Micheni Ndei the group dances varies along different themes: ‘macia’ was performed during wedding ceremonies mugeni was performed during invitation of visitor. The changes and alternation of stanza is known ‘Kiraka’
[...]
The neighbouring Mbeere community also has a dance similar to the Chuka drummers only that it is known as ‘Ngootha’
I take time to ask the members who most of them are above 60 years keep up with the spirit since their dances mainly involve acrobatics. They tell me their diet is mainly yams (ikwa), traditional vegetables and the renown staple food ‘Mukimo’ that is eaten in Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi county.
The group is struggling to ream relevant and have been recruiting young dancers into the group.
Ngai Kenneth called on the county government of Tharaka Nithi to team up with them to explore and teach the youth about their songs and dances to protect the eroding culture of the government.
Njuki encouraged the youth to uphold the culture by singing traditional song and dances and say he was willing to teach the youth whatever he knows."
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EXCERPT ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CHUKA DRUMMERS FROM THE SINGING WELLS PROJECT'S BLOG [Note: Photographs are included in that blog post.]
March 2014.
"Central and Eastern Kenya: Day 4 – Nkubu to Mukuuni to Nairobi
Our final day. We woke, drove our waitress nuts with sequential breakfast order and departed for Mukuuni:
We arrived on the site, the playing fields of the Mukuuni High School. We’re here to record one band, the Original Chuka Drummers, led by Eustace Mjuki Bundi. They are 30 males who all play drums except for their banner waver. They were formed in 1930 and have spawned so many imitations that they had to add the word ‘original’ to their name. They are Ameru, of Tharakanithi County. The group plays on all occasions, during harvests, births, weddings, marriages. The play the Mwinjira (Drums) and Biringi (Whistle).
This was a tricky set to record because they are such vibrant performers, racing all over the place. When we tried to contain them to get good vocals, we lost the explosive force of the drums. When we let them run wild it was pretty difficult to get a good vocal or audio take. Also, we were accidentally constraining them by asking them to go through their songs one by one, when in fact, what they loved to do was race through all the songs at once, in a single act. We finally sorted through all this though.
Mucii: This is their introduction. The lead singer was Gitari Thura. This is a procession song and is used to energize the crowd and performers."
-snip-
Read the other descriptions after the next two videos below.
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ADDITIONAL VIDEOS
VIDEO #2: Original Chuka Drummers -Muntu agitura
The Singing Wells Project, Apr 9, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd3cycIEB6g&ab_channel=TheSingingWellsproject
Recorded in Mukuuni, Kenya, on the 5th March 2014.
For more information on the recording, please go to: http://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-4-nkubu-to-mukuuni-to-nairboi/ -snip- Here's the description of this video from that link: "Muntu agitura: Lead singer was Micheni Ndic. This song warns men about being too much loved by women because they end up becoming foolish and unable to manager their manly affairs. [Think back to the ‘circumcision lessons.’]"
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VIDEO #3: Original Chuka Drummers - Medley of Mware, Ukiona, Wenda - The Singing Wells project
The Singing Wells Project, Apr 9, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBV5cV8oOYE&ab_channel=TheSingingWellsproject
Recorded in Mukuuni, Kenya, on the 5th March 2014. For more information on the recording, please go to: http://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-4-nkubu-to-mukuuni-to-nairboi/ -snip- Here's the description of this video from that link: "Medley of Mware, Ukiona, Wenda: We then did a medley of their songs to keep the energy – Mware was led by Gitai Thura, and Wenda Kuthii by Eustace Njuki and Gitar Thura. Mware is about an uneducated woman who wants to be married to an educated man. This song challenges the woman to get an education in order to be at par with the prospective spouse."
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VIDEO #4: Original Chuka Drummers - Mwinjiro
Saumu News Ke,
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