Fula song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Fula song, accompanied by the bolon bata, a pair of lala, a serdu and jimberu. The photograph features the bolon bata. This is a bow with three strings rising from a large calabash with a sound hole and bearing a metal rattling extension at the top. The strings are plucked with the thumbs. The lala is a hook-shaped stick with wooden discs strung on to one arm of the hook, to make up a rattle. The serdu is a transverse flute with three finger holes. The jimberu is a conical wooden drum with one skin and an extension. It is played here with the hands and individual fingers. Measurements of bolon bata: height of calabash measured around curve 17", half circumference of calabash measured horizontally 22", length of bow measured around curve 24", length of rattling extension 10". Length of serdu 27". Height of jimberu 21.5", diameter of its drumskin 8.5".

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Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Fula song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Fula
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.04.12
• Associated Places: Sukrala, near Kabala, Koinadugu District [Place Recorded][Origin of item]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Bockarie Ketta [Leader, bolon bata player]; Moru Kamara [Singer and lala player], Mbemba Kamara [Serdu performer]; Neggi Kamara [Jimberu performer]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:185

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