Mende praise song

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by three shegbureh, one sangbai with extension, a European-type side drum, bass drum and cymbals. The photograph features the sangbai, bass drum and part of the side drum. This song is in praise of Saldi Kabbeh, husband of the lead singer. The shegbureh, apparently always played by women, is a stalked gourd surrounded by a network of beads or buttons 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 the beads or buttons against the gourd. The sangbai is a conical wooden drum with one skin and sometimes (as in this case) an extension. It is played with the hands. The extension of this sangbai consists of long sticks with bells at the end. Measurements of one of these three shegbureh: height of gourd measured around the curve 11", length of stalk 4.5". Corresponding measurements of both of the others: 10" and 5". Height of sangbai 21.5", diameter of its drumskin 9", length of its extension 43".

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Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Mende praise 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] [Origin of item]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Ami Kebbei [Lead singer and shegbureh]; Musu Kallon and Fatu Sani [Singers and shegbureh players]; Abu [Sangbai]; Joe Koleh [Side drum]; Joe Samu [Bass drum]; Fatoma Matieh [Cymbals]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:230

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