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 Baoulé mixed chorus with drums and percussion, Kpouébo village	03:33
102	Song to Conclude the Kpanda Dance Baoulé male singers with percussion, Kpouébo village	02:32
103	Dance of the Queens’ Masks Baoulé male chorus with percussion and drum, Sakasso village	06:32
104	Dance of the Elephant Mask Baoulé mixed chorus with percussion, Lolobo village	03:41
105	Dance of the Excised Girls Baoulé women and girls, Agbakro village	02:58
106	Music of a Guardian Spirit Baoulé singers and musicians, Sakasso village	03:55
107	Little Girls’ Sung Games Six Baoulé girls, Kanoukro village	04:29
108	Song with Forked Harp Accompaniment Kadio Yéboué and two Baoulé men, Béoumi town	03:14
109	Song Accompanied on the Musical Bow Baoulé godye player and three male singers, Konsou village	03:28
110	War Song Two Baoulé male singers with percussion, Sakasso village	03:24
111	Song with Harp-Lute Accompaniment Kwadio Yafi	03:41
112	Song with Sanza Accompaniment Four Baoulé men with sanza, Kondorobo village	03:09
113	Song of Two Little Girls Two Baoulé girls with female chorus, Kpouébo village	02:31