The Animal Language

Audio file
Date recorded: May 18, 1962
Contributor(s): Performer: Saraswati Prakash Group; Performer: Bartholomew, Bethel; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: animal imitation, story
Culture: Caribbean, Trinidad
Instruments: voice
Location: Toco, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T1084
Track Number: 4
Archive ID: T1084R04
Note: A playful anthropomorphic anecdote that juxtaposes animal sounds and characteristics with those of their human counterparts. The field log notes "Cephus Louis: Power Street, Toco, Trinidad, has been a member of local folk dance gp. – studied, collected dance dunes in area; heard J. D. Elder lecture [and] wanted [to] take folk music course by correspondence; has traveled around [and] learned songes from old people, but most songs come from [his] Tobago mother."
Belongs to: Toco II 5/62
About the session: This session features a number of spoken and musical performance styles, including cantefables (spoken and sung stories), bongo (music and dance accompanying a wake-house ritual), shango (music and dance honoring the orisa deity of fire), and work songs. All of the songs are performed solo. The performances are either a cappella or the singers accompany themselves with handclapping, tapping, and foot stomping.
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