Kalulu nkulu wa bwalo (The Rabbit is Chief of the Court)

Item

Title
Kalulu nkulu wa bwalo (The Rabbit is Chief of the Court)
Performer / Recordist
Description / content note
The dance is performed only at night by young men, the pricipal dancers themselves dancing naked, some with special masks called Nyau in the shape of an antelope, an elephant, and a lion, while some walk on stilts. The larger masks are usually carried by two men. Some observers have said that the dance is connected with fertility rites. Only males are permitted to participate and women can only observe from a distance. The dance, they say is usually performed on bright moonlight nights. The gist of the song appears to refer to a familiar story which is told and sung in the district. "Rabbit is the chief of the court (of animals) Hopping, hopping. The rabbit was elected to be the chief." Dance song for Nyau dance with rhythmic clapping and struck iron (-12.16-).
Language
Publisher
International Library of African Music (ILAM)
Date recorded
Date issued / published
1958
Identifier
TR097
3
Is Format Of
Analog reel item
Duration (time)
00:02:43
File format
wav
Sample Rate
15 ips reel
Digitisation (original)
96000Hz 24Bit Stereo
Studer B67 Recorder
Sound Forge V.6
Rights Holder
International Library of African Music
License
CC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Access Rights
Public
Is Part Of
ILAM Hugh Tracey Sound of Africa Series
Format
audio/mp3
Genre
field recordings

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