FOCUS Page 4 Nyigwo Nyang accompanies himself singing Love songs

Description of Love Songs. The love songs among the Anuak seem to be of fairly recent development and though popular among the young people, meet with less favor by the old. The adults believe that the singing of these songs will take the young people’s attention and interests away from the war songs and the traditional interests of the tribe. They see love songs as an indication that the young people are moving away from Anuak traditional cultural values. The words of a love song are not too important. It is the occasion that is important. Love songs are sung in small gatherings or as the young people participate in a dance among their peers. A dominant theme of love and lost love quite accurately reflects actual courtship problems among the tribe. The dominant theme of love songs is the need of the young for marriage wealth so that their love objects will not be taken by the old men (or rich men) of the village.

The Setting: Young fellow about 12, Nyigwo Nyang from Gok. the boy accompanies on the one gallon can "drum." He shows excellent enthusiasm and style. Many of the songs are short, praising themselves.

The Song: A typical love song.

The Text: I have to go to the forest and stay there. Maybe I will get a tusk of an elephant. Because I am an orphan who doesn’t have a father, I will never marry. When I look all over Gok, I couldn’t get a girl like you.