Nt'hago za selo / Salamu za selo [Selo greetings]

This library of Ngoma ya Selo greetings is based on a recording session made on 12th of June 1989 at the TV Department (currently the audiovisual unit of the department of computer science) at the University of Helsinki. The performer is selo specialist Juma Nasoro Malema from the village of Miono in the Bagamoyo District of the Coast Region in Tanzania.

The greetings are called Nt'hago in the Chizigula language and Salamu in Kiswahili. It is the core expression of the Ngoma ya Selo music and dance. Selo is being taught to puberty aged girls of the Zigua society. One of the main purposes of the training is to emphasize the importance of mutual respect which is expressed to all follow people, old and young.

Some of the greetings are straightforward paraphrases of greetings in everyday life, such as kneeling, bowing or a military salute. Other greetings tend to show how the growing young lady may show respect to her husband in matrimonial life. Many of the greetings are imitations of some peculiar aspect of human life such as use of snuff, movements of football, shooting or construction work. Some animals, birds and insects are also imitated.

The clips may be played with a free basic RealPlayer which can be downloaded form RealNetworks. Please, ascertain that you down the free player and not a trial version of the commercial player.

No.	Chizigula	Kiswahili	English	Video
1	Moni	Heshima (au saluti)	Greeting
2	Zógolo	Jogoo	Cock
3	Kutoa mavindi hasi	Kupiga magoti chini	Kneeling with both knees
4	Kuputa tumbatu	kuvuta ugoro (au tumbako la kusaga)	Smoking snuff (or grinded tobacco)
5	Kuteka mazi	Kuchota maji	Fetching water
7	Uvinaji wa chísambo	Uchezaji wa kibwaya (au kisambo)	Dancing with the straw skirt
8	Kafuruma
9	Nt'hago ya kwikala hasi	Salamu ya kukaa chini	Greeting by sitting down
10	Kulagisa udyaji	Kuonyesha mfano wa kula	To imitate eating
11	Chimp'hanga	Kipanga	The sparrowhawk
12	Kumbembeleza mwana	Kumbembeleza mtoto	Comforting the baby
13	Ntoza umoyo	Nishike moyoni	Holding my heart
17	Chicheze mbira	Tucheze mpira	Let's play football
20	Futi	Bunduki	The riffle
21	Kuchapa chiga	Kuchapa mguu	To beat ones leg
23	Nt'hago ya kulima	Salamu ya kulima	Greeting by cultivating
24	Nt'hago ya kubunda	Salamu ya kufunda	Greeting by grinding
25	Nt'hago ya kwink'hana mikono	Salamu ya kupeana mikono	Greeting by shaking hands
28	Nt'hago ya kuzenga	Salamu ya mfano wa kujenga	Greeting by imitating construction work
29	Kuhaka mazi mouso	Kunawa uso	Washing ones face
34	Kuchuchula ya nk'hanga	Kanga anayekimbia	The running helmeted Guineafowl
37	Nt'hago ya kufyagila (nyumba)	Salamu ya kufagia (nyumba)	Greeting of sweeping (the house)
38	Nt'hago ya wambisi	Salamu ya upishi	Greeting of cooking
40	Nt'hago ya kunguza	Salamu ya kipepeo	Butterfly greeting
41	Kutambaliza	Kunyosha miguu (chini)	Straightening ones legs