Mende performance

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende storyteller-singer-dancer giving a solo performance, with vocal and instrumental accompaniment preceded by a spoken introduction. The item is accompanied by three shegbureh, one large drum and one small drum. This lovely song has no title but is about time. The dancer refers to a watch on his arm (made of small white shells). It is a mocking song. He is mocking and he says "There are illiterates, even whites (smile), who cannot tell time. Therefore I have come to give the time to you". Time's name is pronounced "Pee-are". He then dances referring throughout to the watch on his arm. He is a farmer, but a storyteller-singer-dancer like him could be of any occupation. The dancer is pictured in the photograph with some of the singers and two shegbureh. 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. The singer-dancer has metal "shake shakes" strapped to his calves, used rigorously during the dance.

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Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Mende performance
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Mende
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1966.12.21
  • Associated Places: Banda juma, Sowa Chiefdom, Pujehun District [Place recorded]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Isath [Shegbureh[; Mariama Conteh [Shegbureh]; Thasa Conteh [Shegbureh]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:253

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