Music of the Ituri Forest

Recorded in the 1950s by prominent cultural anthropologist Colin Turnbull, Music of the Ituri Forest is a study in the lives and traditions of the BaMbuti, a nomadic people from the Ituri Forest of northeastern Congo. In a society with no chiefs or councils, the BaMbuti share responsibilities, including those of music-making. Each individual in a group sings one or two notes that, in circulation, build into melodies and harmonies. Instruments such as the likembe (thumb piano) accompany solo voice, while the mgungu gong (slit gong) helps ground mounting call-and-response choruses. Written by Turnbull, liner notes include descriptions of BaMbuti culture and the story behind each track.

This album was partially reissued with expanded track list and annotation in 1992 as Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 40401.

Track Listing

101	Lukembi and Voice (1) Abdul Aziz	02:23
102	Drinking Song Chief Musafili with mixed chorus, drum, and mgungu gong	02:30
103	Board Zither (1) Dawesi	01:27
104	Religious Song Chief Musafili, his sub-chief, and mixed chorus	03:36
105	Mgongo Utule Women singing while pounding grain	01:18
106	Dance Music Mbuti men and women with borrowed instruments	04:05
107	Gong Signalling Mabudu man playing slit-gong	01:14
108	Travelling Song Mixed voices, drums, clappers, mgungu gong	01:40
109	Flute Solo Pakasi	02:06
110	Elephant Hunting Song Mbuti men and boys	05:03
201	Musical Sticks Makata stick players at nkumbi ceremony	01:43
202	Initiation Song Ndaka man and chorus of Mbuti boys	01:41
203	Elima Song Three Mbuti girls during Elima ritual	02:06
204	Lusumba Song (1) Mbuti men of Molimo society	02:19
205	Lusumba Song (2) Mbuti men of Molimo society	02:35
206	Board Zither (2) Sale ya BaPesoa	02:04
207	Board Zither (3) Sale ya BaPesoa	01:49
208	Musical Bow Ndaka man playing musical bow	02:29
209	Lukembi and Voice (2) Bira man playing likembe	03:56
210	Guitar and Voice Omboko with Abdul Aziz	03:42