Title from program booklet.

Folk music.

Compact discs.

Originally issued on 78 rpm discs: Field Recordings WA-1--WA-24.

Program notes (reprinted from original 1950 issue) by Duncan Emrich, Melville J. Herskovits ("Music in West Africa"), Richard A. Waterman ("Laboratory notes", with some transcriptions), Marshall W. Stearns ("West African music and popular culture") & Arthur S. Alberts ("Descriptive notes" with partial vocal texts), with the original photographs & their captions from the recording sessions (reduced in size).

Originally recorded in 1949 over a six month period in the Gold Coast, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Sudan, French Guinea & Liberia. by Arthur S. Alberts & Lois Alberts.

a Vocal works sung in various African languages & English.

[cd. 1]. The Ivory Coast. Spirit songs of the Baoulé Bush (1) (1:56) & (2) (1:59)

Marshall Island. Fanti jamboree (4:02)

Ghana (The Gold Coast). Barrel drums and gong-gong (59 sec.) ; Prince's dance (war & small drums with gong-gong) (1:53) ; Message drums (27 sec.) ; Gong-gong (20 sec.) ; Barrel drum (18 sec.) ; Talking drums (48 sec.) ; Hourglass drum (21 sec.)

[Moslem songs of the Gold Coast northern territerories]. Anasi (folksong in Twi) (1:59) ; Battle song (1:23) ; Muezzin's song (1:28) ; Mossi chant (1:24) ; Children's songs [Twi (1) & Ga tribe (5)] (2:23)

Liberia. Fish song (make women fertile) (1:33)

Burkina faso (Upper Volta). Pagan dances (1) (2:21) & (2) (1:23)

Sudan. Song to Allah (1:15) ; Bambara dance (1:23)

Guinea (French Guinea). Moslem village dance (1:26)

Burkina Faso (Upper Volta). In praise of the Moro Naba (1) (1:08) ; In praise of the Moro Naba (2) (1:24) ; Imperial drums (1:21)

Guinea (French Guinea). Welcome to the White Chief (1:54) ; Ancient Kissi dance (2 min.) ; Kahira (good fortune) (2:19) ; Sondiata (the first Kissi chief came from the north) (1:39) ; Doubajabija (nostalgia) (2:46) ; Bangalifassa (song for a Big Chief) (0:59).

[cd. 2]. Guinea (French Guinea). Malinké love song (1:38)

Liberia. Women refuse the ring (1:17) ; Buzi dance (1:08) ; Mano - Za (2:10) ; Mano - Work-song, go (1:49)

Ghana (Gold Coast). Love is slow but sure [Ewe group, Gold Coast "rumba"] (3:19) ; Dagomba (3:22) ; You be sorry for me [Ibo song] (Calypso) (4:11) ; Soldier's lament (blues) [Ibo] (3:55)

Liberia (Café music). Chicken is nice (with palm butter and rice) (2:55) ; Bush cow milk (3:01) ; Nana kru (2:39) / tr. 10-12 performed by Howard Hayes [piano], with Malinda Parker [voice], at the Yamgo Bar, Monrovia [Liberia]

Hold me tight (2:51) ; People! Go mind your business (2:34) ; Kokoleo-ko (Chicken crowing for day) (2:32) ; Jebe, na uhn fa sa [Vai dialect] (1:51) / tr. 13-16 performed by Jacob A. Browne and the Greenwood Singers (Monrovia].

GEMS 0130 Pearl

WA-1--WA-24 Field Recordings

Folk music > Africa, West.

Folk songs > Africa, West.

Songs > Africa, West.

Popular music > Africa, West > 1941-1950.

Music > Africa, West.

Baule (African people) > Music.

Fanti (African people) > Music.

Mano (African people) > Music.

Igbo (African people) > Music.

Mossi (African people) > Music.

Bambara (African people) > Music.

Mandingo (African people) > Music.

Kissi (African people) > Music.

Loma (African people) > Music.

Vai (African people) > Music.

a Greenwood Singers (Liberia)