Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest

Various Artists

Mbuti vocal music comprises a variety of solo and choral traditions. Songs are primarily concerned with Mbutis' nomadic life and the forest, from which their lives and those of the animal kingdom are sustained. These prized recordings have been remastered and resequenced to reflect Dr. Turnbull's original mode: the recording begins in the forest with music associated with hunting and gathering, moves to the village for a Bantu initiation ritual, and finally returns to the forest for the Mbuti rituals. This record documents the music discussed in the book The Forest People, read by many anthropology classes. A superbly annotated favorite among world music enthusiasts. "...[F]rom the moment Colin Turnbull lets the chatter and work rhythms of the encampment he's approaching engulf the jungle's ambient insect and bird music, I'm hooked." — The Village Voice.

*Content Advisory: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings holds a large volume of sound recordings, some of which were recorded almost a century ago. Preferred terminology has changed throughout the history of our catalog’s existence. This publication reflects wording that was preferred at the time, though it may be used pejoratively today.

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Track Listing

101	In the rainforest approaching a forest camp	Birds, crickets, and young Mbuti Pygmy boys in the Ituri Rainforest	01:38
102	Elephant-hunting song	Group of Mbuti men	03:05
103	Elephant Hunt song	Group of Mbuti men and boys	05:12
104	Spear song	Group of Mbuti men	03:03
105	Cries of beaters during net hunting: signalling and shouting	Group of Mbuti Pygmies	00:59
106	Honey-gathering song	Group of Mbuti women	02:54
107	Animal Dance song	Group of Mbuti Pygmies	02:40
108	Flute duet	Two Mbuti Pygmies	01:52
109	Flute solo	Pakasi	02:07
110	Slit-gong signalling	Slit-gong signalling	01:15
111	Mbuti dance in Bantu village	Group of Mbuti men and women	02:15
112	Lukembi and voice	Abdul Aziz	02:26
113	Lukembi (Mbuti)	Mbuti Pygmy playing lukembi	01:38
114	Bachelor duet with Lukembi	Two Mbuti bachelors	01:36
115	Musical bow	Ndaka man playing musical bow	02:30
116	Musical sticks	Nkumbi initiation dance	01:44
117	Nkumbi initiation song	Group of Mbuti boys led by Ndaka villager	00:45
118	First song of the Elima, the women's society	Group of Mbuti women	01:54
119	Second song of the Elima, the women's society	Group of Mbuti women	01:11
120	First Molimo fire dance song	Group of Mbuti men	02:04
121	Second Molimo fire dance song	Group of Mbuti men	01:26
122	Molimo song with a preliminary argument	Group of Mbuti men and women	02:36
123	First Molimo song sung only on occasions of great importance	Group of Mbuti men	02:34
124	Second Molimo song sung only on occasions of great importance	Group of Mbuti men	01:53
125	Molimo song: Darkness is good	Group of Mbuti men	02:17
126	Molimo song of devotion to the forest	Group of Mbuti men	01:30

Catalog

Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest

Track Listing

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