Yalunka love song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Yalunka love song, accompanied by the kondene and handclapping. The photograph depicts dancers with guns (only one of whom appears in the present item) and musicians (seated). Of the three ladies, only one sings the answers to the solo singer in this song; the others are clapping. Apart from the dancer with the gun, the Chief himself and other dancers also take part; the song is obviously a great favourite. The kondene is the Yalunka instrument for hunters music, but the present love song shows that it may also be used to accompany non-hunting songs. It is a bow with ten strings and a metal rattling device at the top. A cooking pot covered with a skin is attached to the bow. A bridge stands up on the skin and the strings pass through grooves in the bridge. Sticking through the skin are two sticks round which the player curls his fourth and fifth fingers of both hands to hold the instrument while playing. Length of bow 37.5", measured round the curve, height of cooking pot 5", diameter of skin 9", length of rattling extension 5.5", height of bridge 4.5", length of sticks passing through skin 14.5". The strings are played by plucking.

Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Yalunka love song
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Yalunka
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1966.04.11
  • Associated Places: Falaba, Sulima Chiefdom, Koinadugu District [Place Recorded][Origin of item]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Karamoh Turay [Singer and kondene]; Tadi Samura, Saio Samura, Taneh Jawara [Answering and handclapping ladies]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:179

Related Objects

Yalunka hunting song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Yalunka song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Yalunka song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Yalunka song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Fula song, followed by tuning of bolon bata

Sound Recording, Musical instruments