The recording of songs were made during a visit by Sol Plaatje to the UK, on behalf of the then South African National Native Congress (SANNC later ANC). They were recorded at the studios of the Gramophone Co. Ltd. In Hayes, Middlesex on 16 October 1923.

Sol Plaatje, singing, was accompanied by Sylvia Colenso on the piano, the daughter of Francis Ernest Colenso, son of the Bishop of Natal John William Colenso.

The record contains the very first recording of "Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica", also listed here as "Hark 'tis the Watchman's Cry".

The following songs are included:
"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", also known as "Hark 'tis the Watchman's Cry (Hymn in Sechuana)
"Lead Kindly Light" (Hymn in Sechuana)
"Pesheya Ko Tukela" (Across the Tugela, a Hlubi folk song)
"Singa Mawele" (We are Twins, Dance melody in IsiXhoza)
"A band of hard pressed men are we" (Hymn in IsiXhoza)
"The Kaffir Wedding Song" (J.K. Bhokwe) (Sung in IsiXhoza)