Temne song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Temne song accompanied by the sangbai, a tin being hit and handclapping. The performers and instruments can be seen in the photograph. Before the actual song begins, the people are asked: "Is it sweet today?" and they all reply: "Yes, we are happy today". The song itself then tells the story of a Muslim saint who had a bad wife. She gradually improved and after the birth of their third son she became a good wife. The saint later took the three children to a road to the east, saying he had something to tell them. He stood on a flat stone in a stream between birds and frogs who all made noise. The eldest boy was first told to stop the noise but the noise grew louder. The second son managed to stop some of the birds, but the frogs were still making noise. The third son managed to stop all the noise. The father then sent the boys back to their mother, saying that she would tell them. The mother explained to them why the third son was best and why they should therefore obey him: It was because she herself had gradually become better, and really good after the third son had been born. The sangbai is a conical wooden drum with one skin. it is played with the hands. The tin is hit with two sticks. Height of sangbai 16", diameter of its drumskin 6.5".

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Temne song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Temne
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.12.16
• Associated Places: Mano, Yoni Chiefdom, Tonkolili District [Place Recorded][Origin of Item]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Momo Seri [Bling lead singer and dancer]; Abdulai Forna [Sangbai]; Saidu Turay [Tin]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:208

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