Vai Bundu Society song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Vai Bundu Society song in praise of the chief. The item is accompanied by three shegbureh. The meaning of the song is: "You should draw a long rope to the chief because the chief is head of the country". The shegbureh measure15.5", 13.25" and 13.5" respectively. A solo performance confined to lead singer Jobbeh Sovary. The other shegbureh players keep a steady pulse rhythm. Two of the shegbureh are pictured in the photograph (the Bundu devil in the picture did not take part in this item. The shegbureh, apparently is 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 the beads or buttons against the gourd.

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Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Vai Bundu Society song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Vai
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.12.22
• Associated Places: Fairo, Soro-Gbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District [Place Recorded] [Origin of item]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Jobbeh Savary [Shegbureh]; Kulla Kanneh [Shegbureh]; Mamwa Massaquoi [Shegbureh]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:265

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