Mende song

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by one tomtom and a pair of wango. The instruments and performers can be seen in the photograph. The song tells of diamond diggers playing and singing together, men and women. The tomtom is a two-skinned wooden drum played with a small stick on one skin and with the hand on the other. The wanjo are a pair of shakers somewhat similiar to maracas. The body is made up of two tin bowls placed face to face, with the edges nailed together. Measurements of tomtom: height of drum 15", diameter of drumskin 17". Wanjo: height of body 5", length of handle 5.5". This item is performed by an all male group.

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Mende song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.12.20
• Associated Places: Sahn, Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District [Place Recorded]; Basarli Town, Pujehun District [Origin of item]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Morison [Lead Singer]; Kandaman [Tomtom]; Abu Sano [Wanjo]; Sapha Momon, Munda Siamai, Buakai Saido and Bockarie Faba [Chorus]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:222

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