Aka Pygmy Music

Various Artists

The Aka are known as one of the oldest populations on the African continent, occupying parts of the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. Music is a key element of the social and spiritual life of the community, and each person is introduced to musical practice at an early age with counting rhymes and singing games. Since the Aka lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle, music is usually only vocals, leading to a complex polyphonic system with rich harmonies from a chorus. Any accompanying instruments—small drums, iron blades, plant stalk whistles—are easy to carry, used for other daily purposes, or immediately discarded.

This recording was annotated, compiled, and produced by Simha Arom, who is considered a world expert on Central African music. In addition to this album, Arom’s recordings are featured on more than a dozen other albums in the UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music, including Greece: Vocal Monodies and Benin: Bariba and Somba Music.

*Content Advisory: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings holds a large volume of sound recordings, some of which were recorded almost a century ago. Preferred terminology has changed throughout the history of our catalog’s existence. This publication reflects wording that was preferred at the time, though it may be used pejoratively today.

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Track Listing

101	Mongombi Four Aka men hunting game	05:14
102	Anduwa Four Aka men and adolescent boy returning from a hunt	03:37
103	Dikoboda sombe (solo) Young Aka woman	02:26
104	Dikoboda sombe (duet) Two young Aka women	03:55
105	Bosobè Aka diviner-healer and mixed chorus with drums	06:26
106	Bobangi Six Aka women	04:32
107	Kokoyandongo Aka diviner-healer and mixed chorus with drums	06:30
108	Nzenzenze Group of Aka children	01:01
109	Balibo Sasasa Group of Aka children	01:12
110	Mbola Group of Aka children	03:12
111	Nzombi (solo) Aka man playing mobeke	01:18
112	Nzombi (duet) Two Aka men playing mobeke	01:00
113	Epanda Aka men and women	01:38
114	Mombimbi Aka men and women	02:52
115	Monzoli Aka man and chorus	05:47

Catalog

Aka Pygmy Music

Track Listing

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