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The Bora of the Pascoe River: Cape York Peninsula, Northeast Australia

Various Artists
The Bora of the Pascoe River: Cape York Peninsula, Northeast Australia

The bora, or boys’ initiation ceremonies, of the Aboriginal peoples of Cape York Peninsula in Northeastern Australia were already under threat by outside influence when this recording was made by Wolfgang Laade in 1963 (it was released in 1975). He interviewed tribal elders in the sacred bora ground to document the myth of the crocodile hero―on which the bora is based―and to describe the ceremonies as they had been performed. Other elders recorded traditional bora songs. The experience is especially heightened by the sounds of work and life permeating throughout.

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Track Listing

101
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 1)
Billy Daniels
09:05  
102
Pascoe Bora Song
Johnny Short
00:50  
103
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 2)
Billy Daniels
01:55  
104
Warri Warri Song
Billy Daniels
01:00  
105
Alligator Song (Part 1)
Edward Kanora and male singers
01:22  
106
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 3)
Billy Daniels
02:34  
107
Alligator Song (Part 2)
Edward Kanora and male singers
01:02  
108
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 4)
Billy Daniels
00:54  
109
Song (1)
Johnny Short
00:48  
110
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 5)
Billy Daniels
00:51  
111
Song (2)
George Morton
00:32  
112
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 6)
Billy Daniels
01:06  
113
Song (3)
Billy Daniels, Edward Kanora, and Hughie Temple
00:29  
114
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 7)
Billy Daniels
02:29  
115
Song (4)
Billy Daniels, Edward Kanora, and Hughie Temple
00:33  
116
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 8)
Billy Daniels
02:17  
117
Song by George Morton with Drum and Narration
George Morton
02:08  
201
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 9)
Billy Daniels
03:10  
202
Narration and Song (1)
Johnny Short
01:14  
203
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 10)
Billy Daniels
03:48  
204
Narration and Song (2)
Billy Daniels, Edward Kanora, and George Morton
02:14  
205
Song (5)
Billy Daniels
00:32  
206
Narration and Song (3)
George Morton and Edward Kanora
00:47  
207
Narration and Song (4)
Billy Daniels
00:55  
208
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 11)
Billy Daniels
01:53  
209
Song (6)
Billy Daniels, Edward Kanora, and Hughie Temple
00:55  
210
Narration and Song (5)
Edward Kanora and male singers
01:31  
211
Narration and Song (6)
Billy Daniels, Edward Kanora, and Hughie Temple
01:19  
212
The Saga of the Crocodile Hero (Part 12)
Billy Daniels
02:10  
213
Dance Rehearsal
Billy Edwards, George Morton and others
00:39