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Music of the Vai of Liberia

Various Artists
Music of the Vai of Liberia 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

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101
Bendu Pussah and townswomen of Latia, Tombe Chiefdom
01:59
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102
Seku Bundah, troupe, and townsmen of Konjah
03:31
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103
Molley Kiazulo
01:00
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104
Molley Kiazulo and townspeople of Sanjanamalo, Garwula Chiefdom
01:33
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105
Molley Kiazulo and townspeople of Sanjanamalo, Garwula Chiefdom
01:41
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106
Boikai Kamara and sangba player, Bomi, Tombe Chiefdom
02:15
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107
Townspeople of Bomfor (Banford), Garwula Chiefdom
00:58
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108
Armah Dasseng
04:49
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109
Kuna Kiatamba and troupe, Robertsport
04:10
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201
Zoe Siewana and friends, Toso, Tombe Chiefdom
01:40
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202
Townspeople of Tienimani, Garwula Chiefdom
01:00
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203
Townspeople of Tienimani, Garwula Chiefdom
01:33
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204
Sattah Siewana and townsmen of Toso, Tombe Chiefdom
01:48
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205
Armah Dasseng
02:15
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206
Boa Kiahon and townsmen of Bendu, Garwula Chiefdom
08:33
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207
Seku Bundah, troupe, and townsmen of Konjah
05:12