Fula praise songs, one running into the other, followed by tuning of the hordu

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Fula praise songs, one running into the other, followed by tuning of hordu (sometimes called "Fula guitar"). Sarjo [Performer] appears to be a rather well-known wandering minstrel who composes songs in praise of people who have been good to him. The photograph depicts him performing with the hordu. The songs are in praise of Paramount Chief Alimamy Salifu of Barodea, Achaji Wuro of Bokulan, and Chernoh Bakarr of Kamaranka. The hordu has a boat-shaped body covered with skin, a stick which partly overlaps with the body, six strings which are plucked with the fingers, and a metal extension through which small wires are threaded. The body has a sound hole, over which a bridge is fixed on the stick. One end of the strings is attached to this bridge, the other end to the stick beyond the body, with the help of leather strips that can be moved along the stick to get the correct tuning of the strings. Length and width of body 18" and 4". Total length of the stick 27", free length of stick (beyond body) 13.5". Length of metal extension 4.5". Player's fingers also knock body of instrument as well as plucking the strings.

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Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Fula praise songs, one running into the other, followed by tuning of the hordu
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Fula
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1965.12.23
• Associated Places: On the road, one mile from Kamaranka, Gbanti-Kamaranka Chiefdom, Bombali District [Place Recorded]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Sarjo Bah [Performer and Composer]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:105

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