Details

Field of Interest

World Music

Copyright Message

Material sourced from the Louis Sarno Archive, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. Copyright © Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

Description

Louis Sarno's notes on liner card (ms ink) – 'YEYI'

Louis Sarno's notes on liner card (ms ink) – 'Music of the Bayaka, clan Mbenzélé recorded by Louis Sarno.'

Side A: Louis Sarno's notes on liner card (ms ink) - 'Yeyi on the eve of a long forest journey (recorded night 22 October 1993). This yeyi was begun by a woman named Japa. Soon other women joined in. it was sung to ensure the safety of a small group who were departing in the morning on a journey deep into the forest.'

Side B: Louis Sarno's notes on liner card (ms ink) - 'Yeyi to bring benediction onto village after the safe return of those from a long journey (recorded late night 26 October 1991). This yeyi began in a far corner of the village during the dying moments of storm, and continued into dawn. I recorded from the window of my house. The main singer was a woman named Eloka.'

Louis Sarno's notes on liner card (ms ink) – 'Yeyi is primarily women's music, though on occasion one or more men may join in. The singers often put a “medicine" onto their eyes, using a curled leaf as eye-dropper. This medicine is a substance with magical properties. Ordinarily the singers wander through the village or camp and surrounding forest while singing yeyi. On side A, however, the yeyi was sung sitting down in front of Japa's house. I recorded from next door.'

Content Type

Field recording (raw)

Duration

47 mins

Anthropologist / Ethnographer

Louis Sarno, 1954-2017

Format

Audio

Sub Genre

Song

Date Recorded

1993

Series Number

Recordings

Subject

World Music, Anthropology, Music & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Africa, Cultural anthropology