Mende song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song, accompanied by a kongoma and a pair of wanjo. The meaning of the song is: "Chief Kabbeh has become a banana leaf, bigger than all the others". The kongoma is a wooden box with a sound hole over which a few (in this case 3) 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. Measurements of this kongoma: 21" by 13" by 8". 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 musicians and their instruments are featured in the photograph.

Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Mende song
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Mende
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1966.12.20
  • Associated Places: Sahn, Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District [Place Recorded] [Origin of item]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Momo Sata [Lead singer and kongoma]; Tommy Koroma [Wanjo]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:237

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