Robert Hugh: Kenya Melodies

  
In the summer of 1988 I traveled to Kenya with the Yale-Fulbright/Hays Group Projects Aboard program. In July and August of 1992, I returned to Kenya with support from a Connecticut Commission on the Arts Individual Artist Award. Both of these trips were exhilarating. I visited many primary schools (grades one through eight), and with each visit the children sang. They sang songs of welcome, and songs of farewell. They performed game songs with solo singing and group response. All of these performances were a cappella with an occasional drum or shaker accompaniment. The songs were also accompanied by dancing and improvised movement. I audio taped all of these impromptu concerts. Kenya Melodies is an arrangement of five songs from the tapes.

Includes:

Sisi Watoto tu wakenya

Nyairo

Mama

Wire Munene

Kanu ni umoja