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Folk Music of Liberia

Various Artists
Folk Music of Liberia

Liberia is a coastal country bordering Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. Many tribes employ “talking” instruments such as the fangbass musical bow that tell stories when played. “Bassa Musical Bow” tells the story of a man dealing with a women’s death: “She dead in the bush. The man ain’t got no family, ain’t got no boy, he ain’t born no pickin, ain’t got nobody. He don’t know what to do...” Liner notes include description of Liberia, track notes, and pictures.

Track Listing

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101
Mandingo A female singer accompanied by a male singer/guitar player 03:34
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102
Kpelle Bush-Cutters Six Kpelle bush-cutters singing while cutting grass 04:15
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103
Gio Songs Gio laborers recorded at Bromley on the St. Paul River 05:04
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104
Bassa Musical Bow Jon Wieh 01:34
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105
Kpelle Harp / Kpelle Band (medley) Pepe Kroma 02:38
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106
Loma (Buzi) Song with Fanga Drums Two male vocalists accompanied by female singers 04:12
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201
Gio Song A song leader named Jeru accompanied by a group of Gio singers 03:05
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202
Mandingo Song with Balafon A male singer accompanied by two balafon players 02:33
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203
Bassa Belly Harp A man named Jeffly accompanied by a man named Bo 06:26
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204
Kru Song with Guitar Grebo 04:53
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205
Kpelle Band A Kpelle band recorded in Gbanga 02:14