Recording Notes: Recorded in
Namuncha, Kenya - 4/21/2003.
One of the first songs sung by this age group. It was originally composed
before they were warriors, however, descriptions of their time as warriors
were later added. The singer lists the names and personal traits of his fellow
warriors. Look for explinations to terms and phrases that are highlighted
in blue, at the end of the song. Copyright 2003.
This is also the first song heard
on the sound sample here.
We Ilmanjeshi begin out time as warriors
on the slopes of Oldoinyo-lenkai.
When we hunting lions while we were uncircumcised, warriors would come down
from the slopes of the mountain.
We had not yet selected the Ilngeetiani
and the Ilkiliyani.
I generalize our age-set.
Some of us are good singers.
We sing to our girlfriends.
(Lists names and descriptions of age-set members.)
...one who never fights.
...one who lives on the other side of the river.
...one who joins us on lion hunts.
They were in the first group who went to find a lion.
The places which receive the heavy rains have many lions.
We are happy to sing ole Mpirai when we meet together.
Setu is the first girl to love one of our age-set members.
(Lists names of age-set members.)
Let us sing with our hairs swaying slowly.
Setu is the first girl to love one of our age-set members.
All the girls like to sing ole Mpirai.
Even the older girls now like our song.
(Lists names and descriptions of age-set members.)
Let me talk of ole Mpirai, who we named our song after.
He’s a very handsome guy.
Look at how well his teeth sit in his mouth.
That is why I sing ole Mpirai.
I’m also talking of ole Nena.
He has a big herd of cattle.
All of us are great warriors with hairs so long.
Two of us were caught by a lion.
All of our girlfriends are now becoming Esienkiki.
Ole Mpirai won’t allow married women to sing his song.
We only want girls who are unmarried.
Ole Sirere is the chief of our age-set.