Africa South of the Sahara

This 1957 compilation attempts to provide a musical overview of the entire Sub–Saharan region, and also represents the scholarly contribution of American ethnomusicologist Alan P. Merriam (1923 — 1980) to the Folkways catalog. Merriam, who is best remembered for the book The Anthropology of Music, produced the album and provided an essay and track notes. This title went a long way towards dispelling prejudices and misconceptions listeners of the time may have had about African music. Merriam wrote, “The African music system works by its own rules and satisfies those who play it and sing it; it is neither necessarily older nor younger nor better nor worse.”

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"Music of 'The Seventh Continent'"
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Track Listing

101	Zulu Song	n/a	02:10
102	Swazi Song	n/a	02:14
103	Chopi Timbila Orchestra	n/a	01:03
104	Amakwavi Song	n/a	00:43
105	Bushmen Song	n/a	01:22
106	Bushmen Song	n/a	02:15
107	Bechuana Song	n/a	01:02
108	Bechuana Song	n/a	01:07
109	Bechuana Song	n/a	00:34
110	Luchosi Song	n/a	01:07
111	Gangele Song	n/a	01:25
112	Tutsi Song	n/a	03:29
113	Tutsi Drums	n/a	02:29
114	Twa Chorus	n/a	03:22
115	Hororo Flute	n/a	01:29
116	Shi Kasayi (Sansa)	n/a	02:57
117	Kivu Bambuti Chorus with drums	n/a	02:45
118	Bambuti (Pygmy) Song	n/a	01:08
119	Bambuti Songs	n/a	01:24
120	Bambuti (Pygmy) Song	n/a	01:05
121	Pende Xylophone	n/a	02:45
122	Pindi Sansa with voice	n/a	01:08
123	Sudanese Harp with voices	n/a	02:28
124	Sudanese Song with drums	n/a	02:49
125	Mahafaly Song	n/a	02:28
126	Ibani Sansa & Horas	n/a	02:42
127	Yoruba Chorus & mixed orchestra	n/a	03:00
128	Bulu Chorus	n/a	01:56
129	Ewe Chorus with drum, rattle, gong	n/a	02:37
130	Bambara Minstrels	n/a	02:18
131	Acoli Voice & Lute	n/a	03:02
132	Mboko Zither-Harp	n/a	01:33
133	Bakwiri Song with musical bow	n/a	01:05
134	Makwa Female Chorus	n/a	01:43
135	Boungomo Chorus with drums	n/a	03:30
136	Babinga (Pygmy) Voices with stick percussion	n/a	01:48
137	Wolof Drums	n/a	01:32
138	Wolof Halam	n/a	03:15