Vai Bundu Society song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Vai Bundu Society song . The item is accompanied by three shegbureh. The meaning of the song is: "They should know how to stand in the battle field otherwise the enemy will conquer them". The shegbureh measure 18", 14" and 15.5" respectively. The best group in the area sings for the devil who enters halfway through the song. Her bells inspired by hip movement (bells about 2.5" diameter by 2.5" height). The shegbureh players each have an equal part that is repeated throughout. The Bundu devil is pictured 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.

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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]; Kala Galaba [Shegbureh]; Sumbo Zoka [Shegbureh]; Mama Massia [Shegbureh]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:266

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