South African Music Archive Project

A Zande dance with Kponingbo xylophone (log zylophone with keys on banana stems. The tuning corresponds in absolute pitch with that of harp strings). "Sungi kumba wa sa gasi li Sungi akumba ai gibolo. It is a bad housewife who does not work for a husband. A woman who can't work is no good at all." These loose note xylophones are played by three and sometimes four men sitting on either side of the instrument. The Zande dance is performed in a circle to the cheerful sound of the xylophone. All the dancers move in unison with small steps in a set pattern which ensures that the circle moves around gradually in an anti-clockwise direction. A characteristic gesture by Zande dancers is the holding out of hands, palms upwards, gently raising and lowering the forearms in time with the music.

Further details refer to ILAM record number XYZ7616

 "Song of the drum". Dance song. Large wooden slit drum with feet, 3 conical drums, cross laced and double headed, metal hand bells. The conical drums were all called either Gaza or Ndimo. The slit drum is Gugu or Bugu. The beaters of the conical drums are called Luiringwa Gaza. The method of playing the slit drum is unusual, as the player sits astride his drum and may even rest one leg along its length. The small ebony carvings from this district demonstrate this stance.

Zande dance. Further details refer ILAM field card F4V-2

Further details refer ILAM field card number F4W-1.