Tuning of two kongoma

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. 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 one hand while the box itself is hit with the other hand or (as in this case) with a tin can. One kongoma player in this piece is left-handed the other right-handed. Both kongoma have 3 blades. In the big one the longest blades is in the middle, in the small one the blade lengths are graded down from left to right. Measurements of big kongoma box 23" by 16.5" by 7.5", of small one 18" by 12" by 6".

Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Tuning of two kongoma
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Mende
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1970.12.25
  • Associated Places: Panguma, Lower Banbara Chiefdom, Kenema District [Place recorded] [Origin of item]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Chris Marshall [Sound Recordist]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:346

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