Central African Republic: Gbáyá Music – Thinking Songs

The Gbáyá are one of the largest ethnic groups in an area spanning the border of the Central African Republic and Cameroon. These field recordings were made in 1977 in the village of Ndongue located in the far west of CAR. The music is split into three ensemble pieces and four solo tracks. The ensemble comprises either one or two sanzas (thumb-pianos), rattles and percussion sticks, with three or four voices. The solo pieces are sanza and vocal. The sanzas are locally made from recycled materials, like the spokes of a bicycle or ribs of an umbrella. Each instrument sits in a gourd resonator and metal rings are attached to provide a percussive buzz effect. The performances are intense, intricate and being ‘thinking songs’ they are reflective and hypnotic. As usual with Ocora releases the sleeve notes in French and English provide a useful analysis of the music, lyrical content and cultural background.