Mende song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende song accompanied by the Sosoi. The performer is pictured in the photograph and is probably the composer. The song moves from one topic to another. The first; "The Palm kernels are priced at 1/6, but a man who sends his only wife to market with this amount expects clothes, a cutlass and other tools, and a gun all for the 1/6". The second: "Some people remain active in bed even when they are old". The sosoi is a metal instrument consisting of two blades joined at the top. It is held by this top and the part connecting the two blades is knocked with a ring on the thumb. This singer/player has a small broom in the other hand, which he waves while singing. The sosoi blades are 6" long.

Further Information

• Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
• Object: Mende song
• Materials: No Data / Other
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: No Data
• Production Date: 1970.12.27
• Associated Places: Giema, Dama Chiefdom, Kenema District [Place Recorded]
• Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Chris Marshall [Sound Recordist]; Momo Kamara [Performer]
• Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
• Accession Number: CVO:367

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