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Aka Pygmy Music

Various Artists
Aka Pygmy Music

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.
For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

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101
Four Aka men hunting game
05:14
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102
Four Aka men and adolescent boy returning from a hunt
03:37
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103
Young Aka woman
02:26
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104
Two young Aka women
03:55
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105
Aka diviner-healer and mixed chorus with drums
06:26
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106
Six Aka women
04:32
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107
Aka diviner-healer and mixed chorus with drums
06:30
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108
Group of Aka children
01:01
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109
Group of Aka children
01:12
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110
Group of Aka children
03:12
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111
Aka man playing mobeke
01:18
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112
Two Aka men playing mobeke
01:00
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113
Aka men and women
01:38
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114
Aka men and women
02:52
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115
Aka man and chorus
05:47