Sherbro song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Two Sherbro songs, accompanied by three shegbureh. The two songs run into the other, with shegbureh playing forming the bridge between the two. The performers are featured in the photograph. The shegbureh, apparently 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 beads or buttons against the gourd. Measurements of the first shegbureh: height of gourd (measured around the curve 10", length of stalk 4". Corresponding measurements of second shegbureh 9" and 6", and of third 7.5" and 4.5".

Related Videos

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Sherbro song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Sherbro
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.12.17
• Associated Places: Shenge, Kagboro Chiefdom, Moyamba District [Place Recorded] [Origin of item]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Koni Way [Lead singer and shegbureh]; Bue Chillan and Sofie [Shegbureh]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:214

Related Objects