Folk Music of Liberia

Liberia is a coastal country bordering Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. Many tribes employ “talking” instruments such as the fangbass musical bow that tell stories when played. “Bassa Musical Bow” tells the story of a man dealing with a women’s death: “She dead in the bush. The man ain’t got no family, ain’t got no boy, he ain’t born no pickin, ain’t got nobody. He don’t know what to do...” Liner notes include description of Liberia, track notes, and pictures.

Track Listing

101	Mandingo	A female singer accompanied by a male singer/guitar player	03:34
102	Kpelle Bush-Cutters	Six Kpelle bush-cutters singing while cutting grass	04:15
103	Gio Songs	Gio laborers recorded at Bromley on the St. Paul River	05:04
104	Bassa Musical Bow	Jon Wieh	01:34
105	Kpelle Harp / Kpelle Band	Pepe Kroma	02:38
106	Loma (Buzi) Song with Fanga Drums	Two male vocalists accompanied by female singers	04:12
201	Gio Song	A song leader named Jeru accompanied by a group of Gio singers	03:05
202	Mandingo Song with Balafon	Male singer accompanied by two balafon players	02:33
203	Bassa Belly Harp	Jeffly and Bo, two Bassa men in Gbanga, Central Province	06:26
204	Kru Song with Guitar	Grebo	04:53
205	Kpelle Band	A Kpelle band recorded in Gbanga	02:14