Fula (?) song, accompanied by nyayaru

Ethnomusicological recording made by Cootje van Oven. Fula (?) song accompanied by nyayaru (one-string fiddle). On this occasion we understand that Ansu was a Gabu Fula from Senegal, though at a later meeting he appeared to be a Yalunka from Guinea! But he has lived at Kamabai for a long time and has probably composed this song there. Meaning of song: "I have come to the Paramount Chief, not just to anybody but to a man who has God's blessing and is wealthy". Ansu speaks Limba fluently but the song is sung in his native language. The nyayaru is a violin with a half-gourd for its sound box, a stick for its neck and a bunch of stretched hair for its string, as can be seen in the photograph. One end of the string is tied to the stick, the other end to another string which forks into two and is finally tied up at the other end of the gourd. Snakeskin is stretched across the gourd opening, whose diameter is 8". The free length of the stick is 14" but the stick extends through the gourd and just juts out at the other end. The bow is made of iron. It's string is another bunch of stretched horse hair. Bee's wax is used as a rosin for the bow string. The wax is stuck on to the gourd at the back of the instrument. The bow is sometimes used to hit either the stick or the gourd.

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Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Fula (?) song, accompanied by nyayaru
  • Materials: No Data / Other
  • Culture Group: Fula
  • Dimensions: No Data
  • Production Date: 1965.12.22
  • Associated Places: Kamabai, Biriwa Chiefdom, Bombali District [Place Recorded]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Ansu Sesay [Performer and Composer]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:093

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