Limba song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Limba song, accompanied by one kuchuteng, one kongoma, one kenken and two koto. The meaning of the song is "My friend, I love you". The photograph features the kenken and two koto. A kuchuteng is a metal box with a number of metal tongues fixed 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 may 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 sections looks trough shaped (2" by 3.5"). One of the koto appears to be a U-bolt of a lorry. Its measurements are 14", 11.5" and 4". The other koto seems just a piece of U-shaped iron, 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]; Kati Kargbo [Leading singer]; Baio Mansaray [Kuchuteng player]; Sarra Conteh [Kongoma player]; Todenko Mansaray [Kenken player]; Brima Sesay and Ose Conteh [Koto player]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:307

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