Abayudaya - Music from the Jewish People of Uganda

Amazon.com
No one's ever going to accuse Smithsonian Folkways of not practicing niche marketing with Abayudaya: Music From The Jewish People Of Uganda. Currently a community of 600 people, the Abayudaya developed their faith in relative isolation since converting to Judaism in 1919 under the guidance of Semei Kakungulu, a military leader who fought Muslims and Catholics for control of Uganda. Consequently, these 24 songs are distinctly African, often with polyphonic vocal harmonies (of men, women, and children) that joyfully soar in Hebrew, English, and several Ugandan languages. There are also touches of celebratory Afro-pop with rudimentary electric keyboard and guitar and a handful of more personal solo vocal performances. While some of this was recorded in a makeshift studio, the field recordings are what capture this unique culture's essence, as crickets (and once even a goat) providing ambient coloring. One of the most interesting international and religious albums of the year, this music transcends its ambition of being Jewish music by and for Jews. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description
Abayudaya: The Music of the Jews of Uganda presents a unique collection of African-Jewish music in which the rhythms and harmonies of Africa blend with Jewish celebration and traditional Hebrew prayer. This compelling repertoire is rooted in local Ugandan music and infused with rich choral singing, Afro-pop, and traditional drumming. The repertoire includes lullabies, political and children's song, religious rituals, hymns, and celebratory music, with song texts in Hebrew, English, and several Ugandan languages. This singular community of African people living committed Jewish lives has survived persecution and isolation and asserts, "We have been saved by our music."

Abayudaya - Music from the Jewish People of Uganda,Various Artists,Smithsonian Folkways,Folk Collections,Int'l & World Music,Jewish,Jewish Music,Pop,Uganda,World Music,Worldbeat

Average customer rating: Eerie This CD was just nominated for a Grammy! Tim mcdougal--Do it your self jew? EarthAngelChoir Think 'field recording' and go a step further

Abayudaya - Music from the Jewish People of Uganda Various Artists Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Jewish & Yiddish Music | Folk | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Smithsonian Folkways Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Hidden Gate: Jewish Music Around the World The So Called Seder: A Hip Hop Haggadah This is the Afro-Semitic Experience El Danzon de Moises Youth ASIN: B0000CDL6K Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

1. Psalm 136
2. Katonda Oyo Nalimana (God Is All-Knowing)
3. Hiwumbe Awumba (God Creates And Then Destroys)
4. M Wana Ta Li Tambula (The Child Wi Ll Never Walk)
5. M Wana, Ngolera (Baby, Keep Quiet)
6. Tulo, Tulo (Sleep, Sleep)
7. I Am A Soldier
8. Mi Khamokhah (Who Is Like You [, O God]?)
9. Kabbila (The Patch Of Forest)
10. Twagala Torah (We Love The Torah)
11. We Are Happy
12. Adon Olam (Master Of The World)
13. Lekhah, Dodi (Come, My Beloved)
14. Psalm 92
15. Psalm 93
16. Kiddush And Motzi (Sabbath Blessing Over Wine And Bread)
17. Psalm 121
18. Maimuna
19. Hinei Ma Tov (Behold How Good [It Is For Brothers To Dwell Together])
20. Ali Omu Yekka (My Only One)
21. Psalm 150
22. Deuteronomy 32:8, Song Two (Selection)
23. Deuteronomy 32:3943, Song Eight
24. Psalm 130

Amazon.com

No one's ever going to accuse Smithsonian Folkways of not practicing niche marketing with Abayudaya: Music From The Jewish People Of Uganda. Currently a community of 600 people, the Abayudaya developed their faith in relative isolation since converting to Judaism in 1919 under the guidance of Semei Kakungulu, a military leader who fought Muslims and Catholics for control of Uganda. Consequently, these 24 songs are distinctly African, often with polyphonic vocal harmonies (of men, women, and children) that joyfully soar in Hebrew, English, and several Ugandan languages. There are also touches of celebratory Afro-pop with rudimentary electric keyboard and guitar and a handful of more personal solo vocal performances. While some of this was recorded in a makeshift studio, the field recordings are what capture this unique culture's essence, as crickets (and once even a goat) providing ambient coloring. One of the most interesting international and religious albums of the year, this music transcends its ambition of being Jewish music by and for Jews. --Tad Hendrickson

Album Description

Abayudaya: The Music of the Jews of Uganda presents a unique collection of African-Jewish music in which the rhythms and harmonies of Africa blend with Jewish celebration and traditional Hebrew prayer. This compelling repertoire is rooted in local Ugandan music and infused with rich choral singing, Afro-pop, and traditional drumming. The repertoire includes lullabies, political and children's song, religious rituals, hymns, and celebratory music, with song texts in Hebrew, English, and several Ugandan languages. This singular community of African people living committed Jewish lives has survived persecution and isolation and asserts, "We have been saved by our music."

Customer Reviews:

Eerie.......2006-03-15

Strange to hear familiar religious chants sung by African voices in beautiful melodies. Highly recommended

This CD was just nominated for a Grammy!.......2004-12-09

I know the producer of this album, and just received word that it was nominated for a Grammy Award in the World Music Category! I have listened to several tracks and it is gorgeous.

Tim mcdougal--Do it your self jew?.......2004-12-06

I found the the Cd to be great authentic music of the Jewish people of Ugandan. Although many of the Ugandan jews converted to judaism, WHO HASN'T Every one who is jewish has converted some time or another unless there is someone who can claim heir to MOSES or Rabbi Akiva for that matter. There are many indigenous black africans who are jews who have not converted to judaism in recent years. It would only make sense, since jews in history were always black people and didn't become so-called white until the mixing with europeans. I would definately recommended this CD. It seems that Tim mcdougal doesnt understand what being jewish or jewish music is for that matter. He should check out the jewish prince Joshua Nelson's music. Kosher gospel music www.joshuanelson.com

EarthAngelChoir.......2004-09-20

Place me squarely in the pack of people who love this cd. I picked this one up in early 2004 and have been loving it ever since. I listened to it again last night and earlier today and felt it to be even more powerful than usual.

I'm surprised one reviewer remarked about the rather low-tech recording. This disc? This disc is as good as you can imagine a field-recording sounding. If you let yourself go, you are right there in that little temple with these fantastic singers. There is as little distance between performer and listener on this disc as is possible. Their voices are all around you.

The break down is like this... 2 songs in english, a few tunes of very bad keyboard-dominated Afro-pop, one great tune with singing and drumming, a couple with acoustic guitar, and the rest is some of the most beautiful vocal music I've ever been lucky enough to experience. Maybe it's just me, but there is something about great women's voices. Most of these tunes are dominated by the voices of young women, sometimes young women and girls, and sometimes females and males.

I can't even really find the words for this disc. This is a brilliant Ugandan folk choir, I guess I'd call them. This music is love and extended-family as song. It's a cliche to comment on the call-and-response aspect in this or that African musics, but it is such a wide open thing. So much possibility exists. Some of my all-time favorite call-and-response happens on this disc. These young women are in that upper tier of the best that humans have to offer each other.

This is deeply spiritual community music of the highest order. There is something so gentle and pure and seemingly innocent about this music. It breaks my heart every time I hear it. It's the sweet soul of a community purely translated into sound without ego. I can feel like the whole of the world is going straight down the toilet in a swirling flush of cultural and environmental destruction, of greed and violence and pain. Then I listen to this disc (aside from the keyboard-pop which I skip) and I get to have over an hour where I'm again reminded of the beauty that humans are occasionally able to create and/or be a part of. There are a couple tunes here that have made tears stream down my face every single time I have heard them. I'm honored just to be the same species as the people recorded for this cd. For me this disc really is a gift to humanity. It touches me as deeply as anything ever has.

This is IT, folks. If track #14 is the last thing I hear in the waning moments of this, my earthly existence, I will be going softly into my goodnight with tears on my face and a smile in my heart.

Think 'field recording' and go a step further .......2004-08-31

The repertoire is wide, from lullabies and political songs to devotionals and choir arrangements: be prepared for an unusual diversity of theme unified by a strong choral thread throughout.

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