Sankaran song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Sankaran song, accompanied by two tapoi. The origin of the item is at the place of recording. The performers and tapoi can be seen in the photograph. The song's meaning is "I am the Paramount Chief and women consider me wealthy; they all want to marry me". The tapoi is a conical wooden drum with one skin and sometimes with an extension. It is played with the hands. In this case, each tapoi has an extension consisting of four sticks with metal plates from which small metal discs, bells and rings are suspended. Measurements of first tapoi: height 22.5", diameter of drumskin 8.5", length of extension nearly 14"; of second tapoi: height 20.5", diameter of skin 8.5", length of extension nearly 12".

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Sankaran song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Other
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.04.12
• Associated Places: Yagala, near Kabala, Koinadugu District [Place Recorded]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Teneh Faro and Fanta Kabba [Leading singers, female], Sheku Jalloh and Dimba Mansaray [Tapoi players, male]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:190

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