Vai song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Vai Bundu Society song . The item is accompanied by three shegbureh, one small drum and one bass drum. The meaning of the song is: "They should fan him (the devil) because of the heat, because the rice will not grow in a hot place". The shegbureh measure 18", 14" and 15.5" respectively. The bass drum sustained a single steady pulse - a small drummer used skin and rib strokes. Two shegbureh players seemed to take a sole role. The devil was dressed in straw with colourful head piece, circular with antennae decoration and mirrors inset. Two bells were attached to the back by the waist band. The devil and drums can be seen in the photograph. 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.

Related Videos

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Vai 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]; Bryma Korbai [Drums]; Kala Galaba [Shegbureh]; Sumbo Zoka [Shegbureh]; Mama Massia [Shegbureh]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:267

Related Objects