Good Night Ladies / Bongo-lo

Audio file
Date recorded: May 18, 1962
Contributor(s): Performer: Saraswati Prakash Group; Performer: Bartholomew, Bethel; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: bongo, story song
Culture: Caribbean, Trinidad
Instruments: voice
Location: Toco, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T1084
Track Number: 6
Archive ID: T1084R06
Note: Singing that accompanies a bongo or wake-house ritual. Hand tapping and / or foot stomping provide subtle rhythmic accompaniment, and the singer performs both the chorus and lead parts in this uncharacteristic solo setting. Throughout the recording the performer provides descriptions and accounts of the performance context.
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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