Mende song of praise

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mendi praise song, accompanied by kongoma. The meaning of the song is "Praise the chief - praise him in different ways". The kongoma is a wooden box with a sound hole over which a few metal blades are fixed. The blades are plucked with the fingers of the right hand while the side of the box is hit with the left hand. The blades are usually hacksaw blades. The performers may well be Gola although the song is probably sung in Mende. The kongoma is pictured in the photograph. The kongoma measured 16.5" by 13" by 4.5". The instrument is tapped with a metal ring on one finger of the left hand.

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Mende song of praise
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Mende, Gola
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.12.23
• Associated Places: Zimmi, Makpele Chiefdom, Pujehun District [Place Recorded] [Origin of item]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Lama Okurama [Solo Singer]; Johnna Sano [Kongoma player]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:279

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