Details

Latitude

-17.3145

Longitude

168.4745

Start Date

1994-01-01

End Date

1994-01-01

Eighteen songs of Tongoa/Epi, sung by Simbolo. The percussion accompanying the songs is Simbolo striking his wooden stool with his knuckles. It mimics the beat that should accompany the song on slit-gong or a resonator consisting of a pit covered by a wooden slab, the latter struck by a wooden stave held vertically. -- Unless songs have a title, they are given names from words out of their lyrics. Those that were traditionally sung to the accompaniment of large slit-gongs are known as nakima songs and those sung with a small hand-held gong called nangkolongkol are known as nambalas songs. Both nakima and nambalas songs are either simbako-ot or nataviv songs. The last two songs fall into none of these categories. -- SIDE A The songs are preceded by a short introduction. -- Nakima songsSimbako-ot 1. Besuei. This song is sung to 'wake up' the slit-gongs. That is, it precedes all nakima songs and announces to the spirits that songs are to be sung. 2. Kupei mo. 3. Matariki. 4. Diri dariri 5. Mialele bonoai 6. Womilo -- Nataviv 7. Matele telenia nivo 8. Nawerilola -- Nambalas songs The songs are preceded by a short introduction. -- Simbako-ot 9. Eae amae aea (a song of Panita, Tongoa) 10. Kehea mo earo 11. Emale male (Parts 1 and 2) 12. Song of Masesiri -- SIDE B 13. Orariki orarikiNataviv 14. Ea ea eo (Song of Taripoamata) 15. Song of Natetapu 16. Nahili nale ni Mangkaris (a song of Mangarisu) -- Other songs 17. Seli hoo Vanuatu (A song to celebrate Vanuatu's Independence in 1980.) 18. Leopangi lolo Song of Munuai Tavara, who foretold the coming of white men to Tongoa.

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