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Umsenge

from Black Heroes by Tete Mbambisa

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about

Umsenge is the Xhosa and Zulu name for trees of the Cussonia genus which are widely used throughout Southern Africa in traditional medicine. The tree has, in Bra Tete’s words, ‘something like milk, so they call it Umsenge Mabele.’ This is perhaps one of the farthest travelled of all Tete Mbabmsia’s compositions as it has been recorded as a quartet by The Blue Notes in London (Blue Notes In Concert) and in a solo piano version by Chris McGregor in Paris (Piano Song Vol.2). Although first recorded in 1962 by The Four Yanks it was originally written as an instrumental for Ronnie Beer’s band The Swinging City Six which featured Bra Tete on piano. The lyrics as sung by The Four Yanks are “The Milktree has been chopped down, Come respected elders, Listen to the voices, Where are the elders? Here are the young men, Who have been killing one another, What is happening?”

(Jonathan Eato)

credits

from Black Heroes, released April 19, 2012
Composed and arranged, Tete Mbambisa.
Tete Mbambisa, piano.

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JISA Records UK

JISA Records has been set up to release 'Black Heroes' - a new solo piano recording by Tete Mbambisa. All funds from sales of the recording go directly to Bra' Tete.

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