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

101	Babunda Song	Babunda mixed voices	02:12
102	Bapende Work Song	Bapende men and women during house-building	00:33
103	Bambala Drumming (1)	Bambala drummer	00:47
104	Bambala Drumming (2)	Bambala drummers	03:46
105	Bambala Litigation	Bambala litigants and supporters at a tribunal	09:15
106	Bambala "Talking" Drum	Bambala chief playing slit-log signal drum	01:22
201	Bambala Dance	Bambala mixed voices with drums, rattles	04:06
202	Bapindi Sansas (1)	Bapende men with voice and sansa, Kikongo village	00:59
203	Bapindi Sansas (2)	Bapende men with voice and sansa, Kikongo village	00:47
204	Bapindi Hunting Calls	Bapende man with wooden hunting horn	02:15
205	Bapende Xylophone (1)	Bapende xylophone players	00:58
206	Bapende Xylophone (2)	Bapende xylophone players, mixed voices	02:17
207	Bapende and Bakwesi Children's Songs (1)	Group of Bapende children	01:50
208	Babunda and Bayansi Children's Songs (2)	Group of Babunda and Bayansi children	02:35
209	Basuku Children's Song	Group of Basuku children	01:00