Music of the Cameroons

From the grassy highlands of western Cameroon, Music of the Cameroons narrates the lives of the Bafut tribe of the Tikar ethnic lineage, along with select moments from other nearby Tikar and Fulani tribes. Evocative of the cyclical nature of their lives, the Bafut create layers of repetition and polyrhythm as their workers sift through coffee beans, villagers celebrate their fon (or king), and a mother sings her child to sleep. Both women and men share leading roles in call-and-response tracks featuring instruments such as the shekere (shaker gourd) and pit harp. Liner notes include further descriptions of the Tikar music-making process, the musicians, and photographs dating from 1959 when this album was created.

Track Listing

101	Njung (1) Njung orchestra	03:52
102	Hail Muma / Social Song Wives and children of the brother of Fon	04:23
103	Three Bafut Songs 16 year-old blind boy, diviner's apprentice	03:43
104	Ngwa (1) / Ngwa (2) Young boys and girls	02:17
105	Drinking Song Singer accompanied by chorus and musical bow	01:59
106	Mansa (1) Singer accompanied by five-string harp	02:04
107	Song for the Grass Ceremony Bafut villagers accompanied by small drum and musical rasp	01:00
108	Four Lullabies Bafut mother to child	05:13
109	Sanitree ("Sanitary") Bafut man and woman	01:53
110	Four Lullabies Mother to child	01:47
111	Sanitree ("Sanitary") n/a	04:04
201	Lambule Munkunka (Shaming Song) Wives of the Fon	01:38
202	Njung (Social Song and War Cry) Wives of the Fon accompanied by drum, rattle, and wooden rasp	00:56
203	Mansa (2) Bafut woman accompanied by chorus and drum	02:49
204	Christian Hymn Bafut men and women singing with handclapping	05:26
205	Njung (2) Njung orchestra with horns, drums, drone trumpet, wooden rasp	00:59
206	Coffee Workers Song / Work Song with Leader / Jamma-Jamma Coffee-sifters working at the United Africa Corporation warehouse in Bamenda	02:19
207	Pit Violin Young boy singing with musical bow and drum	00:44
208	Fon's Wives (Two Songs) Fon's wives singing with handclapping and percussion	01:41
209	Social Njung Female singer and chorus with handclapping	00:53
210	Song of Welcome Fon's wives	02:17
211	Nufum (Memorial to the Dead) Fon's wives and daughters	02:28