Vai Bundu Society song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Vai Bundu Society song accompanied by three shegbureh. The meaning of the song is: "You should ask the chief what happens in the Bundu Society - and it should not be explained". The shegbureh measure 18", 14" and 15.25" - two with shells and one with shells and buttons. A single ground bass (by altos). One solo singer and shegbureh players. A steady pulse accompaniment. The shegbureh, apparently is always played by women, is a stalked gourd surrounded by a network of beads or buttons (occasionally shells) on strings. The end of the strings is held in one hand, the stalk of the gourd in the other. Rhythmic movements of the gourd produce the desired rattle of the beads or buttons against the gourd.

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Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Vai Bundu Society song
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Vai
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1966.12.22
  • Associated Places: Fairo, Soro-Gbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District [Place Recorded] [Origin of item]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Kala Galaba [Shegbureh]; Sumbo Zoka [Shegbureh]; Mama Massia [Shegbureh]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:263

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