Tuning of ututen and kongoma

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Tuning of the kututen and kongoma. The kututen is a metal box (in this case an oil can with a little mirror on top) that has a number of metal tongues (in this case 9) 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 (and to which, in this case, metal discs are attached). The player plucks the tongues with his thumbs while shaking the box up and down to obtain a rattle from the attachments to the extension and from some pebbles inside the box. The tongues are often flattened-out umbrella stays. The kongoma is a (much bigger) wooden box with a sound hole over which a few (in this case 3) metal blades are fixed. The blades are plucked with the fingers of one hand while the box itself is hit with the other hand or, as in this case, with a tin can. The kongoma player in this case is a young boy. Measurements of kukuten box 11" by 7" by 4", of kongoma box 18" by 13" by 5".

Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Tuning of ututen and kongoma
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Limba
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1970.12.25
  • Associated Places: Kamboma, Lower Banbara Chiefdom, Kenema District [Place recorded] [Origin of item]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Chris Marshall [Sound Recordist]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:354

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