The Pygmies of the Ituri Forest

The Pygmies of the Ituri Forest - The Pygmies of the Ituri Forest

First, I want to apologize that there wasn't a nature/environmental sounds post this past Sunday. I was out of town for the Labor Day holiday this weekend and I didn't have anything suitable on my laptop. Also, the connection was dodgy where I was staying so it would have been difficult to post something anyway.

Now with that matter taken care of, I thought I would follow H.C.'s terrific post with this item. Most of this LP has singing by the Pygmies or BaMbuti with the ambient sounds of the forest in the background. The Ituri forest is located in the northeast part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (or formerly called the Belgian Congo when this record was originally released). Instruments such as the flute and the lukembi have little presence on this record. The songs and music are an essential part of BaMbuti social life. There are songs for activities such as hunting, gathering honey, telling of legends, initiation rites, dances. All Ba Mbuti are sacred in a sense as the liner notes mention.

Tracklisting:

Side I

1. Birds and Crickets; Bark-Cloth Hammering with the Voices of Young Boys in the Background {1:27}

2. Elephant Hunting Song {2:52}

3. Spear Song {2:55}

4. Net Hunting Song {3:02}

5. Hunting Cries of Beaters; Arm Clapping (Signaling) and Shouting {1:26}

6. Honey-Gathering Song {2:43}

7. Animal-Dance Song {2:29}

8. Old Pygmy Telling Legend {0:57}

9. Flute Duet {1:46}

10. Lukembi and Solo Voice {1:31}

Side II

11. Pygmy Dance in Bantu Village {2:07}

12. Bachelor Duet, with Lukembi {1:29}

13. Two Initiation Songs, Sung by Pygmy Boys Led by Mundaka {2:51}

14. Two Songs of the Alima, Women's Religious Society (1) {1:05}

15. Two Songs of the Alima, Women's Religious Society (2) {1:46}

16. Mocking Song of the Lusumba {2:04}

17. Lusumba Fire Dance Song (1) {1:55}

18. Lusumba Fire Dance Song (2) {1:20}

19. Two Lusumba Songs Sung Only on Occasions of Great Importance (1) {2:25}

20. Two Lusumba Songs Sung Only on Occasions of Great Importance (2) {1:47}

21. Song of Devotion to the Forest {1:28}

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