Sierra Leone Heritage ~ Reanimating cultural heritage

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by three kogeli, one (later two) pair of wanjo and one kongoma. The photograph depicts the performers and their instruments. One of the kogeli players is also the leading singer, ...[more]

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by three kogeli, one (later two) pair of wanjo and one kongoma. The photograph depicts the performers and their instruments. One of the kogeli players is also the leading singer, who is answered by a chorus in part singing. The kogeli is a metal cylinder (but not going right round) held in the hand and hit with a metal beater. The wanjo are shakers somewhat similiar to maracas. The body of the wanjo is made up of two tin bowls placed face to face, with the edges nailed together. The kongoma is a wooden box with a sound hole over which a few (in this case three) 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 or sometimes (as in this case) with a tin. The blades are usually hacksaw blades. The leading singer's kogeli is 7.5" long. One of the two remaining kogeli is slightly longer, the other one is 7" long. Measurements of the two pairs of wanjo: height of body in the first pair 4", in the second pair 5"; circumference in first pair 4.5", in second pair 7". Measurements of the kongoma box were 18" by 13" by 5.5".

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by three kogeli, one (later two) pair of wanjo and one kongoma. The photograph depicts the performers and their instruments. One of the kogeli players is also the leading singer, who is answered by a chorus in part singing. The kogeli is a metal cylinder (but not going right round) held in the hand and hit with a metal beater. The wanjo are shakers somewhat similiar to maracas. The body of the wanjo is made up of two tin bowls placed face to face, with the edges nailed together. The kongoma is a wooden box with a sound hole over which a few (in this case three) 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 or sometimes (as in this case) with a tin. The blades are usually hacksaw blades. The leading singer's kogeli is 7.5" long. One of the two remaining kogeli is slightly longer, the other one is 7" long. Measurements of the two pairs of wanjo: height of body in the first pair 4", in the second pair 5"; circumference in first pair 4.5", in second pair 7". Measurements of the kongoma box were 18" by 13" by 5.5". [less]