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Folk Music of the Western Congo

Various Artists
Folk Music of the Western Congo

Folk Music of the Western Congo presents music from the Bantu-speaking tribes of Western Congo. Included is a Bambala litigation proceeding, which requires litigants to both speak and sing their case to the village chief. One litigant says, “Let us debate the things, but slowly, slowly….” He then sings: “I am like the dog that stays before the door until he gets a bone.” Also featured are examples of Bambala talking drums, Bapende xylophone, and children’s songs from the Bapende and Bakwesi communities. Liner notes include track descriptions and pictures of the musicians.

Track Listing

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101
Babunda mixed voices
02:12
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102
Bapende men and women during house-building
00:33
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103
Bambala drummer
00:47
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104
Bambala drummers
03:46
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105
Bambala litigants and supporters at a tribunal
09:15
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106
Bambala chief playing slit-log signal drum
01:22
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201
Bambala mixed voices with drums, rattles
04:06
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202
Bapende men with voice and sansa, Kikongo village
00:59
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203
Bapende men with voice and sansa, Kikongo village
00:47
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204
Bapende man with wooden hunting horn
02:15
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205
Bapende xylophone players
00:58
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206
Bapende xylophone players, mixed voices
02:17
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207
Group of Bapende children
01:50
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208
Group of Babunda and Bayansi children
02:35
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209
Group of Basuku children
01:00