Music of the Vai of Liberia
Various Artists

Primarily farmers, the Vai people are a minority ethnic group living in Liberia with a smaller population in southeastern Sierra Leone. They presently number about 240,000 people. In 1977–1978 and again in 1981, Dr. Lester P. Monts, assistant professor of ethnomusicology at the University of California Santa Barbara, conducted field studies and recordings of the Vai. The performances in this collection feature six different instruments: three idiophones, two membranophones, and one aerophone, which are part of modern-day Vai music. Songs are sung in Vai, Mende, and Arabic. The liner notes, written by Monts, provide information about the Vai, their music and musical instruments.
Track Listing
101
|
Sande Ziawa Song | Bendu Pussah and townsmen of Latia | 1:59 | |
102
|
Topical Song | Seku Bundah, troupe, and townsmen of Konjah | 3:31 | |
103
|
Masked Dancer Song | Molley Kiazulo | 1:00 | |
104
|
Masked Dancer Song for Bowu | Molley Kiazulo and townspeople of Senjenama | 1:33 | |
105
|
Masked Dancer Song for Zoba | Molley Kiazulo and townspeople of Senjenama | 1:41 | |
106
|
Sangba Rhythms for Bowu | Boikai Kamara and sangba player from Bomi | 2:15 | |
107
|
Historical Song | Townspeople of Bomfor | 0:58 | |
108
|
Koningai Music and Story | Armah Dasseng | 4:49 | |
109
|
Topical Song | Kuna Kiatamba and troupe from Robertsport | 4:10 | |
201
|
Children's Game Song | Zoe Siewana and townschildren of Tossoh | 1:40 | |
202
|
Muslim Anthem | Townspeople of Tienemai | 1:00 | |
203
|
Muslim Anthem | Townspeople of Tienemai | 1:33 | |
204
|
Arabic Birthing Song | Sattah Siewana and townsmen of Tossoh | 1:48 | |
205
|
Kleng Rhythms for Yavi | Armah Dasseng | 2:15 | |
206
|
Storytelling | Boa Kiahon and townsmen of Bendu Gawula | 8:33 | |
207
|
Topical Song | Seku Bundah, troupe, and townsmen of Konjah | 5:12 |