Mende song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by the accordion (button-keyed). The performer Abu Taiama also walks round in semi-dance and acts with an apprentice Momo Koroma who also dances in the background. The performers and accordion can be seen in the photograph. The song refers to "something you draw out of the bush, like drawing the accordion" and then continues: "One Leone is too little to draw out of you". This is a reference to the amount of financial reward given for the performance!

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Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Mende song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Fula
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1970.12.24
• Associated Places: Giehun, Lower Bambara Chiefdom, Kenema District [Place Recorded]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Chris Marshall [Sound Recordist]; Abu Taiama [Singer/Player]; Momo Koroma [Apprentice]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:332

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