Limba song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Limba song accompanied by one kuchuteng, one kongoma, one kenken and two koto. The song tells of how the singer was confused on his first day in Freetown. The kenken and two koto are featured in the photograph. A kuchuteng is a metal box with a number of metal tongues on top of it (the longest in the centre, then tapering off regularly on both sides). The box has an extension through which small metal wires are threaded. The player plucks the tongues with his thumbs while shaking the box up and down to obtain a rattle from the wires threaded through the extension and from some pebbles inside the box. The tongues are usually flattened-out umbrella stays. A kongoma is a wooden box with a sound hole over which a few metal blades are fixed. The blades are plucked with the fingers of one hand while the side of the box is hit with the other hand or sometimes (as in this case) with a tin. Kongoma blades are usually hacksaw blades. A kenken is a piece of metal hit with a metal beater. Its most official shape appears to be conical, but almost any piece of metal map be used as a kenken, provided it is a good solid piece. A more delicate metal instrument, with a more triangle-like tone is the koto, also played with a metal beater. It is always more or less U-shaped. In this item, the kuchuteng has 9 tongues and the kongoma 3 blades. Measurements of kuchuteng box 10" - 6" - 3", length of its extension 4" (the extension is mildly curved up). Measurements of kongoma box 20.5" - 11" - 6". The kenken is 15" long; its transverse section is trough-shaped. One of the koto appears to be a U-bolt of a lorry. Its shape is bridge-shaped and its measurements are 14", 11.5" and 4". The other koto seems just a piece of iron, U-shaped, and 36" long measured right round.

Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Limba song
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Limba
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1967.04.22
  • Associated Places: Freetown [Place Recorded]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist];Bockarie Kamara [Lead singer]; Baio Mansaray [Kuchuteng]; Sarra Conteh [Kongoma]; Todenke Mansaray [Kenken]; Brima Sesay and Ose Conteh [Koto]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:305

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