Fula song, followed by tuning of bolon bata

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Fula song, followed by tuning of bolon bata. Accompanied by bolon bata, a pair of lala, serdu, jimberu and two guitars. Recording the tuning of the bolon bata was not helped by the fact that the guitars could not be silenced entirely. The bolon bata is a bow with three strings rising from a large calabash with a sound hole and bearing a metal rattling extension at the top. The strings are plucked with the thumbs. The lala is a hook-shaped stick with wooden discs strung on to one arm of the hook, to make up a rattle. The serdu is a transverse flute with three finger holes. The jimberu is a conical wooden drum with one skin and an extension. It is played here with the hands and individual fingers. Measurements of bolon bata: height of calabash measured around the curve 17", half circumference of calabash measured horizontally 22", length of bow measured around curve 24", length of rattling extension 10". Length of serdu 27". Height of jimberu 21.5", diameter of its drumskin 8.5". Photograph shows performers and their instruments.

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Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Fula song, followed by tuning of bolon bata
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Fula
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.04.12
• Associated Places: Sukrala, near Kabala, Koinadugu District [Place Recorded]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Bockarie Ketta [Leader, bolon bata performer]; Moru Kamara [Singer and lala performer], Mbemba Kamara [Serdu performer]; Neggi Kamara [Jimberu performer]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:184

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