Mende song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song, accompanied by a kongoma and a pair of wanjo. The wanjo is featured in the photograph. The song tell of big crowds in the diamond area and says that women have become like straws on the ground or straws in a "head part" (on which loads are carried). The kongoma is a wooden box with a sound hole over which a few (in this case 3) metal blades are fixed. The blades are plucked with the fingers of the right hand, while the side of the box is hit with the left hand or sometimes (as in this case) with a tin. The blades are usually hacksaw blades. Measurements of this kongoma: 21" by 13" by 8". The wanjo are shakers somewhat similiar to maracas. The body of the wanjo is made up of two tin bowls placed face to face with the edges nailed together.

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Mende song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1966.12.20
• Associated Places: Sahn, Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District [Place Recorded] [Origin of item]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Herb Clark [Sound Recordist]; Momo Sata [Lead singer and kongoma]; Tommy Koroma [Wanjo]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:238

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