Beating Heart Tanzania (Originals)

This endearing collection of field recordings is sourced from English ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey's remarkable catalogue of South and Central African recordings, made from the 1920s through to the 70s.

The Beating Heart project, set up in 2016, has sought to invigorate and revitalise Tracey's archive through making it available for DJ remix projects. And while much of the material featured here has been creatively reworked by DJs – including funky house artist Kouslin and digital cumbia specialists Dengue Dengue Dengue – this collection stands alone, untouched and resplendent.

The 24 field recordings are mostly ceremonial. Some are joyous, such as ‘Sauti za Malimba’, a vibrant wedding tune recorded on a likembe (thumb piano). Others, however, are solemn. The bewitching ‘Ilonge Flute Tunes’ of the Nyakyusa people featured here is a lament for a lost friend. While the clip is less than a minute long, these are often played throughout the night outside the hut of the departed, the performer shrouded in darkness.

Dance songs also feature. The communal antiphony on ‘Manyanga’ captures a close-knit and exultant party, while ‘Abamalaya’ is more forthright. This piece was recorded in Bukoba – a city on the western shores of Lake Victoria – and offers an empowering recollection of the city's women and their fight for equality.