Music of the Ituri Forest

Recorded in the 1950s by prominent cultural anthropologist Colin Turnbull, Music of the Ituri Forest is a study in the lives and traditions of the BaMbuti, a nomadic people from the Ituri Forest of northeastern Congo. In a society with no chiefs or councils, the BaMbuti share responsibilities, including those of music-making. Each individual in a group sings one or two notes that, in circulation, build into melodies and harmonies. Instruments such as the likembe (thumb piano) accompany solo voice, while the mgungu gong (slit gong) helps ground mounting call-and-response choruses. Written by Turnbull, liner notes include descriptions of BaMbuti culture and the story behind each track.

This album was partially reissued with expanded track list and annotation in 1992 as Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 40401.

Track Listing

101	Lukembi and Voice (1)	Abdul Aziz	02:23
102	Drinking Song	Group of BaNgwana women and men	02:30
103	Board Zither (1)	Dawesi	01:27
104	Religious Song	Group of BaNgwana men, women, and children	03:36
105	Mgongo Utule	Group of BaNgwana women	01:18
106	Dance Music	Group of Mbuti men and women	04:05
107	Gong Signalling	Mabudo gong player	01:14
108	Travelling Song	Group of Mbuti, Babuta, BaNgwana men, women, and children	01:40
109	Flute Solo	Pakasi	02:06
110	Elephant Hunting Song	Group of Mbuti men and boys	05:03
201	Musical Sticks	Group of Bantu and Mbuti men and boys	01:43
202	Initiation Song	Mbuti boys led by BaNdaka villager	01:41
203	Elima Song	Group of Mbuti women and girls	02:06
204	Lusumba Song (1)	Group of Mbuti men	02:19
205	Lusumba Song (2)	Group of Mbuti men with women in background	02:35
206	Board Zither (2)	Sale ya BaPesoa	02:04
207	Board Zither (3)	Sale ya BaPesoa	01:49
208	Musical Bow	Ndaka man playing musical bow	02:29
209	Lukembi and Voice (2)	Man playing lukembi	03:56
210	Guitar and Voice	Omboko with Abdul Aziz	03:42