Sherbro song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Sherbro song, accompanied by three shegbureh. The performers and instruments are featured in the photograph. The meaning of the song is: "Let us all gather". 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".

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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:215

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