Mende funeral song

Ethnomusicological sound recording made by Cootje van Oven. Mende funeral song for Chief, accompanied by four kogilii and two metal basins hit with sticks. Two masked Gbete devils are present during the song but only one of them dances. Each devil has an attendant and it is these attendants who beat the metal basins. Both attendants appear concerned with the one devil who dances. His own attendant does some shouting during the song. The idea appears to be that the attendant shouts and hits the basin to make the devil turn round to spot and attach mischief. The devils have pointed sticks in their hands. The kogilii is a small metal cylinder (but not going right round) held in the hand and hit with a metal beater. The lengths of the four kogilii are 10.5", 7.5", 6" and 5" long. The player of the longest one is also the leading singer.

Further Information

  • Type: Sound Recording, Musical instruments
  • Object: Mende funeral 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] [Origin of item]
  • Associated People: Cootje van Oven [Sound Recordist]; Chris Marshall [Sound Recordist]; Moray Dama, Sefa Dongo Tokwombu, Brima Lansana Tokurombu and Justu Lahai [Singer and kogilii players]; Mumu Kamara [Singer with no kogilii]; Sefa Bockarie and Bockarie Mansiri [Basins]
  • Museum: Cootje Van Oven Collection
  • Accession Number: CVO:368

Related Objects

Mende funeral song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Mende song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Mende song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Kono Kamanine solo

Sound Recording, Musical instruments

Fula song

Sound Recording, Musical instruments