Côte d’Ivoire: Baule Vocal Music

The liner notes relate the legend of Queen Aura Poku, who sacrificed her son to allow her people to cross a river to freedom. After her people were safely across the river, the queen could only repeat the word bauoli, meaning: the child is dead.Queen Aura Poku and other legends are represented in Baule music, which is well known throughout Côte d’Ivoire. Two or more voices are usually joined by bells, rattles, and a variety of drums. They also use a fiddle and a harp-lute to accompany singers, creating layers of complex sounds. Although many children begin training in vocal polyphony at a young age, the finest musicians, especially singer-instrumentalists, are thought to have been chosen by the spirits. This album was recorded in 1965 and 1966.

Track Listing

101	Kpanda Dance	Kpouébo villagers	03:33
102	Song to Conclude the Kpanda Dance	Kpouébo villagers	02:32
103	Dance of the Queens’ Masks	Sakasso villagers	06:32
104	Dance of the Elephant Mask	Lolobo villagers	03:41
105	Dance of the Excised Girls	Agbakro villagers	02:58
106	Music of a Guardian Spirit	Sakasso villagers	03:55
107	Little Girls’ Sung Games	Seven girls from Kanoukro village	04:29
108	Song with Forked Harp Accompaniment	Kadio Yéboué, Two men from Béoumi singing and playing percussion	03:14
109	Song Accompanied on the Musical Bow	Three singers and mouth-bow player from Konsou village	03:28
110	War Song	Sakasso villagers	03:24
111	Song with Harp-Lute Accompaniment	Kwadio Yafi	03:41
112	Song with Sanza Accompaniment	Four men from Kondorobo village	03:09
113	Song of Two Little Girls	Two young girls from Kpouébo village accompanied by a small female choir	02:31