Mende song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by the sosoi. The song's meaning is "to incite warriors to fight because another village is polluting the water". The sosoi is a metal instrument consisting of two blades joined at the top. It is held by this top and the part connecting the two blades is knocked with a ring on the thumb. This singer Momo Kamara is probably the composer. The singer/player has a small broom in the other hand, which he waves while singing. The sosoi blades are 6" long.

Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Mende song
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Mende
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1970.12.27
  • Associated Places: Giema, Dama Chiefdom, Kenema District [Place Recorded]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Chris Marshall [Sound Recordist]; Momo Kamara [Performer]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:366

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